davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
The House 5tog sogs Dorne ed0enupe

NW OR more than a dozen years tn
 &z people in and about Grovevill'
 v repeated the story of the ahos'
 / of Lane-End House, a tumble down old mansion which dated iron the early fifties, and which had Ions ago ceased to be occupied. Som' twenty years before the opening oi this story the last of the Greys. In, owners of the Lane-end House, hat been shot and killed in the yard O. his house, and as he had no family to take the case In hand and run down the murderer, the state did only what was needed to be done, and let tht matter drop. Then after a few years it was forgotten by the state. But the people in and about the town near to which the Greys' old homestead stood never ceased to talk about the murder, and to repeat strange stories concern ing stranger happenings which had l taken place in the old uninhabi mansion. The roof of Lane-end House was sinking In; It's windows were broken, it's doors hung to rusty and
 broken hinges. It's hreplaces were the homes of bats and spiders.
 For fully a dozen years no one had set foot inside the crumbling old house, for the last man to do so. a gardener in the vicinity, had declared that a ghost, carrying a sharp-edged sword, had come after him. and when about to lay hands on him had sud denly vanished into thin air. And once again, so asserted the gardener, he had gone to the place in broad day ] light, had entered the gate to go around to the garden in the rear when lol from out of a we'll at the side of ] the house came the same ghost. car rying his sharp edged sword.
 I And so that story had grown and grown for twelve years, and now 1t was of such length and horrors as to take the narrator fully a day to tell it all, and sometimes. if he was the
 kind that draws on his own imagina- ton, he wrought little changes in the tale of mystery-such changes as would make youngsters hair stand on endl
 Will Weston had come to Groveville to visit some relatives living there an uncle, aunt and cousins. He hailed from a western state, and was one or those proau-hllnoeu, capaDie DoyS one sees everywhere nowadays. a boy perfectly equipped to take care of himself under all circumstances. Hardly had Will gotten in the town when he heard the stories of Lane end House. He was amused at first. but when he discovered that the peo- pie who repeated these stories were in dead earnest he began to feel sorry for them and to try to convince them that no such thing as a ghost ever existed save in the minds of super stitious persons. But the old man and many of the boys shook their heads, declaring that IAne-end House had real. sure-enough ghost. and some of them went so far as to dare Will Weston to go theoe at night and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

 '-n an owl Yes, I'll go and take the place of Lost Jack in the woods" Then the humming bird laughed some more and climbed down the ladder and ran off after Mrs. Oliver. And the owl came behind, hooting and eating the sugared cookie. And pretty soon they were both in the back seat of the OliveRs' automobile. with Mrs. Oliver between them, and MT. Oliver and the chauffeur in the front seat
 T like being a bird better than be- ing little maid" confided Lily, whis- pering across Mrs. Oliver to Jack.
 And Hike being an owl better than going to school any more," said the little fellow in reply.
 And then they went riding down the hill and Into the country where mil lions of wild birds lived in trees, and filled the air with their sweet songs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

maker of the town. T reckon you're not any braver than Simpson was" (Simpson was the gardener who had discovered the ghost and who was now dead.) "He never went back the third time--twice bein 'nough for him And the old cobbler looked knowing and took a bite off a plug of tobacco. II reckon you're no braver than Simpson. my boy"
 "I'd not be foolhardy, Cousin Will" said Harry as he and Will went home "I'd just let the old haunted place alone. It will soon tumble to the earth. Then the ghost will take wings and his shining sword off to other realms I guess Simpson was a pretty truthful fellow and not superstitious. either. so far as I have heard. and he said he saw the thing twice.
 Did anyone else, ever see it?" ask ed Will. interestedly.
 Harry shook his head. Everyone
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

