davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

enter the house. Frogs croak more lustily in the streams and ponds. Cat tie assemble in a sheltered corner of the field and turn their tails towards the wind. The setting sun on the previous night appears pale. Many plants and vegetables flag and droop. Seagulls fly inland, especially if the rain is to be accompanied by wind. Spiders are seen crawling on the walls. Swallows fly low. The smoke from the chimneys blows to the earth. Distant objects appear nearer than usual.
 When it Is going to be fine weather we have the following signs: Bats fit about late in the evening. Larks fly high and sing a long time in the air. The moon Is very clear and bright against a clear sky. Chats are seen flying in vortex at evening. The smoke from the chimneys goes upward in a straight column. The stars are particularly distinct and bril- liant. The boys kites fly very steadily without jerking backwards and for wards.
 When the weather is going to change to colder and damper, we get these signs: Aches and pains are felt very annoyingly by people subject to rheumatism. A tingling or drumming noise is often heard in the ears. Mice are heard squeaking and moving noisily about in their hidden places in the house. Robins approached quite close to our windows.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
Xl1f 1ff1ylrGs,lS2.:

sees kites of immense size, gaily painted and decorated, with long, brilliant streamers behind,-tails. as the American boys call them. The most sedate Chinaman laughs and gambols when out with his kite for an evenings amusement and exercise, and it is quite a pretty sight to watch the little Chinese boys, in their pecu- liar and artistic dress, running with great swiftness over a stretch of good road, flying their pretty, gaily-tinted kites, which appear half as large as their tiny pagodas. Sometimes a Chinese kite will bring much more money than an American boy would like to give for such a toy. but the Chinaman Is not stingy when it comes to this one luxury, fine, extravagant- ly-bespangled kite. It takes the place of bicycle and skates, and in fact, of many other things the American boy has to amuse himself with, therefore, MT. Chinaman can we'll afford this one extravagance for his evening s pleasure and exercise. And in the art of kite-fying, as well as in the art of kite building, the Chinaman stands supreme. It is not difficult for an American boy to build as fine kite as a Chinaman's, if he will get the plan and instructions for his work. And when the kite is finished he will be fully repaid for his pains and small outlay of money.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

TWNNA May Sidney was nine
 years old. Her home was in a
 large, bustllng town where, I during the summer vacation months, Anna May had a very pleas ant time. Her home, a large, red brick house, stood in the centre of spreading green lawn. which was com fortably shaded by tall, beautiful trees which stood here and there about the spacious grounds.
 In one corner of the green lawn, and near to a rose hedge, with lilac bushes not far off, was Anna Mays particular place to play. Here she had a wooden swing, suspended from A stout wooden frame; couple of little rocking chairs; green lawn bench; a table and a big rug. The rug covered a portion Of the play corner between the rose hedge and 1 the lilac bushes, and was called Anna Mays Play House. On this rug stood l the table, and about the table stood the two chairs and the bench, for at this board-which was neatly covered with a large white napkin-Anna May entertained her callers at tea. (Her "callers" were three big dolls, Ger trude, Fanny Bell and Helen).
 One very delightful afternoon in early September, while 1t was still like summer, with only a few leaves turning and none falling, Anna May played in her corner of the lawn. | She had brought Gertrude. Fanny Bell. and Helen out, and had dressed them in their very best "tea-party clothes" before doing so. She meant to give reception that afternoon, and the dolls were to be her guests.
 "Now. tsertie," said Anna May, ad- dressing the largest of the three dolls, 'Tn put you right over here, under this lilac bush, which is to be your home. You'll stay here and play you're dressing to come to my tea party this afternoon. You will not budge till I come and fetch you. We'll play that your chauffeur Is driv- ing you to my house in your big mo- tor car" Then she placed Gertrude on a bit of paper-so as not to soil her dress-and took up Fanny Bell, the second sized doll. Fanny Bell was placed in a like position beneath an- other lilac bush, and had something 1 of the same sort of promise made her regarding a chauffeur and a tea-party.
 Then Anna May took up the third and smallestN doll, Helen, and said: You shall play at being my daughter in whose honor I am giving a tea party this afternoon. You are my favorite child, Helen, dear" And Anna May kissed very fondly her pretty golden curled doll, her last 1 Christmas gift from her Daddy dear"
 But just as Anna May was kissing Helen she heard low voices behind her and turning about, looked into the | clear blue eyes of a beautiful little girl about her own age. The child was pale and thin, but delicately beautiful. with enormous clear eyes and mass of golden hair. Close beside her stood another little girl, bit younger and smaller, who also had the clear blue eyes, the pale, slender face and the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
Tommy "Fraid Cat" Hezga katg Coward Was Cured

