davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
Literary Contest.
The Ballad of the Emu.

Oh. say, have you seen at the willows SO
green,
So charmingly and rurally true,
Which they call the Australian omu?
Have you ever seen this Australian emu?
1t trots all around with Its head on the
Or ereets it quite out Of your view;
And the ladies oil cry, whom its figure
they spy:
o d. 5us Took swe st that Ieyc S emu
With large leaves of bread then they
Instead Of the flesh Of the white cocka-
Which once was Its food in that Wild
neighborhood
That too, Is game for the famous GNU.
Old saws and gImlets best, rs appetite
Like the world-famous bark OF Peru;
There's nothing so ,hnrd that the bird
St Will discard,
And nothing It's taste VIII eschcw,
That you cnn give that long legged emu!
THE EMU.
Drawing and poetry by
HichmoM nd Va Va.
please send me q badge,)
:. & Y ! g &
The White Kitten,
Ny little white Kittens asleep on my
knee;
AS white as the snow or tho lilies is she.
She wakes up vii q pur
When stroke har soft fur.
Was there ever another, white kitten like
her?
NY little white kitten now wants to go
out d} Is
And irolio with no one to watch her
Little Kitten I say,
"Just an hour you must stay.
And be careful in choosing your places
~ to play.
tut night has come down when heard
y loud new;
i open the door and my kitten comes,
through:
My kitten! All me
This ill.loohins, beggar-llke cat that
see? 3Ns
MAMIE AyEREIsr.
Aycrctt. Mccklenburg county. Va,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
"A Game Of R,se Rail

One day in town there was a great
excitement. All OF tho base-ball team
was excited nearly to death. they were
afraid 1t was going to rain, but 1t didn't: !.
to little town about ten miles from our
town nnd spent tho night: tf1en next day.
WINS the day for the game 1T was SAT-
urday). At four o'clock the umpire called
out play ball; then the fun began.
Eight innings were played and the score,
was eight to one in favor Of our team, (
and l the other team gave up. Then the !.
that they had spent tho night previous, /,
and next day came home tired and worn
out, 57sss = 5sS8a.8
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
Bassett. Va.
The Little Bird.

What does little birdie say
In his nest at peep Of day?
"Let mo n.y." says little birdie'
''Mother. let mo fly away"
"Birdie, rest little longer.
TIL tho little wings arc stronger.
SO she rests little longer,
Then sho flics away. .a fl /.
What does little baby say.
In his nest at peep of day7
Baby. like little birdie,
LET me rise and fly away.
"Baby sleep little longer,
Till the little limbs are stronger.
II she sleeps a little longer.
Baby, too, shall fly away.
Selected by MAMIE HERR1G,
93i Brook Avenue.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

and a hospital. The soldiers while there
wrote lot Of disagreeable things on
the wall. After the war It was repaired
and the Hat roof was made arched. The
keys which were on the top OF the
church have long since come down. and
everybody is afraid to climb up there to
put them back.
The old church yard was so small that
every time they dug q new grave they
would find a skeleton. 1t has nov been
enlarged. Some Of the graves behind the
church are over $50 years old.
BESSIE NJ. RICHARDSON,
Talleysvlle, Va.
Literary Contest
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
St. Peters Church.

St. Peters Church was built about two
hundred years ago out Of bricks which
are said to have been brought from Eng
is known Of It's early history. except that
Washington was married in 1t. During
the Civil War 1t was used as q stable
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
The Japanese Tea Gardens. /.

