davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-11
Mrs. Bradley Selling Rocks.

washington, Dec. 11.-Mrs. Brad
ley did not leave for Salt Lake to-
day, as formerly planned, but, in
stead, turned book agent. Six hun
dred copies of a work of a local au-
thor have been given to her, so that
she may earn money to pay the fare
of herself and party back to Utah
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-11
NON WV, q. HUsfIs
Cough, Colds, (,atarI
Relieved By pa.

Hon. VIM. @. Hunsr. A..
North Carolina LsgI,I.,Dn !.
from the Census ofie. BuIs, \
ington, De- COncsruinr P.r',
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in the time of Herod. 1t was
the custom to go to Bethlehem to pay
their taxes and the inn being full Jo-
seph and Mary took refuge in a barn.
Thus it happens that our dear Jesus
was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
An angel had appeared to. Joseph in
a dream telling him that there would
be a son born whose name shall be
called Jesus. When Herod, the wicked
king heard the news of the birth of
JESUS he was angry and wished to de-
stysy the child Jesus. He called the
vfse men and asked Of them what
fme the star appeared and sent them
to Bethlehem to look for the young
child. He told the wise men he want
ed to worship the child, which was not
true. When the wise men say the star
they rejoiced with great joy. And when
they came to the place where the
young child and his mother were they
fell down and worshiped him. and be-
ing warned by God in a dream, they
did not return to Herod and they went
home another way. And when the
wise men had gone the angel appeared
to Joseph in a dream and told MIN to
take the young child and his mother
to flee into Egypt and to stay thers
till he received the word, for Herod
was seeking the young child to de-
stroy him. And Joseph took the child
and his mother by night and went to
Egypt and they stayed there till Herod
died. Alden Doud, age 10.
Douds-Leando, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

One cold winters night long ago,
there was a little babe born in a man
ger at Bethlehem. 1t was the little
babe Jesus. Joseph and Mary went
to the inn. 1t was SO crowded that
they had to sleep in a stable.
Out on the hill side near the stable
the shepherds were watching their
f1ocks, when they beheld a star in the
sky. 1t was the star of Bethlehem.
Three wise men came from the east,
going toward Jerusalem. They asked
King Herod, Where is he that Is
born king of of the Jews. We have
seen his star in the east and we nave
come to worship him."
King Herod told them to go and find
the child and when he mad found him
to come back and bring him word SO
he might go and worship him. They
followed the star until they had
reached the child. They found him
with Mary, his mother. They all
worshiped him Inc departed. They
gave aim gold and myrrh. And this
was called the first Christmas.
Edna Collingwood,
22S East Main St, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

On the twenty-fourth day of Deem
Der the father and mother Of u
Christ Child had been to Bethlehem to
pay their taxes. 1t was a very long
way to walk. AS it a too far to
walk that night they went into a
stable and slept in a manger.
At about 8 o'clock in the morning
the Savior was born. God had told all
the wise men that a holy child was to
be born and that a large star would
appear, which would be mucn larger
than any other. The shepherds and
wise men We're out guarding the sheep
on the hill side when they first saw
the star.
They loaded their camels with rich
and costly presents for the babe and
went on their way to Bethlehem OF
Judea.
Herold told the wise men to go find
the child that he might go n wo:>
ship the child and take it ricn and
costly presents. The wise men knew
that Herod wanted to Stay Jesus, fol-
he heard that he might become
greater ruler than he. SO they Wen
home another way and did not go te
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

Long, long ago there were some peo-
pie travelling and when they came to
Bethlehem they went to an inn and
asked the MAJ if he could keep them
all night, and he said that they could
stay but they would have to sleep in
the barn, that the were too crowded
that night in the house. So they
went to the barn.
These people were Mary and JOS
eph, Jesus mother and father. Long
in the night a little baby came to
them. 1t was the baby Jesus. There
were some sheep and COWS in the
barn.
There were some shepherds on a
hill hurding sheep, and an angel came
and told the shepherds that the baby
Jesus was born and soon a whole
crowd of angels came and sang about
Jesus. AS soon as the angels went
away the shepherds said to one an
other, let us go and see the baby
Jesus.
There was a star which shone
bright in the manger where Jesus
was. There were three wise mer
followed the light Of the star to the
manger. They brought nice presents
to him. That is why we have nice
presents on Christmas day.
Hattie Day, age 10.
Sigourney, R. T. d. No. 8.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

