davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
JUNIOR STORIES.
ARHoR DAY

Springtime has come again and all
are hunting for wild flowers. All these
things remind US Of Arbor Day. OF
course we all love Arbor Day, be-
cause we love the trees and flowers.
Arbor Day is only "a day set apart
for us to tell Of our love for nature
and to learn from others Of the
uses OF trees and their beauty and
how We need to give those dear
friends Of ours greater care.
II you love nature, Arbor Day will
mean to you more than the mere
planting Of trees. When you plant a
tree and tenderly care for 1t, you
really suggest to others to beautify
the school grounds and make them
worthy Of your tree.
f 1t was hard to decide which day
was to be Arbor Day because the
season just right for tree planting in
Florida finds the soil of Iowa still
frozen hard; the flowers are blooming
in Texas before the forests Of Maine
can boast of few swollen buds.
The Friday following the first day
of May in each year which is the 3rd,
shall hereafter be known throughout
this state as Arbor Day.
Edna Nelson age IL,
lit Kruger st.
Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14

of white. yellow and red flowers.
Each Of the girls and boys carried a
large bouquet while they spoke
their pieces.
After the exercies was over, their
mamas gathered up the remains OF
the dinner while the teacher talked
with her scholars. She told them
that they had all been good. She said
she had surprise for them, when
their mammas had the things gather
ed up.
Then she. kindly asked them to be
seated a mAment. Then she went to
a big basket her father had brought
to the woods for her and got each
of them a nice book and a nice
dictionary for the school. Everyone
went home happy and said they had
never had such a good time in all
their lives. Everyone always wanted
Hettie Bonnor to teach at the White
school after that.
| will close hoping the Junior happi-
ness and success, thinking the editor
for my teddy bear.
From Junior,
Myrtle McVeigh. age 10,
r. F. D. No. 1,
Keosauqua, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
"a MAY PARITY

It was the first day of May and
Jeanette Hayes was thinking of some
games to be played at the May party
which was to be given on the large
lawn in front of their home.
It was only nine o'clock and the
six little girls she had invited to her
party were not to arrive until ten.
At last the clock struck ten, and
in half an hour they were all playing
hide-and -seek. At noon they ate their
dinner on the lawn and then played
Magic Music while Jeanette played
the piano.
In the afternoon they ate ice-cream
and cake and told riddles.
They then made> Msy baskets, and
went ont In the woods to gather
flowers to fill the baskets. They
found few violets and a great many
daisies, besides many other wild
flowers that nature is so kind to give
us. They were very tired when they
reached home, for It was two miles
from their home in the city to the
woods
The little girls parted saying they
had had very pleasant day. In the
evening they met again and gave the
May BASKETS they had made, to poor
little girls they knew.
They had not only been very happy
all day because they had made them
selves happy, but because they had
helped to make other poor little girls
happy.
Edith Lucille Perry, age IL,
Bidwell, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
THE MAY PARTY


Nellie Marshal was to have a May
party. Her mamma said she would
set the goth day Of May for it.
Nellie thought it was long time to
wait, but the time came around be-
fore she knew 1t. The day was a
beautiful one and the flowers were in
bloom everywhere The birds sang in
the trees. There were 10 children
invited and they were all there by
10 O'Clock. What a fine time they
all had, playing hide. and seek and
other games that they all knew.
They were having such a fine time
that they did not think it was so late
until Nellie's mamma came out and
invited them in the DINING room.
O what dinner it was. Every.
thing that was good to eat and then
came ice cream and cake
The children after dinner, went out
to the swings and they had a fine
time swinging eachother until 3o'clock
Then they gathered flowers and made
wreath and put 1t on Nellie's head
and called her Queen of the May
Party.
Then they went home wishing Miss
Nellie many more happy May parties
All declared they had the finest time
of their lives.
Kate Mcveigh. age 8,
Keosauqua, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
a MAY PARTY

