davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

They turned the box over and over,
jumped on it and tossed 1t up. trying
to get their prey. But tho trap was
strong. Bunny Bob shut his eyes and
tried not to think what would happen
II it should give way.
Suddenly he felt himself begin fall
ing down hill; over and over he turned
with the carrot. until he was 80 dizzy
and tangled up with long carrot roots
that he could not have told his head
from his heels If asked to suddenly.
Then the trap reached the bottom of
the hill, and. strangely enough. be-
gan gently bobbing up and down.
where on earth am II" thought
the poor little rabbit. Can It be
that one Of the dogs is carrying me
off In his mouth: Oh dear! Oh
Dear!"
On went the box gently rocking and
swaying, and Bunny Bob noticed thai
the floor of his prison was getting
very damp.
II know!" thought he. 1--WE rolled
into the Stream and am drifting away
Oh Dear! Suppose I drift out into
the big Ocean that Walla Cog. tn,
Wild Goose. was telling US about"
On went the box. gently rocking
and swaying. Bunny. Bob began t
feel quite seasick. but at last his it'll,
boat stopped with a sudden bump.
1--WE run aground" thought he.
Soon he heard human voices ant
felt himself lifted and carried away.
you open It," said little voice.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

two sisters. Here is a great big one
Mary! It's Just what we want for
the table,"
Mary came running to see. And
she. too, approved.
"Now," continued Ellen joyously.
I'VE will have John come down and
carry 1t to the barnyard for us; and
there we'll cle-i 1t out and cut two
big eyes and q nose and a mouth in
1t and-and--oh, Mary. won't 1t look
just too scary for anything when we
put lighted candle inside IT."
Just then-believe 1t or not, as you
please--just then strange thing hap
pened. The pumpkin rolled over on
its side and back again: then its thick
green stem suddenly broke off from
the vine and began to spin round and
round as though some one were NOV
ing It in a circle.
Presently bit Of the stem few of
and fell to the ground; instantly there
sprang UP from where 1t had fallen
q queer creature nearly as large al
Ellen.
The two little girls stood and looked
In horror, their eyes fairly popping
out OF their sockets; they wanted tc
run but couldn't.
This strange creature had on
hat Of green moss which came to q
peak on top, out Of which a cluster OF
dandelions seemed to be growing
His Jacket. laced tightly about his
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

overhead, to drop them down the
necks Of those unfortunate people
who happened to be passing UNDER
meath. It was dark. but the moon
was not yet up and they were In a
hurry to get an early start.
"Ah! IT'S they" cried Blacknight
suddenly and joyously. "Methinks
they fly we'll tonight, eh. sister," And
she pointed with her evil wand at
number Of black creatures which
could be plainly seen flying toward
them. They were bats-and, as ev-
eryone knows, when broomsticks are
not available witches always ride
through the air on the backs Of bats.
sol" echoed Evildays, delightedly.
"'Tis far indeed they shall carry us
tonight and It's we'll they fly we'll
and strong. Come, sister. we have
much work ahead Of us--let US be
Off"
Accordingly. each Of them jumped
upon the back Of q bat and were
borne away, the other bats following
to be used as fresh mounts when the
ones already carrying them should
become tired.
TO narrate all the evil deeds those
two witches performed that night, to
tell of the thousand and one mis-
chievous pranks they played would be
to I'LL a book with many. many pages;
so, let US speak Of Just few.
First Of all. az they neared the out
skirts Of the town toward which they
were flying. they came upon an old
farmer in q rickety, ramshackle
wagon driving a lean white horse.
His wagon was loaded with pumpkins
The witches, invisible to the human
eye. swooped down upon him. Sud.
denly the poor old white horse rose
up on his hind legs. snorted in terror
kicked up his heels and ran as fast
as his decrepit old legs could carry
him. And at the same moment the
farmer let out q wild yell of surprise
and clutched at the back of his neck
Presently they came to the residen.
tial section Of the town, where the
streets were but dimly lighted. A
group Of small boys were trying te
tie bag Of flour across the sidewalk
at just the proper height so that thu
head Of a passerby would strike 4
and cause the nour to spill all ovel
him.
Tommy Jones was putting the las
knot in the cord when Evildays gav'
the bag quick poke with her want
and-lo and behold-Tommy Jones re
ceived the contents Of the bag RICH
In his face. Which, no doubt, serve'
Tommy Jones Just right. But Tomm,
didn't think 30.
A little farther on the witche
espied an open window and dew II
The room was darkened but was hlle
; with children who were having Hal
o iowe'en party. A large washtub. flle
with water. reposed on the floor
the center Of the room: and a nun
Der Of apples were floating around o
the surface Of the water. The chi
}, dren, on their knees. were groupe
about the tub "bobbing for apples
"a game you and every other chill
has played on Halloween.
Evildays peered at Blacknight an
grinned; and, straightway. each {
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
Bunny Bob's Good Luck

