davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

for passing all kinds Of food into his
mouth and for other purposes. At the
end of this trunk is curious up.
shaped muscle called a finger; with
this he can pick up as small objects
as a pin.
He breathes through his nostrils,
which are near this finger.
They have long heavy solid ivory
tusks in the wild state, but sometimes
they are sawed off when captured.
The elephant is a very docile ami.
NAL.
He sometimes becomes unmanage-
able when he is enraged.
The elephant is very faithful ami
NAL He carries all kinds of burdens.
He likes all kinds of good things to
eat. don't think the elephant looks
like he is very intelligent, but the
show men teach them many tricks.
Your friend,
Nellie e. Johnson, age IA.
Frederic, Ia, R. r. No. 10.
Monroe Co., box IS.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

Asa was a little North America g.rl
and she lived on the bank Of a creek:
The name Of the creek is Cedar and
she has one sister and two brothers.
Her sisters name is Alma and her
brothers names are John and Andy.
She and her brothers fiished on the
bank Of the creek. Osa is eight years
old and her sister is fifteen. Osa goes
to school at Christian corner. She is in
the third reader.
Osa lives about a quarter Of q mile
from the school house. She likes to
go to school and she studies hard
One day Osa went to her aunt's
house and on the way she saw d
snake. When she got to her aunts
house she was very tired and the next
day she and her aunt went flower
hunting and a COW got after them and
they ran home.
And when Osa went home she told
her mother about 1t and she was sur
prised.
When she got home 1t was about
dark and she ate her supper and went
to bed and when she got I'D the next
morning and she went out and caught
some fish for dinner, then she and her
sister played all afternoon.
Bessie Robertson, age IS,
Agency, Iowa. r. R., No. 1. &
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
A PARADE.

The day was hot and sultry in
Springfield. A little girl had been
teasing her mother all the forenoon to
go to the parade that was to be in
Springfield that afternoon. Her moth.
er had not fully consented that she
would go and that was what little
Bertha (for that was the little girls
name) was teasing about. Please
mamma can't I go to see the para<c
this afternoon" Her mother had
heard that question a dozen times.
But she said, why Bertha it is too
hot to go to a parade ,oday." But
mamma l can take my umbrella .
why my daughter you would soon
get tired of holding al; umbrella"
ooh! no l wouldn't" well l guess
you may go il you get your dinner
in time
can assure you that Bertha got her
dinner in time for she had eaten
1t and was almost ready to go
when her mother told her to get
ready. Her mohter was surprised
when she said that. why Bertha you
surely are not ready so soon." But
am mamma" She had never gotten
ready so soon before. Alright am
ready to go. So they went and saw
the parade and Bertha told her mother
that she had seen Jumbo Her
mother was glad that she had enjoy.
ed herself so well and you may ask
Bertha If they went to the circus. But
think they did.
Well will close for this time.
Your Junior,
Faye Clarridge, age Is
r R No. Libertyville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
A STORY OF PIzARo.

Pizaro was Spanish boy. He lived
in South America Pizaro lived along
the Amazon river and he is ten years
old He had a little sister whose
name was Isabella and she was five
years old. His little brothers name
was Ferdiand.
One day Pizaro and his papa went
out hunting and they killed a tapir.
They was very glad when they killed
it. One day he wanted to 20 over to
his aunts house and his parents said
that he might go and he started. He
was very glad that he could go. On
the road he saw a peccary which
frightened him very much. The pee
cary started after him and he had to
climb up a tree.
Pretty soon the peccary went away
and Pizaro got down the tree and ran
to his aunt's house. His aunt was
very glad to see him. He had a jolly
time with his cousins. He went back
home in two or three weeks. Pizaro
helps his mother and father. He was
very kind to sister and brother.
Minnie Canny, age 10,
Agency Iowa R. R., No l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
CLEO WRITES FROM CALIFORNIA