cided that he needed his room all to occupy his own room across the hall in future, the little coward showed signs of his weakness. He began by saying:
 "Oh. don't want to sleep in my room, so ] don't. I want to stay in your room, so I do. Why should I have my beo moved into my room across the hall? I don't bother you any-just sleeping in here. All my clothes and traps are in my own room, and I keep all my muss in there."
 Yes, but I want the space occupied by your bed," said George. I'm go- ing to have a new writing desk-a great big one. with drawers, and it will take up a lot of extra room. So your bed will have to go, Tommy. Besides. you're big boy now and I'd tlink you'd rather have your own room to yourself. and not be sharing some one else's room. But be that as it may, l mean to ask Mamma to have Jane put your bed into your own room today"
 Tommy ran down stairs to his mother. Say. Mamma. must I be obliged to sleep in my room-all alone? Georg says he wants my bed taken out of his room, so he does"
 Mrs. Jackson attached very little importance to this statement and re- piled: well, Tommy, George has right to dictate concerning his own room. And when you have gone to sleep in your own room, you shall have the same right. was thinking of moving your bed into your own
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
cANNA c7NAY'S TEA PARTY

golden hair. And still another child was there, but she was almost hidden behind the aforementioned two, and she peeped round over their shoulders and smiled into Anna Mays face. She was of more healthy color and had deep hazel eyes and bright red hair. Freckles covered her little turned-up nose. and went out over her ruddy cheeks.
 Were just Hooking at your pretty cool play house." said the first girl the one whom Anna May had first noticed. T hope we haven't bothered you"
 No. you don't bother me-" said Anna May, smiling at all three little faces across the hedge of roses. May be you'd like to come in through the gate wonder and see my play house." Anna added cordially.
 "Oh, we'd just love to come inl" It was the little red-headed, freckled- faced girl who said this and she came boldly from behind her companions and smiled very merrily.
 Then come in at the gate yonder," said Anna May, putting Helen down quickly and arranging the chairs and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
WEATHER SIGNS

IT ERE are some of the natural N signs by which forthcoming changes in the weather may be known beforehand. As a writer on the subject says "These are based on the observations of shepherds and others who live in the open air, obser- vations which have been spread over many years of close study and which have been confirmed by the experi- ences of naturalists and other trained students of weather lore. Every boy and girl should study to become a keen observer of Nature, and no branch of Nature is more interesting than the weather"
 When 1t is going to rain we may know beforehand by these signs: Ants are very much excited and there Is a great deal of commotion in and about their hills. Bones which have been broken and are being reunited ache and pain more acutely just be- fore the downpour. Boosters flap their wings and crow in an excited manner, and hens appear to be rest less and uneasy. The moon has a halo round it. Dogs and cats become less active and appear dull, lying be- fore the fire or in some snug, drowsy place. Feathers and dry leaves blow In eddies, particularly on ponds and small streams. Fishes come near to the surface of the water and give fishermen cause to wish to go fishing when a rain is approaching, for the fishes bite more readily. Flies swarm round windows and doors, trying to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

