davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
MY MOTHERS CHAIR.

Once was part Of a large oak tree.
Trees grew on either side Of me. and
was very happy. One cold frosty
morning, two wood cutters came along,
They We're looking at the trees. After
q while they turned to me, This
would make a fine piece of lumber"
said one OF the men. The next thing
knew the axes were flying and my
beautiful trunk was cut. Then ]
tumbled over and lay there for several
days. Then the men came again and
put me into large wagon and
hauled me to a sawmill, and there
was sawed into lumber. was then
taken to the train and shipped to the
planning mills, and there I became
nice and smooth. From there I was
sent to very large building, where
Until was made into q nice rocking
chair. Then l was sent to furni-
ture store in the city of Ottumwa and
there remained with a great many
other chairs, until one day q gentle
man came in and bought me. The
man took me to an old house and
thought would not have very
happy home. But when I was carried
into the house found 1t very coZy.
lived In this house nine years In COM
pany with a large red rocking chair
and almost every evening would rock
the mother while she sang the chill
dren to sleep. But one day found
myself in a new house and have liv-
ed here ever since. am now sixteen
years old, and do not look very nice
among the other chairs, SO In summer
am packed up stairs. But when
winter comes am carried back to the
sitting room, where the children sit
and rock and get their lessons fol
| CT r - pnF
piece Of cloth and my back has been
broken and mended. I do not think
can rock many more years for am
getting weak.
Hazel Johnson, aged IL.
Agency, Iowa. r. f. D. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
TOMMY, THE SEAL.
"A Tr,,e story.)


One day when Mr.. Wise was out In
his long indian canoe, fishing, he saw
a baby seal on q rock not far away.
He pushed his canoe over to the rock
and picked UP the SEAL 1t was fast
asleep and did not know there was a
man near until he lifted 1t into the
boat. The poor little thing was very
unhappy and cried to get back into
the water. Mr.. Wise wished to keep
thew fed and petted it until 1t became
quite tame, and would go about the
house like a dog.
After it had been with them a few
weeks, 1t became SO fond OF them that
# would not leave the house for more
than an hour at time. Mrs. Wise
would open the door and send 1t out.
Tommy-that is what they called it
would slide the rocks into the sea,
and dive about for a while, catching
Ash. In about an hour he would climb
up to the porch again, and lie there,
CRYING like child, until Mrs. Wise
onened the door. Then he would
wag his tail and rub himself against
her feet to show his JOY. He liked
nothing better than to have Mrs.
wise take him up IN her arms, or hold
him on her lap.
one day Mrs. Wise put Tommy out
neighbor. When he grew tired OF
playing. he went up to the door as
usual and called to get in. When no
one came, he cried Just like a baby.
When Mrs. Wise came home. she
found that he had cried himself sick,
and he was sad all the evening.
Tommy learned a great many tricks.
He was almost as quick at learning
as a dog. He would shake hands, lie
down and pretend to sleep, smoke a
pipe and cry when told to sing.
one day he went out to get his din
ner in the sea, and that was the last
Mrs. Wise ever saw Of him. She
.li..l1a that hA followed the tide far
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
SOME TIMELY ADVICE.