Dear Editor:
thought I would try and write you
a letter. I will tell you where live
first. I live on the Santa Cruz Noun
tains. The name of our ranch is Bay
View. We have lovely views Of the
country all around. I can see Gilroy,
towns and the ocean, Santa Cruz,
Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton
and Pacheaco Peak.
We have some very large redwood
trees here, some of them being 10 or
IL feet through and 200 feet high.
Some of the flowers are violets, bAH-
tercups, lilies, versailles, California
peoples, harebells, wild roses, wild
sweet peas, lily of the valley, and
wild lilacs The tame flowers are
roses. sweet peas, lilacs, myrtle tame
violets, flag, and Easter lilies. I have
one brother and three sisters. My sis
tiers are Bessie, Alison. and Dorothy.
My brothers name is Hugh. l go to
school. l am in the seventh grade. My
studies are arithemetic, reading,
geography, history, grammar, drawing,
writing and spelling. My teachers
name is Mrs. Mary Avinsina She is
a nice teacher. My schoolmates are
Edna Shell and Martha douglas. MY
vacation begins on June II. am glad
because my birthday comes in June.
l am Tri-Weekly Junior
Wishing success to the Courier l
will close.
Cleo Doud, age II,
Gilroy. Cal,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
GRACE WRITES OF THE TEDDIEs

I saw a story in the Courier Junior
about two Teddy bears. They were
going up north where the snow and
ice is.
We had snow storm here the 20ti.
and the chicken house and barn were
almost hidden.
Mamma took some pictures of the
snow drifts.
I was picking up some snow when
mamma took one of me-
think they are funny May pictures,
don't you?
felt sorry for the birds that was
out in the storm. Papa said the barn
was just full of them
The pretty green leaves on the plum
trees all turned black the next day.
And many little lambs died in the
storm.
But we don't keep sheep. We keep
cattle. The little calves could stand
snow better than the little lambs
But the snow Is all gone now and
everything looks green again.
Grace Barker,
Tokna, Mont
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
TWO BROWN AND WHITE PONIES

The most interesting animals at the
circus were two little brown and
white ponies. The least one was har-
messed up to little wagon. There
was clown there and he would get
into the wagon and would commence
talking and the pony would kick
against the wagon and the clown
would jump like he was scared.
The other pony was harnessed up
to two wheeled cart and the man
that was driving the pony got out and
took the lines Off He had buggy
whip and he would motion which way
for the pony to go, and 1t would follow
the motion. So as my letter Is getting
long I will close. Wishing you much
success. Goodbye,
Sarah Taylor, age 10.
Drakevi1le, Ia, box As.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
A DAY AT THE CIRCUS.

MY brother and went to the circus
with our grandfather. We first saw
the parade and then we followed it to
show grounds We went in to side
show and saw woman with large
snake around her neck. Next we saw
wild girl and she could not talk
They said that her tongue was too
short to talk. She ate raw corn and
meat.
We saw horse that could write.
1t would take the chalk in its mouth
and write colt on a black board.
Then we saw a giant. He said his
father was larger than he was and
he was very large.
Last we sa wa woman and her hair
reached to the ground. 1t was very
interesting to see the things at the
circus. Your friend,
Wesley Hunt, age 10.
Ottumwa, Ia, R. R. No. 6.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
WHAT l ENJOYED MOST AT THE
CIRCUS.

What l enjoyed most at the circus
was the funny situation, laungable
antics. tricks, pranks and mirthful
play of the vast array of clowns.
l consider circus without good
supply ow clowns is not complete and
do not care to see it. In the picture
of the funny members of the circus
family I see just one dozen clowns
performing all kinds of antics ard
tricks with animals and each other,
which in my estimation indicates that
the Gentry show is success and
would like very much to see it.
Retta Ruark age 10.
Pennington, Ia, r. R. No. 8.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

were all waiting for o'clock to come
when they were to start for Des
Moines and the great circus. It was
ten miles to Des Moines and they all
wanted to be there in time for parade.
Mr.. Edwards had just got there and
he saw them getting out OF the
wagon.
The parade came along in little
while and after the parade they ate
their dinners and then they went to
the show. They thought that the
horse-riding and the clowns were the
best thing at the circus. Mr. Ed
wards treated them all to ice cream
and cake and many other things.
They all wished that there would be
another show the next day, but there
wasn't. Your Junior friend,
Beatrice Hickey, age Il.
Lucas, Ia, r. R. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
GEORGE ABBEY WRITES
FRIENDS.