had been vacant for a year, his only child, the above mentioned son, hav- ing gone to live with grandparent in town. But now thatath Simpson cottage was again inhabited the com mittee decided to stay there for a couple of hours, listening, for possi- ble calls for help from the young fel- low who was brave enough to enter the haunted house alone.
 The committed, consisting of half dozen men and boys, and followed by twice as many stragglers. curious to see what was doing" accompa- nied Will to the gate of Lane-end House, and there hastily left him, for they thought they saw a light sud- denly flare up in one of the windows upstairs. The poor, eredulous crea- lures did not realize that the light came from the Simpson cottage, for Mrs. Simpsoa had placed a lamp in the window for the returning commit | tee.
 VIII entered the decaying door, his feet making the rotting boards of the hall floor resound lonesomely He carried matches in his pocket and made light to see his way about. He decided to go through the rooms, and began on the second floor. He entered each of the five large cham pers, then made visit to the attic, Where he lighted himself about.
 Nothing to indicate a mysterious lodger,' he unused. Then he went be- low and examined the rear rooms. the kitcnen, pantry, store room, dining room and paror. But room opening directly out of the parlor, and which | had doubtless been the library when the house was the home of a happy family. was locked from the inside. and in vain did Will try to undo 1t. There was another door to this room. one opening from the hall. Will found this also securely locked. He tried
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

tree in a nest" she cried. T shall be like the birds.''
 Then she ran next door to tell It, tie Jack Oliver about it and Jack dropped his kite and came running over to see just where the nest was to be built. Please, Joe, make 1t big enough for me, too." said little Jack. "I'd love being a bird. so l would"
 MT. and Mrs. Pierce laughed. and so did Joe. All right. little birdies, v replied the latter. "I shall build it big enough for two. But will you be friendly birds? You know some kinds of birds fight, and do not live in the same tree.'
 Joe is right, little maid" said MT. Pierce You and little Jack shall have to decide what kind of birds you will be before Joe goes on with the plans for the nest"
 Well" said Lily, thinking very hard. I'll be a-a--Mamma, what shall I be?" she asked of her mother.
 Well, l think it would be nice for you to be humming bird, for you are so tiny and so sweet" smiled Mamma. l ou hnOW. dii dl'Odt thV tteii A'sNAN humming birds. for I read to you about them the other day"
 "Oh, yes, Mamma, I'll be a hum- ming bird" said Lily. And what shall Jack be-"
 | Well little Jack. what would you like to be?" asked Mrs. Pierce.
 Jack thought for moment and then said: "Ill be an owl. I think they look so funny. And I can boot just like one, so I can.''
 All right. we'll call little Jack an owl" laughed Mamma. That will be very nice, humming bird and an owl in the old apple tree. Now Papa, when shall Joe build the nest?"
 Gan you do 1t tomorrow, Joe ?" asked MT. Pierce. And to the ohil- drens joy, Joe said he could.
 Well, it was fine little nest" in the shape of a platform with & firm, safe bannister round it and ladder
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

It would be disagreeable during a rainy night. I'll make hay while the sun shines by going tonight"
 At the supper table that night Will asked his uncle what he thought of the ghost story of Lane-end House. His uncle tried to evade direct an swer, but Will could see that he was inclined to be a bit credulous. 'It's this way" he ended. If there is a ghost. it has done no one harm, for the people hereabouts have nothing in common with supernatural beings. And if it does not exist-which is most likely-no one cares to go to the in convenience of proving it."
 That evening Will sat in earnest conversation with his Cousin Harry for some time and the result was Harry promised to give him certain amount of assistance. He spread the story about the town that his visiting cousin meant to spend the night in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Z1be Gl1ahoodoP '
 e/LZLA WL1RD HOWI,Z

little ones. Though she was kindness itself to them, she had some peculiar ideas concerning their dress. MT. Ward had a very handsome chariot. yellow in color. with rich blue lin- ings and upholstering. Miss Cutler took her little nieces and nephews out riding in this chariot daily, driving through the then fashionable part of lower Broadway. lThere was no up- per Broadway at that time) One day tho good lady conceived the idea of dressing the children to match with the coiors of the chariot and kept her dressmakers busy for several days carrying out her plan. Then one. day Broadway was amazed, and somewhat amused, to behold an unusual sight. Down the street came the Wards vel low chariot with it's blue Innings, and inside sat the little Wards, gorgeous in yellow frocks and suits which were trimmed in brilliant blue.
 While still in her early teens Julia Ward began to write poetry, and tried fostering poetic taste in her younger sister. Annie. After reading much of Julia's rhyme the little maid went off to herself and began to "compose." This was not very easy for her to do, but after long hours of struggle she came to Julia with her first efforts at versifying. The following lines are all that Julia Ward Howe could re- member in later years of that nota- ble poem:
 He hears the ravens when they call. And stands them in a pleasant hall"
 The first published works of Julia Ward occurred when she was only seventeen, which was a remarkable thing, seeing that it was considered out of place in a woman to attempt to enter mans dominion, which cov- cred all arts. sciences and literature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

