davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

MObnoi, Wudl are W0 gong lO 6cs for ChristmasT
 The mother would only smile. Sc one day a man came to their door and knocked. Elizabeth went to the door and found that the man wanted girl to sing in the theatre. Eliza beth said:
 "sit down. I'll be back in a min ute."
 She ran and told her mother what the man had said and begged her mother to let her go. Her mother told her to bring the man in. When he came in, she talked 1t over with him. He said that she was the right kind of girl. So she consented to let Elizabeth sing.
 Elizabeth got ready and went the next night to sing. She was paid s100 for singing because her voice was so good.
 Now her mother was so poor that she thought they wouldn't get any thing for Christmas. It was the day before Christmas and the mother was sad because she thought that the children wouldn't get anything. She didn't know that Elizabeth had been paid $100 for singing, for Elizabeth had only given her mother s2 and had carefully hidden the rest away.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
CITY RESOURCES

Birmingham is the county seat Of Jefferson county, 90 miles northwest of Montgomery Birmingham lies be- tween two mountain ranges which run parallel, one containing rich iron ore, the other, only a few miles dis tant, containing vast deposits of coal. while in the middle of the valley are great quantities of limestone.
 There are also cotton mills. pack ing houses. cotton seed oil mills, iron and coal mining and lumber inter- ests.
 The city was laid out in 1871 but 1t did not progress rapidly until 1880, when the natural resources of the surrounding country began to be de- veleped.
 Birmingham has grown faster than any other city in the south. It Is the best developed city for it's age In the entire country.
 It has many miles of well paved streets, and its school system is con sidered one of the best in the United States. It has many fine office build ings and several large department stores.
 It has a fine postoffice just com pleted at the cost of S2,000,000 It is beautiful marble structure occupy ing half block.
 Birmingham has many fine churches of all denominations. It has numerous beautiful clubs and asso- citations, some of the most important are composed of women. FLOSSIE POOLE, Senior Seventh
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

You never could guess in the world what this little boy that Aunt Ann thinks is so sweet, Is telling her. It's this:
 I've got new little brother down at my house! He's little and he can't play thing. But we're going to keep him"
 James was a little disappointed that his new brother wasn't girl, but he says he'll be satisfied if this boy they sent will hurry and grow big so he can play ball and help him ride on the kiddie car, and wait up for Santa Claus, and go in swimming, and-oh pshaw, all things that boys do,
 James Mcleod is crazy about his Aunt Alice Waters. and fried pota- toes.
 she's teaching me how to eat with my fork, and I love her. peck, ana yard. and lots more. too!'
 When he grows up he already knows what his name will be. Tt will be MT. James waters 1 he said-"Mister James"
 Then Aunt Ann got the best am swer she ever has.
 And what are you going to pc when you grow up?" she queried. "A man. he replied, as though he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
Graymont School.

Graymont ScnOol.
 Dear Aunt Ann: wrote a story for the children's page. I am sure the children will like It. I am in the fifth grade, and I am Il years old. The name of my story is The Pearl that Led to Danger"
 "The Pearl That Led to Dangers
 Once upon time there was a sweet girl She was just IS years old. She had just started to college. She had a fair complexion, she had lips that looked like cherries; her face was always rosy, and she next got mad ther friends. Her name was Louise. Her father was rich old man. But he had many secrets. He never told his daughter any of them. He looked older than he really was.
 After Louise went to college her father became Ill. But he would not have them tell his daughter. But a young man who knew Louises father wired and told her to come right away, because the doctor had told him that the old man could not live three more days. he was so ill
 The next day Louise was home. Wh n she came she threw her suit case on the floor and rushed to him. He was too weak to hold his arms out to her. She came to her father and he told her one of the secrets that had troubled him. He said:
 When I married your mother my father gave me a large pearl. Every body wanted it. l would not sell It.. Since then men and other people have tried to steal it. I am going to give It to you, and to the young man that told you how sick I was. Please lis- ten to this. Look out for man with moustache."
 Then the good man died. Louise stayed until the room was dark. Then
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
By LILLE EDWARDS

