davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
A LITTLE TRAVELLER.

Muskegon. Mich.--Dear Mistress Prim.
rose: would like to have my name en-
rolled as a Happyhammer. My papa takes
The Post, and 1 enjoy reading the chill
dren's letters very much. l am Il girl
eleven years old. l have never attended
school, but my mamma teaches my two
brothers and myself at home. / have a
sweet baby brother one day old. My fav-
orite books are Gods and Heroes" His
tory of the Bible" Tales from Shakes
peare," and 1ennyson's and lyongfelow's
poems. ] spent last winterSin Kansas
Kansas City ! Went to New Orleans and
Little Rock. enjoyed myselfsvery much
in both places. Five years ogo 1 went
TO Niagara Falls with mamms and papa
and my two brothers. l was SO small
then that / can remember very little
grand and beautiful. We are having very
warm weather. and / enjoy bathing IN
Lake Michigan. Our home Is five miles
from Muskegon, and this place Is SUM
mer resort. We have large, fine hote,
which is filled all summer with people
Of cottages. The name of our cottage is
Beech Lodge" A few feet from the
door is a very large beech tree. and a
little chipmonk comes every year and
climbs ii TO gather nuts. We do not have
a cat and the robin redbreasts are not
have a nice time at night hunting fox
fire In the woods In front Of our cottage.
After asking riddle, I will close.
'.As ] went through the garden gap,
Whom should meet hut Dick Red Cap.
With a stick In his hand and a stone IN
his throat
If you guess this riddle I'll give you
Your little friend.
Harriette Dorm.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
SOME ODD BIRDS.

D!lworth. Jexac.--rear Mistress Prim-
rose: Seeing my las; letter In print,
win write again. enclosing my list of
birds. The pewec, killdec and ch.ckadee
also Is chuck wills widow. Very few of
the latter are fWld in this State. The
fircbrd is named from It's fiery color, and
tho bufo! er bird from Its cruel way OF
blue cuflsws inhabt riv ers, lakes, etc,
and Law tlue eggs. The enough belongs
TO the crow family; the teal. nlallard and
brant to the wild duck.
What has become Of Dark Eyes Lee
Stuart. Carl Schnppe and few other
bright members' After this contest
think II would be nice to have a pleasant
chat on p.oks, letter writing or literature
What Is your opinion, Haps? Love to all.
I remain true Hap,
wilEe NJ. Mooney.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
LIE COTTON PICKER.

dear Mistress Primrose: As
\ letter In print, l will write
ot my list OF birds until 1t
TO send them. l am corre-
b Dollie Stroud. I know she
Heet little girl. / thank her
ness to correspond with me.
hg cotton. \ can pick 1876
am not going to pick this
ause l have to stay with
Ill tell you all about a bird
Ear at schol a little bird built
our school house under the
tched 1t all the time II made
pf sticks and straw. II seems
tie boys and girl very much.
dove. There are lots OF birds
Re Is a little joro bird up here
pretty. Please ind enclose d
club button. l remain true
Sallie Kilgore.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
A GREAT VARIETY.

Tharp, Texas.--Dear Mistress Primrose:
have not written to the club FOR long
time. and have taken no part In any OF
the voting since the tree contest, but i
read The Post and look on with interest
in all that concerns the Flaps This time
i want to have a part with the others
and send In list of my birds. which l
hope Will be in time. l know all the
children will be surprised at the number
and variety of Texas birds. l had not
given 1t much thought, until this contest
the different birds and their habits from
re2diNg the children's letters. We have
some fine singers among our native birds
and ours are so gentle we do not have
to cage them to enjoy their songs. l
noticed one of the children this week
said the night hawk and bull bat weA the
same. Papa says they are widely differ
ent, as he has killed both kinds, and they
are not at all alike. Again hoping l will
be IN time with my list ] am, with good
wishes to all. Willie Roberts.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
them to town and sell them, A little
Hap. Clyde c, Owens.
AN OLD EAGLE.