Once there were two little girls.
Their names were Ruth and Helen
One day their mamma said, You may
have May party tomorrow .
Ruth and Helen were delighted.
So they wrote ten invitations inviting
ten of their playmates to come to
their party
The party was at half past three
When the girls arrived there was q
surprise for them
There mamma said that she had
hid some May baskets in the room
AMI for the girls to hunt for them.
So the girls hunted till they found
them ALL Then their mamma said,
you may SO and play games now. So
they went out doors and played some
games While they we're playing their
mamma was making another surprise:
She decorated the table with violets
ard put some violets at each plate.
Then she called the children in to
tea.
After they we're done they played
till five O'Clock and then each was
given a souvenir card.
Then they went home, all saying
they had a nice time at the May party.
Belle Rush,
1915 N. Wapello ST.
Ottumwa, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
HOW TO MAKE A YARD HEAUTI.
Full.

In the first place would have the
yard neatly fenced with either wooden
palings or fancy wire fence. If the
fence was OF wood would paint It
either green or white. would have
the yard nicely graded and well sodd-
ed with blue grass. would have u
few shade trees, but not too many,
as too much shade keeps the grass
from growing well.
I would have the trees planted so
that in the hottest part Of the day
the shade would fall on the house.
would have plenty Of flowers OF all
kinds: I'll kinds of annual flowers
and few hardy perennials such as
roses and lilacs and etc.
would have the flower beds artist
cally and tremendously arranged. l
would keep the yard well moved with
a lawn mower.
This is what would do to make the
yard beautiful.
Yours truly,
Gertrude Duree, age IL,
Hayesville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
SPRING FLOWERS

OF an the reasons Of the year,
IL love spring time tho best.
When all the pretty little flowers
Awaken from their rest,
And peep their tiny little heads
Above the earth so green,
And seem to say, We've come out
s. here.
On purpose to be SEEN"
I love to roam the fields SO green,
And gather daisies white.
The pretty yellow dcnelions,
Are next to come In sight. I.
Oh, here's a bunch of Easter flowers,
The lily proud and true
With a darling bunch of violets,
And a dainty blue-bell too.
Oh how l love the pretty flowers,
That makes our world SO bright.
God surely sent them here below
To teach us what is,rtght.
oh may we learn q lesson
From the little flowers 30 true,
And be as pure and sweet as they,
That's what God would have us do.
Composed and written by,
Bessie Davis, age IL,
r. F. D. No. Box 80,
Ollie, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
AN ESSAY ON ARBoR DAY

Arbor day is a day set apart in the
spring for the planting of trees. The
great need of trees on the western
prairies gave Governor Morton, of
Nebraska, the idea of urging the poe
pie of that state to devote one day in
the year to this object.
The example OF Nebraska was soon
followed by many other states and the
plan has now been adopted by over
half the states. An important fea-
ture of Arbor day is its connection
with the public schools This probab-
ly, began with the planting of trees
in memory of authors and statesmen
In Eden park, by the school children
of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1882.
Soon after this special Arbor Day
was appointed for tree planting in
most of the schools of West Virginia.
The idea spread rapidly, and now
in many states it is looked forward TO
by the school children with as much
pleasure as Washington's birthday or
Thanksgiving day
Katie Joseph,
Care Joe Smockel,
williamsburg, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
A MAY DAY in THE WOODS

I live at the Orphan Asylum in the
country. We have good times here.
One beautiful May day we all went
into the woods to gather flowers to
decorate the graves of our friends
and the soldiers who died for our
country.
In our woods there are many pretty
blue, yellow and dog tooth violets,
mandrakes, May flowers, trillums and
jack-in-the- pulpit
We watched all the different kinds
OF bi DIS, gathered and studied the
leaves.
We have a beautiful home and we
take an interest in keeping the lawns
and flower gardens looking neat We
all are very fond OF our beautiful
home.
Your friend,
Anna Chour, age IL,
The Taylo- Orphans Home,
Racine, Wis
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
a MAY PARTY

