davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
Seeing the Opportunity

sacrifice made by his old mother. She always did find a way"
 We'll. sho had found it, and the necessary papers wero drawn up and the necessary steps taken, and Shird went home with shining, new, green lumber wagon, gayly striped with red and yellow. He went to work and toil- ed few days. Then for some un- known reason he wasn't needed any longer. One day, slumping along the road. head down and thought vacant, a rushing automobile struck him. Death also struck him. There was sor- row at his passing on. and yet, save for the family he had left behind, he had dona little for the world.
 Mother" said Annie. the somewhat shiftless wife of the decedent, "iR you'll take the children I'll work out, doing housework. I can make my own way-always my board sure-and whatever comes over for clothes and the children I'll do what I can for them They are nice bunch of chil- dren," she said fondly.
 Grandma looked dubiously at this great gift-she was old and had no means of support. That little acre of
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

At the club he met Chippie Walters.
 You must come and see my new quarters" the latter urged him. "Ex- elusive to degree. Front location on the avenue. plate glass and gilded let ters with shining brass. Ultra, my boy, ultra"
 Richard heaved 8 deep sigh. You must excuse me-" he said. I'm not just in the mood today to play the part of a committee of appreciation"
 Chippie looked worried. What is it" he questioned Your digestion, or did she" He paused.
 "She did," answered the other.
 Then you must come along and get your mind off your troubles. Don't brood, my boy; don't brood"
 Richard yielded. An hour later he was seated in the exclusive private of flee of Walters & Co.,, stock brokers. Chippie had proudly displayed his equipment and was talking club trivi- alities when a clerk from the outside office entered.
 "A lady to see you, sir," the under
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

the few little seed packets she had gained.
 "If he wants three punches, why, probably all the rest of the folks1l want three, too; 90 I'll just take the basket and peddle them around" said Bonnie joyfully. "I'd love to!"
 Bennie came rushing back. tingling the coins in his pockets with high de- light. He swung the empty basket high to show its emptiness.
 They want Dore and more and more!" he shouted in his treble voice. and he poured out the coins in his grandmother's hands.
 "Bennie," grandma said, "what an opportunity you are. You have opened my blind eyes. Here have I been with those onions in my garden patch for years. Year by year have grubbed them out and thrown them away. Now we shall see what we shall see!" She went into the grocery again and bought the seeds most needed, and had a little coin left. It warmed her heart and her pocket but the latter not for long.
 "Cornmeal,'' she reasoned, "swe1ls
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
Showing the Young Folks

she work these ideas into her daily life that none of the family sensed any great change In her mode of living. It was only after the shock grew less surprising that they realized the changes had been made.
 The daughter, Fannie, had been in the habit of running over casually to leave her little son in grandma's care while she did a little necessary shop ping; or made a long promised call o:l an old classma1e; or so on, through the long list of excuses modern daugh- ters know so well how to use. For long time grandma said nothing; then, one day, she read an article in magazine to the effect that tho older women, having raised their own fam flies, should not be imposed upon to the extent of having half the care of their grandchildren. That was the turning point. Without a word to anyone she settled it in her own mind that the next time Fannie came over, grandma would be out.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
By Abner Anthony

his notice, either, that Ma was receiv- ing and returning large correspond ence, but Ma did not choose to enlight- en his darkness in that respect.
 The latest bit of news had all the townspeople agog over the much-ad- vertised hlm-"Woman, Modem anG AntiQue"-that was to be shown at the local theater the coming week, fea- turing a local celebrity. Speculation was intense, as no one had the slight est idea who !t could be and no one suspected the unassuming lady.
 The night of nights came finally. The theater was filled to the last bit of available space and every family in town was represented. The usual pre- Iiminary slides acted like lashes to the feverish anticipation of the movie throng and whipped their curiosity to the straining point
 "Ah!"
 The murmur of suspense, ended none too soon, issued through the house like the sigh of a breeze through
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

