davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

wood for the owner.
This morning. on his eighty-second
birthday anniversary, Daddy was sit
ting on a box gazing questionably at
the rags. He had bought them g he
could, from door to door. with small
amounts cleaned by chopping wood
and doing odd Jobs. The speculation
had looked toward profit. But prema-
turely the man who was to buy the
rags died. and the stock raj left on
Daddy's hands. IT didn't mar the
cheerfulness of the knotty old face.
That was always cheerful; his eyes al
ways twinkling. Az he sat there. Dad
dy reached out his hands over an old
stove, picked up in trade. The pipe
led to a hole in the side Of the shack.
Around this hole a good deal of cold
air came in.
The rag question was important Just
now. One of Daddy's legs had stiff
ened under a sudden attack of rheu-
matism so that his really dependable
means of livelihood, the sawhorse in a
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

and little son for the homeward drive.
The new Ford had been necessary but
almost too expensive. This had some
thing to do with the lack Of money
for a new hat for Little Mother.
When Sonny-Bunny got home he
changed into his blue overall suit and
went out in the parsonage orchard to
reflect. He did It In the crotch of the
August-sweet trees, which grew low
and was a capital nest for a small
boy.
Little Mother needed some weddings,
he knew a little about weddings,
for mother had explained something
about them when young couples had
come to the house. AS far as he could
see. though. weddings came unsolicit-
ed. Sonny-Bunny was positive that his
father did nothing to attract custom.
At this moment Silas Lovejoy
chancd to drive by. The sight of him
started the child's mind upon a new
tack. A conversation between his pa
rents. overheard only the other day.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

big Bible, the volumes of poetry, her
precious albums, and, away down at
the very bottom Of the trunk. her cook
book! She turned the yellowed pages
r%everently. There were copies Of reci-
pes in many handwritings, some Of the
writer's long since dead.
"Oh!" exclaimed mother, my fingers
just itch to go to cooking!"
She glanced out of the window and
beheld the maid going down the steps.
A sudden crafty little smile played
around mothers mouth Feverishly
she Invested herself of the simmer
ing silk gown and donned a comforta-
BILE Bingham house dress, relic Of the
happy days back home" and a blue
apron. Armed with the cook
book she descended to the kitchen. A
big pan of freshly-picked blueberries
sat on the table.
IT declared" crooned mother delight
eddy "1f l won't make a berry pie!"
She was in the midst of rolling out
the crust when the front doorbell rang.
Mother. freeing her hands somewhat
flour by the simple e~xpedient of
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
l ONNY-BUNNY and Little Moth
<Her were looking In at the mil

ONNY-BUNNY and Little Moth
<Aer were looking In at the mil
Nner's window. They were al
laughably alike. with their curly
@n hair, blue eyes and trim slight
Ness, and the expression on the two
faces was much the same as Sonny
Bunny's in front Of the candy shop
display. Their eyes were riveted upon
a dainty creation of white straw and
pink roses. Even the little boy knew
1t lust to be the thing for Little Moth
err.
go in an buy 1t, moth" he begged.
Cant. Sonny" said Little Mother,
her CHEEKY tone belying her longing
eyes. There haven't been enough
weddings this Spring"
"Weddings?" queried the child.
Eyes; you know daddy gives me the
wedding fees for my own. This year
there haven't been enough so 1 can Of
ford a new hat"
At this moment the minister drove
up In his shiny Ford and took his wife
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
The Great Failure

corner and the wood saw on the wall.
could not be used.
Hello, BILL" he called ch~eerfully.
"Sit down on the box. Glad to have
somebody to speak with-though I
guess all your talk1l be bout Liza
Ruth. How soon you goin' to get mar
ried?"
Don't look likes ever" gloomily.
"Fact'ry's shut down. an I'm out Of
work, an nothin' likely to come till
Spring opens, when there'll be plenty
o. plowin' an garden Jobs around"
Well, that's only q few months"
They'll kill Liza Ruth fore then.
She grows peakeder every day Her
uncle. too! But then he Just about
works his own children to death. an
Liza Ruth's only q niece. Don't give
her half 'nough to eat, an no clothes.
Goes round this weather in a thin cal
iker an with shoes worn to her
stockin's. An I can't do a thing" He
dropped down with a force that almost
crushed the box to the floor. AN I
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
ADDY was a failure. eighty
years of successive defeats
haa ==a.oa Ia -la

