davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
DDYSEY[NDN(
ARY TALL nI
~ MARY CpAHAM BONNER.
SQUIRREL FEAST.

"Come to the feast" said Sharpy, the
squirrel.
"Ill be delighted" said Chippy Chap
by.
1t was showing in the park and the
squirrels were hurrying and scamper-
ing for their warm homes in the trees.
"Are you going to have a good
feast?' asked Chippy Chappy.
"A fine one" squealed SHARPLY. 1.-THE
spring will be here soon so we might
as well enjoy our food. Soon we can
hunt for more"
Dear me-" said Chippy Cbappy,
NOW careless you are becoming And
to himself he thought it was fine that
he was invited TO feast by SHARPLY
which SHARPLY said would be fine one,
and he was glad too that SHARPLY
wasn't being too careful.
1t was so much nicer to go to a
feast where creatures weren't careful.
Chippy Chappy had been to both kinds
and he knew.
He knew of the many times he had
come home to eat and nibble because
he had not enough to eat when he had
been asked out. And some creatures
hadn't always cared what they had
given him. Some squirrels had offered
him the shells only of their nuts.
And he had even known children to
give him nuts that were bad. Yes,
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
FASCINATION OF AIR LIFE
First Trip in Army AirpIane ls
Thriller Apart From Everything
Else in Life, Says Filler.

An aviation student in one of the
Western schools declares that the
sensation of the first trip in one of
the governments aircraft is not TO be
compared with anything else he ever
experienced. He explained it thus:
Il wish | had the ability to describe
the fascination of this work of learn
ing to be the cavalry of the air, or
eyes of the army, or anything else one
chooses to call US.
Let me tell you that your first trip
in an airplane is a thing apart, absO-
lutely new and different from any ex-
perience that you ever had.
You climb into the bus with your
sweater and your leather helmet and
goggles, looking like something you
would throw raw fish to if you saw it
in cage, and the lieutenant shoves on
the power and you go humping and
bouncing along the ground with big
wind in your face and the prop spin
ming out in front like Dutch wind
mill gone crazy.
Then suddenly the bumps are gone
and you go whirring swiftly and stead
lily up into the clear air and sunshine
and the earth falls away like a fade
away on a movie screen and the fool
ish little people on the ground turn up
their white faces at you as you go
over.
81 hope l don't get mumps or liver
complaint or some fool thing that will
keep me out of it all. This is m. pet
fear more than that of taking a fall
or getting smashed into"
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
Privileges of the Poor.

VIII you show me any other people
outside of the fairy books who can put
the most fearful calamity on like a
cloak and doff 1t at will, who can
augment their families to seven or
eight children overnight, and reduce
them as readily to five or six the fol-
lowing dag If it but seem to them adj
visable? Where outside their ranks Is
there any one capable of persuading
you that 1t is a privilege to sleep cold
so that some Darius you never say or
care to see shall, he and his allegor-
ical mule, go better warmed? Who
else, being neither of your kith nor
kin, has such power over you that, with
a mere bloOdshot eye and shiver of the
shoulders, they can turn your auto
mobile, your furs, your warmth, and
all your pleasant pleasures into Dead
Sea apples of discomfort Laura
Spencer Porter, in Atlantic.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
introduced the Spider.

The solicitor had been away in the
country calling upon a client, but on
his return there were signs of loafing
and laziness on the part of the junior
clerk.
Thomas. that typewriter has not
been touched todayI" snapped the man
of law.
"Oh, sirr calculated the junior.
''Why, was using it only an hour
agol"
Then" Numbered the employer,
"how comes it that there's a spider on
the machine. and that he's woven a web
over the keyboard"
Sir" remarked the lad, I'll tell the
truth. There was a fly in the works
of that machine Rather than waste
my time in entrappiEg the insect, sir,
the spider, sir i"-
London Tit-Bits.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