Two weeks ago today we suggested
that the girls write essays on fBoys,"
as an answer to the essay on Girls"
written by George Lewis.
Well, several of the Junior girls have
sent in essays on Boys but they do
not meet with the approval of the edi-
tor. Sometimes when little folks
try to. be funny they get smart and use
In cold black type. We are sorry to say.
that this is the spirit displayed by the
few Junior girls who sent in essays.
The editor feels sure that they would
feel pretty SILLY" If their essays were
published, SO as to avoid such embar
rassm ent, the essays were all thrown
in the waste basket, and the editor does
not even remember the writer's names.
George Lewis still holds the prize es-
say, although he did not get a prize.
The Juniors had better let George have
the honors. His work was truly orig
inal.
We received a Junior letter lately in
which the writer asked lis to omit her
name for private reasons 1t is
hardly necessary to say that this letter
was Immediately consigned to the
waste basket. This page is a. place
where the Juniors aare supposed to. be
all friends and where they will soon
know each other by name at least. So
this Junior must write again if she
wishes her efforts to be published and
sign her name like all the rest of the
dear Juniors.
Our next contest will be little
different from the former ones
We want the Juniors to name
all the counties in Iowa and
the largest city or town in each
county. The rules of the contest will
be as follows: The paper must reach
the office between March IL and March
IA. The prize will be awarded to the
Junior sending in the neatest paper,
as we'll as the correct number of coun-
ties. Write on one side of the paper
only; sign your name, give your cor
rect address and state your age.
Select your prizes from the following
list: A book, work box, string Of
beads, knife, doll or stick pin.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Har.
din or Larue county In Kentucky, Feb.
IL, 1909. His ancestors for many
generations were Quakers and be-
longed to- Kentucky and Virginia. His
father, Thomas Lincoln, was married
twice. First, in 1906, to Nancy Hanks
who was Abraham's mother And
soon after that Mr.. Lincoln married
an old friend and neighbor named
Johnson.
With his. stepmother Abraham al
ways maintained the best relations.
The family moved to Spencer county
in 1915 which Is in Indiana. When
quite small boy Abraham worked
with his father, helping him clear
away trees for their new home and
farm.
Hismother could not write but could
read, while his father couldn't do
either.
But young Abraham received one
year Of poor schooling which was all
he ever got.
But still his mothers influence may
be guessed by the remark he made
when President. He said: "All that
! am and all that hope to be owe
to my sainted mother.
He grew up in rude log cabin and
the books which he had to read were
very few and were such as Esop's
Fables, Robinson Crusoe, Life of
washington, Burns Poems and the
Bible.
He kept note book and IN 1t he
would jot down his favorite passages.
He was employed q while at IS a
month to manage ferry across the
Ohio river.
He was famous as story teller and
quite a good wrestler. He was six
feet and four inches tall.
In 1880 the Lincolns moved to I'LL
nois, clearing and fencing fifteen
acrs Of land Shortly after that, he
built a fiat boat with the help Of his
half brother.
Lincoln soon took trip in his fiat
boat down to New Orleans and 1t was
there that he saw the first glimpse Of
slavery,
Lincoln kept store a while. was
postmaster at New Salem a while and
was surveyor in 1884, as you see II
any one was jack of all trades Lin.
coin surely was. 8 ''ii' "a
Lincoln married Mary, daughter Of
Robert Todd. of Lexington, Kentucky
| In 1916 heSwass elected to congress By
a majorityof 1,500. sss
During Lincoln's administration war
/, the war between the north and the
south, and the abolishing Of slavery In
the United States.
In 1854 Lincoln for the second time
was elected president.
with malice toward none, with
charity for all, with firmness in right
as God gives us to see the right lei
us finish the work we are In, to bind
up the nations. wounds" such was
the language of his address.
His work indeed, was near Its com
pletion. s. One evening he1 visited the
Ford theatre a accompanied by Mrs
Lincoln and a few friends.
About 10, o'clock J. w. Booth shot
him through the head and exclaimed
"The south has had it's revenge"
He was buried May 4, 1865. Lin
coin was one of our honored presi
dents and his name is enshrined in
the hearts of his countrymen as one
who delivered them out of bondage.
Avis McGlothlen, age IA.
Cedar, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06

out into the ocean, and there met some
OF his old playmates, who persuaded
him to stay with them. At any rate
he never came back, and Mrs. Wise
says she loved him so. we'll, and was
SO sorry to lose him that she often
dreams that she hears him crying on
the doorstep. She says that Tommy
the seal. was the incest baby she ever
had. but then she never had any other
babies except cat and dog babies
She never had a sweet baby brother
OF sister, such as you and I have.
Edna Overturf, aged IL.
Blak0Sburp Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
JUNIOR LETTERS.
3 S.ss4a*Eas4+s,44.&#aA4.*44.t3si

Eiuou, lOWA.
Dear Editor:
have been reading the letters In
the Junior and find them very interest
ing, 80 thought would try and write
one too. Our school was closed on &C.
count Of smallpox. Sylvia Stansberry,
my little schoolmate had the small
pox and was quarantined in for forty
days. My teachers name is Keim lib
belts. think he Is a nice teach
er. My studies are in the sixth grade,
I study reading, writing, music, arith-
metic, grammar, geography. physiology
and spelling. / like the studies very
well. For pets have two cats and
one calf, the Calls name is Topsy.
I have two sisters, their names be-
ing Esther and Edna. Esther is 10
years old and Edna is Ia years old.
I guess / will close for this time.
Yours very truly,
Alice Fisher, Age Is.
r n n No l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Agency, iowa.
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
AS have never written letter to
the Courier Junior before will now
write one and hope 1t will be in print.
1 am years old and have two broth
ers and three sisters. got to Sunday
school at Bladensburg and my teach
er's name is Bessie Yeager. And I
have a dog and his name is Rover.
I have eight white rabbits, have to
60 a half mile to school, / am In
the fourth reader, go through the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Eldon, Iowa.