ADDY was a failure. eighty
years Of successive defeats
had proved it. At two a mule
had kicked him across a woodpile. The
scars still showed on his cheek.
Starting with money. but handi-
capped with too much confidence in
his fellows, Daddy had trusted and
given away without thought of him
self. In course of time he married
more money simply because the girl he
loved happened to have it; and most
Of this went as had his own. But his
wife never questioned. Quite the re-
verse.
This was the golden thread in Dad
dy's life. When dying she said there
were some things Of more value than
money and Daddy was n of them.
After that Daddy lived as many 9th
er failures; and now at So was housed
in a one-room affair built for a cow
shed, In which he had cut a window
and laid a rough floor Of discarded
slabs. He paid rent by chopping fire.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

wiping them on her apron, and bliss
fully unconscious Of the powdery ridge
across her nose and cheek, opened the
door
And there on the veranda, daintily
booted, gowned and gloved, every care
fully marcelled gray hair in place be-
meath her exquisite hat, stood Mrs. ].
Augustus Blynn, come to pay a call
on the mother of her daughters most
intimate friend!
For one awful moment mother was
seized with a wild impulse to slam the
door in the aristocratic lady's face, and
nee from the house ere she disgraced
her daughter still further. Then her
natural good sense and kindly hospi-
tally asserted itself.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
Benevolent Sister

For you! For you!" answered the
same monitor.
1t was true. Unable to attend COL
lege herself. Phyllis was determined
Bob should. In the fall he was to
enter Harvard. He had been working
all Summer, but 1t had been pleasant
work, that Of taking parties on the
lake in an up-to-date motor boat be-
longing to the one hotel which the
village boosted.
The cool breezes from the lake were
preferable. ah. much, to the dingy back
room where Lawyer cambridge had
his office and where Phyllis was en-
ployed as his s~tenographer.
AS Bob's thoughts reached the point
where it seemed as If every bird on the
bough screeched forth words: "She's
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

the weeping girl with this statement:
II guess you mean Mr.. Norton. Dry
your eyes on this 30 they won't>be red
when I bring him back"
Mr.. and Mrs. Thurston who were en-
joying the cool evening on their front
porch were amazed At seeing a little
boy in white pajamas go speeding up
the street. and were thankful that their
son was sound asleep under the COW
ers.
Up the street ran Sonny, stop
ping till he reached his destination.
which was when he collided with 4
young III who was disconsolately
walking homeward. With what little
breath he had left, and with much
stamping Of his right foot, the brave
Indian gave vent to his feelings.
"You bad. naughty man! Don't you
know any better than to make my Aunt
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

HE is young" murmured Phyllis,
laying her head on Bob's pillow.
And he said," continued Bob. ".Ah,
I've found you at last and I'm never
going to let you got Say. honest. sis.
aren't you sorry you've got a broth
err"
I'm sort Of sorry for the girl who
hasn't a BROTHER" came from the 9TH
er end Of the pillow.
you're a good sport PHIL" COM
mented her brother. pulling her long
braid Of hair. 1t va his style of BE-
slowing a caress. and Phyllis with .
happy heart accepted it as such.
1t vas some weeks later that an
young DR.. Boyd was picking Bob up
quite as though he were q baby and
was depositing him in the chair by the
window Bob opened his mouth and
shot out these words. We've troubles
enough without you hanging around
here"
Troubles. What do you-call troll
bles?" Queried DR.. Boyd.
But Bob was gazing out Of the win
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
---As in Olden Days

Wont you step right into the draw
ing-room," she invited. land excus me
for just a moment. l." her eyes trav-
elled uncertainty from her ioury apron
to her visitors face, II vas making a
berry pie" she finished bravely.
A sudden CLEAN Of interest fickered
into Mrs. J. Augustus Blynn's bored
eyes. Berry pie!" she breathed. She
laid a smooth jeweled hand or moth
er's Bingham shoulder. my dear. will
you allow me to come into the kitchen
and watch you? Oh. those berry pies
I used to make!" she continued, shak-
ing her head reminiscently. as she fol-
lowed mother eagerly into the big,
airy kitchen, Weren't they simply
delicious--ah. I see you're using an
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

