davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

The bear has not all the colors of
the rainbow, but there are four varie-
ties marked by distinct hues, being
the brown and the black, most COM
mon, and the grizzly or grey and the
white.
The last lives amid the ice at the
North Pole; the Grizzly in Western
America, and the other sort pretty
we'll all over the world.
Little bears are the cutest crea-
lures living for pets. They can be
tanned and kept as pets until they
grow-up, when they are too heavy and
their teeth and claws too sharp for
pa slime.
They are also taught to dance with
pole held between their forepaws,
to box with the master and to wrestle.
They hug so hard tat few men are
strong enough to stand 1t.
They are very fat in the fall, when
they feast on nuts, honey. of which
they rob the bees, ants Of their eggs
and great quantities of berries. When
they have had their fill, they hide In
caves to sleep the winter though
They come out in the spring reduced
from nearly ton to five hundred
pounds.
They are good swimmers and climb.
ers, SO that it is not always safe to
take to the water or a tree when
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
TEppY BEARS ALL GONE

Dear Juniors:- Teddy Bears.
600 in alb are all gone No doubt
many OF, the Juniors will be disappoint-
ed in not receiving one We followed
the rules of the contest carefully and
awarded the, prizes accordingly. In
a contest it. is always well for the
Juniors to remember the rules and
follow the Instructions carefully. How.
ever everE sJunior will receive a
pretty souvenir postal card the week
their annual stories are published
We have some of them today and
will publish some of them each week
We will also send each of the contrib
utors to the March contest pretty
souvenir card. The postals will be all
sent out this week as we have finally
secured the kind we want.
The letter from Frances and Jose
phine Norton in the center of the
page is the first one we have re.
ceived and we give it a prominent
place because it is SO good.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

little cur Of an animal scarcely larger
than a fox and is sometimes known
as the Indian Fox. 1t has wolflsh
head, sharp ears and rough thick
tail.
The name coyote, however, is com
monty applied to the prairie wolf.
1t digs its burrow in the prairies
on some slight elevation to prevent
the burrow being filled with water.
Its howl resembles very closely the
bark of dog.
When buffaloes we're numerous they
used to follow the herds and attack
the weaker wounded members Of the
Some Of them have been tanned and
they display all the qualities of the
common dog and know their masters.
The color is dirty gray turning in
to Alacker tint on the back
When full grown 1t measures about
four feet. It is found on the plains Of
the west and in Mexico
While visiting my uncle who lives
in Washington, we could often shear
the little coyotes barking.
While passing through the Rocky
Mountains on our way home from the
west we saw a little coyote 1t looked
as thoue : it was hungry and it surely
must have been for it was such bar
ren looking hlace. 1t looked like there
was nothing for it to eat. 1t was the
only living thing we saw running wild
fo- quite distance.
Your junior friend,
Bessie Davis, age ~,
R. F. D. NO. 1, box So,
Ollie, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

tramp, tramp, what heavy foot, who
can 1t be. Suddenly the door flew
open and in came Teddy bear. Poor
little Albert ran into corner to hide.
But Mr.. Teddy found him out and
put his cold nose quite close to him
but did no harm. Then we began 20
pat and stroke him. Teddy stretched
himself out at full lenght on the floor.
We went UP to him and began to play
with him and Willie began to thump
away with all his might upon little
drum he had. Suddenly the bear stood
upon his hind legs and began to
dance. What glorious, fun, in the
midst of all this noise AM tramping
the door suddenly opened and there
stood poor mamma. You should have
seen her, her face was white and she
couldnot speak for feer But we set
up a cry of joy. o.. look mamma
we are dancing with this fine Teddy
bear. While this was going on, the
poor man went into the yard to get
his bear and finding he had broken
loose came upstairs to look for him,
and so we lost our fine playfellow.
Retta Ruark, age 9,
R. F. D. No. 3.
Pennington, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
cHINcHlLLA