Dear Miss Editor:
I will write a letter. am girl 10
years old. My birthday is on the 9th
of February. One Of my playmates is
sick. Her name is Yetta Stauffer.
My teachers name is Miss O'Brien.
She is a very good teacher like
her. MI little sister Is s years old.
I 60 to the Christian Sunday school.
Our preachers name is Rev. Coats. /
like to hear him preach. There were
two baptized in our church. I like the
songs that the choir sings. My Sunday
school teachers name is Miss Bride
Ritz. Yours truly,
Esther Garrison.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06

short order. Dorothy thought the
the Whole world, and after they Began
to eat she would slip out Of the house
to feed them with the candy, and
sometimes she would leave part Of
her dinner to take out to dear little
puppies.
Lora Bowen. aged 8.
ChilIicothe. Iowa,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Keosauqua, Iowa.

Dear Miss Editor: I will try and
write letter to the Junior. have
never written before. would like to
join the circle. / am little girl 8
years old. go to school every day. /
am in the third room in the A class
NY teachers name is Nellie Robinson.
I think she is good teacher. I have
never had to stay in yet after school.
There are fifty -four In my room. My
studies are spelling, reading ,arith-
metic. geography, music and Ian
guage. My playmates are Helen
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Keosauqua, Iowa.

n A6uBHuQuHy- iowa.
Dear Miss Editor: have never
written to the Junior before, SO
thought would write. I am 10 years
old. 90 to school every day Ny
teachers name Is Miss Clara Harrison.
I am In the fourth room. My studies
are geography, spelling, reading, arith-
metic, language and music. live
close to both my grandma's and
grandpa's, and one great grandma.
Ny great grandma lives with one OF
my grandma's and grandpa's. AS my
letter IL getting long, ! VIII close.
Anna Vance, aged 10.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
POLICEMAN AND LlTTLEsT GIRL,

THE incest man / ever saw"
Said little Nan to me,
'Iss the one who stands outside our
school
when we're let out at three
He's dressed just as the soldiers are;
He wears gold buttons, too;
And he, stands up SO proud and straight
The way the soldiers do.
"IIe always says, Come, little kids,
I'll take you cross the street, and
L guess cause I'm the littlest girl
He always holds my hand.
sand all the cars and horses stop
He's so big they don't dare
To say tGet up and drive 'em on,
Because he's standing there.
"He makes believe to chase the boys,
And shakes his fist, and then
He laughs and laughs, and they all
come ~ -
Scam pering back again.
esSometimes he pats me on the head
And says, 'Ho, little girl,
You going to wait till Christmas comes
To cut me-off that curl?'
@And one time when it rained. the
street
was muddy, and cried;
He picked me UP and carried ma
Right to the other side.
sThe incest man ever saw"
Said little Nan to me,
rs the one who stands outside our
school
when we're let out at three"
st. Nicholas.
wHEN"sANpYvsAvED THE SHOW.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
The Courier Junior
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.,
oTTuMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEvEREAUx.
EDITOR.
ROLL OF HONOR.

II
MARY ELIZABETH WELLMAN.
MILRE SCOTT,
BERYL DANIELS.
JENNIE PREvO.
MAE CHAMP,
ZULU M. TAYLOR.
GEORGE ROLAND.
oFLoRENCE PATTERSON.
EMMA DAVIS.
JESSIE SCOTT.
RHODA DAVIS.
AGNES ASKLOF.
ADDIE CHENEY
EDITH yAWTER.
ARTHUR SWANSON.
GAME.
hBERYL DANIELS.
sCHLOA MULHOLLl
EMMA DAVIS.
DOLPHIE LAIN.
JULIA WARREN.
MABEL SPRAY.
1 ANNA CARNES.
ELSIE TERRILL.
MARY ENTLER.
BRUCE MELLIS.
MARY BELL.
AANSELM HEM.
NORMA DANIELS
DALE zENTZ.
BEATRICE LYNCH.
MYRTLE MILLS.
MAE THOMPSON.
ERIE WILSON.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Starr, Phyllis Bylhymer and Elma
Swers. AS 1t is getting bedtime I