Early in the reign of Queen Eliza beth there were two kinds or re- ligion. It's followers were called the Nonconformists, who refused to con- form to the laws and ceremonies Of the established church. But they re tained their membership In the church with the hope of bringing about the changes they desired. The other sect was that of the Separatists, who had withdrawn from the church. James I was so severe in his perse- cution of the Separatists that some of their congregations migrated to Holland, where every man was all lowed to follow his religion. In 1909 they went to Holland. There, these Englishmen, Pilgrims as they called themselves. stayed for 10 years. They were afraid that their children would intermarry with the Dutch and forget their native land and their mother tongue. They wished to go where they might live as Englishmen and still be free from persecution. They believed that hope lay in America.
 The Pilgrims obtained from the London company grant of land in America. As they were too poor to establish themselves in the new world they borrowed money from the Lon don merchants under promise to re- turn 1t from the profits of the colony. They bought two ships, the May flower" and the "Speedwell." They started to get ready for the long jour ney across the ocean. At last they were ready. They told their friends farewell. In 1920 about 100 men. women and children crowded into, the little vessels. When they were about two days out at sea the "Speedwell' had an accident. They had leak and had to return to England. After a stormy voyage of two months they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

Don't all speak at once now But who is going to help these little 1oiks get what they want2
 Each one has something he or sne would like to exchange and 1t would tickle the kiddies to death 1T you would help them make these eN- changes.
 One little boy made the excnange he wanted the other day through thss column, and you would have loved to see the happiness reflected in his race when he spoke of having got "a nlce little dog that Is lively"
 You make the world brighter for little folks when you help them to obtain their wish.
 will exchange little steam en- zine for a pair of old or new skates. Eugene Gore. 922 North Twenty fourth street.
 Exchange two victrola records for two white rats. Billie Canoles. 2210 Fifth avenue. Phone Main S653. want to exchange white duck and drake for two Bantam chickens. Call Molly Williams. phone Wood- lawn 1343-W.
 To exchange. good baseball bat and mitt for hound pup. He must be a thoroughbred. 1 will laso ex- change the same for a pair of box ing gloves or football cover. Phono
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
"A Remarkable Secret"

the young man, whose name was Carl, came and took her away from her father. The next day her father was buried. She went home with Carl, and he told her that her father told him the same secret. They hunted all over the house, but could not find the pearl. Suddenly they found them selves in a dark vault Then a flash light shined in their eyes. Carl took his pistol and flashlight out of his pocket. He Sashed his flashlight and there sto09 man with mous- tache. Carl grabbed rope that was near him and tied the man and had him sent to jail.
 They went back to the vault and came to a secret drawer. They opened it and there was pearl in it. They took 1t and looked at it. They picked up a spyglass and looked at 1t. They were surprised to see a name on it. The name was the one of Louise's great greatgrandfather. Carl had vault built and kept the pearl In 1t.
 Carl stayed at the house because Louise was afraid to stay by herself. Two weeks after her father died. Louise was asleep in her room when some one shook her. Whoever it was did not shake her any too gently. She screamed and Carl came running in. He said the man jumped out of the window
 He had got the pearl. but was run ming so fast that he dropped it in the room. Louise fainted. but soon came to her self again. When she awoke she was in Carls : rms. He said:
 "The greatest secret your father had was that l am your brother"
 Louise was surprised but glad.
 They recovered the pearl and lived happy ever after.
 MARGUERITE WEIR.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

There isn't anything nicer than a lot of hickory nuts for children to enjoy during the winter time; and if you don't know how they love to get a horseshoe nail or nut pick and dig deep down in the little chan nels for the kernels. just remember back to your own childhood, and you get the realization full force.
 Besides all that, a Christmas cake Is all the more enjoyable if it has hickory nuts inside, and some moth CTS are already beginning to make their fruit and nut cakes.
 F. Williams has drawn this big nut tree for the childrens page today, and the little chap right out on the limb Is a cartoon of himself at the hickory nut" age.
 Did you ever have the wondrous happiness of being in the position of one of the little folks on the ground, just waiting impatiently for the nuts to fall so you could begin to get the hulls off of them and could sack them up to take homo with you?
 If you haven't been out in the woods this fall season--or haven't taken the children out-you've missed great deal. For it has been, and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
What Do You Know About the Very First
 Thanksgiving Day in Big Old America? :?