How many of the little Junior read
ers have seen the little animal that
is called Chinchilla
It has tall like a squirrel thrown
up over its back a rats teeth and
feet to gnaw and dig with, and rab-
bits way Of burrowing in the ground
wonder if any of the Jnuior girls
have a pretty ash-gray muff and col
larette you call your "Chinchilla"
furs,
Do you ever think to learn about
the little animal that furnishes the
skin from its own body to keep you
comfortable.
If you want to see the chinchlilla
in it's own home you will have to go
to South America.
1t lives in underground burrows in
the mountainous districts. and is so
timid, when caught it will not bite
or try to get away. but it will lie still
in it's captors hand.
It's coat Is made of the finest and
most delicate fur, so every year hun
dreds yes, thousands are put to
death in order to obtain their furs fol-
the manufacturers. r."
The chinchilla are very playful
when alone with their companions.
But are neither playful nor active
when shut in cage.
Edith Hollenbeck, age 8,
Eldon. Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
A PET HORSE.

Dear Editor:
AS you ask the Juniors to write
about an animal will write about a
horse. The horse I am going to tell
you about is my sister Pearls and my
horse. Her name is Fanny. She is
very gentle. We can ride and drive
her We ride her to get the mail
nearly every evening Our mail box
is one-half mile from our house.
Fannys collar is dark brown and her
tail and main are black. One day one
of our neighbor girls who's name is
Gladys came over to see us and in the
afternoon we went out horse back rid
ing We took Fanny and another
horse named Bess. | and Gladys got
on Fanny and my two sisters, Laura
and Pearl on Bess. We went up to
the mail box one-half mile north, back
to the half-nile corner south, then
Gladys had to go home she said
"She had nice time riding" Then
we bid her good bye" and told her
to come back again and we would go
horseback riding. Pearl and have
saddle to ride on. Papa got it for us.
Pearl and l can ride on the gallop.
thank you for the postal cards re.
ceived. think they are very nice.
Your Little Junior,
Nora Purdy. age IL,
Peckhom, Oklo., R. R. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE ELEPHANTS

The elephants are found all over the
great central region of Africa They
are also found in Siam, India and
Siberia. The elephants of India are
trained to carry heavy burdens, pas
sengers and to drag timers.
The country of Siam is sometimes
called, The Land of Tie White Ele-
plants" for the white elephants are
held SO sacred thee, that they are
treated as If they were kings. The
elephants all have very large flat
and clumsy feet. They have fan like
ears that hang down on the side of
their heads. They have very long
tusks that touch the ground.
In Africa the tusks are sold for
ivory Ivory from the elephants IF
A'-!ca is very valubie product The
eie--:hsnts are Icing killed so rapidly
Mat probably in few years none will
be left. In the cold northern part II
Siberia are found the bodies of huge
elephants frozen In the lee soil and
are preserved by the cold
Elephants are of great deal of use
to the country which ley come from
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE WILD CAT SCARE.

There was girl IL years old and
a boy 8 years old. They had moved
out West with their parents. The
country was very W ID. Their father
had given each of them nice calf,
If they would care 1or them They
had them in large pasture, and went
to bring them home one day, and
only found one. They thought they
heard a neighbor calling nogs, he had
a very fine farm, so the little girl
went over ito see If he had seen her
pet calf and there was wild cat his
sing, and coming right toward her
She ran down a ravine over to her
brother. They ran home through the
cornfield scared almost to death. This
is ! true story.
Blanche Howard,
1S47 e. Main ST.
Otumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

he has not any hair on his body. His
hide resembles that of the elephant
Cupid is very cute and cunning and
can do many little tricks He is very
fond of candy and always expects it
when his mistress goes to the store.
He does not like black folks, and can
tell them block or two away. When
he sees one coming he will bark and
growl and try to get out of the house
One day his mistress brought in a
panfu of young chickens. Cupid got
into the pan and tried to mother them
like an old hen
Flavina Harvard, age 9,
Eldon, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE PONY