again." said Tommy stoutly, getting out of bed and walking through the swaying shadow on the floor. But why does the shadow move, George?"
 Why don't you see that the wind is swaying the tree?" asked the older brother. That's the explanation, Kiddo. Now get into bed and be 8 brave fellow. I'm surprised that one of your age and size and good horse sense would be afraid of the shadow of harmless old tree. Good night. Kiddo."
 Then George was gone and Tommy fell asleep, and in the morning he felt very brave to have spent the night in room all alone, without a light. And as the nights went by, some of them very dark and windy. he continued to sleep in his little room alone. and soon he grew to love being alone In his own room, for he would lie awake some times and look out of the big open windows at the sky and watch the fast-gliding moon and the steady stars, and he also loved to study the forms cast on the floor by the old elm out side the windows. and to make out of those forms strange creatures and crooked-back people. And he fancied
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

the shadows lived, and that they talked and that as the night sped by they crept, one at time, out of the window and went off to lie in a dark cave till the next night. And so Tommy wove many little fairy tales round his old elm's shadows, and be- gan to tell them to his little chums. and they forgot to call him ''fraid cat" and began to call him the Fairy story teller" and loved to come and sit for long hours under the elm and hear Tommy tell them of the crea- lures made at night by the shadows of the old tree.
 And then it was that Tommy be- came brave, for he knew there was no danger in the dark, and that the night belonged to God as did the day and that He watched over His dear ones during the entire twenty-four hours. And never again did Tommy hear the name "fraid cat" applied to himself, for which he was very happy; for he was naturally a fine little fellow. and just as soon as he had learned that there is nothing save Sin for little boys to fear. nc turned his back on Fear and was never again a coward.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

long. They had only gone out for walk and to gather some early au- tumn leaves which were falling from the trees outside the pavements, and they had come past the Sidney home where the trees were so numerous and where they might find many pretty, brilliant leaves-when Anna May had seen them and invited them in to have a tea-party with her. So goodbye was said, Anna May insist ing that they should come again on the following afternoon, and they promising to do so. for they knew their respective mothers, Mrs. Danby and Mrs. O'Hara, would be only too happy in their new-found little friend who had such lovely place In which to entertain them.
 That evening at supper Anna May and her mother told MT. Sidney all about the three little maids who had come peeping over the rose hedge. and how they had proved to be very de- lightful playmates for Anna May, and MT. Sidney said:
 I'm glad to know that my little girl has the sympathetic and gener- ous spirit and that she does not wait to find out whether child comes from a rich or a poor home, but looks only at the child herself. Many of the best and the noblest come from the homes of obscurity. and many of the least desirable come from the homes of the wealthy and powerful. I am sure that In Ethel Alice, Agnes. and redheaded little Kitty O'Hara. my dear daughter has found three very worthy companions"
 "Yes. Papa, so Mamma and I have decided. And they are so much nicer to play with than just dolls. Dolls are nice in their place. but for a tea one wants ure-enough girls. and nice
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
a Dor's Mandarin Coat
 and Motor Cap

HIS. THE cool weather advances,
 0 Dolly must have a light, autumn / wrap, and there Is nothing more stylish nor more artistic for my little lady than Mandarin coat. We all know that the real Mandarin is a great parsonage in China, and that the CO., named in honor of him Is fashioned after his own coats, only not nearly so fine and rich.
 An accompanying design for Dolly's Mandarin coat represents a coat made of pale grey silk. The broad bands on the sleeves and down the front and round the bottom of the body of the coat are of deep crimson satin braided with black and gold. This gold braid comes at very reasonable price, and 1t is as cheap to have the two kinds as to have but one, and gives the coat truer Mandarin effect. The buttons should be gilt, or covered with bit of the cloth of the coat.
 The motor cap Is made of the same material as the coat, the full crown being of the grey silk and the band of the crimson satin. Braid also figures on the cap, and the ribbons beneath the chin may either be of grey or of crimson. In such a get-up Miss Dolly will look very chic, and Miss Grille will not be ashamed to take her out
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