reached the coast of Massachusetts. Before the men went ashore they drew up and signed a compact. formed a government and bound themselves to obey it's laws. Deacon John Car yer was elected governor.
 The settlers had arrived too late to make suitable preparation for their first winter. Their food ran short. Before the winter was over more than half of the colonists had died from hunger. Among these was Governor Carver. But the Pilgrims were a brave people. and when the May flower" returned to England in the spring. not one of the survivors went with her.
 If the Indians had attacked the feeble colony nothing could have saved it. Fortunately. the nearest tribe was friendly to the settlers. Their chief, Massasoit, visited Ply mouth and made a treaty with the colonists that was kept for 50 years.
 Spring came, bringing better times. The Indians taught them how to plant crops The men worked very hard during the spring. The spring passed bringing the harvest time. They gathered their crops and they de- cided to Invite the Indians to come and have a feast with them. The first, Thanksgiving was the morning of 1921. They went to church and then came back and had the feast. After dinner they smoked their peace pipes. The Indians were full of frolic. Their chief games were racing, wrest- ling, jumping. shooting matches. dances and jokes. After the games they smoked their peace pipes ant went back to their tents. The Pill grims told the Indians to come back the following year Thus ended the first Thanksgiving Day. The custom has been followed year after year to the present day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
Lots of Games
 on ThaksgiUing

Graymont School.
 November 23, 1921. Dear Aunt Ann: I am sending you a poem. It is the first I have ever written. MARY RUDISILL.
 Thanksgiving Day! Pumpkins, Oh,s so big and yellow. Fruits so ripe and rich and mellow. All the good things that we meet,
 On Thanksgiving. There are many games to play, In the yard and on the hay, Hiding, seek and tag, Jump the rope and bean bag. Let us thank the One who gave, All the good things that we have. For the children far away For the people who gather hay. Let us not leave out thing. For good tidings 1t will bring. A very fine poem for a little girls first. AUNT ANN.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

was surprised that anybody wouldn't know a simple thing like that He said he was going to do what his father does--"work" His father Is a banker. James loves to go down to Selma to visit his Aunt Linnie and his uncle. He doesn't know where they live, but he says they don't ride in street car. They have a big auto mobile and a big house. and a lot of flowers ,and they entertain him just about right. You never saw a little boy who wondered about things any more than this brown-eyed, soft haired little chap, who has the sweet est kind of baby lisp. He thinks God Is magnificent and once at his house at 1907 Tuscaloosa avenue, he stopped in the midst of his play and ex- claimed
 Mamma, isn't God wonderful?"
 Why, baby?"
 James thought about it another minute.
 Well, just because He can make star and people"
 He is the little son of MT. and Mrs. M. J. Waters. He has contrib uted some drawings to the page to- day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
The Exchange Corner

woodlawn 445 and call for Bill Bar Der.
 Wanted, to exchange a black and white dog for pair of pigeons. Howard Reeves, 24o9 Fifth avenue. north.
 I will give my baseball for a nice white rat. He must be lively and be able to do tricks. John Hamby 2229 Eleventh avenue, north.
 A pair of rabbits for a pair of pig cons is the exchange want to make. Can you trade? Robert St. Clair, 2315 Fourtfs avenue. north. Birmingham.
 I want a dog and will give Health Book for it.. It must be nice and friskyS and I want little one. God frey C;lenn. 1908 Fifth avenue, north. Birmi igham.
 Wanted to exchange. some books for some more books. I have some Tarzan and Martian series. Also many other good books Clayton Smith. 624b yecond avenue. Woodiawn, Ala PhoneR eRWoodiawn 654-W.
 I wi4 take doll for my book named 'Dld Creek Stories." It must be a fiicw doll and be good looking. MargarsE Smith. 901,s North Nine teenth Mfeet-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
Thrilling Romance
 Begins Right Now
he other day Aunt Ann got a