Galesburg-Because he is a vegeta-
rian Marshal o. Sanburn claimed ex-
emption from war service. You don't
have to eat them, only kill Them" A.
o. Lindstrum, chairman of the Gales
burg exemption board, assured him.
Sandburn goes in class one.
Stockholm -. The Aftonbladet says
that after massacre which occurred
at Kerava the red guards wired to Hell
singfors for surgeons and ambulances.
Five surgeons, who left Immediately,
adds the paper. were murdered by
the red guards on their arrival.
London-Maj-Gen VIM r. Robert
son, the Daily Chronicle declaes on it's
own information, will remain chief of
the imperial staff with the full ap-
prevail and confidence of the war cab
met.
Fort Worth-Aviator Cadet Clifford
N. Murray, Royal Flying Corps squad
ron, of Welshire, England, was killed
at Benbrook field here when his ma
chine fell.
Washington-Cotton consumed dur,
ing January amounted to 524,0S3 run.
ming bales, and for the six months end
ing Jan. 81, 31,318,844 running bales.
Washington - The senate has con-
firmed Benedict Crowell, Cleveland, as
assistant secretary Of war, as chair
man of the aircraft board, and Richard
Howe, New York, as a member of the
aircraft board.
Amsterdam - The Taegliche Rund-
schau of Berlin announces that dep
utation of Polish troops from Russia
has arrived secretly at Warsaw on a
special mission to the Polish cabinet.
Quebec-The historic Church of St.
Foye, near here, was destroyed by
fire. The church was rich in relics dat
ing as far back as the first days of the
colony of Quebec.
Dublin-Twenty-ei persons were
seized in a raid on the headquarters
of the Clan-Na-Gael. Maps and draw
ings were found, but no arms. 1t was
closed more than year ago by the
authorities.
Cape Town-The house of assem-
bly, by a vote of 81 to SO rejected a
motion in favor of Incorporating a
paragraph in the electoral reform bill
giving the franchise to women.
New York-By direction of the
court, and at the request of the federal
district attorney, the jury in the trial
for treason of Paul c. Hennig, re-
turned a verdict of not guilty.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
CHAPTER XVII.

Marthy.
DHLY LOUISE led the way down
n the gorge, through the meadow,
and along the orchard to the little
gate The Cove seemed empty and
rather forlorn, with the wind creep
ing up the river and rafting the dry
branches of the naked fruit trees.
She stopped for minute on the
doorstep, hesitating before she opened
the door. Behind her, Seabeck drew
close as if he would shield her from
something; perhaps he, too. felt the
deadly quiet and emptiness of the
place.
Billy Louise opened the door and
stepped into the kitchen. She stopped
and stood still, so that her slim figure
would have hidden the interior from
the eyes of Seabeck had he not been
so tall. As 1t was, she barred his
way so that he must stand on the step
outside.
By the kitchen table, with her ell
bows on the soiled oilcloth, sat Mar
thy. Her uncombed hair hung IN
wisps about her head; her hard old
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
"You Did," shrieked Chippy chappy.

when he went out to a party, or when
folts offered him food he did Ike to
have it of the best.
So he was much cheered up because
SHARPLY had said 1t would be splendid
feast.
when are you going to have it?"
asked Chippy Chappy.
''This very afternoon" said SHARPLY.
''We'll probably quarrel little" said
Chippy Chappy, hoping they wouldn't
quarrel over the food.
ooh that won't matter" said SHARPLY,
ga little fighting is good for our di
gestions."
what are digestiOnsT" asked Chippy
Chappy, cooking his head on one side,
and whisking his tail up high.
'Digestions," squealed SHARPLY, "are
our tummies when food is received BY
them happily. To have a good diges
ton means we can eat anything, to
have a bad one means that we have
aches and pains and feel very poorly,
and that food is disagreeable to u.s."
"We certainly have good digestions,"
said Chippy Chappy.
1--WE most assuredly have" agreed
SHARPLY.
"And is fighting good for US, do
you think?"
Excellent" said SHARPLY.
isn't afternoon here now" said
Chippy Chappy. "It seems as if I had
been talking to you all the morning"
'Not polite to talk like that" squeal-
ed SHARPLY. at should give you great
pleasure to talk with me-"
at does, SHARPLY DEAR" said Chippy
Chappy, but it gives me even more
pleasure, if that could be possible, to
eat with you"
Chippy Chappy said this with a sly
little wink. But SHARPLY did not notice
it. He was feeling hungry himself.
"Come along, afternoon or not, We'll
have the feast"
all the wonderful feasts Chippy Chap
py saw one that did his heart or his
tummy or his digestion, he wasn't sure
which, great deal of good.
"My mouth waters 7" exclaimed Chip
by Chappy. "My! But there is feast
here. Where did you steal all these
nuts from? They certainly aren't saved
up ones. You'd never have so many
left over at this time of the year If
they were only saved up ones"
SGT cold SharYNu ST
didn't steal didn't"
you did," shrieked Chippy Chappy.
"Now that you are becoming so angry
about it, l am sure you have been
stealing. And now you are not telling
the truth"
"You say steal, and you say don't
tell the truth. I'll punish you for
that"
And they began to fight. As a mat
ter of fact Chippy Chappy had no right
to scold SHARPLY for stealing, as he was
only too glad to eat some of his stolen
food, and too, Chippy Chappy had just
as bad a reputation for stealing as had
SHARPLY. All squirrels are famed for
it.
But they fought and they fought I'M
til they were all tired out and until the
nuts had been almost forgotten. But
after awhile they stopped fighting and
made up.
'Tm glad you've got the nuts any
way" said Chippy Chappy, "and real
ly don't care how you got them"
"Of course you don't" said SHARPLY,
as they both munched as fast as they
could.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

