davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Ching Chang Chinaman Circus

By Alma Lorentzeu, Aged l. Years. 53
West Division Street, Grand Islanl,
Ncb. Red.
Ching Chang Chinaman was a great old
fellow. He was the man cook OF a very
wealthy lady. Ching Chang was very mis-
chievous. one day Ching Chang bought u
lot Of cats. The mistress of the house
came out to see what he wanted with all
thsoe cats. He said: NJ go ana sec hrw
long they can standec that dark pa e in
that cellar Next day he went to market.
lie asked the man how much lc wanted
for parrots. The mistress wasn't at home.
He said: Me vellee elad she aln't at
home" Next day he bought some VIII 10
rats, and every day he would buy some
other kind of animals until he had a col
lection. One day he went to town and left
his animals in the cellar. His mistress saw
all Of the animals and said: my goddess.
what in the world does he want with h NJ"
But the next day there was a great big
tent and Ching Chang had a circus.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

grumbling, 1t was never satisfied with its
lot, It's ~neighbors were crowding 1t, or 1t
didn't grow as fast as others, and so on.
There was also a pea of about the same
character. One day little Teddy's mother
told him to get some peas for dinner. He
did so, and when he was taking off the
hulls he found a pea that was all shriveled.
He thought that II was no good and there
fore threw It away.
The next day Teddy hurt his foot and
his mother said she must put a potato
poultice on 1t and told Ted TO get a potato.
He happened to get the disconnected one.
The potato was very happy when It was
taken from the basket. But not long after
1t had been tied on Teddy's foot it began to
fret, It wriggled and twisted till 1t worked
itself loose and scampered away as fast
as 1t could. On its way it met the pea
that had been thrown away.
How do you do, Friend Potato?" said
the little pea. How do you do?" said the
potato. Where are you going7" asked the
pea. "Oh, I am going to run away and
never come back to this troublesome
world" sighed the potato.
We'll" said the pea, IF you don't mind
l think l shall run away with you. !
have just escaped from being put in the
pot with the rest OF the peas over a very
hot fire. That little boy threw me away
because 1 was a little shriveled and old"
We'll" said the potato, 'let us hasten
So they ran away together and hid them
selves in the ground. In about a week
they came up. but It was so late in the
season the frost came and nipped them
and they became Of no use.
Just so with some people who are never
satisfied.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Sun, Moon and Their Children

By Helen Sanford. Age IL years. 1920
Florence boulevard, Omaha. Blue.
Once on a tim when the world was new
the sun sailed around in the sky all day,
but when night came there was no light
because there wasn't any moon then.
Well. one day as the sun was shining
he saw a beautiful lady and he called to
her and asked her to come UP and live
in the heavens with him, 80 she came up
and the sun changed her into a moon and
gave her some of his light and told her
that she should shine and make light for
the people at night. So she shone at night
n gave light so the people could see
where they were going. But she seemed
10 be getting thin and wasted and when
her husband, the sun, asked her what the
matter was she told him that she was
lonesome and wished she had lust one
little child to keep her company. Then
the sun said he would get her some chill
dren and whenever he would see q par
ticularly beautiful child he would bring
the child TO heaven and change 1t to a
star. So in that way he got a whole lot
Of stars for the moon, and when she got
all she could take care OF she told him
and he didn't get any more. Then the
moon began getting nice and plump again
and happy, too. But whenever she thinks
OF the time when she hadn't any children
she gets thin, but by watching the chill
dren at their play she cheers up and gets
nice n plump again.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

gain the shore the bits of rotting wood she
held to would break away. Then would
ensue the struggle to get hold of other frail
pieces. But she was fast losing strength
and was strangling so badly that to keep
her head above water much longer was ut
terly impossible.
"Oh. jump I'm and save her-save herr"
cried a dozen girls to John as he came
running upon the scene. join went to the
bank and looked at the struggling girl.
Then he became excited, jumping about
like a crazy boy. How'd she fall in?"
he kept asking, not waiting for an answer,
but running on to say: why don't you
get some big sticks and throw in to her,
Get some big limbs-with bark on SOS she
can hold IN
"Fool!' And Mabel Graves thrust John
aside. allowing a little figure to rush
through. II was Sammy, who had Just
come up, and who, upon seeing what the
trouble was. had thrown off his hat and
coat, and was not kicking off his shoes
as he made ready to plunge into the water,
which at this point was five. feet over his
head. when 1 call for a stick TO be
tossed to me don't waste a minute!' And
then he had made the plunge, and with two
or three strokes had reached the struggling
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
The Wish