So out she was.
 That day and many days after that.
 The neighbors began to sit up and take notice for it was indeed unusual to see Mrs. Kelly, arrayed in fine raj ment, leave her house every day at about the same hour. The neighbor across the street ran in one afternoon to the neighbor next door to talk it over. After some discussion they found that she always returned at about the same hour, that is, in time to have Pa Kelty's supper ready when he got home. What made Mrs. Kelty's actions the more remarkable was the fact that up to recently she was a reg ular stay-at-home.
 It did not take many days for her woman's intuition to discover that she was being covertly watched by the neighbors as she came and went; 90, to give them something to speculate on, she went away in one direction and returned from another. This went on for several weeks and then, of 8
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
By Joella Johnson

up and makes a great deal of good growing food for little money, and have dried apples, and they1l make lot, too, to help i'll up this hungry brood of children" She bought corn meal and few other things and went on home.
 Then began the serious work of transforming that acre of anxiety into an acre of opportunity. Bonnie work ed indefatigably, and the neighbors lent blow, a harrow, and other need ed tools. There were many head shakings at the lavish expenditure of money for seeds, but with Bennie walking to town every other day with his basket of onions. the money seem ed to flow in.
 How the garden throve with so many willing hands to help! What grand ma couldn't have done alone was being done as if by magic, and each child had his or her appointed daily duties, and performing them well under grandma's supervision and Bennie's supreme authority. The sale of the punched onions furnished enough meal, beans and bacon to last until the other things were beginning to be
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

land was simply an acre of anxiety since it had been mortgaged. How long could she keep this brood of children-how long before that mort gago would be foreclosed?
 Once home she scraped her larder to feed the hungry brood, and even then there was not enough. Bennfe, the oldest boy, went foraging about the place and he found a bunch of winter onions growing rankly in a small garden patch.
 You've got a garden, grandma. I'll work the garden and get lots and lots of things to eat. I will" he said hopefully.
 A gleam of light shot through the darkness of grandma's mind. -We1l do it!" she said firmly. "WcTl work the garden. The team and the wagon will be just what we need-and-yes seeds and things" Dismay came over her for a moment. Then she put on her sun bonnet and went out to the garden patch. Its so small" she murmured. And it is so overrun with those winter onions" She be- gan pulling some. They're nice!" she exclaimed, joyfully. "Bennie. you get
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

err
 You see, Fannie, the eldest daugh- ter, was married; Nan was away tray cling; Johns time was spent between his work and his clubs; and in season. the greatest of American games, base ball. Dasia, the youngest girl, was a gay social parsonage with very little leisure time. Therefore that left gran ny and granny to themselves a very considerable part of the time. When granny finished reading the evening news he was usually ready for bed; as. according to him the old saw about "early to bed and early to rise" was the greatest rule to health. Now, gran ny was a great reader. too; and, while she was never very talkative, at the same time she absorbed modern ideas as readily as any one only she never bragged about 1t Safe to assert she lost no opportunity to acquire all the up-to-date notions of woman's inde- pendence. econo-.;c and otherwise.
 So gradually and unobtrusively did
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

ready for market. The little town, walked to the advantage of having fresh vegetables at so reasonable prices, began to want more. It want ed fruit, it wanted eggs, it wanted chickens. Then grandma began to see vision of prosperity greater than any she had ever known The mort gage was lifted; the horses had feed and tho family, too; Annie, who had worked desoltorily, seeing the good in store, came lounging in one day, but too, had become interested. It seemed as though that acre was her one chance, too. She loved the work and found her chance to do what she loved to do. Grandma hardly had to help. She was "boss," as Bonnie said, but Bennie himself was as near thSe as so young a boy could be.
 Here" said grandma one night, I've lived on this little strip of land all my married life, and I've gone without, many, many a time, when right here was my acre Of opportuni- ty and didn't know iti But now!"
 "But now!" chorused Bonnie and the rest, Annie herself saying it rather reverently.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