~ OMMY JACKSON was six years ~ old, and even at that age he had
 never stayed alone in a dark - room of an evening. And at night he always slept in his big bro- ther Georges room, having his small bed right alongside Georges big bed.
 But one night George decided it was time Master Tommy occupied his own room, a pretty little room, all nicely furnished, just across the hall from big brother Georges. When the Jackson family moved into their new home, Mamma Jackson had assigned the rooms, giving the smaller of the two rear bedrooms to Tommy and the larger one to George. But" she had said, while Tommy Is so small he shall have bed in Georges room, and If anything should startle him in the night, or he should want for any thing, big brother would be there to attend to his needs"
 But at the time Tommy's mother had not found out that Tommy was a real little coward. And even big bro- ther George had not yet discovered this decidedly unpleasant character Istic belonging to his baby" brother, IS Tommy had been called up till his sixth birthday. But at school rommy's comrades had found it put, and had begun to call him "fraid rat" and Tommy felt very much ashamed at being called such an un- complimentary name. But he re- mained a coward nevertheless. And It the same time he hid the unr pleasant fact from his home folks.
 But on the day when George del
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
N OurPuZZle Corner x 4
CHARADE.

SIAINhDE<. My first is in honey that's made by the
 bees,
 As we take 1t fresh from the hive: Without my first 1t would surely be Rather hard for children to thrive. My seconds the name oft given to
 boys;
 Many rulers have borne 1t, you'll find; Some were just and kind, in their diff
 ferent ways. And to justice some others were blind. My two Joined together a flower will
 name, It is rather old-fashioned. you'll see: It grew in our dear old grandmother's
 yard.
 And it's loved by both you and me.
 ZIGZAG PUZZLE.
 The zigzag contains nine words of five letters each. If the words are rightly guessed and written one below another their zigzag letters, beginning with the top left-hand letter and end- ing with the lower left-hand letter, will spell something we see in chains. The cross-words are, l. One who delves in the ground. 2. Chickens. 3. A feather. 4. mark on a horse. 5 Apples. 6. Dreary. '. To slip over icy ground. 8. A combination. g. Slumber.
 ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS
 PUZZLES.
 LETTER ENIGMA: Cucumber. SIX-HEADED RIDDLE: CD A Po- tato. (2) Shoes. (3) 4 Sato. (D Corn. (5) A Clock. (6) 4 Tree. ILLUSTRATED PRIMAL ACROS- TIC: Tigers. Pictured pords: 1. Time. 2. Idle. 3. Grapes. 4. Entramce. :. Running. 6. Sunset.
 RIDDLE: Cler0yn,dn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

away over by the railroad, where there Isn't any green grass nor trees. And we have to play in the house, for it's so dusty and smoky all round out-of-doors. We have not a fine home like yours"
 "Oh, that's too bad" said Anna May sympathetically. And we have so much room-and to spare. I shall want you to come every day and play with me here under the trees-eyery day till school begins. you know. And now. let's get acquainted. My name Is Anna May Sidney. What are your names?"
 My name is Ethel Alice Danby," said the taller of the golden-haired girls. And this is my sister. two years younger than l." And Ethel Alice laid loving hand on the shoul- der of the little girl, who looked so much like herself. Her name is Agnes. She's awfully fond of dolls. That's why we stopped to peep over the hedge,-to look at your beautiful dolls"
 My name's Kitty O'Hara," said the freckledfaced little girl. And she said it so prettly and so gaily that
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

behind her.
 For a few minutes Tommy kept the sheet over his head, for he felt afraid to lie with his head exposed. A spook, or some terrible unknown thing. might come to seize him. Then, after few minutes, he drew down the sheet and peeped out. His glance fell on the floor, and he saw something very dark, moving and moving, yet It did not go any distance from the spot where>he first beheld it. It seemed to be rocking, but did not keep regular motion. Sometimes 1t moved farther than at other times. Tommy held his breath and dared not call out. Maybe it was an unknown creature come to carry him away. It lay very close upon the floor, and made not the slightest noise.
 Then Tommy began to cry softly, and then very loudly, and in came his big brother George to see what was the matter.
 Say, what's up, Kiddo?" asked George. coming to Tommy's bedside. He did not make a light. because the moonlight came pouring in through the unshaded windows.
 Its that-that-thing which keeps moving all the timel" cried Tommy, pointing to the moving thing on the floor. George looked. Then in spite of himself, he roared with laughter. When he could speak he said, Why, you fraid cat, it's only the shadow or that old elm outside your window. The leaves have about all gone off, leaving the branches angular and somewhat strange-looking when cast into shadow form. Now that big limb lies bent, a sort of hunchback fellow on the carpet. But all the time you can see it is but shadow. See!' and George stepped into the moving shadow of the old elm which covered several feet of the carpeted floor. And when I stand before the window the shadow goes away. l cut off the moonlight, you see.'
 Tommy saw, and he also felt ashamed And the name, "fraid cat" hurt his pride. for he had been called that at school by three of the boys he admired most.
 "Ill never be afraid of shadows
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

