davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

Oh, the train was getting ready to pull
out; the engineer was in his place, the
conductor was waving a. lantern In the
darkness, the engine was putting and the
wheels starting to go round There was
no time for debating the matter in mind.
He must max a quick decision. And he
did. With a leap he was on the platform
Of the first passenger coach, and not a
moment too soon, for almost at the same
instant the porter closed the vestibuled
door and no one from the outside could
enter the moving train.
1t did not take Billy long to run through
the two or three coaches that separated
him from the rear one. where he had seen
and talked with the lady. And as he
walked down the aisle Of the car toward
her his face pale with anxiety. hope. fear,
she looked up from a book she was read
ing and saw him.
In another minute he was sitting close
beside her, weeping silently. her arm about
him and her coaxing voice in his ear.
Come. little man, tell me what grieves
you and how you came to be aboard The
train"
II want to go with you'll never, never
want to go back to those people again.
They are 50 hard with me. 1 am so
AA2 4 van " NC AhO ONAANA Nllll-
dren-outside children. you know, and nave
a home mother"
And as the train sped IN through the
arkness Billy poured out his sad story
to the sympathetic ears of the lady who
had opened her heart, as we'll as her arms,
to receive him. And before the supper was
called she had said to him: You shall be
my little son. for l have none other; and
you shall be made so by law. / shall in
yestigate your connection with these peo-
pie back at the station. and IL everything
is as you say there will be no reason why
/ may not take you for my own. And then.
my dear little man-so brave and true
you shall nave the happiness you so richly
deserve-as every child richly deserves.
And now clear your pretty eyes and wen
go to the dining car and nave a nice sup
per. Isn't it a fine thing that you should
have found a mother just as 1 have found
a son?'
And Billy could only look up and mile
into the sweet face OF the good woman who
was heneef0rth to be his own dear mother.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

been served with their "quick lunch In
the eating house he slipped out to the plat
form and walked up and down by the side
OF the train. He could see the passengers
sitting beside the windows, some of them
eating the lunches they had bought from
lin.
AS Billy paused in front of one Of the
windows, which was open, a sweet-faced
lady put out her hand to him. Come
here, little man. she said. And when
Billy stepped close to her window, looking
up into her kind face, smiling, she handed
him a great yellow orange.
do you live here, little MAI? she
asked. smiling down on him.
"Yes'm. I live here with the gentleman
and lady who keep the eating house." re-
piled Billy. "But they're not my mother
and father" he quickly explained, for he
feared she had seen AUNT Jane" and "Uncle
Tom" and he could not bear to nave her
think he was their child. Then he added:
"I haven't any mother or father. 1 I'm an
orphan an was shipped west a year ago.
Since then I've lived here, ma'am"
"And have you a good home, dear child?
And do you love the woman and man with
whom you llve?" There was so much SYM
pathy in her voice, so much solicitude, that
Billy's eyes glistened with tears. He dared
not try to speak, so he shook his head.
Then, thinking he had done something
wrong, ran down the station toward the en-
CINE.
Once outside the glare of light of the
car windows. Billy stood painting. tears
streaming down his cheeks. How heavy
his heart was! The few kind words spoken
to him by the gentle-voiced lady In the
car had reused all the longing In him for
someone to love, and someone to love
him in return. All, how he could love
that dear lady who had spoken so
sweetly to him and who had given him the
big orange! Oh, II he only dared
Then a plan unfoIded itself in his mind.
But it was a plan he feared to follow out,
But why should ne? There was nothing
TO lose and everything to gain. He would
be as well off anywhere as here. There
was no hope of anything better happening
to him while he remained a drudge for the
~cold-hearted. thankles man and woman
with whom he now lived Yes. better risk
anything. II the dear, good lady should
not a him he could
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