face was lined and gray, her hard eyes
dull with brooding. Billy Louise, star
ing at her from the doorway, knew that
Marthy had been sitting like that for
long, long time.
She went over to her efficiently
HasitatingIy she laid her gaunteted
hand on Marthy's stopped shoulder.
She did not say anything. Marthy did
not move under her touch, except to
turn her dull glance upon Seabeck,
"Cm in," she said stolidly. "What'd
yuh come fer?"
"Miss Macdonald will perhaps ex-
plain"
"She amt got nothin' to explain"
said hard old Marthy with grim final
ity. 'Tll do what explainin's to be
done. C'm in. Don't stand there like
a stump. And shut the door. It's
cold as a barn here, anyway"
"Oh, Marthy!" cried Billy Louise.
with the sound of tears in her voice.
Don't oh Marthy me-" said the
harsh voice fatty. 81 don't want nc
Marthyin' nor no sympathy. Well. old
man, you're here to cOlleck, | s'pOse.
Take what's in sight; faint none of it
yourn, fairs l know, but anything you
claim you kin have, fer all me. I've
lived honest all my days an worked
fer what 1 got. I've harbored thieves
in my old age and trusted them that
want fit to be trusted. I've allus paid
my debts, Seabeck. I'm willin' to paw
now fer bein' a fool"
"W-where's Charlie?" Billy Louise
leaned and whispered the question.
81 dino, and l don't care. He's
pulled out-him an that breed. I'll
have t pay yuh for seven growed
cattle l never seed till yist'day. Sea-
beck. You can set yer own price on
'em. 1 amt sure, but I've got an idee
they was shot las night an dumped
in the river. You en- set yer price.
I've got rheumatic so bad | couldn't
go n put stop to nOthin'-but-'
"Oh, Marthy!" Billy Louise was
shivering and crying now. "Marthy |!
Don't be $3.50 hard. 1t was all Char
lie"
YES" said Marthy harshly, at was
all Charlie. He was thief, an was
sech a supplemented old fool | never
k2Owed what he was. | let him 90
ahead, an l set in the house with a
white apurn tied on NE an thought l
was havin' an easy time. l set here
and let him rob my neighbors that I
amt never harmed er cheated out of
cent, and soon's he thought he was
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
CHAPTER XV-ccntinued.