Sunnyside, Texus.--Dear Mistress Prirl-
rose: II has bcen some time siuce wrote
river. There is an eagles nest on the
other side. II " very large and said TO
have been there more than twenty years.
The old eagle comes on this side for
She caught a little turkey near us in the
spring. We could hear the little thing cry
ing az she fiew over our field. will close
for this time, Love ITO all the Haps.
Ehtlada Mihdlehrook.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
9 WRESTLING nor.

crman in l.. A. w. Bulletin. }
curtains OF night. tween the
Ind the light.
ut the set OF the sun,
IRIS who roam. to the loved ones
home,
kss by my window is one
hg l mark, for the song Of the
hsly scars in the sky
10 me than the notes glad and
who goes whistiing BY.
unrest settles over my breast
brit is clouded with care,
way II he happens to stray
sindow a-whistling an air.
shall know how much gladness
y of the ear and the eye,
I'm In debt for much pleas
get
y who goes whistling by.
usic OF his. how much better
k,rden his life with a frown,
er who sings to his purposes
endeavor to CROWN.
Ter / hear his glad notes. full
lear.
hyself will try
OF life with a Joy to be rife,
boy who goes whistling by.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03

M Texas. Mistress Prime
- SO many ni,e letters from
Ia thought I would write and
11ppyhammer. tco, am going
va our school will he out to-
teacher is Miss Emmie
n II love her very dearly. and
bee school close. l see some
ones write about their nets
7 will write about mine.
lis: their names are Daisy.
Lily and Lilac. AS this 10
bpt l will close for this time.
old. Your friend.
Katie l.. Clark.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03

ties VISITING Br,ssa. end, after rshsArsing
Syria, relates another that came under
n's own on .cr N the year q i ~
amu was captured. The PERSONS VINO
silver Rocket sastencd abos,t ia nccS Tkev
took II 10 ahe rovcrnor Who IN t,,s,n. tooi
Il to thr pashs or arre The pasha nor
sui at neirnt. II contained n ictser from,
Octavie. : wnuny so,,ntn.s ~ fsotycn. Ger.
many, stating TINT fkls s,crE hs.i nor
her castle, ana thss wear The turrat feii
and injured the bIrd She MAD tendsriv
cared Tor Il, and when well enough u
follow u comnanions let N ro win this
lockct at,oart ifs ncrk
In the letter she rco,estea that wiso-
ever found the iooket shss,ia scnd mar
word al any cost, a. shc had great GU
rlossty to trace liz warderimrs Frhe con
sui comprcd Win ~. ren,,css "a II, Sa'a
time received n rraoio,is ncLnnssi ID asnen,
from the thollghtful C,o,inirss. h,,t ths
poor bird had onded its earthly mlgra-
lions, and soon after lie canture died
I saw several good bird stories in Tho
Pest today. I know Wyman Withheld.
and think his letter SO nice. he brinr no
Young ~
linda and Errest Japhet. vii, send yo,,
''Dn! Save NV Mnther's pi.A,,re,. for
Just Tel, Tfcm That You saw Me" Id
moi @"ow whe''es YOU wiz eN0aanso or
I have sent In nv Est ar h,rds h,, 7
know won't yet the largest list |
will close. soliciting correspondents aboa,
Ii years Of age, j am a due Han and
friend, Matte Campbeii.
ARouT SOME ptpps
Gardner. Texas--Dear Mistress rriN-
reset Here I come 70 tell You OF some of
my birds. The hull bat Is a good sized
bird. II flies around Ia the evening and
with Its wings or mouth. do not know
which 1t is. The blue bird Is q very cruel
hut pretty bird. He often Kills youns
Texas, but sometimes you see him, Tho
cuckoo Is about the size of crow. II
does not build nest of It's own. Vt lays
hssea nests r sns when h me sI
hrds ont on their hack and throws them
over the neat, The -wilrs-widow
Y something like like the w'hippoorwill.
name .s derived from ts song, The hum
| ming bird is a cute little creature. There
are mr.. oyer ATTY species OF humming birds.
| But ! only know few OF them. Tho
humming bird has n nest about the size or
hnkorynnt. and some Of their eggs aru
about the size OF a pea. The sea humming
| bird builds It's nest In holes on the bank
toms. The bald eagle rs a large biro, and
| " | can tell the truth of amy kind of bird
can OF them. They generally stay along
ens rivers, md Nm young Kids and eat =
| they get, chance they Kill young chill
dren. The. kildce is a bird whose name
II derived from It's song. II stays around
and ne e anS has slaek w ras around Srsns
It's neck. They build their nest IN grave
In an open place; The little kildee Is such
| a sweet little thing. Tho chaparral 10
about the sizc OF a curlew. They build
their nests IN bushes and make their
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
A pARrRIpGE's NEST.