BY Jessie Crawford, Aged II Years, 4O5
West Charles Street, Grand Island. Neb.
Blue.
Once there was a little girl named Nora,
who was very unhappy. No one liked
her because she was so cross. She always
kept saying, II wish my name was Helen,
for 1 am sure I'd have better times then. -
80 one afternoon as she was sitting in
her hammock thinking, she fell asleep.
A fairy came and said, Mora, what do
you wish?" and Nora said, II wish my
name was Helen" so the fairy said, IAN
right, your name shall be Helen"
And then after that her mamma always
kept on calling her Helen. As she was
going to her friends house across the
tracks one day she happened to slip and
fell and the engineer could not stop the
train in time and her arm was injured.
Then she woke and saw her mother stand
ing by her and Nora told her of her awful
dream and she never wished that her
name was Helen again.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

girl who was sinking for the third time.
He caught her by the arm and held her
above the water, calling to those on the
bank to throw In some strong limbs Of
trees. These were easily procured, for the
ground all about was Uttered with fallen
trees and bits Of strong limbs.
And within a few minutes-though 1t
seemed ho~urs-Sammy, painting from the
exertion. dragged May upon the bank,
where their comrades looked after them
tenderly. "oh. don't mind me-" said
Sammy. gust get something dry for May
to put on"
At this very minute Mrs. Stems. who had
been chosen as chaperon for the party, but
who had been obliged to attend TO some
business before going to the picnic grounds,
and had. therefore. been a bit delayed in
joining the band Of young folks, came upon
the scene. She had driven to the grove In
her phaeton, and Just at the very minute
when Sammy dragged her little daughter
upon the b~ank-half strangled-she was
alighting from the vehicle a few PAGES
away. When she learned the exciting news
she was, OF course very much overcome.
And as soon as she made sure Nay was all
right ave for q severe fright and shock
she turned to Sammy with words Of earnest
gratitude and praise.
But We must not linger yer this part OF
the scene, for It was quite too touching to
be witnessed by any one without a gulp in
the throat and tears in the eyes. As soon
as May had recovered from the shock she
got into the phaeton with her mother and
started homsWard. not to remain there. but
to change her clothing and TO rest a little
while. Then she and the dear mother
would return to the picnic and all would
go on as merrily y a picnic OF children
should.
But John had disappeared from the scene
And 1t was good for him that he had done
30. for when the boys who had gone TO the
farm house had returned to the grounds
and had heard from all the indignant girls
about his oowGrdios they felt like giving
him a good piece Of their minds and a bit
Of their fists into the bargain. I fear.
7 always said that boastful fellow would
some day meet his Waterloo" said one OF
the boys. But It never occurred to me
that II would fall to the lot OF heroic little
Sammy to b that Waterloo Hurrah for
Sammy. ! say. the hero Of todAys ptcniol'
Ana all the boys. and girls. too. Joined
heartily In the cheers for Sammy, the hero
OF the day. and Of the year. for that
@AttsET
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Harriet and Ethel

By Edna Ward, Aged 10 Years, Norfolk.
Neb. X. +. ID. No. 8 Blue.
Harriet and Ethel were two little girls.
Harriet was II years old ard her father
was rich. Ethel was 10 years old and her
father was poor and had to work hard to
support his family Of ten.
Harriet would always scorn Ethel every
time she saw her, but Ethel never said
anything about 1t.
Ono time when Harriet was up town in
the middle of the street, watching a man
with a monkey, Ethel was on the other
side of the street watching, too; a street
car was coming around the corner and
Harriet did not notice 1t. AS 1t was draw
ing near. Ethel ran across to Harriet,
grabbed her by the hand and pulled her
to the sidewalk, just as the car rushed by.
Ethel was rewarded by Harriet's father,
and was never scorned by Harriet after
ward.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Two Little Orphan
By Hulda Lundberg, Aged IA Years.