II
WAN a drink mumbled Ward,
with a blanket over his mouth and a
raveled thread tickling his nose so that
he Squirmed.
Billy Louise went over and laid her
myers on his neck. az can't tell
whether it's grease or perspiration."
she said, laughing a little. what are
you squirting up your nose for? Sure
ly to goodness you don't mind that
little, harmless raveling? If you
wouldn't go on breathing. 1t wouldn't
wriggle around so much" Neverthe-
less, she plucked the tormenting
thread and threw it on the floor.
Gimme - drink" Ward mumbled
again.
There's more sage tea"
waugh ~
L suppose that means you aren't
crazy about sage tea Well, might
give you teenty-weenty speck more
of coffee. You can't have water yet,
you know. YOu've-you've got to
sweat like niger In a cotton patch
first"
Ward grunted something and after
wards signified that he would take the
coffee and call 1t square.
The next time she went near him he
was wrinkling his lean nose because
beads of perspiration were standing
there and slipping occasionally down
to his cheeks.
Fine! You're two niggers in a cot
ton patch now" she announced cheer
ingly. "And Mr.. Hookin' Cough will
have to hunt another home, l reckon.
You weren't half as hOarse when you
swore last time"
1t was physically impossible for
Ward to blush, since he was already
the color Of boiled beet; but he
looked guilty when she uncovered the
rest of his face and wiped off the
gathered moisture. Il didn't think
you'd hear" he grinned embarrassedly.
Il was listening for it, buckarOO. I'd
have been scared to pieces If you
hadn't cussed, little. I'd have thought
sure you were going to die. A man."
she added sententiOusly. always has a
chance as long as he's able to swear.
It's like a horse wiggling his ears"
The comparison reminded her that
she intended to shut Rather in the
hay corral she dried Wards hands
hastily, pulled the wolf-skins off the
bed, and commanded him to keep COW
cred until she came back. She ran
down bareheaded to TIE stable, saw
Rather industriOusly boring his nose
into the stack, and put up the gate.
When she went into the cabin again.
Ward gave a start and opened his eyes
Ike one who bad been doing. Billy
Louise smiled with qualification. He
was better. She knew he was better.
She did not speak, but went over to
the stove and pretended to be busy
there, though she was careful to make
no noise. When she turned finally and
glanced toward the bed, Ward was
asleep.
Billy Louise took deep breath, tip
toed over to the bench beside the table,
sat down, and pillOwed her head on
her folded arms. She wanted to cry.
and she needed to think. and she was
deadly, deadly tired.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
CHAPTER XVI.
aHm-mmIV


TLOYD CARSON was phlegmatic
II young man, but he swOre an as
tOnished oath when he saw Billy
Louise gallOping along the lane that
led nowhere except to the wOmanless
abode of Samuel Seabeck. He walked
very fast to the stable, which was the
first logical stopping place, and so he
met Billy Louise before she had time
to dismOunt, even SUI posing she in
tend to do so.
Hello, Floyd! Is Mr.. Seabeck at
homer"
Sure. Get off, and I'll put up your
horse. We're just through eatin, but
our grub carpenter will rustic some
thing for yuh, all right"
mo, l can't stop this time. I'm not
hungry, anyway. Just give a yell for
Mr.. Seabeck, will you? l want to see
him a minute"
Floyd eyed her uncertainty. decided
that Billy Louise was not in the mood
to yield to persuasion, and tactfully
hurried off to find Seabeck without
shouting for hlm-leSt he bring others
also. who were evidently not wanted at
all. He took 1t that Billy Louise felt
some diffidence about visiting a strict
ly bachelor outfit. and he set himself
to relieve her of any embarrassment.
Presently Seabeck himself came
from the dirt-roofed, rambling cabin
which was his home and strobe down
the path, buttoning his coat as he
came. FlOyd's face showed for a min
ute in the doorway before he effaced
himself completely, and not another
man was in sight anywhere. Billy Lou
iSe was grateful to circumstance she
had dreaded this visit, though not for
the reason Floyd Carson believed.
How de do, Miss Macdonald? Pref
~ nice day, but I'm afraid IT'S a
weather breeder. The winds trying to
change, l notice"
ayes, and so I mustn't stop. CouId
you ride part way home with me, Mr..
Seabeck? want to talk with Won
about something. And l can't stop a
minute. l must get home"
why. certainly, TIL go. If youII
wait Just minute while | saddle IN
or If you'd rather ride on. I'll overtake
you"
I'm ride on. l think. Blue hntes
standing around, and he's a little warm
too. You're awfully good, Mr.. Sea
beck ="
"Oh. not at ALL" Seabeck stubbed
his zoe on the stable doorSin in his
confusion at the praise. 'T'n be right
along, soon as 1 can slip saddle on
He disappeared, and Billy Louise
turned and Hoped slowly down the
lsne
You must have some lightning
method of saddling. Mr.. Seabeck," she
smiled over her shoulder at him when
nv came up.
I'VE learn to do things quick when
we've handled cattle a few years" he
admitted. He had a diffident manner
of receiving compliments which
pleased Billy Louise and gave her con
f1dence needed brace.
Mr.. Seabeck, I've always heard that
you're IN awfully square man." she
sAid Daddy seemed to think that
You could be depended on in any kind
OF pinch. l hope it's true. Pm
banking a lot on your squareness to-
day"
why, l don't know about my being
atty better than my neighbors." he said.
with a twinkle of humor in his eyes,
which were a bright, unvarying blue.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