The following two interesting let
tiers were written by George Abbey
who lives in Neuva Corona, Isle Of
Pines, to Willie and Ray Kendall.
Nueva Corona, Isle Of Pines.
May 10, 1908.
Dear friend Ray:
We received your letter and were
very glad to hear from you folks, from
our old neighbors.
We are having nice rain here to-
day. Our trees are putting on big
growth. Some of them have fruit. We
will soon have our own lemons and
lines. We are looking for them to
put on a big growth this summer. We
have not all the ground plowed yet but
intend to this summer. That is when
we have the most rainfall
Most all the ground where he have
trees planted is gravel You would
not think that anything would grow
in gravel but the gravel here is diff
erent 1t is the best soil for citrous
fruit. Papa has been busy cutting off
new growth. They grow SO fast. Don't
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

scholars all worked hard. Friday noon
came and the teacher said the name
of the prize winner would be on the
blackboard that afternoon. The chill,
dren came back that afternoon and
there was Johnny's name.
Johnny was so happy he could hard
ly study that afternoon. At o'clock
he ran all the way home to. tell his
mamma. Saturday morning he and
the teacher started to town. When
they got there Johnny saw the parade.
In the afternoon he saw the circus.
In the evening when they started
home he said he had had the best
time in his life When he got home
he told his parents all about the
clowns and circus things.
Your friend,
Edith Swearingen, age IL.
Hedrick, Ia, box 1874.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
sToRlEs-LETTERs.
JUN 30.

Jumbo is an elephant He was born
in Africa. When he was first caught
he was carried to Vienna. Then he
was taken to Paris. He lived there n
while and then he went to zoo in
London.
He was shipped in a big box. He
was as large as small pony In those
days and he grew very fast. When
he was four years old he was seven
feet high. The children in London
thought a great deal of Jumbo. They
gave him buns and apples. He would
reach up with his trunk to take them
as they rode on his back. He liked to
have children ride on his back. He
was taught many funny tricks.
Yours truly,
Nellie Baird.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
A DAY AT THE CIRCUS.

Once upon time there was lit.
tie boy whose name was Johnny. He
was very poor, and he lived in the
country. His father and mother had
to work very hard. Johnny went to
school every day. One day he heard
there was going to be circus in the
town close by. Wnen ne got TO school
nor tardy this week. will take to the
circus Saturday,
OF course they all wanted to go.
Johnny had never been to circus
There was another boy in the room
who had been there many a time and
he had the money to go this time. The
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
Little Neighbors
Out O. Doors
A. birdie with a yellow bill

A, birdie with yellow bill
Hoped upon my window sill,
Cooked his shining eye and said:
Amt you 'shamed, you sleepy-head! :"
n. l. Stevenson.
II any boy or girl wishes to form
the habit of early rising, June is the
easiest month to start. In the coun.
try It is harder work to stay in bed
when all the birds are calling and
calling you, than it is to take another
nap. June is the month for songs
and very early morning is the time Of
day to hear them.
One Of the pleasantest parts Of bird
study is to learn to distinguish birds
by their songs without seeing them.
On June ramble in the woods and
fields you see many birds, but you
can always hear more than you can
see.
It takes time to learn bird songs,
but even Ii you only learn four or
Eve the first year and a few more
the next, you will master them in
time. You will learn the commonest
ones first. After you have become
well acquainted with the songs of the
robin, bluebird, song sparrow, house
wren and a few more, the rest will
tie easier to learn
Birds of the same family have a
sort of family resemblance in
voices as well as appearance. You
hear birds song or call and say to
yourself "that sounds little like a
song sparrow--it must be member
of the sparrow family" Then you
find your bird, note his size, shape
and color, and look him up in bird
book; you find that he is a vespel
sparrow, and you have learned a new
scng.
1t will always be hard to remember
the songs of the different sparrows
but ron will soon be able to if yor
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