Near the center OF the Worlds Fair
Grounds Is very artistic little park,
known as the Japanese Tea Gardens. Ii
is situated on q hill and in II are bcnu-
tiful trees, schrubbcry ana different dow
ers which grow In Japan. There ara
little streams with rustic bridges over
them, and odd littc benches on tho
banks.
In the center OF the park is a large
Pavilion with pointed roofs, where the
Z little Japanese girls dressed In their
usual costumes, were serving tea. crack
ers and ices. Some OF us got some tea
and crackers.
The tea was very funny tasting ana
served without sugar. The china was
tho dainty Japanese blue and white china.
The Japanese girls could speak very lit
tie English. so 1t was very hard to un.
darstand them.
The pavilion. which was two stories
high, was furnished with bamboo ia
bles and stools. the latter, though very
thing was so entirely. foreign that you
almost forgot you we're in the United
4 States.
Another Japaresc place Of Interest that
We visited was the japanese studio. There
we sa two Japanese artists. who we're
pictures and one Of the artists painted
me picture On she hack q h, biz e snra.
514 W. Grace Street. Richmond, Va.
How the Cricket Brought Good
Fortune.
II. CHAPTER.
The child did not seem to hear; some
thing absorbed his attention. The bak-
cr's wife went up to him ard gave him
friendly tap on the shoulder. What
MA am said the little boy: what Is
It that i hear singlng?" There is no
singing she replied.
Yes cried the little fellow Hear
lit. Queck. qunak. qucck."
My friend and the woman both listen
ed. but they heard nothing. unless It
was the song OF the cricket. 1T Is a
bird" said the dear little fellow or, per-
haps the bread sings as It begins e
the bakers wife: those are crickcts.
Thcy sing In the baker-house because
We are lighting the oven, and they Ike
10 see fire.
..Crickc,s," said the little boy; ARE
trey really crickets?''
yes. to be sure" she said. good hum
oredly. The child's face lighted up.
his request. II would like 1t very much
lf you would give me one. "a cricket, "
said the haker's wife smiling; what
In the world would you do with one, my
little friend? I would gladly Five you
al you want: / nm glad enough to get
ii rid of them "Oh. ma am. give me one;
only one" They say that crickets bring
good fortune into houses, and perhaps II
we have one at5home. mother, who has
more
CTo BE ContlnuedD
LOUISE CARTWRIGHT,
Gt2 n. Fifth Street.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

Hoping my letter win not help hi tho waste.
basket, am,
MIRIAM 4, TURNER.
Flint Hill, Va.
Enclosed you will find a drawing which l
hope you win publish on tho Chlldren's Page.
1t Is called In tho Good Old Summer Time
J must close.
Yours truly. ,,.
No, SIS North NSnmS Street, Rieh1ond
Va
Please find enclosed drawing OF an owl.
ii ali ~ myself ma i am only i've years old
ou's '' NELSON Deal.
see the beautiful drawings OF Tho It'd. c.
spend much o. my spare time in drawing and
would hs very pleased to DO enrolled
member PLEASE send me h badge Sn, Bon Of my
drawing, which please publish | viii close
for tho present. hoping tho club success.
GRACE o. KEYS,
No. l7sa West Leigh Street, city.
Dear I5dtor: if
4 / reckon YOU have ,forgotten I an, a member
OF your nice page, bur really have not had
time to write, as ] had to 20 to school. Now
IS y 4Ss "a ego Mis- axe soua G 80 as
fortunate az TO live in Richmond, would
Try and set the prize for the incest flower
garden rs dearly love to work Ia q garden
for my vegetnhes, have real nco garden
this year. know al tho children. are glad
that tho good old summer tlmo has como
"a they cnn enjoy their vacation. ]
agree with sue Percy heal Tor wanting 10 see
your picture IN tho paper, for would like to
get u look at Your good face. THINK the
Ythilaren's Page y growing real rapidly. y
is tho best ppge In the paper. must close
FOR fear my letter viii be too long, remain,
Your true friend LOIS NJ. MAxnY.
Blackstone. va.
Dear Editor:
ike very much TO Join your club have
been realat .he ch!ldren's letters ana enjoyed
It very much, I would ha yGry g,ad II !
Ny school hps closed ana have been taking
music. / lKo music fine, Please send me q
bulge, With best wishes.
s''S''N''' GEoRGlp Il, AvERErT.
As nave vacation / will write to The r.
D. c. G. MY soliol has closed ana am
very sorry for like TO 90 70 SCHOOL very
much. am glad 70 see the members mem getting
on so nicely. am always GLAD to get the
sundays nhncr / enclose some drawings and
hope You viii think 1t tit for publication
'Ou' Slh fisiii PARHAM BARRETT.
Maury, Va.
Il havo heard SO much about your page.
thought would write to you, MY nome -
In the country. but am staying IN biacK-
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
PRIZE WINNERS
FOR THE WEEK.
3WEEK.I

Elizabeth Mary Reverdge, city, for Ex-
ccIent Example. Of Short story Writlng.f
Miss Beverldge Is requested to send her
address to the editor. Of the chlldren's,
Page. III
Bessie NJ. Richardson, Of Tallcysvlitc,,
Va, for Contribution to Literary Depart !
ment.
Margaret Lee Boswell, Of Chase City,
Va, for Contribution to Puzzle Departs /,
ment- IA
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
Letters From
The Children.