In the land Of Israel there lived some
wise men who spent most of their time
In studying the stars. These men had
towers from which they could observe
the stars and one night as they were
watching the stars they saw a new n
which they a not seen before, and
as thev watched it 1t crew bigger and
brighter and they We're very much as
tonished and said that something Won
derful must be eoing to happen.
And one of the prophets said this
star must have been sent to tell us
that a king was born.
: And they resolved to follow the star,
and they loaded their camels with rich
presents for the new king and started
out to find him.
They followed the star to Bethle-
hem, and when they reached the city
they INQUIRED if a child had been born
They were directed to the house Of a
poor carpenter. They went to the
house that had been pointed out I'd
them and thew looked up n saw the
star, which seemed to be shining right
over it and they went in rejoicing and
found the little child and Mary, his
mother, and they fall down and wor-
shipped him, and they opened their
treasures and presented him with
! great gifts.
Helen Johnson, age Is,
Floris, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.

The first Christmas was the day
Christ was born in the manger. And
We still keep that day. There were
some shepherds out tending their
sheep that night when all at once they
heard somebody singing and looked
up, where they beheld angels in the
sky. There was a bright star in the
east and it moved and the shepherds
followed it. Wise men heard of this
and they took rich gifts and gave to
the child Jesus and got down on their
knees and %worshiped him. King Herod
heard Of this and vas afraid tnat
Jesus would reign in his stead as an
earthly king. and wanted to destroy
him. wei, l am glad Jesus came OF
else We may not have had Christmas
to keep and get so many nice things
Nellie Wall, age 10.
TIC Ogden ST., Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
JUNIOR STORIES.
CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA.

1t may be of interest to know how
Christmas is kept in the homes Of the
well-to-do people in Russian towns.
Early in November all minds become
busy with thoughts Of Christmas.
While the women ponder upon the
chances Of spending a right merry
Christmas. they arrange among them
selves whose house shall be selected
for the entertainments OF Christmas
week. whom they shall invite, and
what girls would be most welcome
guests to their own daughters. This
last point is a matter for deep con-
s~iAeration. for the young ladies in
Russia are the heroines of the Christ,
mas festivities.
The family whose house is selected
for the festivities must be rich and
Hospitality inclined.
Long before the eve of st. Wassali,
the mistress of the house thus select
I'd begins a round of visits to all the
friends and relatives, inviting young
and old, mentioning each person by
name and repeating to each the com
plimentary speeches handed down TO:
generations. Next day the round is
made by the nurse Of the family tc
repeat the invitation to the young
girls.
There is an ancient rule which de
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
----s---T--- - ~"
AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS.

When Christmas mn in America
all the people give gifts to each other
They give gifts because the wise men
gave Jesus gifts so many years ago.
We are all glad when Christmas
comes because we like to think Of
that night so many years ago when
dear Jesus was born. and because we
like to make other people happy
with little remembrances. At Christ
mas time most of the American fam
lilies get together to celebrate the
day.
The children of America believe
there is a Santa Claus who comes
around the night before Christmas in
a sleigh drawn by reindeer, and
leaves presents for all the good boys
and girls. The night before Christ
mas all the children hang up their
stockings for the supposed Santa
Claus to fill. On Christmas day IN
America many people have what they
call Christmas trees. They decorate
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.