By Hulda Lundberg, Aged IA Years, SS
f Street, Fremont, Neb. Blue.
In a little city surrounded by mountains
lived Mrs. Langford. She was a very
poor widow. Her husband was killed in
war and she was left alone with her
children, Marvin and Margaret, IA and
IL years, respectively. The house in which
they lived had only two rooms and 1t con-
tained very little furniture,
One cold day In January their mother
was taken with a terrible fever and was
not expected to live, so Marvin and Mar
garet were called to her bedside. Mrs.
Langford said:
Margaret. bring me my golden neck
lace"
"All right, mamma said Margaret.
She then put It on Margaret's neck and
said, II give YOU this necklace as a gift.
for 1 am going away to that happy land
so far away and some day, children, you
will be called to this happy land also"
She then kissed them and with the word
good Bye she passed away.
For several weeks they were in great
sorrow, they had no one to care for
them and were left alone in the world.
'Oh, what shall we do?" sigher Mar
garet.
1T KNOW said Marvin. you sell
flowers while I sell newspapers"
All right" said Margaret. So they
started out, each going in a different d.
rection. Margaret sold her flowers and
returned home. Marvin also sold his
papers. They then ate their supper and
went to bed. The next day when Margaret
was selling flowers she found a pocket
book which contained money, also a card
which read, Mrs. Moultensby, PISS Mill
tary Morse street, Chicago, illinois," II
will take it back to the owner" said Mar
garet to herself. After much difficulty
she found the owner. When Mrs. Moul-
tensby found out how she and her brother
were left alone in this world she adopted
them. So they were given a good home.
They are now known as Marvin and Mar
garet M~oultensbY.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

find only one nickel. She thought her
brother had taken It and began to cry
and tease her mother for another nickel.
So she gave her one and told Lucie to be
home by half past 5.
Lucie went downtown and bought 10
cents worth Of peanut butter and then
she didn't have any more money. and so
she had to hunt for her father.
She went TO the lawyers office, but
he wasn't there. The lawyer said "he
had just left there to mail some letters. 4"
Lucie asked him II he was coming back.
lawyer said he didn't know, and when
the girls went out they saw him and ran
to him and got the money and bought the
rest of the stuff and went home and in
the morning they took their lunch and
had a nice picnic.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Amy's Reward
By Myrtle Jensen, Aged II Years, 29O9 lizard
Street, Omaha. Blue.

BY Myrtle Jensen, Aged II Years, 29O9 lizard
Street, Omaha. Blue.
Dusk was coming on. The snow was
falling. Amy, on horseback on a country
road, was two and one-half miles from
home. She glanced up at the sky. only
to find the clouds very threatening. She
quickened her horse and g~allopcd on for
about ten minutes, when a faint cry at
tracted her attention. She rode toward
the direction from whence The sound
came, but could see nothing. Then a small
brown object, half buried in the snow,
caught her sight. She jumped off her
horse and fShnd II to be a little collie.
Poor dog" she said. how cold you must
bel"
She turned her horse homeward and
reached home in less than an nour. Her
mother gladly consented to keep the dog.
Bruno, as Amy called the collie, occu-
pied a large dry goods box in the kitchen.
On a particular night to which ! am re-
ferring, Bruno went to sleep as usual.
About midnight he was awakened by a
soft rustling. There I'm front Of him was
a strange man wearing a queer black
cloth over his face. He had over his
shoulders a sack. the contents Of which
ratified. He was Just opening IA side win
dow when Bruno, who did rot like his
looks. jumped VI and bit him On the left
leg.
Hearing screams, Amy's father came
running down stairs. and seeing a robber
'phoned for the police. The sack was filled
with valuable jewelry. The police were
very glad to have the robber in their
hands. for he had committed several
crimes besides assulting three young
women.
Bruno is an old dog now. but Amy still
remembers the night when she was re-
warded by taking home a little stray dog.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
A Fairy Tale

BY MarJory Bodweil. Aged II Years, 215
South Eleventh Street. Norfolk, Neb.
Red.
Once there was a king who had a very
handsome son. The prince one day went
cut TO seek his fortune. AS he was walking
through q WOO he saw a ave and went
In 1t. When he got in the cave he saw
an ugly old woman looking at him. She
took him into a dark room. There was
another room mex to It and In II there was
a beautiful woman. They began talking
and the young woman said she had been
hunting the day before and had gotten
tired and gone off by herself. She came
to this cave and went In and she had been
captured After awhile they began planning
means Of escape The princess. for she was
q princess. had a pretty, long, silk sash on.
There was a small window In both their
rooms. and as there were only iron bars
between them they could give ~ other
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