His name is Billy. He is 10 years
old and is very gentle, his color is
dark bay The first time I ever rode
him my brother ran a race with a
neighbor boy. That was my first race
as was riding behind him. One day
together with ny sister was riding in
the pasture and he had his head
down eating grass, and then he
thought. he would take a roll. We
both slid OF with out getting hurt.
Sister told mamma he had his head
down and she guessed he got dizzy
and fell over. will tell you the cut
est thing think ever said. When
was three years old said to my
aunt Anna, Some day go to school,
but come to see you fust. If you sick
1 stay with you and if you we'll I
go to school
leila White, age 10. II
R. Rs No. 8,
Bloomfield. la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
TWO LITTLE GIRLS

One night two ltt,e girls were com
IN home from gathering nuts in the
forest. They heard strange sounds. 1t
SCENE like Indians. They started 10
run and got half wy out of the for
est. and then an indian started after
tlam. He caught one of the little
girls. He asl where her home
was. She said, 1T was out there
in the field. He took her to it and
set her on her door step.
Yours truly,
Eathylan Door, age 10,
r. r. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE FOX AND THE BRAMBLE

A fox closely pursed by pack of
dogs took shelter under the covert of
bramble. He rejoiced in his asylum
and for while was very happy.
But soon found that If he attempted
to stir. he was wounded by thorns
and prickles on every side.
However making virtue of neces-
sity, he forbore to complain and com
forted himself with reflecting that no
bliss is perfect. That good and evil
are mixed and flow from the same
fountain. ILL.,
These briars indeed, said he, will
tear my skin q little yet they keep
Off the dogs. For the sake of the
good then let me bear the evil with
patience. Each bitter has Its sweet
and these brambles though they
wound my flesh preserve my life
from danger.
Your Junior,
Olive Lemley.
Melrose, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
A DOG

will try and tell you about my
grandma's 'og Her name was Katie.
She was little brown dog with
brown eyes. She was very fond of
grandma and no one could slap at her
Or else Katie would snap at them.
She was particular about eating her
bread and crackers. She would have
to have her bread buttered and her
meat cooked. She VS. fond Of candy
Grandma said, when was baby she
would put me on comfort on the
porch and Katie would lie down be.
side me, no one could touch me "
else Katie would snap at them. Katie
died and grandma buried her in the
back yard. We all felt sorry to part
with Katie
Margaret Whelan, age 8.
o28 West 9Th st.
Ottumwa Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE BOOK OF NATURE.

Or, suppose that boy from some
very warm part Of the world were to
visit northern country in winter
and see for the first time snow fall.
Would he not be greatly astonished?
If he asked you to tell him what snow
is, and why the ground is so hard and
the air 80 cold, and why the streams
are covered with Ice, could You en-
swer HIS question? And yet these ques-
tons are about very common, every
day things. If you think earnestly
about them. you may find, perhaps,
that the answers are not always east
~ found
Do not suppose that because a thing
is common it can be of no interest to
you. There is really nothing so COM
mon as not to deserve close attention.
1t will reward you for all your pains.
But In what way can we learn more
about the common things which we
see every day? would not have you
content with what is said in books,
whether small or great. You must
get into the habit of using your own
eyes and seeing for yourselves what
takes place in this wonderful world Of
ours.
All around you there is abundant
material for you to inquire about. IN
ramble by the river or through the
fields, with eyes and ears open, there
are many lessons to- be learned Lis
ten to the wind as it blows, look ut
the clouds rolling overhead, notice the
pebbles in the stream, so round and
smooth, and ask yourself, why and
how are all these things?'
Remember that besides the printed
books that you use at home or at
school there is the great book Of
Nature which each of use, young and
old, may read, and go on reading al
through life.
1t is this great book-Air, Earth
and Water that | would have yor
look into. Do not be content with
merely noticing that certain events
take place. Do not let anything pass
without trying to find out something
about 1t. For instance, try to learr
something new about the storm AMI
the flooded river which we saw IN oul
walk Get into the habit Of asking
Nature questions. Never rest unit
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
"BABE"

"Babe" is the name of my Shet-
land pony. She is three years old. She
has four white feet, spot the shape
OF flation on her hip and black
and white tail
She is broke to ride and to drive
We have a little yellow and black
buggy. Babe looks so cute hitcha6
to the little buggy.
There is a railroad track right by
our house and when the trains come
by Babe will stand and look at them
till they get nearly up to her, and
then she will start and ruin as fast as
she can to the farthest corner Of the
lot.
Well as my story is getting long.
will close.
Genevieve Anderson. age II,
Abba, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE BEAR.