ready and well take some to town. 1t isn't far away, and I'll see if I can't trade some of these of for seeds, and we'll have a garden"
 Bennie and Grandma and the chil- dren gathered onions, washed them and put them up in neat punches. It was early in the spring and seed on ions had not begun to come in. Mrs Sheldon asked a grower if he would exchange garden seeds for the young onions.
 Why, yes, Mrs. Sheldon: glad to accommodate you. I'll take three punches for home use," he replied.
 Three bunches!" echoed grandma. "Why, have fifty punches. I wanted to sell them all. I want to go into vegetable raising. I've a new family and vegetables help so much!" wist- fully.
 Well, I'll take three punches, but I couldn't sell bunch if my life hung by hair on 'em. Sorry, Mrs. Shell don." and he smiled blandly on the aged woman.
 The three punches were delivered by Bonnie, and the little procession followed grandma to the wagon. with
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

My name, Mir Hall, is Miss Halpin. Good day.'
 My"
 Richards further remarks were cut short by the slamming of the door in his face. With wounded dignity he re- placed his hat, which he had so po- litely and propitiatingly removed, and descended the broad stone steps in front of the house.
 A sense of outrage and humiliation struggled with a deep feeling that he had lost all that made life worth liv- ing. To think that she should treat him so because he had escorted, at his sisters request, one of her friends to the theater! There in a nearby box
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

privileges, why should not the older generation, with their far greater ex- perlence. avail themselves of these same privileges?
 Because she was a grandma was 10 valid reason why she should bury her hopes or ambitions. concluded Mrs Kelly one fine afternoon, after spend ing the greater part of an hour in meditation. r. would be worse than useless to inform the family of her ideas as they would bc too much startled by them So she trusted to chance to open way for her. Who would not tire of the evO day hum
 au liie of the average housekeep-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
The Real Terms of the Will

fully gazed back at the house, her home for IS years. It was old, yes, and much too big for just her and Anne, the maid, but it was so dear to her. every corner of 1t. And it looked so pretty now, ia the morning sun-Vith its rose trelliscd yeranda and ivy-cov- cred walls. and the gardens, which she herself had brought to such perfec- tioD!
 The tears would come, and as she dashed them impatiently away, a tiny sheet of crumplcd paper fell to the ground. It was that hateful letter which had conc. bolt from the blue. to wipe out all her happiness. It was SO unfceling; just like the new own
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
"sr, By Phil Moore

voice inquired if this were the Rose Bower" and if so, might he see Miss Edith Walker? Edith. her first indig- nation over, answered his question in the affirmative and stated that she was Miss Walker.
 A smile broke over his face and with a quick step he reached Edith's side.
 Why" he said, "I am glad indeed, to meet you. Cousin Edith. I am John Reynolds, your cousin, whom you have never seen. Mother sent me over to excuse her for that awful letter W7l- Hams sent you. She didn't know about it till afterwards Mothers coming this afternoon You know grandfather appointed you her guar
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

ed view of the path leading to the house. she could sec all that went on in the gardens, and here it was her custom to go vixen weighty problems troubled her. She sank down ou the messy ground to think.
 She had plenty of money for the present-her grandfather during his life had sent her more money than she needed-the only question was a home. And she would have to work later, too. She could paint, but who would buy her feeble attempts? Oh, fl v--s hard, it was wrong to take her now, flowed down her cheeks.
 But suddenly, from sheer amaze
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

sisters friend, who was likewise Doris friend; her presence that night in the box; the pretended quarrel; the prearranged plan with Cripple Wah- ters, whom she had known for ever so long, to break his window, were all a means to show him that she was not quite so spir-tless as he had thought her. It was an effective remedy for his careless ease and 1ordly superiorf- ty toward her, forcing him to regard her as his equal and not his posses sion.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

ment, she stopped! Swinging up the path with quick strides. was a young man, who stopped now and then to look about him with an air of owner ship. He plucked a raonstrsus rose, one of the most beautiful ,~ the gar den, and after examining IL critically placed 1t in his buttonhole. A hot flush of indignation swept into Edith's face. Crying her tear-stained cheeks. She rose and with head held high. stepped forward into view. making as she stood in the hower-framed en- trance, a most entrancing picture of imperious beauty.
 With quick gesture, the young man removed his hat and in a boyish
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
Went Away From There.