49, 80 N1NaR
M boaster Of all the boys In his
ES&a grade at school. Although he
H&%&QN64 possessed this very bad char
&N$ETY acteristic, the boys tolerated
$4,000 him, and some of them went so
Tar as to excuse him. saying: "Oh, John
does boast like all forty, but he'll get over
II some day. He'll go too far. and, like
old Nap the Great. will meet his Waterloo"
And this prediction regarding John tn e
boaster came to pass. IT. happened in
this way: After school was out for the
summer the boys and girls of John
Greys grade arranged to have a little
picnic In a fine grove about a mile from
town. Through this grove flowed a beau
tiful stream. very deep in places. On
the sloping, messy bank of this stream
the picnic was held.
Soon after the little folks had assem-
bled to enjoy the outing in the woods
John, being a loud talker. could be heard
boasting to his comrades about his own
ability in various heroic lines and dis
paraging the courage OF a certain little
chap, Sammy Travers by name. Now
Sammy Travers was known to be the
most u~nassuming and modest boy in the
whole town, barring none. He was one
of the first in his classes, never missing
a lesson nor suffering the disgraceful
tardy mark TO be placed against his
name. In these respects John Grey could
rot compare report cards" with Sammy.
And for this reason he probably held a
grudge against the boy, who was little
over half his own size and two years his
junior. At all events, he seldom let an
opportunity pass to voice little insinua-
tons against Sammy Travers. especially
in the presence of other children.
well, I don't want to bragg" John was
saying, but I'll bet my hat that were a
wild bull to come charging down yonder
albright toward the girls seated IN that
hammock-that ia be about the only boy
to make a dash at him to Brighten him
away. And as for our friend Samuel, here,
he'd we'll" And John smiled in a
sarcastic manner, "well, he'd disappear
into some convenient gopher hole and draw
the hole after him"
But to Johns embarrassment no one
laughed at Sammy's expense. However,
one chap said with a good deal of en-
phasis; IT wish we'd get a chance to see
you In the role OF hero, John, for you've
told us so much about your courage and
bravery that 1 think we'd relish seeing you
risk your own neck to save the life OF
someone else, or 10 get a glimpse of you
in combat with q Wild bull. Gee, that would
be interesting"
Il guess you are guying me-" said John.
his face reddening a bit. but II the
time ever comes when l have an oppor-
tunity to show you that 1 can act as we'll
as talk TIL be mighty proud to do 1t.
don't boast OF things 1 couldn't and
wouldn't do"
"oh. boys!" cried May Storms and Mabel
Graves, running TO the group OF boys who
were chatting with John. 'Who Of you
will go TO that farmhouse over yonder-
through the pasture-and beg, borrow OF
take some tresh-laid eggs? We're going tc
ten Dur fortunes with eggs. It's lots OF
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
(F1rst Prize.)
Charles Lesson

By Letha Larkin, Aged IA Years. Norfolk,
Neb. Blue
Once there was a little boy named
Charlie, who on this particular day was
down at the brook catching toads and
tying strings to one leg and pulling them
along with not a care for the little things,
He afterward lay down on the grass leav-
ing the toads beside him, hen he heard a
piping voice call out; what hav we done,
for you to injure my people?" Charlie,
turning around saw a very large toad.
much bigger than himself, with large green
eyes that terrified the little boy. Answer"
cried the toad.
20, I'll never do it again" cried Charlie.
II shall show you the way you treat
my people," said the toad, and he tied a
rope to Charles leg and pulled him along
over stones, hills and everything. o how, 1t
did hurt.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
A Real Ghost Story

BY Leona D. George, Aged 10 Years, r. F.
d. l, Station B, Omaha. Red.
mo, rye heard a lot about ghosts, but
I never saw one yet. I hope I shall some
day." said Jack to Raleigh, his city cousin,
who was spending a week with him.
"Well-yes-I guess I'd like to see one,
too"
Jaw, you're 'fraid.'" sneered Jack,
whereupon Raleigh declared that he wished
one would come into the room, then and
there.
Twas 70 o'clock, and Raleigh awoke with
a start, TO hear a strange noise just out
side the door. It was a sort of knocking,
which didn't make Raleigh feel very good.
80 he leaned over and whispered: Jack.
Jack" But Jack wouldn't even wake up
with a good shaking, so Raleigh gave him
a punch in the ribs that brought him up
right on his feet at once.
Whats that?"
"Im scared"
Lets call father"
"N-M-A-N."
These were the various EXPLANATIONS of
the boys as they sat shivering in the mid
die Of the bed. their hearts in their mouths,
and the very hair on their heads standing
straight UP.
The door opened ana a ugure clad all IN
white entered the room, 1t seemed to tread
on air. and It was all lit UP by some I'M
seen light. It's features were CHASTITY to
behold.
As it neared the frightened boys a sepul-
ohral voice said: Boys. / am king OF the
ghosts. My name is ophilamarilius Phila-
caster. I came to you In answer TO your
own wishes, which one of my spy fairies
heard you express. IL
The sentence was never finished. one Of
the little hidden torches which ilumined
his countenancs here accidentally came in
contact with his filmy garments! which
were all aflame In a second. The boys
Jumped out and helped him extinguish the
fire.
Uncle Johnr' 'Daddyr' cried the boys.
Oh, we never want to see another ghost
so long as we 1--we King ophilamarilius
Philagaster."
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Paul's Friends