leading up to it, that Joe built for the little girl and the little boy birdies They took possession at once, for Mamma came out with a rug and two cushions which she put on the board platform, for she could reach into the
 nest without getting upon the lad der. Now, birdies, everything is ready" said Mamma. When you get hunSry, just fly round by our kitchen window and there'l be plenty of crumbs for you"
 The owl scrambled up the ladder and sat upon the red cushion. The humming bird followed him. and sat upon the brown cushion. Then the owl began to hoot, and the humming p1rd laughed and laughed till she could hardly laugh any more. It sounded so funny to hear little Jack, the owl, .hooting that way.
 Then the humming bird asked the owl if he was hungry, and he said very quickly, "Oh, goodness! yes. I want some cake"
 Then they both scrambled out oi the nest ana flew round by the kitchen window" and To and behold! there was Mrs. Fierce with two sugared cookies and two glasses of sweet milk. The birdies took the food to their nest and ate 1t there. It was very nice, eat ing up in the tree.
 A little later little Jacks mother came over and said, Where are you. Jackey2" And Jack leaned over the side of the nest" and said; I'm not Jack. I'm an owl. Just hear me boot" And he hooted till the hum ming bird laughed and laughed, and so did his mother.
 Very well, little owl, can you come down out of the tree and go motor riding with MT. and Mrs. Oliver who have lost their little boy who want you to take his place? And will the little birdie beside you go along too ?"
 "Yes, she'll go." cried Lily, before Jack had time to answer for himself or for her. Wont you go, Jack ?"
 Don't call me Jack" cried the owl.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

his strength upon 1t. but 1t would not g.ve way. Then he went outside to the windows of this room, two in number. They had the shutters closed and locked.
 Something strange about all this precaution about one room" said Will mentally. Tt behooves me to watch that room. Wonder which door the ghost will open when he wishes to make his appearance? I'll make a noise about the hall and parlor, then go upstairs and walk about and sit down. Then I'll remove my shoes and creep back down here as softly as I can. The ghost won't hear my return and will think me still up- stairs. Then the fellow will come out and I'll have him."
 Will followed out his plan. making a good deal of noise about the upper rooms, and then throwing himsels down and saying in very loud voice. "I'll sleep here tonight, MT. Ghost. If you wish to see me, come upstairs to the front room." Even while he was speaking he was removing his shoes Then he took fully ten min utes to go down the stairs, for he feared to make the least noise. He managed to reach the parlor without making one board creak. Then he stationed himself close to the door which led into the locked room. He knew the door opened back into the parlor, so he placed himself where he would be behind it as it was pushed open.
 ct fv,rr softly, for about an hour, will began to fear nothing was to happen. He was getting very tired remaining in one position, every muscle taut. but to give up was not in his mind. He'd remain there till midnight, if need be, and then if nothing happened
 But as he was arranging this plan he heard soft footfall in the locked room. It approached the very door beside which he stood. Did Will turn pale or tremble and prepare to run? Not at all. He smiled expectantly. Then edged closer to the wall and listened through the door. Yes. some one moved on the other side the par tition and a hand fumbled at the lock. Then Will heard a bolt drawn back and slowly the door pushed outward, closing Will in behind it. By this time Wills eyes had become accustomed to the darkness of the room, and he could make out through the big crack which the opening door made behind it a tall white form moving into the parlor. He smiled a satisfied smile.
 Just as the ghost got past the edge of the door and turned towards the hall Will gave quick bound and had it from behind. At the same instant he threw piece of tent-cloth over the creature's head and held it's four ends tightly about it's ghostly neck. A fierce struggle ensued. the ghost being warm and strong. But it was handicapped first by it's long whitA garment. and second by the strong cloth over its head.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