you don't call Charlie Fox born
criminal, or Marthy MeilkeT
Charlie Fox! Is that the person
you mean, who has been"
"YeS, 1t is And he is horribly sorry
and so is Marthy, and they'll pay you
for the cattle. And If you do any
thing mean about ii, it will simply kill
poor old Marthy. You couldn't send
her TO the pen, Mr.. Seabeck. Think
how she's worked there In the Cove ;
and Charlie has worked like a perfect
slave; and he was trying to get a
start so he-could-get married."
"Hm-mm - Rumors had reached
Seaheck. thanks to Billy Louise's
dropped lashes upon certain occa-
sion, which caused him to believe he
saw further light.
"And If you're going TO be hOrrid-"
"Will the-lady he wants to marry
give him another chanceT
Don't you think she ought to-if
she l-loves him?" Billy Louise studied
the skyline upon the side farthest
from Seabeck
You say he wants to pay for the
cattle and"
He'll do anything he can TO make
amends" said Billy Louise, with con-
viction. He'll take his medicine and
go TO Jail if you insist" she added sor-
rowfully. 1T will ruin his whole life.
of course, and break a couple OF wom-
EMS hearts, but"
ITS bad thing, a mighty bad
thing, when a man tries to get ahead
too fast"
ats a good thing when he learns
the lesson without having TO pay for ii
with his whole future" Billy Louise
amended the statement.
Seabeck smiled q little behind his
fingers that kept tugging at his whis-
kers.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26
Old Games.

Many Of the games played by the
boys and girls of today are of very
ancient origin.
Marbles, for instance, have been
found among the ruins of Pompeii.
The more modern marbles, however,
came from Holland, and were intro
duced into England about 1880. They
were made of clay, stone and agate.
Handball goes back to the fall of
Troy, and the little people of ancient
Greece used to see who could hop the
longest. From Greece, also, came
skipping the rope.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

of. Mr. Seabeck | was afraid you
wouldn't let Charlie off just for her
sake, but thought maybe if you just
thought WANTED you to do it for
mine, why, maybe-with two women to
De sorry for, you'd be kind Of"
"Hm-mm ~ Seabeck sent her keen,
blue, tWinkling glance that made Billy
Louise turn hot all over with shame
and penitence. "Hm-mm!" he said
again-if one can call that saying
and pulled at his grazing whiskers.
"Hm-mmm %
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

up delusive promise of respite from
the light; a shadow creeps reassur-
ingly over the earth. but it is dusk
and not darkness. There is no re-
prieve. AT IL the sun dips below the
horizon; at 2:30 1t balances again like
a replenished bag, splitting its orange
and amethyst flood over the earth. The
restless cycle has begun again, and
still the plain unwinds endlessly. mo-
brightly now. At seven
one reaches Nizninovgorod. If it is
June, the sun has been up five hours.
Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-02-26

On the islands of Re and Oleron,
near La Rochelle, France, according to
Popular Science Monthly. are found
the smallest farms in the world. Same
of them are only one or two square
yards in area, yet these iny domains
are carefully planted with a variety
of crops, even including vineyards. The
soil is extremely fertile. The repeat
ed subdivision of estates among heirs
and the dense population of the is
lands explain the existence of these
Lilliputian properties.