Dear Editor: 4
e The book you sent as a prize for my contri-
button was received few days ago and I
write both to thank you for It and to say
how delighted am 70 win q prize in The he
I am going to send story about one OF
my pets before long, am CORY not to have
a finished picture to send, but only have q
proof taken with my brother, which hope
will do. My school doesn't close until the
I'D OF June. 30 have a long tirno to 20
iou1 t''enu JAN1E RuFr1N SIMS,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
THE PUZZLE
DEPARTMENT
Conundrums.


/. Have you ever heard the story Of tbs
egg in the coffee pot?
2. Have you ever heard the story Of the
three eggs?
en 3 Hay Soxy 9u eyer heard the story q the
Have YOU ever heard the story Of the
soiled dress?
s: Have you ever heard the story OF the
6. Why does an old maid wear cotton
MARGARET ~ LEI 2!S1 Bos GitE1 u.
Acrostic.
Ny first is in cart. but not in harp.
y Ny third Is in foe, but not In hoe.
r My fourth Is in fire, but not In hire
Ny NTH Is in eel. and also IN heel:
My whole Is what We all love to drink
WILLIAM T. GPuLLEN, JR.,
Forksvlle. Va.
B1ccklenburg county.
Conundru1ns.
l. What nation produces the most mar mar
T. What word by changing one letter,
becomes its opposlte2
s. What is that which you cannot hold
for ten minutes. although as light as q
l. What public singer draws the best and
4 8. What is that which becomes too
young the longer It exists?
s. What Is that which has q patch upon
patch and a hole in the middle?
By MAMIE AVERETT.
Averett. Va.
Answers to Puzzles.
IL Eye; H. Lawsuit; III. Welcome.
I. The beggar was a woman; H. A bald
head. ALMA LEE ALBERTSON. q
Riddles. Z
l. Because It Is. out OF breath.
q Ono Is something to wear, the other
something to eat.
3. Something sweet.
4 Because she Is an interrogation
point.
g. Because It is in '.pnle."
g. Their propositions.
Z. Because it is made for the use Of
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
CONTRIBUTORS roR THE WEEK,

Allen. II. w, Jr.
Albertson, a. l..
Bratz, Eddie
Bristow, W.. Jr. s
Bowles, Floyd
Bruce, Payson r,
Crowder. Lucille
Dietz, Frietla
Gilbert, Etna
Herbig. Mamie
Kester. w. MON.
Lynn. Mary 8.
Miller, F. A.
McGraw, L. Fl.
Pullen. W, r., Jr.
Richardson, 3. NJ.
Spencer, Clarence
sheppe, VIM. NJ.
Theimer, Helena
Young, Ethel l.,
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11
ConundruynS,
I9 AVerEIl,I
Answers to Puzzles.
NlQQleS

IL Eye; H. Lawsuit; III. Welcome.
I. The beggar was n woman; / l.. A ball
head. ALMA LEE AIBERTSON.
5. Riddles.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

Averett. Mamie
Averett, Geo. G. &
Boswell, NJ. 4,
Beveridge. u. NJ.
Baldwin, Lucille
Cash. Nettle
Dominica, Teresa
Diinmock, NJ. s.
Cartwright, Louise
Jones, Annie
Jauterbach, G. L
Mason, III.
Moss, Belle w.
Pearson, NJ. a.
Pollard. Elgenia
Ryall. George
Starke, Sara D. <
Starke. Sara
Whisky, Dora /:
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

very funny tasting ana
sugnr. The china was
csc blue and white china.
rls could speak very lit
{ was very hard to un-
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

1ter OF the park is a large
tn pointed roofs, where the
ese girls dressed In their
mes, were serving tea. crack
!. Some OF uB got some tea
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

Dear Editor:
i sent a drawing last week. but did not SEQ
1t In your paper. I send another this week,
which I hope you Will put in The It'd. G.
OIL would like to Join The T-D. @. G. so
please send mo a badge. Goodbye III
Yours sincerely, #
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

Another Japareso place Of interest that
We Visited was the japanese studio. There
we saw two Japanese artists. who were
painting pictures. bought one OF the
pictures and one of the artists painted
me picture on the back OF hin card.
SARA d. STARKE.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