Long. long ago a man and woman
were travelling in a country far away.
hs they were very poor people they
could not get any SETTER from the
people of the village. and the mother
had to go into a stable to take care
Of her little one. The little child was
the infant Jesus and he was born on
Dec. rs.
And the people Of the village were
still very mean to them, threatening
to steal the baby. And they We're
obliged to leave as soon as possible
and go to another country to get away
from their enemies. And ever since
1t has been celebrated as Christ's
birthday. and called Christmas. This
is why the children like to see Christ
mas come. Your Junior,
Margaret Whelan, age 9.
1928 West Fifth street.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

never met elsewhere; children come
into the bedroom before the inmates
are up and scatter corr and grains
over the sleepers. Perhaps in token
that they praise the Lord the earth
will bring forth her increase, and God.
even our own God, will give US his
blessings" In some places, too, there
is a play or mystery performed by
marionettes, p%ortraying the principal
events in the life of Christ. This Gus
tom must be very old. and in Russia
it has degenerated into an amuse-
ment for the children and has a queer
termination in Russia. At the close OF
the piece all the nations of the earth
assemble, and have a good dance in
the person of their representatives,
until SUDDENLY a Cossack arrives and
cuts off all their heads, which
amuses the little folks amazingly.
Such entertainments may be traced
to very remote antiquity, long before
the Mohammeaden or Christian era,
perhaps the very earliest known
men. Your friend,
Beryl Daniels.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

"a
Christmas is on the t%wenty-ffth OF
December. The first Christmas was
when Christ was born and the wise
men brought Christ presents. Christ
was born in a manger over nineteen
hundred years ago. Larry was his
mother. He was born in Bethlehem.
The shepherd was watching their
1ocks one night and an angel came
and told them that Christ had been
born in Bethlehem. There was a star
shining in the sky and the wise men
saw It. The star came from the east.
1t came and stood over where the
child was. And since the year tn 1t
Christ was born we have Christmas
on the twenty-fltth day of December.
We give and receive presents.
Yours truly,
Maude Gkirvin, age 8.
AGENCY Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

About 9 o'clock Christmas morning
we saw grandpa in the bobslad com
ing over the hill. We well all ready
when he drove up to the door.
With joyful shouts the children
scrambled into tho led. and being al
most smothered with robes and
blankets. we rode alerrily off. After
an hours ride we reached grandpa's
house. We were welcomed by grand
ma and hosts of uncles, aunts and
cousins.
We were soon in the house seated
by the Gre place eating apples and
roasting nuts. F.
In a little while we were usherel
into the dining room to dinner and
such a dinner as grandma had! There
was roast turkey, cakes, mince pies
cranberry sauce and everything that
| he,Ds to make a Christmas dinner.
After dinner We took our Sleds AMI
skates and went down to the hill and
pond in grandpa's pasture. We skatee
and coasted until we We're tired out.
Then we vert back to the house
where games and music amused IL;
until supper time.
After supper we were called int
the parlor where Santa Claus and
Christmas tree loaded down will
toys, books, candy nuts and every
thing that delights a child's heart
greeted us.
After an entertainment by tn
cousins dressed as Brownies an
Santa Claus, the presents were dis
triDuted among us. After seeing til
presents we went to bed wishing tina
every child could have such a Merr
Christmas as we had.
Bertha Downey.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

born who might take mis- place. He
called all his wise men and talked 20
them privately and asked, Where IS
Christ, the new king born" and they
answered "at Bethlehem in JIdeau."
He (Herod) sent some wise men to
find the new king, SO he might wor
ship him. too.
But he meant to kill him. The
wise men started to seek Christ and
were led " this strange star. Christ
wasn't in the manger, but in the
house when they arrived.
When the wise men Went in they
knelt down and worshipped Christ and
gave him gifts-gold frank incense
and myrrh. The wise men were to so
back and tell the king (Herod) where
Christ was, but an ange. told them not
to go back.
When King Herod heard the wise
men were not coming back he sent
some men over to kill every child less
than two years of age. There was
weeping and wailing by the mothers,
when their children were put to death.
An angel told Joseph to take Christ
and his mother Mary to Egypt so
Christ wouldn't be killed.
They stayed at Egypt until King
Herod died and then started back 70
Jerusalem, but an angel told them to
go to their old home at Nazareth.
Christ lived at Nazareth until he
was thirty years old and then left
his old home.
Your Junior,
Margaret Eliza Mccoy, age Ia.
Ottumwa, Ia, R. F. D. No. 4.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
CHRISTMAS IN RUSSIA.

