davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
By Whose Shot?

'IIa, Natty," cried the judge, that was
a good shot of mine. l heard your dog,
old Hector, baying and knew he was on
the trail of a deer. Had l known you
were in ambush | would not have fired"
do you think you killed the deer?"
asked Leather Stocking surlily
why, yes One of my barrels was
loaded with birdshot, it is true, but the
other was loaded with buckshot-that
caught him."
They stood beside the fallen animal
and Misunderstanding said: Here is a
wound in the neck where the charge of
brdshot hit and mangled the flesh.
Here is a shot through the heart where
the bullet from my rifle entered. How
many buckshot did you have in your
gum"
Five; where are they?" exclaimed the
judge
Here in this tree responded the
young companion of the trapper, you
can see the marks of four of them. l
was partly behind this tree when you
fired "
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
On the Mountain Road

The judge took the injured Edwards to
his manorial house-a large, square, stone
structure of ugly proportions which oom-
mated the settlement, but did not get him
there without another adventure.
For, going down the mountain road, tn
sleigh of the judge met another sleigh
a large one drawn by four horses-com-
ing up the hill to meet him.
In it were the judges cousin-an eccen-
trio person named Richard Jones, who
was possessed of an idea that he could
do everything and do it well, and was the
Judges factotum-and three other gem
tlemen.
One of the others was Mr.. Grant, the
clergyman, who looked after the spir
itual needs of the settlement; one was
a French refugee, M lie Quoi, who had
opened a shop in the village, and the
other Maj Hartman, a German, who
had drifted to the new world dur
ing the war, and stayed here. He was
on his annual Christmas visit to the
judge.
These last two men are mere ad-
juncts to the story, but Mr.. Grant has
a deeper interest. For Mr. Grant had
one fair daughter and no other child
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
As the Judges Secretary

The wound was a flesh wound; the
shot was easily extracted and before
the operation was finished appeared In
dian John and Leather-Stocking, anxious
as to the welfare of the patient
They We're admitted to the hall, where
the whole party We're now assembled.
Then said the Judge:
young man. / see that you are not
bred to the forest. I am in want of a
secretary-will you accept the position?
You shall name your own salary, stay
as long as you like. leave when you like.
Come, l have done you an injury-let me
do you Kindness
Leather Stocking and Indian John be-
came agitated at this remark and began
10 protest. The young man could not
leave the forest.
Edwards himself, at first, started to
reject, with some haughtiness, the judges
offer. But he looked upon Elizabeth.
Elizabeth smiled--and he accepted!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Indian Johns Lament

At length she heard a rustling in the
bushes and old Indian John stood be-
side her.
Daughter said the old man, "look
out over this valley to where the wig
wan of your father stands. John was
young when the Delawares in council
gave this land to the Fire eater. They
gave it to him because they were fee
BILE and he and his were strong and he
helped them.
II have seen these lands pass away
from the Fire-eater and his son and his
sons son. 1t has been torn from the
children of the Fire-eater, even as the
scalp is torn from the head of an enemy"
Elizabeth vaguely comprehended that
by the 'Fire-eater'' he meant old Major
Effingham, to whom the Indians had
ceded the tract now known as the Tenn
pie Patent.
But you hardly understand our laws
and customs" replied the girl; do not
believe evil of my father, for he is just
and good"
''Yes, yes, 1 think he will do right. l
have said it to Young Eagle
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
The Snuh Direct

Just before she reached the verge of
the forest she encountered Edwards.
Miss Temple" said he, you are go
ing into the forest 1t Is not safe for
you to go alone. Permit me to act as
your escort Your father would not
like that you should venture alone into
these mountains"
Did my father commission Mr.. Ed
wards to act as my escort?"
mo, but"
"It Is enough, Mr.. Edwards. need no
escort. I thank you, but have no need
of or desire for your company"
So on she went alone, leaving Ed
wards standing there-snubbed.
If Edwards felt, for a moment, as IL
he would like to take the capricious
girl by the shoulders and shake her he
soon subdued that feeling and. after a
while. followed her secretly at dis
tance.
At noon Elizabeth came to the top
of Mt. Venison. But there was no
Leather Stocking there to meet her.
She sat down and gazed out over the
valley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Conquered by Voice and Eyes