WILLIAM NJ. SHEPPE,
( 847 ". Main St., Charlottesville.
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

ago Sis getting moro interesting every week.
Hoping my letter will not help Ill tho waste,
basket am, AS
Your member, 8@7S
The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-11

Dear Editor:
have received my badge ana am very
proud Of It. send herein a short article en-
you may deem worthy Of space in tho chill
dren's column. Though the subject is very
much abridged, hope have boon able TO
keep the incidents connected sufficiently to
maks It Interesting for tho members. I'M
54tGrt Worry respcct ahlv {sE n; 4l 5iss535 IS
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-18

may properly be given at this pont-
The real family name was Stadtfeldt.
Nicholas was the head of the family,
the other members living in the Clinton
house being Barbara, the wife; Charles
the SON and MOIIie. a daughter who
was married to Henry Clinton Mich
olas Stadtfeldt had been a counterfeiter
I'm Germany before he came to the
United States TO ply the same trade.
His wife had been his able assistant,
while his son. Charles a man Of go
had been trained to the trade Of his
father. Charles Stadtfeldt had been
candy butcher" with various cir
cusss. and in that capacity had had
ample opportunity for working off the
output of his fathers mill" He was
ar adept at the printing and showing
of bogus money. At the "SChafeT'
house in Clinton this mill had been
steadily grinding. the output during
the residence of the family In Clinton
being a batch of $4,000 of the counter
felt s. bills of the Traders National
bank of Chicago for Pete Mozart
ney- BY the mortising method. good
cOUnterfeits Of the bills of tllirtsen
Illinois banks had been made from this
plate.
Nelson briggs had married Cert
rude Stadtfeldt. an older daughter Of
Nicholas, in Dayton. Ohio in 1874. il
Illustrating the tendency of u7sn in this
particular line of criminaIity. where
the utmost secrecy is absolutely neCeS-
saTv. to marry women from counter
feiting families briggs had met Cert
rude when. as a good-looking Young
woman. she was serving a term in the
Ohio penitentiaTv for passing queer
money She had become a printer OF
bogus money for her husband and was
in important member Of the conspiracy.
###
The establishment of the facts reIa-
tive to the Stadtfeldt family and the
clinching of the Identities Of briggs and
EOyd had made the future of the case
much clearer. During the months
under which the principals To the
r0anufa cturs Of the Traders National
fives and other important coUnterfeits
were under surveillance at Clinton and
La Clare ! was convinced both from
theory and observation. that neither
briggs nor Bovd was actively engaged
in the commission of any overt counter
feiting act: but 7 was equally certain
that the Stadtfeldts had been running
their mill and grinding out bogus bills
for circulation among the unWary. and
the subsequent fact was developed. as
previously told. that thew had run off
from their press SOS. 600 of the Traders
National fves for Pete Mccartney.
Aside from any specific infOrma tion
on the subject. however. I would have
heen firmly convinced that neither
briggs nor Boyd was at that time &C
lively cutting plates or showing" DO
gus money. for this reason: II had
been my observation and that of
every other secret service man who had
| had TO DO with counterfeiting cases
that professionals in the fine art of
making and passing counterfeit money
never held any communication with
one another during the time thsy were
actively engaged in their work. The
different processes Of labor through
which a counterfeit bill passed between
the cutting Of the plate to its actual
unloading on the public were devised
purely for purposes Of safsty-in order
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-18