Christmas eve is an important event
in the rural life Of Russia. At sunset
young and old assemble in the princi-
pal streets of the village. and forming
in a procession go to the houses of
the nobleman the mayor and other
village dignitaries, where they sing
carols and receive money in return.
This part of the ceremonies are call
ed Kolenda, which mean begging for
money. or anything they want to give.
Then they have a masquerade IN
which the adults transform them
selves into limitations of COWS, pigs,
goats and other animals, in remem-
brance of the nativity in the manger.
Then as 500 as the evening star APP
pears a supper is served. They cover
a table with straw, then they place a
cloth over this on which the samoyar
is placed and also fish in several ways
and different kinds Of cake. Then the
feast begins by dividing the
blessed wafer. They give a
small portion to each person. This is
a sacred rite in which one dare re
fuse. The older people are served
first, the smaller being lett till the
last. At tne conclusion of the stal
celebration a number Of the peasant:
proceed to the places they first visited
! and received the money, where al i'm
mense tree has been prepared TO
tnem. The tree is laden with pres
ents of different kinds. If the noble
man has any small children he give
them small coins, which they give tt
the guests.
Forest Weber, age Z.
1905 East Main st.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
1he Star of Rethlehem.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem
there came wise men from the east
to Jerusalem, saying where is he that
is born king of the Jews, for we have
seen his star in the east and have
come to worship him."
Then Herod, when he had privately
called the wise men, inquired of them
diligently what time the star had ap-
peared And he sent them to Bethle-
hem. and said, go and search dill
gently for the young child and when
We have found him bring me word
again that I may come and worship
him also" They departed, the star
which they saw in the east went be-
fore them till it came and stood over
where the young child was. When
they saw the star they rejoiced with
great joy and when they came into
the house they saw Jesus and Mary
his mother and fell down and worship.
ed him.
Retta Ruark.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

There were some wise men in the
east who had read by some Of God'si
handwriting in the heavens that thersy
would be a star to guide them to
where a great king would be born
Late one evening they saw a wonder
full star appear n thev followed it to
was a jealous n very wicked king.
lived. They asked him if he had seen
the babe. He told them mo-" but for
them to go to Bethlehem and If he
was there, after they had w%orshiped
him, for them to come back and tell
him, SO he could go and worship Him
too. But God told the wise men in al
dream that Herod wanted to kill JesrYS
so, after they CAV him the gifts thy
had brought with them, they went
back another way.
Leone Watson, age s,
Mystic. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
in AMERICA.

The people of today spend Christmas
in having a large dinned and niYitings
their family relatives, and having
nice time. They have turkey or goose
and pudding and pies and other NICE
things. hen the young play many
games and they go out of doors and
sleighride n skate and slide and
build snow men and make snowbaltst,
while the older people sit in the house
and talk or sleighride, and come home
and eat popcorn balls an dcandy. Some
times the teacher has a Christmas
tree, but it is SO hard to get a Christ
mas tree that they have a big stocking
and hang 1t UP on the chimney or have
a large basket or get a tree and wrap
it in cotton. Sometimes the presents
are so large hat thew have to put
them at the foot of the tree. Thev
have church entertainments too. AMI
some of the teachers and ministers
have the entertainments in day ting
or at night. They have very nice pro-
grams. The children believe in
Santa Claus, and that he
has a sleigh drawn by reindeer.
He gets upon the roof and comes down
the chimney.
Vera Kendall, age 9,
r. F. D. No. 2, u
Agency, Iowa. r.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31

The people in Norway let the birds
and horses celebrate Christmas too,
by giving the birds a sheaf Of wheat
and the horses more feed. The birds
and horses seem to know it is Christ
mas. The parents of the children let
the children go into the woods and
pick out the largest tree they want
and go home and get their father and
he would come and cut it down. The
children would bring a wagon IN
which to carry the tree home in. The
children sit around the tree Christ
msa day. They start to make things
about three weeks before. They make
1shnets of tissue paper. paper dolls
and very many other things that look
very pretty and dainty.
Yours truly.
Catherine Anna Peterson, age 8.
431 East Fourth street.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