Starr, Phyllis Bylhymer and Elma
swiers. As 1t is getting bedtime
will close.
Bertha Vance, aged o..
Ottumwa, So. Oak.
Dear Editor:
thought I would write to the Juni-
or. have never written to this club
before. ] used to be q little Iowa girl,
but we moved to South Dakota In
1905. 1t seemed very lonesome at
hrst. but It don't seem SO lonesome
now.
For pets. 4 have four. lambs. Their
names are Bile, Boggie, Mary and Ma
nile, and two colts. Their names are
Tommie and Neddie.
have two brothers and one sister.
MY brothers names are James and
Lewis and my sisters name is Neva
Elizabeth. Neva is 18, James is 81
and Lewis is IS. am IL years old. I
will write a story, also.
! will close, hoping the Junior suo-,
cess. Yours truly.
Ella Schneider.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
nrakeville, Iowa,

& INakeVllIe, Iowa,
Dear Editor. AS 1 have never writ
ten before thought would write.
My mamma Is dead and I am living
with my grandma and grandpa. / am
a little girl years old. Ny grandpa
takes the Courier. have one sister.
Her name is Garnet. She is IL years
old. As my letter Is getting long,
will close. Yours truly,
Nellie Irelan.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06

timber. AS my letter is getting long
Yours truly,
Lana Yeager.
Ottumwa, Ia.
Dear Editor:
My papa and mamma take the Daily
Courier. am glad when the Junior
comes. like to hear the Junior read.
! am glad that we have page Of our
own.
I go to the Lincoln school. like
school pretty we'll. like my dear
old homo In the country better than
town. Last winter while we were In
California we went to the ocean a-fish-
ing. There were great many tourists
there and caught lots of fish, large and
small. saw them catch one weighing
seventy-flye pounds. They caught yell
low tails, halibut, croakers. perch,
mackerel, scalpins and little behring's,
and many other kinds that can not
mention. Now this will do for this
time.
Aaron ]. Smith.
11s Ottumwa street.
Keosauqua, Iowa.
Dear Editor:
As I, have never written before l
thought would write.
I am boy living on farm one
mile south OF Keosauqua. 90 to tho
Keosauuua school. Ny teachers name
is Nellie Robinson. like her very
much.
For pets, have a horse, two sheep
and dog.
I have two sisters and no brothers.
AZ my letter IN getting long viii
close.
Yours truly,
James Wilson, Age 10.
R. +. D. No. !. Box 2.
Bussey, IOWA.
Dear Editor: Just a few lines to
let you know received my prize, and
think 1t Is very nice. have read
1t, and 1t is fine. hope all the prize
present as am with mine. will
now close. From
Mary Nntler.
Eldon, IOWA
Dear Editor: am a little girl 8
years old. I like to read the letters IN
the Courier. have two brothers and
no sisters. I 80 to school. MY teach
ers mama is Miss Estella Cobb. For
chickens, a horse. COW. ! can bake
cake and pie good enough for any
body. My cousin from Chicago visited
| me this fall and baked a pic and
when he sat down to the table, said
Il baked this pie" He said II ID aw-
full good. win close. .s.
Yours truly,
Charlton, Iowa
Dear EDITOR: will write and tai
you what got for Christmas. got
a muffler, handkerchief, neck
sweater, book and some candy.
like to coast and skate It drifted and
showed yesterday. II Is thawing to-
day; Well as my letter is getting LONG
/ will close. Yours truly,
4 Leslie Foster, aged ..
r. f., D. No. s.
! Drakeville Iowa.
Dear Editor: I am little girl
years old. / go to the Drakeville
primary school. MY teachers name IL
Miss Minnick. She is d nice teacher
am In ..the third reader. For pets
have three dolls, one COW, two pigs
and some chickens. My smallest dol
is IN inches long, the next one is 9
/ foot and one inch long and my largest
doll Is two feet and 7 inches In length
My cows name is Daisy. One day
when my little friend, Goldie Ralstor
was here we thought we would wash
Daisy's face and comb her hair, and
when we got that done we thought we
would put my bonnet on her. She
stood very still until we got the bon
net on her, then she ran off from u,
and we could not hardly catch her
My pigs are white. Every time &c
to the pen they are asking for some
thing to eat. will stop, hoping the
Junior much success.
Anna Fouts, aged 8.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Bloomfield, iowa.