beIs Of the couEterfeiting band that
flOurished in the historic Mormon set
tlement-
This was the first tangible clue that
had been uncovered in weeks of search
through three states, and I determined
that It was from the residence of Mrs.
Parker in NauvOo that briggs should
be followed
From further cautious inquiry at
Nauvoo ! found that briggs had recent
" made a visit 20 Mrs Parker and on
leaving had gone Ostensibly TO Gin
ton IA. Familiar as 1 was with the
manner in which such criminals as
briggs bought tickets for Unintended
destinations. doubled on their tracks
and went TO great pains otherwise to
throw the secret service men off their
trail, 1 decided to go to Clinton
In the latter part of June 1875. an ell
Derby man and his wife. gOOd-loOkinx
woman many years younger than her
husband, made their appearance in
Clinton and rented two houses The
man gave the name OF J. 4. Watson
and told the men with whom he nego-
tiated for the houses that he was a re-
tired cattle raiser He was Scotch
man. dark-skinued, of rather heavy
physical mold. and wore d full beard.
He dressed as well as or slightly better
than a man in his alleged vocation
would be expected to dress. His gen
eraI demeanOr tended toward the sane
timOniOus. He often attended church
and was fluent at prayer and in TeIig-
ious discourse. Funds he had in plen-
ty. and he gave substantial evidence Of
his business sOlidity by depOsiting S23,-
600 in the Clinton bank. Mrs. Watson
was appareled stylishly and was agree
able in manner. Those who came into
contact with them decided that Clinton
had made a valuable business and So
cial acquisition when the Watson
family settled there. The newcomer
and his good wife chose the better and
more centrally located of the two houses
rented for their residence. Into the
other house. which was about a mile
and a quarter back from the river and
the last house on the street there
moved about the time of the advent of
the "WatsOns' a family of four Ger
mans. the father, mother and grown
son and daughter. giving the name Of
Schafer This new family. according
TO the gossip of the town, were in the
employ or under the care of Watson"
the exact relations being ill-defined-
Both families were unObtrusive. espe-
Cially the German family, and there
was nothing IN the know affairs OF
terest-
It was shortly before this-a few days.
in fact-that I had had my first look at
the man I believed from the meager de-
ScriptiOn TO be Nelson briggs After the
trip to Nauvoo had come up the river
and stopped al Fort Hamilton, a small
town across the river from Keokuk,
where. one day. on the porch of the
town hotel. | saw a man answering the
description of the notorious dealer in
the queer" He was talking to man
whom I did not know. and I did not al
low myself to be noticed by the pair.
The man 1 believed TO be briggs was
bout 80 years odd. heavy, with fun
beard and the air Of well-to-do retired
farmer. I did not allow him to get nut
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-18

Of my sight. and when he went to Gin
ton I became convinced that I had not
only found briggs. but that my infor-
nation from NauvOO was correct.
Therefore, Immediately after the sUs-
peCt had been followed to Clinton a man
registered at the Revere House in that
city under the name of &C. A. Demar-
est" an uncommunicstivea and unobtru-
sive chap. who attracted no attention.
Soon atterWard another stranger made
his appearance and rented a room in
house directly across the street from
the one occupied by j. X. Watson" and
his wife. The following day still an
other stranger appeared in Clinton.
Between "Demarest' and the last
two arrivals there was apparently no
acquaintance nor communication; but
undsr cover of the darkness at night
and in the most cautious manner posi-
bic "Demarest' did communicate with
the strangers. one at a time. In fact
every item I'm the domestic routine in
both the Watson" and "Schafsr" resi-
dences found its way daily to "Dema-
rest" One day while this play was
going on Watson made an excursion
to La Clare, Ia. a distance of seven
miles He had taken his departure
without precaution against being fol-
lowed. for there is no reason to believe
that he suspected there were in Clinton
of vital interest.
At La Clare Watson" made his way
to an old stone house OF the river bank
and spent some time in the company
of middle-aged man. who occupied
the house with his wife Leaving the
piping" of the Watson" and "Scha
fer HON $ to my assistants and in
my role of 'Demarest l had taken up
the chase Of Watson" on his excur-
sion 10 La Clare and Of the man whom
he had gone to meet. This was on
Aug. H. 1873. and during the months I
had been working on the case had not
had the slightest clew to the where
abouts % Ben Boyd.
After the visit of Watson to la
Clare I had little difficulty in establish
ing in my own mind the identity of the
man on whom Watson" had callsd as
Ben Boyd. the most expert plate-cut-
ter in the United States and the man
on whose skill and activity there de-
pended the success or failure of the
entire band of ''koniackers." male and
female. then operating in the middle
west. The discovery of the whsrea bouts
OF Boyd through the visit of briggs.
who was none other than Watson" of
Clinton. was a long stride toward sue
cess in a search that had looked hope
less enough at the start.
From that time the three houses were
carefully watched and the movements
OF the inmates infinitely noted. a lit
tie later briggs paid his friend Boyd
another visit. and soon after that Boyd
returned the calls at the briggs home
in Clinton This exchange of calls on
the part Of the two principals con-
WINGED me that they were preparing to
get down to business and this convic-
ton WAS confirmed by the assistant
who had been watching the "Schafer"
home.
While this maneuvering was In pro-
gress an investigation had been prose-
cufed concerning the "Schafer" family.
and the results Of that investigation
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-18

While this maneuvering was in pro-
gress an investigation had been prose-
cufed concerning the "Schafer' family.
and the results Of that investigation