the work I do. Oh, how I want to be loved
like the outside children (Billy had never
ceased speaking of children who were not
orphans as Outside children. y
The people who had given Billy a home
expressed their intention of adopting him
according to the law, thus giving him a
child's claim on them and their property,
but they had put this matter off from
month to month, and after a years 30
journ with them Billy was still the I'M
named orphan boy, having no lawful claim
on anybody or anything. But being so
young he did not realize the wrong these
people were doing him. He did not know
that they were to adopt him as their own
son-soms time. He had been told this
by the asylum officials. But as they did
not seen IN any great hurry to carry out
that part OF their contract Billy did not
bother himself about It. Indeed, sometime
he hoped they would never adopt him by
law. for then he would not belong to them
entirely. And so long as the adoption had
not taken place he felt a sort OF freedom
felt that II the opportunity presented itself
he might leave the station eating-house
and the unlikeable Aunt Jane and Uncle
Tom, and hunt for a home elsewhere.
At last. however, there came q day
which Billy would never forget In all his
life to come, even though he lived TO be
100 years old. 1t was a cold November day
and the wind swept across the sandy
desert carrying a breath from the snow
capped mountains that hemmed them in.
Except for the little five-acre irrigated
garden which belonged 10 the eating house
proprietors, there was not a spear OF grass
nor sprig OF weed to be seen for ten miles
In any direction. And the desolation OF the
fall and winter time was much harder for
Billy to bear than It had been during the
summer. When 1t was garden time he
could find plenty 10 do out Of doors, but
with the cold weather his Aunt Jane kept
him busy In the kitchen under her cold
eyes. But on this day OF which / speak
the evening train was obliged to stop for
half an hour at the station. for there was
a hot box and the train could not pull
out till some work was done to the heated
wheel.
The evening shadows were settling about
and the lighted train held q great fGscina-
ton for Billy. After All the customers had
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Two Boys Adventure with
Indians

BY Rena N. Mead. Aged II Years, Blair,
Neb. Blue.
John and Harry lived in the west before
the civil war. Their father was a brave
rapper. There were many Indians near,
but the boys were not afraid.
Their home lay near a creek. where the
boys went fishing, and good fishers they
were, too.
One day. as John and Harry sat fishing.
they saw about a dozen Indians riding
toward them. They could not run because
the Indians would overtake them before
they reached home. SO they hid in the
bushels. But the Indians had seen them.
The Indians came up and stopped to fish.
They seemed friendly. Presently the boys
found themselves in the grip OF two In
dams. The Indians put them on two horses
backs. The Indians then started bach at
b~reakneck pace for fear somebody would
discover them. The boys fell off in the
mud once or twice, pretending they did not
know how to ride. They dropped their
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Jeanette's Lesson
By Louise Stiles. Aged 10 Years. Lyo
Nnh R1nA

By Louise Stiles. Aged 10 Years, Lyons.
Neb. Blue.
The Lawrences lived on a large farm
near the village Of Newbury. About once
a week Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence went to
town to buy groceries, dry goods or any
thing they happened to need. Jeanette.
their only child, a girl of II years, was
generally allowed to accompany them, but
on one occasion they were in a hurry, so
she was left at home with Mary, a girl
who worked for them jeanette was med
dlesome and always wanted to see what
was in everything. When Mary finished
her work she went to her room to do some
mending and Jeanette was left alone. First
she tried to amuse herself with a book,
but being unsuccessful in this, she took an
apple and went out doors to the swing.
After a few hours her parents came home
and while her husband embarrassed the
horses Mrs. Lawrence took her purchases
into the house and putting them upon a
high shelf, went in search of Mary. Jean
cite followed her mother in tho house and
when her mother left the room she pushed
a chair near the shelf and climbed upon It.
Her mother had promised to bring her
some candy and she saw a package which
she thought contained 1t. She carefully
pulled 1t to the edge OF the shelf and
started to unite the string. when the chair
slipped and Town she fell. not much hurt
except for a sudden prickling In her eyes.
She gave a sudden scream which brought
her mother and Mary to the rescue. Mary
picked up the package which had fallen
from the shelf, its contents being plenti-
fully sprinkled over Jeanette. In her eyes
included, and which contained, not candy,
but ground red peppers. while Mrs. Law
renee washed the peppers from Jeanette's
eyes. I think this cured jeanette Of med
ding, especially as she was not allowed
to have any candy.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
How Orphan Billy Found a Mother
ny Maud walker.