Ezra (of Yaptown)-Wht1e you Were ill the big city, Uriah, did you see any of them there sweat shops I've heard so much about?
 Uriah-More'n I wanted to, b'gosh. That there fresh city nephy O mine inveigled me into Turkish one. but I hollered so durn loud they had to let me out before was finally dis 5olvedl
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

to himself as to his mother. "The pay is good but might as we'll not think about it. With my big family and you here on this acre of land alone, with no income, there's no way to dc any thing or have anything!" he. continued discouragcdly.
 Well" Mrs. Sheldon said. T guess this place Is worth the price of a lumber wagon, and you have tho horses. I'll mortgage 1t. and you can get the wagon aud pay back the mort gage money as you can" She looked at her son hopefully.
 Mother! You're too good! But that will help out. and surely with such good pay I ought to make that mortgage dwindle like dew before the morning sun" Shird had frightened. but he did not demur or object to this
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

dian and left you heir to huge sum. Mother wanted 1t to be surprise, but that meddling Williams spoiled it all"
 "Oh." gasped Ddtth, then am te stay here in my. own dear home witt. you and your mother. Oh, CousIr- John, it will be wonderful But beg your pardon. you are probably hungry. won't you come into our house faS lunch.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

garden wondering what she would co.
 "Of course" she unused sorroTfully. -grGndfather had a perfect right to leave tke house to those cousins whom Two neTcr seen, is he wanted to, but sh. l loved it 80, and had so many happy times in itl" She stopped. her
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

was q hard blow to
 Edith 10 think that she had to give up her hone and it had come so suddenly, too. Ever since the letter had come that morning she had been out in the rose
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

OU need not say any more, for I am not going to listen to another word"
 T know sweet heart, but"
 Miss Halpin, if you please"
 Why Doris!"
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
Single and Simple

When Private O'Shayne return-x from overseas yesterday no<ning he was a simple man; in the afternoon he married MISS Laura Clarkson.s
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

OUTH is ever quick
 to take up the new
 and so at the pres ent time freedom ot thought and action is extremely popu- lar with them. However, if youth can assume these
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

I could have money
 enough to buy a lumber wagon I I could get a lot of road work to do. but I know that is
 out of the ques- ton" l" "Shird" Shell don spoke as much
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20

CTS of the house, no doubt. Smoothing it out, she read it once more:
 My Dear Miss Walker-The Rose Bower which up to the present has been in your keeping, has by the will of your grandfather, been bequeathed to Mrs. Reynolds, and her son, John.
 Truly yOurs
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-20
CYRUS WILLIAMS,

well, it can't be helped, I suppose" she told herself, but what shall l do? Where can I go?" She had now reach ed a little garden house, made entire ly of climbing roses, which gave thc
 house its name-''The Rose-Bower." In this tiny beauty spot, which command
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02

greatest catcher of all time. was another marvel in gameness. Bennett, who caught for Detroit and led the catchers of the National league for seven years spurned the use of catcher's mitt. He declared that ony sissy" would use a padded glove. The only protection he wore for his hand was an ordinary kid glove with the fingers and thumb cut off
 During one of the games in which he figured foul ball split the left thumb of Bennetts hand from the tip right down to the palm. The flesh was laid open to the bone. A doctor who examined it im- mediately told Bennett that it would be necessary for him to quit the game until such tune as the thumb healed sufficient ly. The physician pointed out that un- less Bennett did so, he might suffer new injuries to the thumb or that blood pois- oning might set in which would cause him the loss not only of the thumb but perhaps a hand or an arm.
 But despite all the doctors caution. Bonnet remained in the game catching. day after day with his horribly mangled finger. He kept bottle of antiseptic and a wad of cotton batting on the bench and between innings would devote his time to washing out the wound. Several times during the first two weeks other foul tips or wild pitches would catch him on the mangled thumb and reopen the wound. But undaunted, Bennett stayed in the game risking probably the loss of the hand or the arm simply for the glory Of playing the game
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02
CAP TAIN PROWELL PAYS TRIBUTE ID ALABAMA TROOPS
Returned Officer Tells of Chateau Thierry Fight in Which Alabama Boys
 Won Fame