TT WISH I were a bird. Mamma"
 So said Lily Pierce, seven years
 old. She was sitting with her
 mother on the veranda of their country home and watching the birds in the trees which stood so thiekly about the green lawn.
 Well, darling, l believe you'd get very tired living in a tree, for little girls are not made to fly from limb to limb, and to sleep in a nest" said Mrs. Pierce, smiling at Lily. But Lily declared emphatically:
 "Oh, I'd Just love to live in a tree. Then could be swung by the breeze and get lots of fresh air, and see about everywhere. think it would be lovely"
 Just then Lily's papa came round the corner in the road on his bicycle. Lily ran to meet him at the gate. "Oh, Papa, l have just been telling Mamma how I should love to live in a tree, like the birds, you know. Mamma thinks I should soon grow tired of 1t, but I know I should love 1t all summer long,"
 Mir. Pierce was off his bicycle now and rolling 1t into the yard. "All right. little maid" he said Che always called Lily little Maid"). 'I'1l see
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

the haunted house at the outskirts of the village. Some seemed dubious about Wills ever coming out alive, others doubted that he really meant to go there at all. So 1t was arranged that a committee should accompany him as far as the gate, there watch him till he entered the house and then withdraw to cottage some six hundreds yards distant, the cottage once occupied by Simpson, the gar
 dener, and now owned and lived in by his son, young fellow of twenty three, and his eighteen-year- bride.. The couple had just moved into the cottage, which. after Simspon's death,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
When Lily Pierce
 LiUed i1a e Tree
\ Story for Little Maids.

 what can be done about building you a nest in a tree. Let's see-there's g ] that huge old apple tree in the garden. Maybe it will answer our purpose. '' Then, having kissed his wife and pat ted Towser, Lily's dog, he said: Let's go round to the apple tree and see if she's willing to have little girl live up amid her branches"
 Of course, Lily's mamma joined them, and the three went down the garden path to a corner where stood a grand, time5tried apple tree. Its boughs were low and spreading, and strong as iron. Mr. Pierce examined the position of the lower limbs, and said:
 Here's the place for the nest, right in this wide crotch" And he showed Lily and Mamma where he meant to build the nest for his little maid Then he called to Joe, the man of all work, and asked him if he could build a little four-by platform in the tree, just over the crotch where the limbs would support it with some aid from below in the shape of strong poles set in the ground.
 "Yes, sir, 1t can be nicely done" said Joe. And Lily began hopping about in great glee. T shall live in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

seemed satisfied with just hearing about it." he replied.
 That's strange" observed Will. Just to think that so uncommon thing-so mysterious a thing as a real ghost-should be in the neigh borhood and no one interested enough to make close study of 1t! Why, 1t wouldf be a great discovery in the scientific world if 1t could be proven and its photo taken. I shall surely investigate. I shall go there tonight. I'm mighty glad it's warm weather and promises to be a dry night, for, as you say. the roof is almost gone and no panes of glass In the windows
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

A little boy swung
 Meath the tree in the shade: Of the tiny green apples He was not afraid.
 He climbed up the tree And gathered Just one: He ate 1t and liked 1t. And thought 1t great funi That night little boy Awoke with a scream That went to the sky Or 80 1t did seemi His mother came running And made a quick light. What could be the matter With Boy in the night? Its a pain in my tummy!" The little boy said. An it goes from my feet Clean up to my headl" Then his mother did guess What ailed him; you see She had spied little boy In the green apple treet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

enter the house.
 Sure, I'll be only too glad to go." aid Will. Tt will give me great joy prove to you that there is no such hing as spook. Will someone bear ne company so as to be witness that lothing unusual happens ?"
 But not one among the boys. not ven his Cousin Harry, a boy of his wn age, would consent to accompany Will to the haunted house. Then how m l mto prove there is no ghost?" lsked Will.
 Well, if you stay through the night hat will be proof there is none" grinned old Jackson Smith, the shoe
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
9OUPpUZZLE|
 EN'OpNER-
IEVTE RENIGMA