saw lovely carrot hanging up like a
long comet Not growing on anything
Just hanging. That was rather
queer. Bunny Bob looked a little
closer and saw that the carrot was
hanging to nail in a box. The box
itself was cleverly hidden in tho
tangled raspberry bushes.
"Aha!" thought Bunny Bob. Some
good fairy put it here for mel"
It wasn't as If Mrs. Cottontot,
Bunny Bob's mother. had not warned
him over and over; but Bunny Bob
never stopped to think. He Just saw
the beautiful carrot, and thought
about his four-leaf- clover and into the
box he hoped. When Bang!-the
trap shut on him and there he vast
Just then he heard terrible bay
ing sound. hollow and fierce. and he
knew that dogs and hunters were In
the woods. So frightened was he that
every one OF his whiskers. let alone
each individual tuft of fur. quivered
and shook. He crouched down in hi,
dark prison and listened to the bay
ing coming nearer and nearer. At las
the dogs reached the trap. They hat
been following Bunny Bob's track. al
though he did not know 1t. Such I
furious barking was never heard
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

.cause you're only a little girl"
"Well them" said the second little
voice. you ought to open 1t cause
you're q dreat. big boy and you aren't
not 'fraid."
"But," said the first little voice. II
can't open 1t, for cause have to
awe you and II I'm opening boxes I
can't save you wifi bot hands. seer"
There was q little pause. then the
saoond little voice said: All right,
Int YOU mustn't not run away FUN
me-"
runny Bob still trembled. but soon
ha heard hands fumbling at the door
~ his trap. Then the door opened
and he heard a rush Of feet. as the
cnildren scampered of to a safe dis
lance. Out he crept and looked
a. round. There stood the two little
children holding hands. their eyes big
"oh! Obi" they cried. "A cunning
little bunny!"
"And look. he's got q carrot" said
~. little boy. land he came all the
,rsv to SEQ US in his little ship!"
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
In the Field With the Hallowe' EN- Pumpkin

his hat; and when he grinned-which
he did continually-his mouth seemed
to extend from ear to ear.
He grabbed up the pumpkin. stood
a moment and grinned at the terrified
little girls, and then drove a queer
shaped knife straight into the yellow
heart Of the pumpkin. The pumpkin
squeeled. The little girls shivered.
And the queer creature with the knife
grinned!
That's the way to stab 'em!" he
croaked in a high, squeaky voice,
plug 'em to the heart, say II"
Then he withdrew his knife.
plunged 1t in again and again and
once more and. 10 and behold. he had
made an eye. Rapidly. and chuckling
to himself all the while, he made the
other eye, then the nose and the
mouth. And, lastly, with deft scoop
Of his knife he cut a tooth in the
mouth-one tooth that stuck out like
sore thumb. And all the while as
he worked strange, ghostly light
grew and grew and shone within the
pumpkin-which by this time had left
off squealing.
"There." he exclaimed. That's
done! I guess you kids won't have
that pumpkin for your Halloween
party!" And he laughed so hard that
his pipe-stem legs fairly ratified
against each other.
Poor Ellen and Mary. They tried
to run, but their feet seemed rooted
to the ground. They tried to scream.
but they had lost their voices. All
they could do was to stand and cling
to each other in terror.
Then, to make matters worse. a
black cat suddenly sprang up out Of
nowhere.
Hey! How's that, Jerry!" de-
manded the fellow. addressing the cat
and holding the pumpkin UP SO the
cat could see 1t.
Jerry opened his mouth and wiggled
his whiskers knowingly.
"Ah! So you like IT," cried the
creature. well, we did q lot Of
damage here, didn't we. you old black
rascal, you!"
Ellen made brave effort and hnal-
ly managed to speak. go away! Go
away!" she whispered.
The queer fellow grinned
"Humh!" he said decisively. "You
hear that, Jerry? Fine chance she
has Of making us 60 away! I guess
she doesn't know that am the Spirit
of Mischief, licensed to stalk abroad
on Halloween, and that you are sec.
ond cousin. thrice removed. to ole
Nick himself. And that we try It
raise the mischief wherever we can
They thought they were going to hav,
this fat pumpkin for a Halloween
jack-o-lantern. didn't they--but W,
spoiled it for 'em, eh. Jerry!"
And the queer creature fell I,
laughing so hard that presently tn,
pumpkin slipped from his hand ant
, fell to the ground where, with a lou
! report, 1t exploded. scattering its seed
and yellow meat all over everything
/ The Spirit Of Mischief happened t
, have his mouth open and the way hi
( laugh changed to an expression o
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