Alice cry. You ought to be ashamed
OF yourself to make a girl cry. 1
wouldn't do that to anybody smaller.a
me. I'm going right home and tell my
daddy on YOU"
He would have turned to carry out
his threat had not Norton stayed him
and questioned:
How did you get here?"
Sonny's fighting blood was UP.
Il ran here cause you made Aunt
Alice cry. C'mon back and 'polosize.
same as I do when I quarrel with
Cousin Nettie."
Tugging at Jacks coat In his anxiety
to bring him back to Aunt Alice, ho
told Of how he had overheard the last
part Of their disagreement. but before
the child had finished his tale Norton
caught him up in his arms int hur-
ried back to Alice.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
By Parke Whitney

only fggered IN $780," he groaned.
Seems like q big husky Teller like me
ought to get that. But 'twould hire .
small shanty back in The woods, put in
a few things an q stove. an pay the
minister. an leave a little to start on
groceries. Mighty skinny, I low. but
'twould be taken care Of her 50 much
better'n she'll be over there. I'm
scared to think how she'll get through
the Winter"
Daddy nodded alphabetically. III
know Just how you feel. BILL" he said.
"an' I know Liza Ruth's uncle. We've
just got to get her away from there"
His hand went I instinctively into his
pocket. then was withdrawn with a
rueful laugh. "Gettin' old an childish,
Bill" he a%pologized. Now an then I
forget. Long time ago I had money
down in the bottom Of my pockets. an
when I'm sort Of worked up I'm apt to
feel for some. I wanted to give It to
you an Liza Ruth for a start. But
say, how'd you like to go in with me
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

down the walk. Now. ones lips may
be engaged in whistling the gayest Of
gay airs and at the same time ones
mind be occupied with the working out
of a solution to some weighty prob
lem. Bob was thinking, not a new oc-
cupation for him, although it would be
hard to make anyone in Mansfield be-
lieve 1t.
"I wonder what's the matter with
old Phil (Phylis was just four years
her brothers senior). She did look all
in, come to think of 1t. Let's see, she's
been working for old cambridge going
on five years, and anybody that knows
anything knows he's fierce to work
for" So ran Bob's thoughts.
why is Phil working?" asked his
conscience. "She's working for you!
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

here - partners7"
"On what?"
Maxim patchwork quilts an
spreads" explained Daddy. II b1ieve
there's money in 1t an l bIieve I'm
goin' to be int'rested-I mean I b1ieve
all are." Bill waited. There's
pieces 'nough on the floor an in them
bags to make forty" Daddy went on,
In there's sale for such things round
here. l notice some of the stores car
~ Just common quilts marked 50 an
real hand-stitched piece ones ought to
be worth four times more. But even at
81, usin' these rags, we could mako
money. What specially started me Is
a fair they're goin' to have next month.
You see. they give prizes to the fair,
ones that want to can mark prices
on their quilts an sell 'em. They had
fair three years ago an I was hired
to keep the hall clean, an I noticed
they most all sold. Everybody seemed
to buy"
II can't sew" objected Bill. my
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
OTHER GREY watched the

OTHER GREY watched the
~ last flash of her daughters
smart little auto as it glided
smoothly out of the driveway and down
the road, with a feeling almost akin to
relief. For the first time since she had
journeyed from the old New Hamp-
shire farmhouse q month ago to live in
her daughters luxurious home she was
being left alone. and Mother Grey,
though she chided herself guiltily for
the thought, was ~undeniably happy at
the prospect of three long days devoid
of calls on and from Marion's aristo-
cratic friends; of being freed from the
necessity Of making elaborate toilettes.
and of doing the hundred other things
with which Marion had contrived to
keep her busy. with the well-intention-
ed purpose. of keeping the dear little
mother from dwelling on things"
Mother spent a happy hour in her
little si,.irg-room arranging with low
ing care the pcsgIes Of her old friends
and neighbors from "bach lone" smii-
ing tenderly at each dear familiar face.
Then she unpacked her books-the
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

dow.
"Dr. Boyd" he said suddenly. what
DO you think of a fellow that allows
his sister to work herself to shreds to
put him through college7"
i think it's high time he put the
brakes on and stopped it," answered
the doctor.
I'm going to-" said Bob. "and
what's more"
Hold on" interrupted the doctor.
I'm not done. I was about to add and
let her husband advance the funds"
Bob glared at him.
I'D o q sister Of mine skin her
husband out Of the money to put me-
Bob stopped. Who's she going to
have for a husband1" he asked suspi-
ciously.
She's promised to give me a try at
It," answered the doctor with a grin.
Il had a thunch 1t was you," said
Bob with m answering grin. IT guess
all the balm that's been used in this
house in the past fortnight hasn't been
used on me-" he added.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