IngIessde, Texas.-Dear Mistress Prim.
rosa: 1t has been a long lime since
mers. Mistress Primrose has taken charge
OF our little band since then. Vacation
has cosne and gone and I ar, In school
during my holidays l .peddled water
melons, picked cotton and fed the sucker
at the gin day and night. ! had some
and as there were 100 chaldren here we
had lots OF fun.
A few days ago I was in. the potato
p e stepped aa Oh psrtridse and as ffeis
something moving under my foot !
thought Il was q frog. She was sitting
or two afterward / went TO get the little
birds ana the old bird had Matched tho
eggs and gone.
We have . fine pecan orchard and the
OF fun gathering them. RAISED q large
crop Of goobers and tomorrow viii tah<
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
THE DOVE.

Maynard, Texas,--Dear Mistress rrim-
rose: Here l come once again. after a
long absence, to see what you are all talk
Ing about now. Birds; well, that is very
interesting. As hive In the country |
ought to know a good deal about birds. l
send my LIST. hut don't much expect to
win, for there are plenty OF boys and
girls who know more about birds than J..
will tell about my favortte birds. The
dove Is the sweetest OF all birds to me.
1t Is the emblem of love and purity. Its
familiar call is very soft and sad. One
day 1 went walking through the pasture
and came upon a doves nest while tho
mother was absent. II was on the bars
ground with grass growing all around II.
There were two little doves IN II. l pick
ed them up and looked at hhen. put
them back In the nest. though strongly
tempted to carry them home with me.
When l came back by there the next day
they were gone. suppose when the moth
er bird came they told her of the unwel-
coined visitor and she had them removed
to safer quarters
The whtppoorwill stays in the deep wood
in daytime but at night comes forth to
sing his listeners to sleep. l do love him
SO much. Hike to SIT by my window
about dusk and hear his sweet. plaintive
song, Well, could write more, but will
have to close.
Willie Pauline Syphrctt.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
YEARNs FOR THE POST.

Primrose: II has been long time since
/ wrote to the dear old Post. We have
recently moved, and / have missed The
on Tuesday or Wednesday. and last
Wednesday az | saw my father come
In the gate noticed he carried paper.
and l Bald TO myself. "Oh, good, that
must be The Post" / hurried upstairs
TO enjoy, as ! supposed, great treat,
and found to my sorrow that 1t was only
the New York World. ! can not begin
anticipating great treat IN the shape
of a paper from home" and find that
/ was mistaken
Two spans OF the bridge crossing the
Tennessee river burned yesterday, II
burned during school hours but my teach
err let us go to the FIRE, and to cap the
climax went himself. We all agreed with
on the old bridge tonight"
Soon after coming here we went to a
place called ValambroSa. 1t is up on Il
hig ridge, and the street car runs on a
place about eight or ten feet wide. Just
imagine street car running pell-mell on
place eight or ten feet wide winding
In and out around the mountain. while II
seems every minute as though the car
will go off the track into the valley be-
low / also visited Missionary Ridge,
where the famous battle was fought.
When you get up on the ridge the view
Is grand.
hope in my next letter to be able
and perhaps Chieamauga park.
Well. THIS letter Ia 30 long, am afraid
II won't be printed. With love TO all
Haps and all my friends that read Tho
Violet Hoskins.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
FROM NEW YORK

.Oppenheim. N. Y.-Dear Mistress Prim-
rose: May 1 call few moments this
nornlmg to have a chat about birds? The
-bobolink comes here In the spring and
goes south IN the fall. 1t changes its
color from black to gray The bobolink is
called THE rice bird In the South.
The cropple crown is SO called because 1t
has a feather tuff on its head.
The hung bird lives in the woods and Is
somewhat larger than a yellow bird. II
hangs hts nest. In the branches of trees.
The molypop s a local name given to
HI rd that lives In the Adirondack noun
tains. 1t hangs around the trappers' or
hunters camps and lives on meat, and Is
very tame when It Is hungry.
The sand p.pers dig tunnel In the sand
hanks and buNd their nests at the end of
the tunnel.
The spruce partridge Is rare bird that
lives among the spruce trees In the Adj
rondack mountains. 1t Is a very beautiful
bird.
The black raven is a bird OF prey that
also lives IN the Adirondacks. II builds
It's nest on the tops OF mountains over
dangerous precipces 1t win watch q
person as soon as II sees him. 1t can tell
a hunter from a person that Is strollng
along harmlessly.
guess I have told you about all tho
uncommon BIRDS in my LIST, SO good bye.
Your friend, Argenta A. Bedding.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
ABOUT SNAKES.