- ERE are . few good ways OF en-
tertaining your friends when
they meet at your house next
Tuesday to celebrate All Saints
Day. From olden times this last day
of October has been associated with
superstition and mysticism.
We have long since emerged from
the belief In witchcraft and ghosts.
but we still enjoy playing games that
remind Us Of the dark and Middle
Ages.
Begin your party by pairing your
guests in this way. Fill . pumpkin.
rind with nuts. which have been
opened. have the meat taken out. some
token OF fate placed inside, and glued
together again with a ribbon attached
to each. There must be always two
nuts with the same tokens in them.
and the persons drawing the same
will be partners.
In addition to the old "Bobbing for
Apples game there are the following
out Of which much fun can be gotten.
A horseshoe Is hung In a doorway.
and each set Of partners Is given three
lady-apples. Each In turn tries to
throw the apples. one at a time,
through the shoe. The one who sue
ceeds. wins tho prize: or II you do
not want to give prizes. she will be
pleased to be told that she will marry
young. Hang a ring from the gas fix
ture and ask your guests to try to run
a pencil through the ring while walk.
ing toward 1t. The winner will be
the next to be married. Nearly al
Halloween games have to do with
love and marriage.
Another game Is played by hanging
bag of nuts from a curtain and ask.
ing q blind-folded person to strike
the bag with a cane. When he sue.
ceeds, he scatters the nuts. and the
others try to gather them as quickly
the most will have the greatest good
fortune during the year.
Ask the boys and girls to seat them
selves in = circle on the door. and
then pass. from hand to hand. a bal
Of different colored yarns. The firs
ono begins . ghost-story. unwindini
the yarn as he proceeds. until h
comes to a different color and thel
he losses It to girl in the circle
and that one must continue the stor!
until she comes to q different color
and so on. until the ball 10 unwoun'
and the story ended.
A large cake with as many dineren
colored candles on II ~ there ar
guests. 10 passed around and as eacl
one helps herself to piece the hostes
reads aloud the following propheciei
having prepared these verses before
} hand:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
GO + OurPuzZle Corner = g
BEHEADINGS.

BEHEAOlN0os
1. Behead q precious metal ana get
not young.
2. Behead something regarded as
q prophetic sign and get members OF
the male sex.
8. Behead one Of tho inferior ami
mails and get point of the compass
I. Behead to mark and get char
acter in the Bible.
s. Behead moved to anger and get
to estimate.
8. Behead refined or delicate and
get froxen water.
7. Behead to hit with missile and
get to jeer or mock.
The beheaded letters spell some
thing associated with Halloween.
sExTETTE OF MOVIE ACTORS.
No. 1. "sue. stop here" No. q
"Call war. Eide" No. 8. mo farm
Tom" No. 4. ROSA r drugged AL
No. s. Tom fathers us. No. 6. Feed
Grant
ANSWERS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. /. Gold
2. Omen. 3. B.east. 4. L-AbeL 6
I.yote. 6. Mice. 7. Shoot.
NOVIE ACTORS-No. 1. Hous'
Peters. No. 2. Wallace Reid. No. 8
Tom Fornsan. No. 4. Douglas Gerard
No. s. Stuart Holmses. No. 8. Fret
Ndce.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