BY Olga Nelson, Aged 10 Years, Lexing-
ton, Neb. Red.
Paul was out in the country visiting his
uncle. He had beautiful blue eyes and
golden hair, and looked just like a pic
ture.
One day he was out in a field watching
a pair of birds building a nest. Suddenly,
before he knew anything. he was lifted up
in the air and put on the same branch
where the birds nest was. He looked
down to see who lifted him up, but could
not see anything. The birds did not seem
to notice him and worked on.
Pretty soon he got tired of Watching
them and climbed down. The next day
he came again and was raised in the air
and was friends with the birds ever after.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

i. write plainly on one side OF the
paper only ana number the pages.
Q. Use pen and ink, not pencil
a. Short and pointed articles Will
be given preferences. DO not use over
260 words.
4. Original stories or letters only
Will be used.
8. Write your name, G and ed-
dress at h top of h hrSt page.
First and second prizes OF books
will be given for h best two con-
trtbutions TO this page each week.
Address all communications to
CHILDREN's D5PARrNBNT,
Omaha Bee,
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

things. He said he had two iron rings, and
he gave her one and kept ono himself.
That night they nailed them to their win
dows and the princess took her sash and
tied It to tho ring and slid down. Then tho
prince put his arm through the bars and
pulled at It and it tore off close to tho
ring. Then he tied it to the ring in his
window and slid down. At last they were
free. They went off together and were
married.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
A True Story
BY Winnie Jenkins, Aged 8 Ye,
field. Neb- Rad

BY Winnie Jenkins, Aged 8 Years, Fair
field. Nsb. Red.
A little girl by the name OF Lucie had
saved 10 cents. for there was to DO a
picnic and her father told her II she would
save it be would give him another to make
Is oSntA. And 80 she put II IN the cup
board. That Afternoon abe went TO school
and the teAohsr told the children TO bring
their lunch IN h morning. and that night
Lucde came home with her friend and told
her mother what the teacher had said.
Mhea abe looked In the cupboard sha could
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
NV Surprise

BY Hester Z. Rutt. Blue.
When was a little girl, 6 years old, I
began going to school one evening In
March when l came home from school I
looked through the glass in the door and,
to my surprise, I saw papa rocking a lit1le
baby. l opened the door quickly and, jump
ing for joy, said: "Oh, papa. is that CURSE"
Papa answered, Yes, this is your little
brother. We named him Hugh" lie is now
6 years old, and viii start to school with
me this fall.
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21

Charlie thought the toad would never
stop.
He gave a start, for, there on his foot
was one of the toads he had tied to a
string, resting, for 1t was very tired.
He took the string off of all the toads
and put them back in the water, saying:
What a lesson 1 have learned from a
dream"
Omaha daily bee., 1908-06-21
Second Prize)
Silver Bell

BY Norma McMillen, Aged 8 Years, Majestic
Flat Is, Omaha, Neb. Blue.
'Ding, dong, ding. rang the old bells in
the tower. 1t was such a busy day. Only
one bell was asleep, and that one was
Silver Bell.
She was a new shining bell. was
why they named her Silver Bell. The bells,
you see, were all one family.
wake Ut, Silver Bell" said her mother.
"It is Christmas" o, how sleepy Silver
Bell was.
Just wait a minute" said Silver Bell.
"Ill be there in time to eat"
TITS such a pity" her mother was say
ing, land now she can't see my new silver
coat"
Just then Silver Bell awoke and there
beside her stood a Prince of Bells.
II have come to take all the pretty and
industrious BELLS" said he.
Take me, take me-" shouted Silver Bell.
But he would not, for she was idle.
"A whole day spoiled" pouted she, and
just because 1 didn't mind mamma"