On the first Of May some girls and
boys went out in the woods to have
a May party. They took their dinner
with them. They gathered flowers
until, noon. Then they sat down to
eat their dinner. n
They heard dog bark and a gun
shoot They were afraid and put
their dinner In their baskets and were
going to start home, when man
came along with gun in his hand.
He had killed fox and was taking it
home.
The children then sat down and ate
their dinner. Then went out to find
some more flowers They found many
kinds and soon came to pretty place
to play. They made wreaths and
put them on one Of the girls heads.
She was to be their queen.
They had May pole dance. After
while it began to grow dark and the
Children wanted to go home, but they
were lost and did not know the way.
They kept on going and pretty soon
they came to the road. 1t was now
almost dark and they were afraid, but
a man came after them. They had a
merry time, but we're glad to be safe
home again.
Edna Meeker, age 10,
R.. R. No. 1,
Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
NOTICE.
49,.

his head was big wig, and this had
powder on it and was tied with red
ribbons. You sNe that was the way
gentleman used to dress who lived a
long, long time ago.
Franks suit was red and white and
gold Charles was blue and gold, and
Eddy's was gray and gold. They wore
wigs like Philips. and all had Slip
pers on with big buckles.
Grace's dress was such as her great
great-grandmother used to wear, and
she looked very sweet In it. Hef
hair was done up and powdered, and
she had on big hat besides. Somd
OF the girls carried large fans. One or
two had on shepherdess dresses
The boys and girls bowed low to
each other and were very polite.
Grace's pet parrot was there, and
behaved very well indeed
Polly said, "How do you do?" polite-
ly, as the children came In. and when
they asked her il she was well, she
answered, mo thank you, quite poor
ly,,'' in sad tone, which made the
children laugh.
7" Garce, Grace she called out
every little while, Isn't this nics
party?"
They dressed Tiger, the dog up il
big cap and bonnet and tried ,toF
teach him some games
The children played one game
which was called, Awakening OF
the Flowers" Some Of the children
crouched upon the floor, playing they
were flowers, others stood about for
sun-beams, while the sun was a ht-.
tie boy standing on chair They all
sang this song:
ooh what shall send to earth To-
day."
Said the great, golden sun.
tOh, let us go down and work and
play"
Said the sunbeams, everyone.
When the children went home, they
all agreed there never was such >
party before in all the world, and
polly cried out, Come again!"
Lois Gibson, age IL,
Rutledge, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
A MAY PARTY

Our May party last year consisted
of six girls and four boys,
The place we selected was in a
grove near stream. twas a very
pleasant place. We arrived there
about nine o'clock in the morning.
In the forenoon we gathered flowers
along the stream.
Ten we ate our dinner under some
large trees near the stream.
After dinner we went down the
stream about one half mile where
the water was deeper, and went fish
ing.
We did not catch any fish, SO we
went back to where we had our
dinner and played several games.
Then we started home. 1t was about
five o'clock. We had about mile 10
go before we reached home We got
home about half past six.
We had very nice time during the
day.
This is the first time have written
to the Courier Junior.
Fl, Yours truly,
Agnes Hanshaw,
Drakeville. Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
poeeIE BUSTER

AS all the other Juniors are writing
about their pets will write about
mine. &. rs,
My dog is named Buster and he IS.
very small When you have anything
for him to eat he will stand up and
walk all across the room on his hind.
feet or if you want him to speak for.
a piece he will bark.
We have large chair In our din
ing room and he likes to sleep in it
If he thinks you want to take 1t from
him he will watch ever place you go.
We play tennis and he tries to get
the ball.
We have another dog, named Carlo.
He is my brothers. dog. When he
climbs ladder Carlo goes up after
him. Carlo plays with Buster all the
time and looks like a giant beside
him. I have three cats too. One OF
them is Ping Pong another Is Pick
and the other is Dodger.
l found Dodger down by the creek.
Some Polanders were throwing stones
at her. She got out finally and
picked her up and brought her home.
She was very poor and thin then.
have lost her several times but she
always came back.
We have two rabbits. They are
gray. I used to have a white one but
he was killed by the train.
We also have two black horses One
of them is named Nellie and one
Duches. When any chickens come
into the pasture she chases them.
Well IS my letter is getting long
| will close.
Madge Barrett,
Box 497,
Mystic Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
1.-THE DESCRIPTION OF MY sIs-
TER"