The other day Aunt Ann got a thriller.
 It was a story called At Sunset" and it came from Margaret Oliver, at Dadeville. Ala.
 Margaret went on to narrate some details, and just when the interesting part was coming, she broke off. like the big writers, and said she would continue it' in her next. So Aunt Ann Is going to give you the first jnstallment of the story and tell Mar garet to hurry up with the balance.
 The author sent an illustration to go with the story and here you see it. Says she:
 Tt is a picture of a nice old house which my heroines pass while out walking. I am g years old and am in the fifth grade. Was 1t all right for me to writs continued story? have not much time and It Is very cold where I am writing"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

cution the people sailed for Holland.
 They were treated very kindly, but the men and women were marrying the Holland people and forgetting their mother tongue. They sailed back to England and borrowed mon ey for ships to come to America with. They named their ships May flower" and "Speedwell." They packed their things and the last day came to tell their friends good-by. It was a sad picture, and at last the ships sailed slowly away with the people waving their hands and cry ing. Before they had gotten far the Speedwell sprang a leak and had to return to England. The Mayflower went slowly on. Some old men, a few women and children became sea- sick. At last joy was in everyone's s heart. Land was sighted. They landed on Plymouth Rock and they got together and signed a compact. The men got out of the ships and began to build cabins.
 They had large cracks in them, so they stuck mud in them so as to keep the cold wind from coming in.
 W enough for all of the people the women and children got out of the ships-some who had not been on land for Q long time. The Indians made peace with them by passing around the peace pipe. and each one smoked 1t. They taught them to cul- tivate land. Their first harvest was successful, so they planned to cele- brate 1t by inviting their Indian friends.
 When the day came that they had planned for they went to church in the morning and came back and had dinner. They had everything to eat that they knew how to cook.
 They had all kinds of wild meats. They had pumpkins, fruits and tur- keys and lots of other goodies" In the afternoon they danced the war dance. At last the day was ended, the Indians went home and the Pill grims went into their huts and thanked God for the successful day.
 This custom has been followed up year after year until this day. our own Thanksgiving Day.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

i So the girl gave her mother S2 more to buy the dinner with. Now Eliza beth went to town and got her mother a nice, warm coat and hat and a dress. She got Margaret a big doll and buggy and hat and cot and three dresses. For herself she got hat and coat and two dresses and an umbrella. Now, Christmas eve, she put Margaret to bed and told her mother to go to bed and rest. After they were asleep, she put up the Christmas tree and decorated 1t with decorations she had bought, and put on the presents. Then she went to bed.
 In the morning when they got up and saw the presents, they were so happy they didn't know what to do.
 About a month later. young prince. who had come from a far country, saw this house and Knocked at the door and the mother came to the door and told him he might stay.
 He saw Elizabeth and fell In love with her About a week after, they were married and they lived in the castle. About year after this, the princes father died and then the prince and Elizabeth became the rulers and they reigned for many years. At their death they left many noble sons and daughters
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
By SARAH HARDIN

One cold day in December the May flower sailed in Plymouth harbor. It had on it about 15O people. They were all Pilgrims. It must have been a pretty sight. The first thing the women did was to get all the dirty clothes together and wash them. It took them 130 days to get to America from Holland. They got to America in 1920.
 By the time spring had come AZ had died. But the others kept on trying. They started planting in April. They had such g good harvest that the gov ernor said Let us have Thanksgiv- ing" So they did and invited the In- dians. They came and had good time. They went home happy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