Dear Editor: / am little boy four
years old. My papa takes tho Cou-
rier and mamma reads the Junior
stories to me every week. can read
In my primer; have got to the thir-
tieth lesson. For pets have two
canary birds. My mamma wrote this
letter for me. From your little friend,
Forrest Galpin.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Floris. Iowa

Dear Editor: / am little girl 3
years old, and go to school. Ny
teachers name Is Miss Alma Hancock.
We have three weeks OF school left.
and are going to speak pieces the last
day. At school I like to play black
man. My studies are fourth reader,
music, arithmetic, geography. Ian
read fairy stories like the Sleeping
Beauty" Red Riding oTIod," "Cinder-
ella" and the Three Bears" But my
favorite books are 1.-THE Birds Xmas
CAROL and What Tommy Did"
Marjorie Parrett.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Toris, Iowa.

Dear Editor:
Az have not written before will
write now.
I am little girl II years old, and
live on farm.
have four sisters. My sister Fan
ME has been sick with pneumonia
fever y 49,. ~.
/ hayesbesn going to school. goyto
Franklin-Star school house.
! like. TO read the stories and let
ters OF the Junior.
Perhaps will write story.
wish some Of the Juniors would
write to me, for like to get letters.
Your friend,
Edith Johannessen.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Hedrick. Iowa,
Dear Miss Editor:

Lear Miss Editor: ES
MY school will close In three more,
weeks and then we have n long vaca-
ton We have great deal Of fun
when we go skating. There are thir.
ty-six children in school. when they
are all there. We have about flfty.two
books In our library. MY teachers
name Is Miss Lyna Mae Hamilton.
think she Is good teacher. AS my
letter Is getting long will close.
Hamie Breon, Age o.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Eldon. Iowa.

Eldon, Iowa.
Dear Editor: / thank you for the
beautiful book received Monday aft
ernoon. have not started to read
the book Of 1.-THE Erl Queen" because
I am reading the book Of Black
Beauty" Well will close and thanIs
ing you very much for my beautiful
prize. Your little friend.
Norma Daniel.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06


Dear Editor: / have not written to
the Courier Junior for a long time. !
want to thank the editor Of the OF the
children Of the United States for
sending mo those magazines. Our
school was out last Friday. We had
an entertainment that night. Those
that didn't take part had to pay ten
cents. We had a fine time and got
81. we are going to get globe with
It. The, teacher gave US each big
card the last day. They are awful
pretty. The same teacher Is going to
teach next summer. Her name is Jen-
ME Weldon. She has taught my school
for over a year Nearly all Of ouI
neighbors are going to move away.
Some Of them are going to Canada
We are going to have new neighbors
right across the road from us. Well
as my letter is getting long, I will
close. Yours truly,
Josephine Smith, aged 10.
r. T. u No Q
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
wHEN"sANDY"sAvED THE SHOW.

In the beginning it should be under
-tand that the American circus of our
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Agency. lows.

A8OHCy, AOWWN
Dear Editor,
I have never written a letter to the,
Junior before, but am going to write
q few lines. go to East Union
school. It will be out the seventeenth
OF February. My teachers name In
Miss Myrtle McCombs. like her very
we'll. have three sisters and two
brothers. I will close as 1t Is my first
letter. Your friend, u
Hazel Yeager, AFRO 8.
r. F. D. Nc. 2.
Russell. iowa.
Dear Editor: I received my prize
all right. And am very much pleased
with It. really think that George
Lewis ought to receive prize for
writing such good essay on girls.
Maybe Il George Lewis had told his
ago he would have received two
prizes. We win write an essay on
Boys, but win tell our ages
RID. No. :.
ottunws, lowe
years old. enjoy reading the 80
rier Junior. ! 10 to the Lincoln
school, I like to 20 to school. / am
in the third quarter,
Your loving friend.
Florence Kelso.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-06
Keosauqua, Iowa.

BUSb6yI IoWd-
let you know received my prize, and
I think 1t Is very nice. have read
1t, and 1t is fine. hope all the prize
winners are al well pleased with their
present as am with mine will
now close. From
Mary Nntler,
Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1906-05-11
AGE LIMIT
Retires Federal Judge William Loch-
rem Of Minnesota.
speclal to the Herald.

Special to the Herald.
St Paul. Mimi, May 11.-William
Lochren. Federal judge of Minnesota,
retires Tuesday under the age limit
rule. Milton Purdy is spoken Of as
his possible successor.