LETTE RENIGMA. My first is in wasp, but not in bee; My second is in woman. but not In she; My third is in love, but not In hate; My fourth is in captain, but not In mate; My fifth Is in turtle, but not In fish; My sixth is in tureen, but not in dish;
 My whole Is the name
 Of a kind of tree
 That grows very fine
 In this country
 RIDDLE. There's a word composed of three let
 ters alone,
 Which reads backwards and for
 wards the same; It expresses the sentiments warm from
 the heart,
 And to beauty lays principal claim.
 ADDITIONS. 1. Add the letter F to booklet and get a plaited or gathered edge on an article of dress. 2. Add the letter F to that which is hazardous and get to skip and dance. 3. Add the letter T to peruse and get to step heavily and in time. ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS PUZ. ZLES. HIDDEN INVENTOR PUZZLE: Morse.
 CHARADE: Buckrdn. q. Buck. 2. Rdm).
 PRIMAL ACROSTIC: Hdrvest. Cross WordS, l. Hail. 2. Aunt 3.Rich. 1. Vein. 5. Ears. G. Shed 7,Tune. REBUS: The cook baked cake and put it in the tcindoto 10 cool and trdmp stole 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

ANtN Ol n Sity biiCiC iS ei
 section called Bowling Green,
 ~ and 1t is famous throughout the land, for all who are familiar with the early history of New York City. which used to be known as New Am sterdam, know that there. in that little round park, in the midst of rows of houses, came the old Dutch fath- CTS to play at bowls of an evening and to smoke their pipes in the hour of rest.
 And in that same part of the city, facing Bowling Green, on the 27th of May, in the year 1919, Julia Ward was born. Doubtless she is better known to all people as Julia Ward Howe, for 1t was after her marriage that she became famous as a writer, preacher and reformer, and as the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic" This hymn was written in 1862.
 Mrs Howe's childhood was inter- esting. To quote from her own de- scription of it:
 My father was majestic person of somewhat severe aspect and re- served manners, but with a vein of true geniality and great benevo- lence of heart. His great gravity and the absence of a mother naturally subdued the tone of the household, and, though a greatly cherished set of children, we were not very merry one.'
 Julia's mother, a woman of exceed ing beauty and grace, died at the early age of twenty-eight, leaving six lit tie children, Julia-the fourth-being but five years of age.
 After the death of Julia's mother her aunt, Miss Eliza Cutler, a spin ster lady of great dignity, came into the home to rear her dead sisters
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28
Something Worth While for e7r1s To Know

and launders with less trouble. One end of the slip must be left open so
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-28

Av OR more than q dozen years tn
 &z people In and about Grovevillt & repeated the story of the Ghos' of Iane-End House, a tumble
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-12-25
Man Coughs aud Breaks Ribs

After frightful coughing spell a man
in Neenah. Wis.,. felt terrible pains in
his side and his doctor found two ribs
had been broken. What agony DR.. Kings
New Discovery would have saved him.
A few teaspoonsful ends a late cough,
while persistent use routs obstinate
coughs. expels stubborn colds or heals
weak, sore lungs. az feel sure it's "A
God-send to humanity writes Mrs. Eff
fie Morton, Colr mbla, Mo-, "for | be-
lieve | would have consumption today
il had not used this great remedy"
It's guaranteed to satisfy, and you can
get free trial bottle or 50-ceut or 81 90
SIZE at h. H. Gorrelrs.
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-12-25
The Finest ENGLISH Odss.

Among the many fine odes In the
English language Macaulay character
lied Dryden's "Alexander's Feast as
the noblest. and DR. Richard Garnett
agreed with him In thinking it the
finest ode we have. The full title is
"Alexander's Feast; or, The Power Of
Musician ode For st. Cecilia's Day"
Sponsors "Epithalamium." Millions
"Ode on the Nativity" Keats odes
''To a Nightingale" ard ION Grecian
Urn" and Shelley's ITO Il Skylark'
are notable instances of this class of
poem. and to these must be added.
though their form is irregular. Words
worth's magnificent "Intimations OF
Immortality and Tennyson's lode on
the Death Of the Duke of Wellington
Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-12-25
Voice of the Tider.

The tiger may be "shod with silence"
but he has voice that is terrifying.
1t is said the voice of the tiger, Won
derful thing in its way, is not only the
most mournful, but the most terrifying.
of jungle sounds and that il is Il power
full aid to him in his hunting. The ma
tives believe the deer hearing the III
gers voice and unable from the rever-
berating nature OF the sound to locate
the position of the enemy stands still
and so gives him the chance of stalk
ing them. SportSmen hold there is
probably some truth in this. for unless
one is following the tiger and has seen
him 1t almost is impossible from the
sound alone to tell with any certainty
where he is.-New York sun.