Capt. Grover c. Prowell, better known to his hundreds of friends in this city as "Red." spent yesterday in Birming- ham visiting relatives Captain Proweu as member of the Second engineers has seen 1S months service in France and was among the American troops that helped to turn the tide at Chateau Thierry.
 From June 1 to July 2S our division went through the most gruelling fighting of the entire war;" said Captain Prowell ''The call for endorsements came and we were rushed into the gap without much preliminary training. Some Idea Of the fierceness of our attack can be gained from the fact that only 28 men were left in our company after eight weeks of service"
 Captain Prowell paid high tribute to the valor of Alabama boys and declared that they were reputed to be the most reckless fighters in Franco. "One story is told Of some national guardsmen from the south who had just arrived at the front lines" he said "As soon as they got into the trenches they began an at tack without waiting for orders from their officers who hadn't yet arrived, The result was tremendous casualty percentage, but it illustrates the spirit of the men,''
 Captain Preweii stated that exactly one year ago. New Years night he took supper with Capt. Mortimer Jordon in little French town, Captain Prowell left last night for a hunting trip after which he will return to hls company at Camp Beaureguard.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02
bESSEMER NEWS

Bessemer. January 1.-(Special.)- New Year was ushered in by the blew ing of whistles from the numerous in- dustrial plants, the ringing of bells, and the exploding of fireworks in every DOT ton of the city. Every form of noise making device started about midnight and the faror lasted for an hour
 In many homes in the city groups of friends had gathered to watch the old year out and welcome the new year. and various forms of entertainment were indulged in by the watchers. The young CT people enjoyed dancing and games number of small parties having been given amongst the younger set.
 At the First Methodist church watch night was observed and an hour was spent In a prayer service as a prepara- ton for entering upon the duties of an- other year, A programme of songs and short talks interspersed with prayers by the members of the church was begun at Il o'clock and ended shortly after midnight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-02
BIG INTERNATIONAL ATHLETIC MEET IS NOW CONTEMPT
Amateur Athletic Union In vites Swedish Runners to Participate in Com
 ing Games

New York, January 1.-The first inter. national athletic contests in America since 1914 may eventuate within the next few months as the result of forma invitation which has been extended te the Swedish Athletic association, to send a team to this country to compete ir : coming indoor games. The invitation which has been forwarded by the Anna teur Athletic union, suggests that g team of five of the best runners of Sweden be selected to take part in the A. A. U, indoor championships.
 It Is understood that If the teams come to America 1t may take part also in contests in Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston,
 Such a commission would probably consist of four or five middle and lnng distance rcnners with one sprinter, which would permit the formation of relay teams to run at various distances. Among the Swedish athletes tentatively named for the proposed trip are Zander, Bohlin, Lundgren, Bachman and Eck- lund. All are noted performers through out Scandinavia zander and Bohlin have several world records to their unofficial credit, awaiting formal acceptance by the International Amateur Athletic fed- eration at the first meeting of the or sanitation,
 Tho invitation is q return of the com- pliment extended to the A, A. U. In 1918. whom at the request of the Swedish A.. A., the American organization sent Ted Meredith, Joe Loonis, Robert Simpson Fred Murray and Andy Ward to Sweden to compete.
 During these games both Zander and Bohlin scored victories over Meredith , in middle distance races.