One day man was passing through
a town with his bear. He wanted the
people to give MIN a dime He was
passing a house when little girls
dog ran cut barking. She threw a
clod to make her dog come back. The
clod struck the man in the hack. The
man laughed and went on up town
He went up in town and passed
around his hat and took up the col
lection. Then made his beai dance
Pearl West, age 10,
Blakesburg, Iowa, R.. F. D. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

you find the reason for what you see
going on around. you.
In this way. even the most common
things will come to have new inter
est for pou. Wherever you go there
will be sometning for you to observe,
something that will serve to In
crease your pleasure. You will thus
learn to use your eyes quickly and
correctly. This habit of observation
will be OF the utmost value to you,
no matter what may be the path Of
life that lies before you.-Archiballl
Geile.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
JUNIOR STORIES.
A BLACK HORSE

Dear Editor thought l would
write a story about our horse Cap.
He Is a black horse and he is very
strong. He can pull a wagon full of
lumber. Some times we hitch him
to the surrey. He is SO big he can
not run fast He is twelve years old.
He is very gentle. Some times L can
lead him to the barn, and he willSeat
grass out of my hand.
l guess I will close for this time
Ethel Meier, age 10,
107 Iowa Ave
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE SOUVENIR PosTALs.

We will send souvenir album to
the first Junior who has twenty-five
cards sent by the Courier Junior.
Even If you're working in the Flower
Seed contest you can work in the
souvenir postal contest. We will pub
lish the recipes next week and these
little contributors will get postals
We want more recipes, but you must
send only one recipe at time Each
recipe must be accompanied by a lit
tie story or Letter.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
"HoRsEs."

Some horses are used only to drive
and others are used for working
There are many different colors of hor
SEES; waite. black. bay, duns, grey
dapple gray, roans AMI sorrels.
think horses are much more prettier
when they are fat than when they are
poor. They can be kept fat by good
food and not SO very hard working
We had a black horse whose name
was Moliie. | could ride her and rode
her lots. She was always nice and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
MY BROTHERS PONY

She is white as snow, and we call
her SNOWFALL She is years old. and
she is gentle. ride her some times.
She will eat corn out Of my hands.
am 9 years old.
AS this is my first timeI have ever
written will close.
Avon Galpip,
R. F. D. No. 1, box No. So, Davis Co.
Floris, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE PANTHER

The penther is large. dark colore,d
animal. 1t is marked with large rings
like spots, the center of which are
darker.
Its prey consists of deer and sheep,
and it will sometimes attack human
beings.
1t is something like the leopard, diff
fering only in size and color.
Mignon Baker, age IL,
442 N. Jefferson ST.,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

sit on a chair and hunt my little sister
when she is hid, if we tell him He
will drive cattle and when the pigs
are fed he will bark at them till they
go in the pen. He is very good
watch dog and knows when any stray
cattle comes around.
Truly yours,
Lola Breckenridge, age IA,
R. F. d. No. 2,
Abba, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
TEDDY BEAR

One day there came in our town a
man leading a big bear. The man was
tired and hungry SO he tied Mr.. Ted
dy up and went in to eat his dinner.
Willie Albert Betha and l were at
play upstairs. In some manner Mr..
Teddy got loose, then we heard
curious noise on the st.irs. Tramp,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
A STORY OF USEFUL DOGS