wicked witches, needless to state. en-
joyed it immensely.
After a few more pranks in this
house the witches sailed forth again
to the streets. And presently they came
across some boys trying to take a
gate off its hinges. Now, Just why
boys should consider this a proper
way Of celebrating Halloween Is in
deed beyond reason: so, after all. no
matter what happens to them while 50
engaged 1t is not thing to cry about.
Just as Arthur Brown was lifting
the gate. Evildays seized his coat.
wrapped It around the gate post and
held 1t tight while Blacknight pound
the owner. in towering rage, came
running. threw open the door, saw
poor Arthur tampering with his gate.
grabbed him and tanned his hide"
until Arthur promised never, never
again to play such Halloween prank
on anyone.
Then-but surely we have followed
them far enough In their lhSBcAioyous
adventures. Sufficiently far. at an,
rate, to show that perhaps these
witches. or others like them. are re-
sponsible for many Of the strange
things which happen on Halloween
night everywhere.
OF course. much depends upon
whether or not you believe in witches.
In the old. old days, people believed
in witches, but we are enlightened
now, and we know that it Is all mere
ly a foolish superstition.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

him sa-a- Ealing homei"
Eyes. let's!" cried the little boy. and
of they ran.
Bunny Bob sat still a while. coll
lecting his little wits. which were sad
ly scattered by his adventures, then
he thought:
"They mean well. and don't like to
disappoint them. but then I only ate
ONE four-leaf-clover 30 had better
go home before use up all my good
luck"
So he winked his ears ana twinked
his ridiculous little tail and OF he
bumped.
That evening as the seventeen little
Cottontots and their parents sat
around their Mayapple leaf table al
supper. Bunny Bob told them his ad-
ventures. and they all agreed that hi
had been very lucky. most remark
ably lucky. He had escaped the hunt.
ers, the dogs, tho unknown seas. and
the trap all In one day! Now II thai
wasn't luck enough for one little rab.
bit! Which all goes to show tina,
Good Luck IL not always Just getting
what you want. sometimes It 10 NOT
getting what you DON'T want See
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

~ NE day Bob Cottontot. nick
named Bunny Bob. bumped
along in his own bunnysome
" fashion, up Fern Lane, down
Mayapple Court and into Woodsy
Place, when what did he spy right In
front of him but large. perfect four
leaf-clover!
Good Luck!" cried Bunny Bob.
"Well, we'll. we'll! Ill take you right
along with me"
So down he sat and nibbled and
nibbled until not a scrap Of the leaf
was left.
Now, one would think that q little
rabbit with a four-leaf- clover inside
Of him ought to be specially lucky all
day, and Bunny Bob felt sure az sure
can be of 1t; in fact, he was 30 sure
that he decided to wander on and md
out Just how lucky he could be.
II wouldn't be surprised" said he
III should find a big patch of par
ships; or maybe I'll find new hole
better than the one we live In now
or perhaps I'll hnd carrot!"
So on he skipped.
Soon he stopped and shifted tho air
What was that delicious odor? Onl!
one thing could smell so sweet! Car
rots! He hoped and peeped and soo'
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

surprise when he found his mouth full
Of pumpkin seeds was ludicrous. Jerry
seemed changed from a black to a
yellow cat In the twinkling Of an eye
Then came a trembling. squeaky
voice from one Of the pieces of pump
kin on the ground. Nov, now," It
walled "Just see what you've gone
and done! Here / am all busted to
smithereens-just in my prime, too
Why, they can't even make pie out
Of me now! And, besides"
Ellen sat up in bed. Mary was
sleeping peacefully beside her
Through the window she could see the
dawn coming. She breathed a sigh
Of relief. She had been dreaming.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

- Asst thou not a bag full yet,
y Evildays?" impatiently asked
the old witch with the long
hooked nose and the skeleton
arms, from her perch on top the
tumble-down fence at the corner Of
the cornfield.
AYE, nearly So" answered Evil
days. The two witches, Evildays and
Blacknight. were preparing for their
mischievous Halloween night. And
they had met in the corner Of the old
cornfield to gather seeds from q
pumpkin and. as they sailed alons
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
A QUEER CURE FOR ILLNESS.