you think you will have any fruit this
year9 One thing that we never have
down here is frost. 1t never gets be-
low IS. l do not think would like
to live up there through the winter
would freeze UP, but l would like to
come up and see you again. 1t is
lonesome here for there are no chill
dren to play with.
Papa picked 2 pineapples of Of our
patch yesterday. They had begun to
turn yellow. Our other patch of big
pineapples will average 10 pounds
apiece.
Our family and one Of our neighbors
went to the sea Sunday and had fine
time. Wish you could have a swim
in salt water. 1t is lots of fun. Do you
still go in swimming in Blake's pond?
We have nice swimming hole back
of our house always. 1t is nice in the
summer time for it Is running water
but 1t is dry now and lots of fish in it
in puddles, and we catch them with
a net.
We have been bothered with an old
hog. She comes in our sweet potatoe
patch. She ate about bushels. We
got after her one night and chased her
all over the farm and I hit her over
the back with a club but you could
not hurt one of these hogs.
We had to shoot her with a rife 20
times. We have a pet hog that Mr..
Carter gave up. I will have TO go get
the mule so Goodbye. From,
George Abbey.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

they could fish every day. Waptia
was ten years old and Aw-awa was
FIVE years old The two children play
ed together They would pick flowers
and wade in the river.
They would see the fish swimming
in the water In about week they
had to leave this place. The children
thought the place they were was the
only place. They loaded their ponies
and their father and mother took
down the wigwam. They took their
dishes, kettles and beds. The two
children rode on the bed which was
fastened on the horses backs The
two children went to sleep when they
were riding.
When they awoke they were ready
to stop The place where they stopped
was so beautiful The trees were very
shady. There was no thorns where
they would run them in their feet.
Anna loops, age 10.
n
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
SURPRISE PRIZE JUNE 10.

We will give a surprise prize for the
best letter by June is. So If any Of
the Juniors want to be ranked among
the prize winners, they must write
pretty soon. We already have some
excellent letters. We will still send
out posta1s to Juniors the week in
which their letters or stories appear
on the Junior page We have some
beautiful new postals which we are
sending out. The Juniors might write
letters to some absent member Of
their family or else they might pre-
tend to be Rway on trip and write
home. We Intended to award the let
ter prize to-day but the Judges were
SO busy with the pony naming that
they put the letter contest off another
week.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
LITTLE FALLS, MINI.

Lear sclllOI-- -. e s
1 will write a letter and tell yos1
about the town in which once lived.
1t was Little Falls, MINI. 1t is a very
nice town. The population was about
9,774.
The court house is very beautiful.
with it's nice yard in which there are
many flowers.
There is an opera house and larga
saw mill that was Just across the river
from our house In the summer time
men would walk across the river on
logs. The logs were so thick at times
you could hardly see any water They
were sent down to the saw MILL This
mill saws all the time except Sunday.
day.
The electric light house and depot
are on the west side of the river.
There are also many nice churchea
but the Baptist was really the incest
church / was ever in.
This is my first letter to the Junior.
I will close wishing the Juniora
much success.
Emma Watts. age II,
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. r. No a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
EIGHT RULES FoR THE JUNIORS,

h /. Use one side Of the paper only.
! 3. Write neatly and legihly, USING
ink or sharp lead pencil.
3. Number your pages.
! I. At the bottom of the last page
write yoyr name, age and address.
8. DO not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work.
8. Always tell whether you are a
Daily Junior or a Tri-Weelzly Junior.
4. Address the envelope to Editor
Courier Junior, Ottumwa, Iowa.
s. Your stories must not contain
more than 800 words.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
THE ELEPHANT.