Betcna can't beat this for a picture of pig and a duck.
 The cute little boy who is peeping over the chair, James Mcleod Wa ters, drew this and every line speaks volumes, brea thes with life.
 Now, let us imagine that the duck has his eye on a nice fat, long worm. This duck unmistakably has his eye on something, and means business, and If it is worm he is gone up the spout.
 If you were worm. wouldn't you shiver to see tlong-legged duck like this on your trail? Aunt Ann admires the frame around
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

still is, a g-or;ous autumn. A little earlier the trees were so gorgeous that they looked as though painter had been mixing his pigments on every leaf.
 Now the leaves are brown, but it is beautiful to watch them drifting slowly down to cover the little acrons, bulbs and flower roots so that they may be warm through the winter, and help to make spring beautiful next year.
 Aunt Ann wants her children all to send in some Christmas stories. She would prefer those that are not continued as little folks get impa- tient for the end of a story. Still, if you can't send one in except that kind, mail it right along.
 With loads of love, AUNT ANN.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

this water -paddler, as well as the on-tour of tn epig-and his profile The pig seems more or less stuck up, and you rather fear what he Is going to do next. He seems determined though, and has an expression in his eye that bodes somebody no good.
 You can take three guesses as to whether this is the end hog, the rent hog. the root hog or die-or only the little pig that went to market. No one could fail to realize he was q pig by his tall
 You'll have to get up early if you can beat this for a 5-year-old.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
LITERAL JOHNNY

From Scfaps.
 caller--Why was Johnny not at Sunday school today?
 Johnny's mother-Because 1t makes him mischievous. The last time he was there he was told we are all made of dust, and when he came home he tried to draw his little baby sister into the vacuum cleaner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
RUTH STEWART
 VI ST. RObfnsou School

During the reign of Queen Eliza beth there were two kinds of relig- ions-Catholic and Protestant. Elizabeth wanted everyone to go to the Protestant church. because she did. She would persecute them if they did not, so to escape the perse-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
A FALL OUTING

Once I was out in the woods with some other boys. We had three dogs. We treed squirrel. The dogs stood at the tree barking. One of the boys climbed the tree to get the squir- rel, but when the boy got about two feet from the squirrel it flew. We did not know it was flying squir- rel. The dogs chased the squirrel till he ran up another tree. Then the boy with the gun shot the squirrel in the head. We wanted to find a 'possua, but we could not find any. We sat down on the ground and turned the dogs loose. Directly we heard the dogs barking and cutting up. So we went down and found they had killed two great big old field rats. We hunted around little while longer, but we could not find anything else. So we went home. When we got home we surely were tired.
 OSCAR CAMP, JR. Robinson School.
 Watson, Ala. Dear Aunt Ann:
 I am a girl 10 years old. I live as Eldorado. I go to school at Min eral Springs. I am in the fourth grade. I like to sit around the fire on fTludy anu odluIudy. ike SOOu dinners I like chicken and good corn bread and milk and pie and cake. I guess I'd better close and fix my lessons. Yours truly,
 ETHEL MAE LEE.
 Barker School would like to have special place to go every Friday afternoon and night. to have a good time with d few other friends. l would like to go to the same club every Friday night and take gymnasium exercises. want to have tho same kind of fun every Friday night that I used to have. We used to meet at boys house and go together. It sounded like wild horses coming down the street when we all got together for the evenings fun.
 JACOB sIGLER. Friday afternoons when get home from school I eat my dinner. I go to the store for my mother and get my lessons. Then my brother comes in the car and carries me to my grand mothers house. I sometimes go to show or go to the library. If don't get all of my lessons at home I take my books to grandmother's with me My brother sometimes brings my cousin in and takes us for mothers, I get my lessons. and go meet my daddy. help my mama and play the rest of the day.
 EVELYN STILL.
 Barker School. On Friday afternoon. when come from school eat dinner. then l go
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03

These are some of the childrens versions of the events leading up the first Thanksgiving. Birmingham has just finished celebrating this yearly holiday. Each letter has us little touch of individuality. and "dir- ference" and there is a great deal or unconsciously voiced humor which win be entertaining to anybody.
 You won't regret reading any or
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-03
Birmingham, Ala.
Graymont School.

Dear Aunt Ann:
 was so sorry that didn't get to send my other letter to you, but l hope that this one will be all right and l am hoping that I can see 1t in Sundays paper.
 had such a very nice Thanksgiv- ing. and I wish so much that you