So muffled up was the judges daugh-
ter on that bitterly cold day before
Christmas that the young man could see
nothing of her features except a pair o.
remarkably fine eyes looking out through
the mask which fell over her face from
her quilted hood.
But her voice added to the eyes seemed
to command him at once and he gazed
earnestly at her as he replied:
"Judge, accept yolir offer, Natty-you
Will say nothing of what has happened to
me-nor of where ] am going"
This scene took place shortly after the
war Of the revolution on a mountain road
which ran through that 100000 acres of
land which was known as the Temple
Patent in what is now Otsego county,
New York, and which was then on the
extreme verge of civilization
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
At Leather-StOckin Hut

The household forgot the incident in
two weeks, but from the time of the
arrival of that letter Judge Temple
seemed to be a sterner, graver, less
ambitious man. So did Richard-though
the appointment of sheriff of the county
frightened him up a bit a month later
Midsummer came with its fierce heats
and one day Elizabeth and Louisa went
for a long walk in the woods accom-
panied only by Elizabeth's pet fnastiff
Brave, who, Bess thought, would De
sufficient guard against any dangers of
the forest.
They came in sight of the hut of
Misunderstanding. and Elizabeth said,
laughing, Il would give all my other
secrets to know what those rude logs
have heard and witnessed"
II am sure they would tell nothing 10
the disadvantage of Mr. Edwards" re-
piled Louisa.
Perhaps not-but they might tell
who he is answered Bess
Why, my dear Miss Temple, we
know that already"
DO we?"
Yes. yOur pousin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Sound Feminine Logic

The constable recruited his forces and
returned the next day to find the hut u
heap of smoldering ruins and Natty
surrendered to the law. All this took
place within two days after Natty had
saved the life of Elizabeth.
Judge Temple was deeply panied; but
felt that he must subordinate his per-
sonal feelings to his duty as a magis-
trate.
Elizabeth declared that she did not
care what Natty had done or had not
done-it was shame that he should be
arrested There Were plenty of deer in
the woods, the constable had no right
to go to Natty's house-and was a hor-
rid old busybody anyway.
Acting upon this sound feminie logic
she went with louisa Grant one even
ing, just before dark, to see Natty IN
his jail-a log prison house from which
escape was not inordinately difficult
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
A Test of Workmanship

"H'5Sass 5as-: u a.'$.s..: 's:s:. s's T:~,,: :;: ::
L the black driver of the sleigh
in which the judge was seated with his
daughter, the blooming Elizabeth just
fresh from boarding school in New York
hold up. And Bess, If you can stand
fire ] will give you saddle of ven
sion for your Christmas dinner"
The judge let go first one barrel and
then the other of his shotgun at a deer
which had sprung out into the open.
The deer did not seem to mind, but
instantly there came the sound of a rife
and the deer fell dead as an aged hunter
clad in buckskins, stepped out from oe-
hind a tree.
1t was the celebrated trapper, hunter
and guide, Natty Bumppo, otherwise
known as Misunderstanding Following
him was a young man of % or "a years
of age, dressed like the hunter, but of a
manner and bearing which showed that
he had not, like his companion, been bred
to the woods, and complexion whicn
showed that he had not been long ex-
posed to the rigors of an out-of-door life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
A CL A SSIC
IN A P A G E
Copyright, 1914. by Irving Xii
rights reserNed.l

Copyright, 1914 by Irving King. All
rights reserved)
Cooper called THE Pioneers a descrip-
tive tale, and a lot of good descriptive
work did he put into 1t. But 1t mas, also.
a vast amount of action in it: and, as
in writing it, Cooper was dealing with
scenes with Which he had been familiar
from boyhood, and with the traditions of
his family and his family estate of
Cooperstown, he made it, for many peo-
pie, the most interesting of his famous
Leather Stocking Tales7-as it was the
first of them.
The character of Misunderstanding was
such a success that Cooper afterward
took up his creation as a young man
and carried him through many adven-
lures until finally he let him die in THE
Prairie"
Most of the characters in THE Pio-
neers" are fictitious, and Natty Bumppo
was. of course. only child of the au-
thor's brain. But some of the main pei
sonages in the story have been traced to
real people, and the character of Judge
Temple is supposed to have been drawn
from Cooper's grandfather.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
The Letter From London