The story I am going to write is
about the elephant. He is a. very
large animal. I think he is the most
interesting animal. He has a very
large trunk. He has real small eyes
and large head. He can go through
some very pretty motions. He inhab-
its South America. He is of gray
color. He will eat candy, apples and
peanuts and people can ride him.
He will sit on a bucket or chair.
He will drink out of a bottle. The
articles that he eats he picks up with
his trunk, and puts it in his mouth.
guess this is all can say about the
elephant. Yours truly,
Ruth Erwin, age II.
Ottumwa, Ia, r. R. No. 6.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
A CIRCUS AT DAVENPORT.

One day went to circus at Dav.
export, Iowa. 1 thought it was a
funny circus A girl went in an auto
in the dip of death and I thought 1t
was dangerous. Then some peopla
walked the high wire and when
came in l saw a giantess and little
people.
saw lot of funny people and some
people jumped over an elephant and
landed on a mat.
l saw some animals in some cages
when first came in. Well guess
will close.
Earl E. Miller, age 5.
Ron Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

thought the most interesting ami.
NAL at circus was the elephant.
There was chain fastened to his
front foot. He Is large clumsy AMI
NAL Therefore he makes a very
awkward appearance In travelling.
His neck is short and thick to sup
port his large and heavy head. He
has stout legs to support his large
and heavy body He has no nose
He has long muscular arm This
arm is called trunk. He uses this
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
CLOWN IN Go.cART.

Summer before last went to the
Ringing Bros circus. It was fine
circus and a clown went around with
little clown in a go-cart. He was
dressed up as woman and he dump
ed the go-cart and the little clown
fell out.
Then another clown went around
with tray and some dishes, and he
dumped the tray and the people
thought that tn edishes were going to
fall on their heads but they were
fastened on with cord to the tray
Then man was dancing with a lady
and her legs and skirt ran off and he
was dancing with her head and waist
1t frightened him terribly and pretty
soon the skirt and legs came back
again and he danced with her again
and would swing by their feet from
swings. Then some men brought in
pink silk carpet and some girls, all
dressed in pink silk danced. Then a
bicycle ran up shoot the chutes and
turned somersault in the air and
then came down again.
A man had about fifty puppies and
they all could do tricks so cute that
everybody laughed After the circus
it rained very hard and we had q
hard time getting home. Another sum-
mer I went to the Barnum and Bailey
circus and some elephants went
around in circle and each one picked
up Spanish or French or some other
country's flag and the last elephant
went around about twice and then
picked up the American flag. A woman
went to go round the ring ana lost her
skirt which caused much laughter.
Juliette Eisenbeis,
401 West Park Ave. Ottumwa Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
THE SOUVENIR PosTALs.

No doubt some Of our colder" read.
ers will not understand why we are
always sending out postals. We send
them because we realize that the
Juniors are delighted to get them
However, we do not want the Juniors
to acknowledge them by simply thank.
ing us or writing a receipt, but we
do want them to write q nice little
letter telling US Of their pets, their
home, the beautiful flowers or some.
thing else of interest.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13

wantia was little Indian girl. She
lived with her parents, father mother
and brother. Wantia was a dear good
girl. Her fathers name was Ah-asha,
her mothers name was Was-was-a
and her, brothers name was Aw-awa.
This family lived in wigwam in
the woods where they could hear the
birds sing and see the animals running
about. THIS lived near river where
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-13
THE MOST INTERESTING ANIMAL

The most interesting animal was tn.
elephant. 1t is very large animal.
In India it is used for all kinds Of
heavy work The North American
elephants have become extinct. They
We're different from elephants Of other
countries. having long hair and tusks.
They will eat hay, corn, apples, candy.
peanuts and other things.
They do not like such things as
tobacco and will not touch it.
Pearl West, age 10.
Bakesburg, Iowa, R. r., No. l.