orphans, but would have a nice Sunday
suit, like the Outside boys" And for
every day he would dress like the grocer's
delivery boy who came to the asylum, and
who was so read-cheeked and merry, and
who dressed in blue overalls and Bingham
shirt, and who whistled such lively tunes
as he drove up to the grounds.
And with a light heart Billy was carried
far, far away towards the setting sun.
And with a still lighter heart he was told
that he was going to a place where a man
and his wife kept a little railroad station
eating-house, AWAY over the mountains,
near Salt Lake City. And this man and
woman were to be his parents, for they
had no children OF their own.
But after the first hour in his new home
Billy was sick for the loveless asylum.
His new mother was a cold, sharp
tongued woman. tireless in her work and
tireless in making Billy work also. And
the new father was a red-nosed man,
given to drink. as Billy afterwards learned.
So, this was the "home' Billy had not
dreamed of. And his hopes died during
the first hour of his existence there.
And all day long he was alone with this
strange. unaffectionate woman and red
AOSCo hlolit GoNS " NCh lAu III NAiC
noon hour. and the minutes again at 6
o'clock in the evening, when trains stopped
TO allow their passengers to procure sand
witches. pie. ~doughnuts and coffee at the
little station eating-house. And during the
ten-minute rush twice a day Billy was
happy, for there were people laughing,
chatting, busting people, eating, drinking.
as fast as they could. And Billy helped to
wait on them. work he much enjoyed. for
though tired out from constant toll in the
garden and kitchen the excitement of the
crowd made him forget his WEAKNESS.
And so life passed on and on in the lonely
place with the woman whom he could not
call mother. and the man whom he could
not call father. But as neither OF these
new parents seemed to care about what
he called them, so that he did his work
well. he was not corrected when he ad-
dressed them as Aunt Jane and Uncle
Tom. 1T may find a mother some day."
he would whisper to himself. "A good
woman that will love me for my own
sake. and not just feed and clothe me for
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Honorable Mention.
SmartV
BY Mary Brown, Aged IL Years. 2322 Boul
ward ANenme. Omaha. Rcd.

By Mary Brown. Aged 10 Years. 2322 Boule-
ward Avenue. Omaha. Red.
One fall evening when we were waiting
for papa to come for supper we noticed as
he neared the house that he had something
under his arm like a small basket, but when
he stepped into the kitchen he did not have
I'll We begged him to tell us what he car
ried. but he only said he did not have any
thing. Well, we knew better, but did not
ask him again.
The next morning when mamma went to
feed the chickens, and as she opened the
door OF the chicken house out marched Mr..
Turkey with the rest of the chickens.
When mamma came into the house she
told US what the bundle was that papa car
rled under his arm the night before.
We called him Smarty, and every time we
went into the yard and called him he would
come, no matter where he was.
About two days before Thanksgiving
smarty was gone. We hunted and hunted,
but Smarty was Nowhere to be found. We
had to give up having a turkey for dinner.
TIL day after Thanksgiving Mr.. Smarty
was seen coming into the yard holding his
head so proud as IL to say, Il know Thanks
giving is past and 1 am coming home
again." We will talk better care Of him
next Thanksgiving.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Kittie and Little Brother

BY Margaret Mccormack. Aged Z Years,
1922 South Thirty-second Street, Omaha,
Neb. Blue.
My mother went out to see grandpa, who
was sick, and took my little 2-year-old
brother with her. While there he played
with the cat. and when he started home he
asked grandma to give him the cat, so she
gave It to him. and mother brought Il
home In n basket. When little brother
was sitting on the floor playing with the
cat he though its tail looked too long and
he went and got a large nail and asked
mother to nail the tail up on the cats
back, so he wouldn't step on It. Mother
said that would be cruel and would kill
poor kitty.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

I. Write plainly on one side Of the
paper only and number h pages.
q. Use pen ana ink, not pencil
q. Short ana pointed articles will
be given preference. DO not use over
25o words.
4. Original stories or letters only
win be used.
8. Write your name, G and ad-
dress at the top of h nrst page.
First and second prizes Of books
Will be given for The bost two CON
trtbuttons to this page eaoh week.
Address all communications to
CHTLDREN's DEPARTMENT.,
Omaha Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
A Thanksgiving Turkey

By Pearl Maupin, Aged u Years, 22l6 North
Twenty-Eighth Avenue, Omaha,
Neb. Red.
Once upon a time, not SO very long ago,
there lived a family of five children and
their parents, who were very poor. They
lived in an old family shanty of two rooms.
This family had no clothing to wear only
what people gave them. 1t was just four
more days till Thanksgiving. but these peo-
pie did not expect to get anything extra
good to eat, for they had no money to
buy 1t with.
Well. Thanksgiving came at least; and
what do you suppose happened. Some lit
tie girls brought them a big turkey, and
they were so thankfu over it that they
invited the little girls over to eat with
them. They all had a pleasant Thanks
giving day.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