Some dogs are very smart and when
they are properly trained are very
useful. We have dog named Fido.
Fido is shepherd and is white with a
brown ear and stripe across his tail.
NY aunt gave him to us when Just a
little pup, but he has grown to be
quite a big dog. He will shake hands,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

fat and she was never poor. Well as
my letter is getting long and nave
never written before | will close hop
ing to see this in print. If it is l will
write again. Hoping to get postal l
wish the Junior success.
Yours Very Resp,
Mary Lewis,
Charlton, Iowa, age IL years.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

chased by them, but the hunter goes
out upon trees too thin fer Mr.. Bear,
and he comes-snap to the ground.
Bear-hunters tell of seeing the bears
on moonlight night, gathering in a
clear spot of the woods to have a
dance.
Glenn W. Rodgers.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
THE COW.
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
wish to write story for the Cour-
Ter Junior about COW. Every part of
q COW Is used. l will tell you what
they are used for; The horns are
made into combs and they put the hair
in plaster. The hide IS made into
leather and the flesh is to eat. The
feet are made into glue. | will close
for this time.
Lloyd Bailey,
Humboldt. Kan. II r. d. No, 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
The Courier Junior
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
oTTUMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEvEREAUx.
EDITOR.
, . = : : . I
y THE NEW CONTEST

Dear Juniors:-Don't all OF you
= want another Courier Junior Flow
err Seed Contest?
. We'll, we will imagine that we
have you all answering Eyes, yes"
y and announce one today.
z We will give away one hundred '
packages of seed, each package
= containing five different kinds.
= All the Juniors have to do to get
y a package Of the Courier Junior
= Flower seeds is to write short <
essay on one Of the following SUBJ
= jects:
CHOW TO MAKE A SCHOOL .
slYARD BEAUTIFUL"
T. HOW TO MAKE A HOME IS
= YARD BEAUTIFUL"
. ''sPRING FLOWERS"
"ARBoR DAY"
"A MAY PARTY"
. .
We will divide the packages Of the
Courier Junior Flower Seed equally
between the Daily Juniors and the Tri-
Weekly Juniors and will send them
out by May 1. Eacn Junior, when
writing 10 the Daily Junior or the Tri-
Weekly Junior. OF course we want
your father, mother. sister or brother
o rthe person with whom you make
your home to be subscriber to either
the Daily Courier Junior or the Tri-
Weekly Courier Junior.
This contest opens Wednesday,
April %. Besides giving away pack
ages OF seed, we will give prizes for
the best essay. one to the Daily Jun
lors and one to the Tri-Weekly Jun
Tors.
Select your prizes from among the
following articles. A set Of garden
tools, pretty basket. A successful
Junior boy can have q pair Of over
alls to wear while working in the
garden or a ball and bat
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

and in the shows in which they per-
form, they are very wise animals.
Marel E. Reifsingster, age, 10
522 e. Second street.
Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

Dear Editor.-As never have writ
ten to the Courier Junior before I
will do so.
am eleven years old, my birthday
was the second Of February. have
four sisters and three brothers. My
sisters names are Mabel, Bessie, Ethel
and Eva and my brothers name are:
Earl, Fred and Charles. Charles is the
baby. He is six months old. have
been sick for five months. AS l hope
to see my letter in print will close.
Yours truly,
Myrtle Price,
r. F. D. No. 4,
Melrose, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

and SO will have to print. can
read in the first reader like to go
to school, have gone with my
sisters, tire or four days. l have u
pony colt two years old in June. I
can go out to the pasture and pet her.
She is SO gentle. l guess will close,
hoping to see this in print. Good-bye.
bye.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
A CUBAN DOG

Cupid Is little Cuban dog. He is
about as large as full grown rat
terrier, and Of brownish color. He
cannot stand very cold weather, for
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23

Dear Editor:-I thought l would
write you a few lines. am a little
girl four years old. l can not write
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
Your true friend.
Naomi E. Roberts;
Birmingham.

Dear Editor will write you ~
story about a COW. II
We had COW whose name wass.
Nell. She was reddish-brown color.s
She had twin calves. One calf was az
dark red and the other was light
red. We have sold her to Mr.. Hanlil
ton. s,
AS my story is getting long / will
close. {
Yours truly, -
Dorothy L. Morley, age Z,
ia Morrell st.
ottumwa, la
goa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-04-23
TEDDY JUNIOR; TEDDY COURIER.
Melrose. Iowa April IS, 1907.


Editor
We RECEIVED Teddy Bears Friday Mamma stuffed them and
1nev We thank We called
Teddy Junior
We hope all the Juniors appreciate
We think presents everyone try
Wishing the Junorm much success
Your friends,
Josephine and Frances Norton.