Next day, by the post which. at inter-
walls, penetrated into the settlement came
letter from Judge Temple-a FOREIGN
letter with a London postmark.
When he read it he became strangely
agitated and called at once for cousin
Richard. When Richard read the letter
he, too, became very grave and said
Well SO the ship was lost. Well, there
is one comfort. He received your last
letter before he sailed. He knew
Yes, but all our labors-all our plans.
replied the Judge.
1T is as God Wills, replied Richard
solemnly
After a period of silence and thought.
Send the schoolmaster. Van Dirk, to
me, said the judge; and bring out all
the papers,
In a short time Van Dirk, Richard and
the judge were closeted together in a
long conference There was much writ
ing and poring over papers, said the
servants. who came to bring in the
candles, and this. set the whole house
hold to wondering what was up
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Leather Stockings Secret

The next day Judge Temple went with,
body Of his neighbors to the point of
rocks in the burned forest where Eliza
beth had been taken as to q sanctuary
from the fire.
Misunderstanding was an escaped GRIM
inal-there was no doubt about that--but
the judge would see that he was par
doned; would entreat him to come and
live In peace in the settlement. On the
rocks they found Leather-Stocking and
Edwards standing.
It will surrender" said Bumppo when
the Gordon had been drawn about the
cave and the rocks above it.
wait a moment. Judge Marmaduke
Temple-I will show you one who Will
confront you"
Edwards and Leather Stocking disap-
peared into the cave and then came out
bearing between them a rude chair. In
which was seated a very old man with
long, flowing white hair and a counte-
nance expressive of high character and
great benignity, though it could be seen
at glance by his lusterless and freless
eye that reason had fled from the once
noble brain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

gave his name as oliver Edwards; he
mad but recently come to live with
Leather-Stoeling In the latter's hut
across the lake from the village some
three miles from Templeton, the villag,
which Marmaduke had established in the
valley.
And there was a mystery about that
young man and about the hut of Natty
Bumppo also.
Recently no one had been allowed IL
enter the hut, the door of which had
heretofore, been Hospitality opens and i
was rumored that Edwards was a half
breed-for Indian John always spoke OF
him as Young Eagle and made illusions
to his being of the race of the Della
wares
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
A Hero

Richard In trying to turn his horses,
got them all mixed up and frightened,
SO that his sleigh and all in 1t would
have been dashed over a precipice to
death had not Edwards sprung from
the judges sleight and, in spite of his
wounded shoulder, grasped the leaders
by the bits, and brought them to order
and the sleigh to safety.
1t was a close call--almost half of
the sleigh hung over the brow of the
precipice when Edwards seized the
horses.
The unknown young man had saved
the life of the Rev. Mr.. Grant, and so.
when the occupants of both sleighs ar
rived at last in safety in the great hall
of the manor house with its warmth
and its lights, it was not surprising
that the youths natural attractions
were added to in the eyes of the cler-
gyman's daughter the gentle Louisa,
who had come to welcome home her old
playmate, Eliza beth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Curiosity Repelled

When Elizabeth told her father of her
adventure in the woods, fervently did he
thank God for the escape of his child
from horrible death and great was his
gratitude to Misunderstanding.
There was nothing that he would not
do to benefit the old hunter. He would
build him a new house; he would see
that he lived in comfort for the rest of
his days.
But, alas, Before the Judge could carry
out his benevolent intentions Natty Bump
po, or Misunderstanding, was in jail.
He had killed deer out of season. A
meddlesome constable, who had long
wished to gain entrance INTO Natty's hut
out of pure curiosity, had almost caught
the hunter in his lawless act-and the
judge was enforcing the game laws now
severely.
The constable had sworn out a search
warrant and had tried to enter Natty's S
hut to find the body of the deer. He
haC been driven out by Misunderstanding
-he had been threatened by that unerring
rifle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Cousin Richards Theory