! ( 80 =
Dear Editor: II thought would
write, as I have never written before
ON going to describe my baby SIS
ter.
My sisters name is Florence Mar
gret. She will be fifteen months old
the 10th Of this month. She has
brown hair and bright blue eyes. The
Is thirty and one-half inches tall Shd
was born January 10. 1906. She was
born on papa's birthday She is this
cutest little thing; she Is always into
some mischief. She walked before she
was year old. She climbs the stairs
and falls and bumps herself all the
time. I have another little sister. Her
name is Henrietta Victoria She viii
go to school next September. She swas
born the day after my birthday, August
%, 1902.
1 will close. Your friend,
Anna Louise Dittman, age 10,
1901 East Main street. 8
Ottunwa, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
SPRING FLOWERS

There are so many nice wild spring
flowers.
The little cowslir are a little white
flower with a yellow center, there
heads bending downward.
Then the bluebells they ere little
blue bell, several bells on, stem.
The sweet williams is a purple
flower on tall stem.
The violet is a blue flower growing
close to the ground.
The Easter flower is a little white
star shaped flower.
The daisy is pink and awfully pref
IT,
The kitten breeches are white, sey.
erSl grow on stalk.
The harebell is light blue, grows
on rather tall stem.
These are all wild flowers and are
very pretty.
Yours truly,
Helen Rafferty,,
R. F. d. No. 8,
Birmingham, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14

breakfast and each one picks bou.
quet and brings it in the dining room
for our teacher and matron and for
others in the house.
In the spring We enjoy going out N
the woods to gather flowers.
There are many violets, mardrics,
trtliums and ether beautiful flowers
in our woods.
We have many good times here
both IN summer and winter.
Agnes Jacobson, age IA,
The Taylor Orphan Asylum.
Racine, Wis.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
a MAY PARTY

One day some children had party
and it was to be on the first of MAY.
so they thought they would call it a
May party and have May pole and
May Queen. Lucy was chosen out Of
the 16 girls to be the Queen. They
went to the woods about one mile
from town and took their dinner. The
girls gathered the flowers while the
boys made the pole, soon the fun be.
gan. Lucy sat down on the chair I'M
der the pole, and they were having
the greatest fun when one of the
girls was found lost, 1t was Ethel.
She saw a brook and had taken
her shoes and stocking off and was
wading in the water Soon she went
back to the party and they all begin
to cry she is found! she is found.
Who is found? Why you. | was not
lost she said but but the rest though
different.
Yours truly,
Anna Margert Rhea. age IA,
Box 127 or 335,
Hiteman, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
The Courier Junior
Published BY
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.
oTTuMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA. pEvEREAux.
EDITOR.
THE ADVERTISING CONTEST

Dear Juniors: The new contest is
in the "box" in the middle of the
page These many sentences are all
taken from advertisements that have
appeared in the Daily Couriers and
the Tri-Weekly Couriers for the week
ending Thursday, May 9. Each Junior
that enters this contest must tell
from what lad" each sentence is taken
and also write nice little essay on
Advertising. The Junior sending IN
the best essay and telling where the
most lads" belong will be awarded
the prize. State whether you are q
reader of the Daily Junior or the Tri'
Weekly Junior.
The contest will close May 20.
Sign your name In full also state
your age and give your correct ad-
dress.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
HOW TO MAKE A SCHOOL YARD
BEAUTIFUL

Mary's father (Mr. BROWN was prin-
cipal of the school in small town
where she lived. They were all
proud of their pretty town, for all the
yards were full of flowers.
The schoolhouse had just been built
and it had no grass or flowers. 1t
looked very bare. So Mr.. Brown
said he would give a prize to any
one of the school children who would
do some pleasant work for him to the
best. Twenty children came to him
and said they would try.
He gave them each a package Fl
seed and a portion of the ground 20
plant them in Some trained vines up
the side of the schoolhouse. Most
of them planted grass seed. Some
made little flower-beds here and there
and in two months the schoolyard
looked very beautiful.
Mr.. Brown said they had all done
their work SO well, they all should
have a prize. l think they earned it
don't you?
Thelma Davidson
(No address given.)
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
SPRING FLOWERS

live at the Taylor Orphan Asylum
which is located one and half miles
from the city of Racine on farm of
forty acres.
The building: is large one in the
form of Greek Cross. 1t stands on
lawn of six acres, surrounded by
beautiful shady trees.
The children's gardens lie to the
south of this lawn.
Each spring we are given our own
garden, and choose our own flower
seeds. We each take care OF our own
gardens, and enjoy the flowers.
When our flowers begin to blossom.
we go on4 ia ,npr gardenH before
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
SPRING FLOWERS