'em. but let's be devoutly thankfulsit's
no worse. ! hope It's enough, how
ever. to cure him from throwing him
self in front Of automobiles in general.
and mine in particular. I'll run IN
again during the day"
Gee. I had the funniest dream"
said Bob with a yawn. 1t was in the
wee small hours of the night, and
Phyllis had shooed her mother of to
bed and taken her place by Bob's bed
side.
Il dreamed you and DR.. Boyd met
each other at Aunt Hates last Sum-
mer. and just because we haven't got
whacks Of mon you wouldn't let him
know whore we lived. In the dream
DR.. Boyd came dancing into the room
Just - II he were young"
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

o~ld-fashioned deep pie-plate. That's
as it should be. These modern shallow
ones are painfully inadequate. May /
just see your recipe?"
She took the cook book eagerly, her
habitual air of bored indifference
quite gone, as she turned the pages.
Suddenly she uttered a little delighted
shrek. "My mothers Sunshine Cake!"
she exclaimed j%oyfully. There never
was another rule that eQualled it, and
I lost hers years ago. She taught me
to make it when l was a girl, and
folks said 1t was just like hers" Tears
glistened in her eyes. II could make
that sunshine cake after all these
years, l know I could" she murmured
half to herself.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
By Joella Johnson

working for you! For you!" he
slammed the front gate. and stepped
from the curb directly In the path of .
tearing, footing, oncoming automobile.
The next thing that Bob knew be
heard a groan. Again he heard it. and
yet again. The sound was close by.
ah. very close. He opened his eyes.
A face he had seen before somewhere
bent ver him.
You young s~calliwag!" came a
brisk voice. wait till I get you out
side you'll sport more than ono black
eye"
At that Bob tried to sit up but arm
hands kept him down. In the room
someone sobbed. Came the brisk
voice:
mo bones broken. Bruises. lots Of
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

Mothers kind eyes we're soft with
sympathy. and a crazy little idea came
into her head. Dear Mrs. Blynn," she
said. how would you-" she hesitated.
aghast at the very holiness Of the sug-
gestion. why won't you let me get you
n Of my house-dresses and you can
make your mothers sunshine cake,
right now"
"Oh!" breathed her visitor. "if you
only would"
Ten minutes later Mrs. J. Augustus
Blynn stripped the rings from her dam
tily manicured hands and plunged
eager fingers into the big brown mix
ing bowl in her lap and began cream
ing the butter and sugar for the sun
shine cake.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
Partner of Cupid

concluded that it would be a good idea
to mention the subject Of weddings to
Mr.. Lovejoy.
That afternoon sonny-Bunny went
fishing in the brook. There was \
myth that a trout lived in this brook.
and Sonny had spells Of trying to
catch him. On the other side Of the
brook was Mr.. Lovejoy's potato patch.
and in the patch the owner. hoeing.
Sonny had thought he might be there.
By and by, the trout declining to ap-
pear. the small boy went over to visit
Mr.. Lovejoy.
"Hullo." respoded the child. He
sat down beside the green rows. in the
shade. and watched the man work.
By-and-bye Mr.. Lovejoy came and
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

required to his memory.
How long has Silas Love1oy been
going with Abbie Dunn?" mother had
asked.
Seven or eight years." had been
the minister's reply.
Well, I should think they would get
married now" mother had said. "Since
old Mrs. Lovejoy died there's nothing
to prevent"
"Silas is a man of habit" responded
the minister. Hes got into a rut, and
he'll stick there till SC ,ebody or some
thing jolts him out &
The mental processes Of a child may
be as direct as light, d as circuitous
well, as a country road. After null
ing It owe for a while Sonny-Bunny
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

And in due time the berry pie. all
fakey golden crust stained here and
there with little purple pools to hint
at the lusciousness beneath. and the
sunshine cake, a thing of beauty and
fragrance. were placed side by side to
cool.
~ haven't been so happy for years!"
declared mothers visitor.
I'm so glad!" beamed mother cor
daily. then her bright face clouded. VI
don't know what Marion will say" she
said hesitantly. Maybe I'd better not
tell her."
Nonsense" differed Mrs. ]. Angus
tus Blynn decidedly, cts high time
We began teaching our daughters to
cooks,
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

through. Next day go to Hiram
ter's an saw his two cords for md
He's give me the order. but tell
I'm laid out. Take his 81 and
nails an hinges an . cheap dod
Q one-sash window"
What fort" dssedly.
ITO build . lean-to room behind
this. The owner won't caret an be-
sides It'll be his when we'HT trough.
There's . pile Of old slab Der he
told me to use for fre-woodrI I want
ed to. It'll be plenty for III lean-to.
You and I'll builder, no, I'dyrgot the
leg. I'll work on the quilt ian you'll
build. You can do It in a dH or a day
an a half. can't you"
Yes. but what"
For me to move into, of course"
laughed Daddy. You an Liza Ruth
will o in here. We got to get her
away from there. say. bout sat'day.
You'll go for her an take her to the
minister's, then bring her straight
here. Liza Ruth can help me with the
SEWN. an you can hunt round an do
all the Jobs you IAN. An"
But Bill was gone. He had grabbed
the saw and sawhorse and bolted
through the door.
Daddy chuckled softly, then went
theoretically to work at his ptece-sort-
ing.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