Many hundred years ago the wise
men of the east saw a very bright
star. They knew by this that a child
was born to be king of the Jews and
to save the people from their sins.
They wanted to find him so they could
worship him. They said they had seen
his star in the east and had come to
worship him. --ey had been told that
this Christ Child would be born in
Bethlehem of Judaea. The king then
sent them to Bethlehem to search for
the child. This bright star they had
seen went before tnem to guide them
and when 1t came to where the child
was it stood over the place. This star
is called the star Of Bethlehem, be-
cause it led the wise men to the Christ
Child at Bethlehem. His birthday is
our Christmas.
Ella Wesley, age 9.
R. F. D No. 1. Eldon, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS.

# a|
The reason the Americans celebrate
on Christmas day is because it is the
day Christ was born, on Christmas
day. Christ was the holy child. He
is our heavenly father. He made
every living thing on earth.
We all ought to be happy on Christ
mas day. None Of us can ever make
too much noise on Christmas day.
Inc Am ricans have Christmas trees
on Christmas day and have roasrs
too and Jolly good things on Christmas
day.
The Americans have Christmas
trees in their churches. The Ameri
cans get each other presents and all
celebrate on glad Christmas day.
Your friend,
Myrtle O'Lougblin. age 10.
Mt. Pleasant. Ia
on Mouth NEaip CT
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
LITTLE PAUL.

There was once a. little boy whose
name was Paul. Paul lived with his
aunt, who was very cross and mean
to him. His aunt would like to send
him to school for the poor, but she
dared not, for she had a great deal Of
gold.
There was a schOolmaster who lived
nearby and offered to teach Paul for
a small sum Of money. The school
master was very unkind to Paul be,
cause ne dressed so poorly. One night
there was to be singing in the church,
and the schoolmaster and his school
boys were to be there.
Little Paul went, but ne wasn't
dressed as warm as the other boys.
While the people were singing the
little boys We're telling what Santa
Claus was going to bring them, but
Little Paul kept still, for he knew his
his selfish aunt wouldn't get him
anything.
When the singing was over the
school boys and their master marched
out just as they had come in. When
Little Paul went out there was a bare
footed boy sound asleep, sitting on the
steps.
Paul took one of his shoes, Which
were made of wood, off, and laid it
down on the steps by his side. Paul
hobbled home on n foot, not think
ing of %deceivipg his angry aunt.
When he got home she gave him q
hard slap and sent him to bed, telling
him if he, found anything in his Other
shoe it would be a switch to whip him
with. Paul did not sleep one bit that
night.
The next morning when the Other
boys got up, they found long switches
in their stockings, but Little Pau
found many nice toys, and bags o.
candy in his stockings.
Mabel Lager, age IS,
1902 Hayne ST., OttumWa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
THE STAR o. BETHLEHEM.

The star of Bethlehem was a bright,
shining star which shone when Jesus
was born, December %. He vas a
bright, happy baby, with beautiful
smiles. The wise men all went to see
the Christ Child Of Joseph and Mary.
His father and mother loved him very
mucn.
Why We celebrate Christmas is TO
celebrate Christ's birthday. The sta1
shone bright SO as to tell the people
where the baby lay. Jesus was cruc1
fed on Calvary to save sinners. we
all should love him then for what NJ
has done for us. | will close.
Your loving Junior,
Josie Reeves,
Box 10, Route l. Mystic, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS.

Christmas is Christ's birthday. II
Is always looked forward to as the best
time Of the year. In America the
children always hang up their stock
ings for Santa Claus to fill them from
top to toe. The store windows are al
ways fixed up nice with toys, candles,
and Santa Claus. The children are all.
ways thinking about what they would
like to have. The public schools and
Sunday schools always have a pro-
gram, and sometimes a Christmas tree.
They generally have a treat of pop
corn and candy in both schools. 1t Isl
fore Crhistmsa. And after you do get
to sleep the night seems so long,,
Emma Brown,
r. F. D. No. 2,
Sigourney, Iowa.