to keep my bed in Georges room."
 "But George wishes it otherwise" !" calmly stated Mrs. Jackson. And since you have a pretty. comfortable, completely furnished room of your own, l am sure I see no reason for your continuing to share your bro- ther's room against his wish. He is rather crowded with your bed there, and as l said moment ago, I shall have it taken to your own room today. You'll sleep in your own room tonight. Tommy. And-listen to me!-there is nothing in the dark to occasion your feeling afraid l am sorry to know that my younger son is afraid of anything so restful and necessary as the dark. Why, we couldn't live without the night, my child, any more than we could live without the day. It takes day and night to complete our happiness and health. l hope l shall never hear you say again that you are afraid of the beautiful night"
 Tommy went away without replying to his mother, and when evening came and he went to his room to put away his kite and marbles. with which he had been playing with some of the neighbor boys, there stood his bed in his own room, all pretty and com forta ble looking in white. The room was very much more attractive to him than Georges room, for 1t held only his own things; but he feared the darkness at night after he had got into bed and Mother had turned out the light. Though just what he feared. he could not have told you.
 That night Mrs. Jackson led Tommy to his room and heard his prayer having him add God keep me from being a coward. God make me love the dark and know that the night is made by You as well as the day" Then he jumped into the white, cool bed. and his mother kissed him and went out of the room, closing the door
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
her up in her arms.

her up in her arms.
 Then Anna May gave Helen to Kitty to play with and Gertrude 10 Ethel Alice. T shall not want a doll," she explained. for I play with them so much that I'm glad of the chance to let some one else have them for while. And I'd so much rather play with real sure-enough girls, anyway"
 Then Anna Mays mother heard the chat and laughter in the yard and came out to see who was calling on her little daughter. And she had not talked very long with the little strangers when she decided they were very nice children and was perfectly willing for them to come as often as they would to play with Anna May. And this was a great compliment to the three little visitors. for Mrs. Sid ney was very particular about whom her little Anna should play with. She knew that bad companions made bad children, therefore, she was very, very watchful of Anna Mays friends.
 After a little while, and just as the tea-party of ladies (Ethel Alice, Agnes, Kitty, and Anna May) were about to sit down to a pretense tea, Mrs. Sidney came from the house with a white-napkined tray filled with dainties to eat. There were de- licious sandwiches, thin and tiny, just to fit the play-dishes belonging to Anna May. And there were crisp little sugared cakes, and tiny glass of jam and some cold chicken, sliced very thin. The visiting "ladies'' thought they had never seen such @ sumptuous tea, which indeed they had not. And they proceeded to en- joy 1t fully.
 But after about an hour of play, the visitors were obliged to depart, for their mammas would be anxious about them if they remained away too
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01

ZyEITH the early autumn, when the IA winds are steady and cool (after " the long term of summer heat), comes the ideal time for kite-fying. Boys may get to building new kites, big, strong ones, for the season is here for, the sport. Over hill and through meadow they may run to their hearts content, the kite high in the heavens, seeming to float just beneath the low-lying clouds. Kite flying is not only merry pastime, but a healthful exercise as well. In China it is a great sport, one might say a national sport. for there the grown-ups go out with kite and string and run about like the boys, and, might add the girls, for now China is waking to the knowledge that her girls and women are human creatures and deserve to enjoy out-of- door amusements and exercise as well as the boys and men. In China one