~ xOAAAIAS CO1SC E6Ss
Did you ever see a real live Croco.
ollie?
If you did. did you think the reptile
much to look at?
Can you imagine people believing
a Crocodile could bring luck?
The Egyptians believe that the more
Crocodiles the better the luck, there
fore when a baby Is born In Egypt
the parents eagerly wait for the time
when the child can be carried for the
first time down to the edge Of the Nile
to take its initial peep at this large
reptile.
One Of the first lessons taught the
children of that country Is to case
at as many Crocodiles as they are
fortunate enough to see. Their elders
firmly believe that looking intently at
his Royal ugliness will cure the child
Of any kind of illness.
Babies are often carried for miles
and miles to take a look and that
look, they think. will restore the sui.
ferer to health and appetite.
We Americans think look at the
ugly thing IL enough to rob q well
person OF his appetite, let alone. going
miles out Of ones way to see one.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
Copyright, 1916 By Garrett Newktrk, Pasadena, Cal.
THE FIRST REPORTED BABY SHOW.

And then funny thing took place;
A monkey. usliest Of her race
Came all in earnest. not in jest.
To show her baby with the rest.
A most rnsainly looking brat.
With hairless head and visase flat.
Distorted limbs. crooked spine.
And of intelligence no sign.
When they within the line appeared
The people only laughed and jeered
"Why bring this imp" they cried t
her.
Before a judge like JUPITER"
II know not what his thought will be
Of this my lovely child" said she.
but this | know-he is to me
Most beautiful to say the least
Of all young creatures. man or beast.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25
D ailII LOWE q!

you who hold the candle green,
Will win great fame that's easily
SEEM"
Good luck will ever follow you,
Since you have wisely chosen blue"
HE who holds the candle red,
VIII e'er by fortunes sweets be fed
"she who holds a candle yellow,
Marries soon a jolly fellow"
Happy. lucky. pretty she,
II white candle hers should boz
II the hostess wants to start her
party with a vim she will request hei
guests to come dressed as ghosts, and
have for the first game the task Of the
guests finding out the others by the
sense Of touch.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

the witches seized child by his hair
and pushed his head down under the
water. Bobby Jones went in up to
his collar, and Willie Barnes. right
next to him. all but fell into the tub.
Moreover, each boy said the other
had showed him and. but for the in.
reference of the hostess. there would
have been a fight right there. The
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

"Oh, but l don't want to-" said an
other sweet. little voice. Pm 'fraid
somefing might jump out
well. you needn't not be 'fraid,"
said the first little voice, iii save you,
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

"Oh, let's get him some more car
rots and lots Of lettuce and vegetables
out of our garden" said the little girl,
jumping around with glee. then let's
put them in his ship again and send
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25


er Browns rolling cornfield,
baskino in the bright Fall Sun
~ shine, lay a big, fat, lazy pump
kin. its round, yellow sides bulging
with its meaty contents that gave such
splendid promise of yellow pumpkin
pies.
Around it, here and there down the
long burrows, the corn stood in shocks,
and the pumpkins, clearly visible be.
cause of the cutting and stacking of
the corn, lay like so many bright yell
low dots over the brown field.
Presently. came Ellen and Mary.
Farmer Browns pretty daughters.
into the cornfield. Their eyes were
dancing and they were laughing and
shouting In high glee. Alas for the
poor pumpkins! Could they have
known the reason for the merry
maids trip over the rugged burrows
their sleek sides doubtless would have
lost their sickness. For. you see,
Ellen and Mary had come to pick
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

thin chest. was fashioned by Autumn
leaves. red and brown and gold: and
his trousers were the raggedest ones
imaginable and made of some green
material.
But the queerest thing about him
was his funny face; his ears came to
sharp point far above the brim Of
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

AAI1> JoPACi was 6ON VI
w earth.
W Der all the men of Creciar
birth:
He thought Of many things to do.
And some that seem quite modern. too
He sent proclamation out
To all the animals about.
That there should be baby show
Where he the prizes would bestow.
On those of perfect form and grace;
Eugenic children of each race.
And so they came as they were bid.
With cub or kitten. lamb or kid.
From field or forest. tame or wild.
Each mother with her youngest child.
In turn the candidates were shown
To Jupiter upon his throne.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-25

out their Halloween pumpkins! And.
Of course. they were looking for big.
fat, lazy ones!
Skipping along up one furrow and
down another they came, after a
while. TO our big. fat. lazy friend
basking in the bright Fall Sunshine.
"Oh!" cried Ellen. the eldest Of the