lines and bobbers so they could be traced.
At dinner time they were discovered
missing. Their father and neighbors soon
started after them. 1t was not very hard
to follow them because of the tracks the
horses made in the mud.
They found them the next day while the
Indians were camping. They killed two of
them, but the others ran, leaving the boys
behind
The boys were taken home 20 their
mother, but now they have n big story to
tell the other boys.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

were sent from a great eastern
E1akFelSct city to the far west. These
l@SX&SI little homeless, and for the
most part nameless, waits were olstrlouteo
about among farmers in various states
west Of the Mississippi river. Some OF then
found good homes, others were not SO tor-
tunate. Among the latter was Billy, the
subject of this story. He was . years old
at the time of his being shipped west
and he had no other name than Billy. This
little pet name had been found pinned TO
his dress on the morning when a policeman
picked him up in one of the public parks.
And on the paper that gave his name as
BILLY" was written these words: Some
body be good to my little boy, Billy, and
God in heaven will bless you" But so
far that somebody" had not been found
and Bllly's lot had been a pretty hard one.
In the asylum where he had lived prior to
his being shipped west" he had known
only severity and work. The little time
that he and other orphans were allowed TO
play was after work and study hours, and
then they were too tired to make Joyful
us Of their leisure and Preferred to lie
about on the hard soil of the uninvitins
playground, with its jail-like high fence,
and rest their tired limbs. And lying there
they would wonder IL In some other world
they would have papas and mammas. like
other children-children of the great big
outside world. So often these little Or
phans would watch with wonder the "other
children" going past the asylum. and a
cry would sometimes burst from their lips
and tears spring to their eyes as they com
pared their own desolate life with those
care-free and happy children on the out
side"
And Billy had been one of the little mourn
ers, for these heavy-hearted orphans could
hardly be called anything else. And when
one day the news spread throughout the
asylum that about fifty Of it's inmates
were to be shipped west Billy was ono
of the first to cry out: "oh, let me be
one Of theml / want to go to-to-a home"
And Billy was one of those chosen to be
sent to the farmers living in the far west,
and he dreamed OF the time when he would
not wear clothes just like all the other
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
(First Prize.)
An Imaginary Trip to the Moon

BY Leo Beckord, Aged Il Years, Waco,
Neb. Red.
Some friends and 1 once made up our
minds to AXE a trip to the moon in an
airship. So we got our airship made, but
when he wanted to go, 1t would not go.
So We had to get it fixed better. After
a while we got started. Some people told
us the moon was made of green cheese.
We did not believe them; so we were going
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

OStSdlu GACuhuBct WulSu HOW luCluu
Jean De Long. worth. Neb.
irene Mccoy, BArnston. Neb.
Lillian Merwin, Beaver City, Neb.
Mabel Witt. Bennington. Neb.
Agnes Dahmke, Benson, Neb.
Vera Cheney. Creighton, Neb.
Louis Hair, David City. Neb.
Rhea Freidell, Dorchester, Neb.
Eunice Bode, Falls City, Neb.
Fay Wright, Fifth and Belle streets, FIRE.
mont. Neb.
Ethel Reed, Fremont, Neb.
Marguerite Bartholomew. Gothenburg,
Jessie Crawford 45 West Charles street,
Grand Island, Neb.
Lydia Roth, COS West Koenig street. Grand
Ella voss, 47 West Charles street. Grand
Ial4nd. Neo.
Pauline Schultz, l12 West Fourth street.
Grand Island, Neb.
Alice Temple. Lexington, Neb.
Ruth Temple, Lexington, Neb,
Edythe Kreitz, Lexington, Neb.
Anna Nelson. Lexington, Neb.
Marian Hamilton, 2029 l. street, Lincoln,
Alice Grassmeyer. 1915 C street. Lincoln.
Nsb.
Elsie Hamilton. 2O2s L street, Lincoln, Neb.
Irene Disher. 2C9O L street, Lincoln. Neb.
Hughie Disher, H30 L street, Lincoln, Neb.
Louise Stiles, Lyons, Neb.
Estelle Mcdonald, Lyons, Neb.
Milton Seller. Nebraska City. Neb.
Harry Crawford. Nebraska City, Neb.
Harvey Crawford. Nebraska City, Neb.
Lucille Hazen. Norfolk, Neb.
Letha Larkin. South Sixth street. Nor
folk. Neb.
Emma Nj -ouardt, Fifth street and Madi-
son avenue. Norfolk, Neb.
Mildred f. Jones. North Loup, Neb.
Hugh Rutt, LeHhara. Neb.
Hester f. Rutt. Leshara, Neb.
Lillian Writ, 415s Cass street, Omaha.
Meyer Cohn. S46 Georgia avenue, Omaha.
Ada Morris. 1924 Franklin street. Omaha.
Myrtle Jensen, 2909 lizard street. Omaha.
Gail Howard. 4722 Capitol avenue, Omaha.
Helen Heuck. 1925 Lothrop street. Omaha.
Mildred Jensen, 2707 L~eavenworth street.
Omaha.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