A week later the minister almost had
heart failure when Silas and Abbis
Dunn appeared at the parsonage to get
married. Unfortunately Sonny Bunny
was in bed and knew nothing about It
till next morning. He saw the bill
which his father gave to his mother,
however. the same that M. Lovejoy
had handed him with the license. It
was big enough to cover the new hat
and the white pumps little mother
wanted.
Sonny-Bunny feels sure that he engi-
neered that wedding-and so he did
but somehow he has never felt Just
like telling even little mother anything
about his connection with It!
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
Return Of Big Bear

ture book. Big Bear was enveloped in
a blanket) and fearlessly went down
the dark back stairs for a last skirmish
before sleeping. After skulking around
in all the dark corners Of the garden
without finding any enemy. the cautious
Indian crept rp behind the Summer
house. On hearing voices within, he
thought his chance had come to toma-
hawk someone. So he awaited the OPP
perfume time.
There! There's your ring, Jack Nor
ton, and eve speak to me again."
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
By Jennie Slater

anybody ever has to do anything. Yes
terday's gone and tomorrow never gets
here"
She's a wise woman" said Silas.
Daddy says q mar without q wife
Is q poor Missile thing" remarked
Sonny. HE says Moth has been the
making Of him"
"Sho!"
Mn Lovejoy," timidly. ARE you a
poor mis'ble thing cause you amt
married."
A pause. "Yes. I bel" was the re-
ply.
Then don't you think you better get
married right Off" suggested Sonny.
Eyes, I dol" came the answer with
emphasis.
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

fingers are too big. I couldn't sew on
= button"
Don't need to-" coolly. II can.
Been SEWN an mendin myself up .
good many years. Once when I was
married an tied up with rheumatics.
my wife learned me to knit an make
lace an do nns sewin." I'll handle the
needle and you can wash out an iron
the rags an sort Of help.
But that wont be fair to you"
Eyes. It will. Don't you see. It'll be
company for M an "-he tried to
jump up. but fell back with . grunt as
the lame leg refused to take part in
such violent exercise.
What's the NATTER" asked Bill.
"Nothin'. only . lot Of idees struck
all at once. an I forgot the leg."
grimaced Daddy. but with his eyes
twinkling. You're ready to do any
thing. I s'pose7"
Anything that's all right" emphat-
ically.
WELL, take my saw an sawhorse an
go over to Mr.. Green's, the storekeep-
er, an tell him you'll cut all his wood
an take 1t out in groceries. Thatrl
fetch him. Put today in there. To-
morrow 30 to the minister's and saw
his wood. Take that out, too"
What in? !" asked Bill
Liza Ruth. But wait till I get
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01
- OLDEN-HAIRED

~ OLDEN-HAIRED Sonny, the
pride of the Thurston house
hold, had never before been
punished. On this occasion. his pa
rents had decided that to further
spare the rod" was to spoil the
child" As a result of this decision.
Sonny was called into the living room
and his chastisement delivered with
great solemnity. then he was sent 10
bed.
AFrom his bed the child could see the
arise; he counted the stars and
kwhat he would do could he be
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

up there among them. But as the
grievances of childhood are soon for
gotten. he thought Of the splendid time
he had had rioting around the garden
disguised as an Indian chief.
cit was nice fun" thought'the chief.
ito behead the sunnowers, for they
were so tall" What was the use Of
moping in bed when the stars were
calling him. and besides, didn't Big
Bear go out after dark?
After rearcning cut his childish
logic. the mode Indian twined the
bed spread about him (for. in his pic
Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-04-01

~ EE! girls make me tired. Let
a young doctor come to town
and every girl in the place
makes 1t a point to-
Bob Vest" cried Bob's sister,
starting up from the couch, a red spot
on either cheek, "if you think I've been
near him, you're nightly mistaken. I
wouldn't go nea his old office If I
was deadl"
With the last word, Phyllis burst in
to hysterical weeping. and buried her
face in the cushions.
Jaw, forget It," said Bob, II wasn't
hitting you, anyway. Guess I'll be 60
ing while the going's good. So long!"
Outside the door his lips puckered
into a whistle. Whistling. he emerged
irom the house. Whistling, he strobe