or yes, Cousin Riehardl He has a
theory for everything. Well, what does
he say?'
'He says>that Natty Bumpo has lived
most of his life in the forest and among
the Indians, by which means he has
formed the acquaintance of the Indian
John, the old Delaware chief.
This overheard. 1t was a conver-
sation between the sheriff and your
father so late as the last time they
met.
AID the sheriff added that the Kings
OF England used to keep gentlemen as
agents among the different tribes, and
sometimes officers of the army spent
thelr whole lives among the natives.
lie said that these agents seldom mar
ried-and-and They must have been
wicked men, Elizabeth-but he said So
Never mind-skit that said Eliza
ieth, blushing slightly
wei. then, he said that these agents
frequently took great soride in the ed,I-
cation of their children, whom they often
sent to England for their schooling; and
in this way he accounts for the liberal
.aught-for he acknowledges that Mr.. Ed
wards knows almost as much as my
father, or your father-or even himself. :
Quite "a climax in learning laughed
Elizabeth, land so Indian John is the
grand uncle or grandfather Of Oliver Ed
wards?" H
You have heard Indian John himself
speak of a relationsi1ipf' simply replied
Louisa.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Happiness for AlI-But One

The carriage of the judge was now an.
nounced and the old man. still babblng.
was tenderly carried to it.
When the party arrived at the manor
house the judge showed young Effing-
ham the document which he had had
drawn upon the receipt of letter from
the London agent of the young man's
father stating the loss Of the shin in
which the judges old friend had en-
harked for America.
1t was a will leaving half of his prom
erty to Mai. Effngham should he stilI
be alive. If his death We're proven then
the half went to his grandson. Edward
Oliver Effingham, should he be alive.
II not the heirs-at-law of the Effing-
hams
So you see, I am ready to turn over
70 70 you ohe-half of my property. and,
II read hearts Alright you will soon
nave the other halfzfor it goes to my
daughter"
He took the hands Of Effingham and
Eilzabeth and Joined them. Louisa Grant
looked on with a face like marble.
nat fall the old major died and Rev
Mr. Grant had "a call' to a parish upon
the banks had "a CALI to parish upon
went with his daughter.
Natty Bumppo refused all entreaties
70 stay in Templeton. and taking his
r'ile upon his shoulder set out alone with
ms lace to the setting sun.
Next weeks one-page classic will be
Every Man in His Humor'' by Ben
Jonson.
copyright, 1914, by Irving King.)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

and the panther was fierce one, but
Brave was old and finally the dog rolled
on its back and expired, while the PAN
ther, though much mangled and near
death itself, crouched for a spring at
Elizabeth.
But before the enraged animal could
make its final leap there came the sound
of rifle and a bullet pierced its heart.
And the next instant Natty Bumppo stood
before Elizabeth and the reviving Louisa
We shall leave the reader to imagine
the thanks-hysterical on the part of
Louisa and fervent on the part of Eliza
beth-which were showercd upon Leather
Stocking.
well, well, never mind" said Natty,
I'VE will talk this over another time.
Let us get into the road, for you have
had terror enough to wish yourself In
your fathers house."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Her Secret Surprise

Whom do you call Young Eagle?"
said Elizabeth, averting her face from
the gaze of the chief; whence comes he
and what are ihs rights?"
HAS my daughter lived long with
him and asks this question:" replied
the old man. ''Old age freezes the blood
but youth keeps the streams open like
the sun in the time of blossoms. The
Young Eagle has eyes-has he no
tongue?"
She knew, well enough. that the chief
was speaking of Oliver Edwards when
he said Young Eagle-many a time had
she heard old Indian John so call the
stranger youth.
Well" she faltered, "he has not made
me the confidant of his secrets, John
He is too much of a Delaware to tell
his secrets to a woman. Where is the
Leather-S Stocking, John?'
She thought that the Indian had been
referring to some supposed rights that
Edwards had over the patent because of
his Indian blood and did not care TO
continue the conversation on those lines
Besides. the keen looks which the chief
darted at her seemed to surprise a secret
in her heart of which she herself was
but half aware.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Losing Her Heart

Louisa Grant, on the other hand,
treated Edwards always with the great
est kindness and as an equal. Had there
been many women about the manor house
the true state of Louisa's heart might
have been suspected.
But Mr. Grant, like the Judge was a
widower, and that grim old woman, Re-
markable Pettibone, who acted as house.
keeper for the judge, was too acidulous
and unsympathetic to observe such friv-
olous matters.
Perhaps Elizabeth suspected If SO, she
never betrayed herself
When the long winter had passed and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
A Narrow Escape