Mabel shelfelt, 1914 North Twenty-fftb
Wilma Howard. 4722 Capitol avenue.
Omaha.
Huida Lundburg. Fremont. Neb.
Emerson Goodrich, 4OlO Nicholas street
Omaha.
Helen Goodrich. 1910 Nicholas street.
Omaha.
Maurice Johnson. 1927 Locust street
Omaha.
Hilah Fisher, 1910 South Eleventh street
Omaha.
Louis Raabe. 1908 North Nineteenth ave-
nue., Omaha
Emma Carruthers. s2t1 North Twenty-flfth
Waiter Johnson. s4O5 North Twentieth
Leon Carson. 1124 North FOrtieth street,
Omaha.
Mary Brown, 2322 Boulevard, Omaha
Emile Brown, 232 Boulevard, Omaha
Eva Hendee. 4402 Dodge street, Omaha
Genevieve NJ. Jones, North Loup. Neb.
Madge L. Daniels, Ord, Neb.
Agnes Richmond. Orleans, Neb.
Zola Beddeo, Orleans, Neb.
Marie Fleming, Osceola. Neb:
Lolita Woods, Pawnee City. Neb.
Earl Perkins, Reddington, Neb; u.,
Ethel EMS, Stanton, Neb.
Edna EMS, Stanton, Neb.
Ina Carney. sutton. Clay county. Nee.
Mae Grunke West Point. Nsb.
Elsie Stastny, WILDER. Neb.
Alta Wilken, Waco, Neb.
Mary Friedrich, York, Neb.
Pauline Parks, York. Neb.
Edna Behlirg, York, Neb.
Carrie B. Bartlett, Fontanelle, Ia =
Irene Reynolds. Little Sioux, Ia.
Ethel Mulholland, Box II, Malvern, Ia
Eleanor Mellor, Malvern, Ia.
Kathryne Mellor, Malvern, Ia.
Mildred Robertson. Manila, Ia
Ruth Robertson. Manila. Ia.
Edith Amend, Sheridan, Wyo.
Henry L. Workinger, care Sterling Rem.
edy company, Attica. Ind.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15
Second Prize.)
Emma's New Dress

By Frances Waterman, Aged IL Years, SAC
South Twenty-Fourth Avenue,
Omaha. Red.
"Oh, girls, mamma is making me a new
dress!" cried excited little Emma Wyatt.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

as she lay there. ETHEL was dressed the
best after ALL"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

T HREE little Busy Bees from one family each sent n a story this week.
the younger two being new Busy Bees This little Busy Bee lot
only got two OF her own little brothers and sisters to join the writer's
for the Busy Bees Own Page, but alsot two II three little school
friends. too. THAT little Busy Bee will never b. called a drone. The editor
was very sorry to hear that n of the little busy Bees had copied a story las
week from the Second Reader which is used in the public schools, 1t
must be that the little writer did not know the meaning Of original" The
Busy Bees must think out and write their stories by themselves or they ire
not original and la not be used. The editor received a good story rom a
little girl Is years Of age this week and we were sorry not to print 1t, but the
age limit for the Busy Bees is IA years.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

YEAR before this story opens
a carload of orphan children
were sent from a great eastern
city to the far west. These
little homeless, and for the
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

The prizes were awarded this week to Lee Beckard of Waco, Neb, o the
Red side and to Frances Waterman of Omaha, IN the Red side, and honorable
mention to Mary Brown of Omaha, also o the Red side.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-15

Copyright. 1903 BY Paul Elder and Company.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-05
Naval Movements.

The cruiser Prairie has arrived at New
York, the cruiser Chicago at Province
town. the training ship Intr...d at Mare
Island. the collier Abarenda 1 Bradford
and the tug Nina and the submarine
Plunger at Newport.
The tug Rocket has sailed from Wash
ington for Norfolk and the tugs Pow
hatan and Pentucket from Newport for
New York