There are many kinds of different
flowers. They begin to bloom about
the first of April. will name some
of them. There is the violet, Tor
johnny-jump-up as it is often called)
the blood-root, cowslip, leopard ton
que, buttercup, dutchman breaches.
spring beauty, sweet william, blue
bell anemone, and harebell There
are not very many flowers in the
woods now.
Lillian Isaacson,
R. R. No. 2, 4
Agency, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14

we were up ready to start by eight
O'Clock in the morning.
When we arrived she was at the
gate waiting for US. We all greeted
her with a good morning Lucy.
Soon we were all busy playing hide
and seek, blackman and other games.
We played until dinner time, then
we ate our dinner.
AS soon as dinner was over we
we're out at play again, we played
until we we're called to the house. We
all went wondering what they want
ed. They called us into the DINING
room. There was the table set with
ice cream and cake.
When we had eaten our Ice cream
we went home. All had had merry
time.
Yours truly,
Ada Singleton,
Richland, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
HOW TO MAKE A HOME YARD
BEAUTIFUL

To make a home yard beautiful
you plant all kinds of pretty flowers,
keep the grass cut and have nicely
shaped trees and not let trash get
scattered over the yard. And have
the flowers in different shaped beds.
Some pretty ways to shape the
beds are to make some square, long
and heart shapes.
thank you for the pretty card and
bear you sent me. | think they are
very nice. am going to call my bear
Teddy Brown
will close for this time
Wishing the Junior success
Pearl west. age IL,
r. F. D. No. 1,
Blakesburg, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14

Dear Editor: AS I have written
once before. / though, would write
again to the Juniors.
recommend your paper highly.
| like to read the Junior letters,
and also like to read the stories
which are written on certain animals.
am thirteen years old. MY birth
day is in November.
/ am in the A fourth grade.
We have spelling. reading, arith.
metic, muscular movement, language
and geography.
My teachers name is Miss Jennie
Young. like her for my teacher
We have eight rooms in our school,
twelve grades and ten teachers.
We are going to have a program
Friday, April 20. commencing at two
O'Clock p. m.
Yours respectfully,
Katie Joseph.
Williamsburg, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
HOW TO MAKE "A HOME YARD
BEAUTIFUL

Fret you should rake your yard
and clean 1t up. When the grass is long
enough NOW 1t with a lawn mower.
You should have some trees In tho
yard. II you have a porch, some
vines would be pretty twined on It.
Then you could have a bed Of homo
plants made any shape that you want
1t.
A bed Of foliage would be pretty
by itself, and bed of pansies too
You could make bed Of wild flow.
ers. You could make it round and put
blue.bells in the middle and next lady
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
HOW TO MAKE A HOME YARD
LOOK BEAUTIFUL

First make the soil very fine.
Then sew grass seed and plant rose
bushes and other bushes and If we
have a porch, plant some climbing
vines around 1t. Then make a bed
for geraniums and along the fence
plant some sweet peas and morning
glories. Have a large bed of feverfew
and If the lawn is large enough have
a nice large bed Of gladiolus and a
bed of carnations.
| will close.
Yours truly,
Martha Spears,
r. F. D. No. 5.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-14
succe
ARHoR DAY

We children are always glad when
Arbor Day comes. We enjoy plant
ing trees and flowers. Last Arbor
Day some Of the big boys at school
went out in the woods and got some
little trees. One was given to each
room. TIE teachers and children went
out on the school yard and planted
them. Then we sang songs. Then
we girls jumped rope and the boys
played ball. We named our tree
George Washington.
am eleven years old. AS my story
is getting long I will close. hoping
the Junior success.
Your friend,
Elenora Molgard, age IL,
Box 14S,
Bonaparte, Iow1.