rose: Not knowing what TO write about,
decided to take stroll In the woods and
see u could hnd something out there
fresh morning air. passed by an old log
that recalled to my mind the curious way
that snakes have Of protecting their
and myself passed by this log and found
3 snake inside Of Il. Father and brother
ksied Il, and We, children Ike. started
home With H. hut beSOFe reaching our des-
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03

The Happyhammers are the young
people who read the Youths Department
OF The Houston Post. There are no fees
or charges of any kind connected with the
club. Boys and girls who read The Post
may be enrolled as active members by
sending name, age and address.
1t IS the object of all Happyhammers to
hammer happiness when and wherever
possible" Hence the club name and motto.
The club flower Is the violet, the club tree
the live oak and the club pet 10 the mock
ing bird, all being chosen by tho mombers
themselves. The favorite dog OF the Hap
pyhammers is the Scotch COLLIE or shep-
herd.
The club colors are rose and gray. These
colors are intended to be worn with or
without the club button or pin. They are
made into badge by pinning or sewing
together two pieces OF narrow ribbon. one
of rose pink and the other OF light gray.
The club button is made Of cellulod. The
ground is white. with the words Houston
Post H. II. Club" painted In violet color.
The club flower is engraved in the center
and Is of violet color. The letter H Is n
large type on each side Of the violet, II
makes pretty little badge and will be
sent to any Happyhammer upon the re-
ceipt Of 10 cents. In ordering a button
address your letters TO the Haphammer.
care The Post, Houston. Texas
For every new sSbssrner sent 9y
a club button will be given Free, The sub
scriber secured can be either for three
months, SIX months or a year: no matter
which Of the three II is, your badge Will
not cost you anything, When sending a
subscriber send your letter to the bust
meas office of The Post.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
wHo'LLHAMMER HAPPINnssg

Hagerman. Chayes County N. M-pear
Mistress Primrose: read The Post and
appreciate It very much. 1t Is so much
company TO us away out here. | have
never seen any letters from this country
would like to be a member of your hap
py band. ] am little girl II years old
have never gene TO school but eight
weeks. We do not like to live here and
we want to go back to Texas IL We can.
My mammals health Is very poor, and
have no papa now. Oh. we have been in
such deep trouble since poor, dear papa
died Our house is all dark now--no light.
no Joy. and we are 30 poor. Mamma says
all will be right II we Will trust in God,
but am afraid God will take her away
from ,is. too. have a little brother
younger than myself. and oh. It makos
me SILVER to think of being left alone IN
this cold world without any kind friends.
j have tried TO contrive some way to help
to bring some comforts to poor mamma
] have quite lot of wild flower seeds
that ere real pretty. One kind " very
fragrant. 1t Is pink and white. have
quite lat Of Pecos diamonds that arc
real pretty--all sizes and differnt shades.
3 will Send the diamonds or flower seed,.or
both 70 ny Of the Haps that in ksndness
wall 9Fnd me q cents. Will have TO take
out Of what YOU send enough 10 pay post
age on the package. So. hoping my kttle
appellate your Kindness VIII not go un-
nouceN am your new friend.
Anna Stolp
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
A NEwsY LETTER,

Kaufman. Texas.-Dear Mistress Prim-
rose: will write again. Well, II come too
often you know what to do with me. am
very sorry Mistress Primrose is to leave
us, I hope she will write some letters to
US. The hooking bird Is very sweet
singer. I thought that would write list
OF birds. but did not have time. Cotton
Is very poor here. Some farmers won't
make bale to every ten acres. 1t is bad
for them. The diphtheria Is here. Sallle
Waddle. will exchange with you 'erhe
Drunkard'e Lone Child" for the Fatal
Wedding" Pearl Jackson, will try TO an
sGer your question: Which Is the longest
bridge is the world? 1t Is the bridge over
Long Island sound. It connects New York
and Brooklyn. We have a shepherd dog. He
is very pretty Pay school started here this
month. Free school don't commence till
November. will ask riddle: As l went
to st. Ives l met a man with seven wives,
each wife had seven sacks, each sack con-
tanning seven cats. each cat had seven kit
tens. Kits. cats. sacks and wives. How
many were going TO ST. Ives? will close
for this time. With love to the Haps. AZ
ever. remain q true Hap.
Martha w. Hilburn.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03

Rancho, Texas.-Dear Mistress Primrose:
Here comes another little girl TO Join your
happy band. l am Ia years Of age and In
the fifth grade. am going to start to
school Is few days and l am so glad.
Some Of the Haps write such size letters,
enjoy reading them very much. En-
closed please find 10 cents for club pin.
Well. l will close with love to the Haps.
Yours truly. Edna Williams.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
Doves, cRossBILLs AND OTHERS