A tree, tree" shouted Edwards, and
A tree. A tree!' echoed the others ant;
spurred ON their horses to escape from
the path of the descending mass.
only Louisa, overcome by her natural
timidity, put her hands to her face and
remained immovable. Edwards rushed his
horse to her aid and forced the animal
ana It's rider out of the dangerous zone.
linen Louisa tainted and would have
fallen from her horse had not Edwards
caught ner in his arms. When she had
recovered herself she Said: MIR. Ed
wards, now both father and Cdughter
owe their lives to you"
1T was a narrow escape yo1 had LOU
isa' said Miss Temple to her friend that
evening when the two were alone.
Yes replied the guileless Louisa. "and
did you see the expression on the face
of Mr.. Edwards when-when | came to
myself?"
s'Really, Miss Grant" replied Eliza
beth eoldly. 81 am no reader or inter
prefer of expressions"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

the slow-arriving spring had come, tee
people of the manor house, and with
them Louisa Grant were out riding upon
one of the mountain roads. Suddenly
noise was heard up the mountain side
a strange noise to one who has never
heard it,
1t was an old tree, decayed at the roots
and loosened by the thawing of the soil
around it. which made the noise A tree
trunk came bounding down the mountain
side, sweeping everything before 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Judge Templep' exclaimed the young

Judge Templep' exclaimed the young
man.
Nay. be not offended replied the
judge; ''do not think ! do not trust you.
You shall know all-in time-in time"
With laudable and natural feminie
curiosity Elizabeth sought to approach
her father upon the subject of the for
eign letter and his subsequent confer
ence with Richard and Van Dirk. But
the judge repulsed her with stearn-
ness which before that he had never
shown to his only child.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
The LOST. Major


Please be seated, gentlemen said the
old man, "the council win open imme-
dlately. Each one who loves a good and
Virtuous king will wish to see these colo
MES continue loyal. The troops will hale
for the night"
rms is the wandering of insanity"
said Temple, who had drawn near win
MS villagers. WHO will explain this
scene? Who is this man?'
This man. replied Edwards, ''whom
you behold hid in caverns and deprived
OF everything that can make life desir-
able is the rightful proprietor of tae
soil upon which you stand, and the father
of him whom you once called your
friend"
This then" exclaimed the judge. 'is
the lost Major Effingham, and your"
Il am his grandson"
send for my carriage" cried the
Judge; let it come as near as possible.
Let this old man be taken to the manor
house. / see it all. Oliver forgive
all your harshness
Come, come, | will explain. I knew
that your grandfather was left in this
country at the outbreak of the war, but
have sought for him in vain. l am but a
trustee for him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
In the Blazing Forest

At that moment an intense volume Of
smoke rolled over their heads. Miss
Temple srang to her feet and looked
at the back of the mountain.
The woods Were on firel A roaring
sound was heard in the depths of the
Forest like the rushing of mighty winds.
The Indian put his hands to his
mouth and produced the peculiar call
OF his tribe A quick and hurried step
was heard dashing through the dry un-
derbrush and Edwards rushed to her
side with horror on ever feature
Away" he cried, even now we may
be too late"
The Indian pointed to Elizabeth and
said: Save her-leave John to die"
Take my arm," cried Edwards to
Elizabethi are you equal to the effort?"
YES she replied, but do not leave
that old man to die"
%, he Will be all right" said Ed
wards an indian can extricate him
self from such a situation as this.
Come, hurry
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Doomed to Single Blessedness

Louisa was silent for minute and
then said timidly: Observation-Disclosures
you ever think of marriage?"
"of course I have, was the reply. 'but
not as silly school girls who read novels
think OF it. I have always regarded il
as mere possibility OF late have
given the matter no consideration. what
ever.
Why should I? I am virtually nun
here In the wilderness there is no one
here of sufficient social standing to be
nay husband-and here | shall remain
probably, for many years until | am
such an old maid that Il would be rdicu-
lous for me to even think of matrimony.
Bu. you Louisa, yen are pardon me.
differently situated
To the surpris: OF Elizabeth Louisa
showed scme spirit and replied: '"rhe
de lighter of ciurgyman-tha daughter
of a servant of the King of kings-is
as well born as-as - and here sire broke
down and began to cry, while Elizabeth
comforted her and asked pardon for her
rijdeness