SweetwateT. Teas Dear Mistress
Prhnrose: j hav: Just completed my bird
list. alter some very hard studying,
have on my list orarv bird I know of IN
Texas. I will tell cf a few birds i know
abour on my lirt
The dove IL the rrettiest and most cum
ming bird. When YOU approach Their
nests they viii fu'ttr along On the ground
as thou,;h shey we,c hurt. The crossbiii
Is a very rg,y bird but In noted for It's
ACTIVITY II can tura i'i the air as quick
w as 1t car on the ground. II can catch
any insect in the ar. The humming bird
Is very small. II IN about an inch long
from it, tiil TO itr tai Their young birds
are abon. the size OF honey bees Their
nests are about the size OF a pecan, with
one leaf for shelter. They are the small
est of the featheIed tribe. There are
three kfil5 of martins. but / wll only
speak OF )ne kind-the house martin. They
STAY around the house and build and keep
the hawss away The kildees stay around
the little lakes and brooks all PARIS Of the
year and ratch little frogs and bugs. and
fnase their nests IN thf gravel. Curlews
fnck over the fields ana pick UP the
WORMS the farmers plow up. The. whip
poo-will resembles the night hawk very
much and Is fourd only In America. II
lis noted for It's peculiar song. which plain
w articura;es the syllabies of It's name.
II some of the Eaps will send me the
song "INso Little Girls in Blue" i Will
send In return Listen to the Mocking
"s w Ada Bardweli.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
HAP TALKS.

Letters Received on Ac-
Il of the Quarantine.
ppyhammers: There is very
tie about this week. The big
kcount of the supicious cases
I'd out not to be yellow fever
ling upside down. At many
ails were sent out or received,
|nlt Is that fewer letters than
been received. However, the
over now. people are getting
enses and soon Wen be SWIM
as nicely as ever.
Is awful, isn't It? Why,
ecare started, people without
Think packed up and left only
places where they were quaran-
ERE worse off than If they had
bme. But they are all coming
md wish they had the money
n running away.
all settle down again we must
ething to interest the Haps.
least a dozen appeals for as
b little unfortunates, and II we
st all we can try to help at
our band. / wish you could
ful appeals these letters con-
pf them are very sad.
tiers came in too late to be
he bird contest, so only those
ID more than 100 birds are
roll OF honor. and they are:
Velasco, $50; Willie P. Syph-
lis; Margaret Knot. 1853.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
cHApARRAL AND crNrrpEpE.

Moorevdlle, Texas.--Dear Mistress Prim-
oirds I viii send bird list but have
mo hopes of wirsning. We all went trav-
cling this summer in covered wagons.
saw great many birds and very large
chaparral running along on a rock fence
with a centipede In his mouth about a
loot long, the largest one l ever did SEQ,
While we We're camped on the Lampa-
table and everybody ran TO see him,
saw a great many birds and snakes whilo
we were gone. live on a ranch and have
lots OF fun, but there are not many birds
where l live, and l can't make a very
big list. had a very old canary bird
and thought n great deal of It.. hut an
old cat came In the room one night and
caught him out Of the cage. remain, a
true Hap, ELLA Davis.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-03
THE OSTRICH.

Pine Valley. Texas Dear Mistress
Primrose: After an absence OF a few
months. Twill come again. I have named
all that / could think of that live In or
pass over Texas. l will try 10 tell some<
thing about the ostrich. The ostrich is
the largest of all birds and rs found chief
Iy In the sandy deserts OF Africa and
Arabia II Is said that full grown os-
trich Will weigh from 200 TO 800 pounds.
The head Of the ostrich 10 small for so
large bird; the body Is large and mass
i've; the legs are long, measuring about
four feet the neck Is Of about the Same
length as the legs. But It's feet. with
their two great toes, are of good size.
and possess astonishing strength. IL can
see for the distance OF six miles. and can
hear equally as well. The feathers Of
the male ostrich are Of a glossy black,
with the exception OF the large piumes
OF the wing feathers. which In both the
male and female are snowy white. The
chief object in hunting the ostrich - to
procure these beautiful white piumeA.
These piumes are sent 70 foreign
countries and used to adorn ladies' hats
and for various other purposes. Os-
triches make their nests In the sand. 1t Is
said that one female ostrich In q single
season lays from twenty-five 20 thirty
eggs. weighing about three pounds each.
The natives Of Africa are fond Of o.