davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
The Courier Junior
Published by
TIE couRlEE. PRINTING CO.,
oTTUMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA pEvEREAux.
EDITOR.
THE THANKSGIVING PRIZE.

Gear Juniors: BY the time you read
ne Junior today, Thanksgiving will be
almost over and you will all be ready
for the evening entertainments. We
hope you have all given thanks for the
many blessings that you have enjoyed
during the past year History tells us
that the first Thanksgiving was cele-
brated in the autumn OF 1921, when
Massasoit accepted Governor Brad
ford's invitation to join the colonists
in harvest festical. Then MIS-
tress Brewster and Priscilla Mullins
and Constanta Hopkins and little Re-
member Allerton, and the rest of the
dozen women who had survived the
first terrible Plymouth winter. set to
work to make ready for the celebra.
ton. Their cupboards were not much
like the generous larders of merry
England, but what they were to eat at
this. first feast should be Of their best.
There was the standby" of has.y
pudding and molasses. There we're
clam chowder and oysters roasted in
big clam-shells. Wild turkeys were
abundant, and one days shooting de.
termined the characteristic dish of the
feast for all the years to come. Plum
Poit'ot5O uVlSHISu Iuc lew CiIlluEtl,
and the guests were to introduce child
hood to the festive popcorn.
But when Massasoit came ne
brought with him ninety of his peo
pie. The first Thanksgiving dinner. in
stead Of being served to fifty, was serv.
ed to nearly three times that number.
Moreover, the guests stayed three
days. and in spite Of their present OF
tive fine deer, one does not doubt that
they left empty pantries and weary
hostesses behind them, and that for
a week thereafter the colonists lived
on "picked-up dinners
You see, even in those early days, |
big feasts were in vogue and that is |
the reason why the Junior has such a
fine feast" of Thanksgiving stories
today. The prize is awarded to Norma |
Daniels.
The judges found it very hard 10
make a decision because there were
so many splendid stories. The writer's
Of two of the best stories forgot two !
very important items. one her age and
the other left out. the dates entirely.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving is religious festival
peculiar to the United States, resemb-
ling the Hebrew feast Of in-gathering.
After the first years crop had been
gathered, Governor Bradfield and the
Pilgrims had a public Thanksgiving,
the first in America. Massasoit, who
often visited them, joined with these
men, and brought five deer and these,
with wild turkeys which the Pilgrims
had already shot made a grand feast.
The feast lasted for three days The
Pilgrims reioiced over their harvest,
thanked God and took courage.
They would take their guns to
church with them as the Indians were
liable to attack them at any time.
They would go early In the morning
and stay till noon, and go back in the
afternoon again. Thanksgiving day
become custom in most OF the
states. Proclamations for public
Thanksgiving were issued during the
Civil war in 1s62-1863 and 1864 and
the president of the United States APP
points the day which is to be observed
the last Thursday in Novem.
Der.
Lois Hentz, age II,
r f ID No. 2 ,Floris, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
MILpREo's THANKSGIVING.
Yours truly,
Hedveg Carlson.

Mildred was little girl 10 years
old and she was very fond of having
plenty of fun like all children. Shs
was especially fond Of Thanksgiyins
and Its good things to eat.
1t was now Just one week Till
thanksgiving Oh! how her head
thrilled at the thought She and her
mamma, papa and brother were to go
10 her grandmothers. all of her
uncles and aunts and cousins were to
pc there and they were planning for a
big time and good dinner.
Oh! what long week to Mildred.
But at last the day before Thanksgty-
ing came. Mildred's mamma told her
she must work hard or she could not
go and this she did for she could not
miss all the fun and good things to
eat on Thanksgiving day.
At last Thanksgiving day arrived
and Mildred was up before break If
day and helping her mamma for they
must start early because 1t was a long
ways to gTandmas. It had showed q
rev days before Thanksgiving SO they
would so in the sled which would
make more fun.
They were almost to grandma's
when the sun came peeping over the
hills. They being the first one there
they must help grandma with the
good dinner.
But before very long others began
coming and by the time they were all
there, the guests numbered about
twenty-five.
The children were all out playing
with their sleds and having fina
time when grandma said they must
come to dinner and what good din
ner it was. Mildred thought she had
never tasted so good dinner.
That afternoon the children ate an
pies, hickory nuts and pop corn and
played many games.
When it came time to go home they
all hated to go, they thought they had
never had SO good time and such
good dinner and oh! so many things
to be thankful for
Esther Ramey, age IL.
Hedrick, Ia, r. r. No. /.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

led as law-breakers and fined or i'm
prlsoned. About the time jamestown
colony was settled a band of these
Separatists went to Leyden in Holland.
where they could enjoy freedom of
worship. They stayed twelve years.
Ihese pilgrims were mainly farmers,
ana had difficulty to earn their living
in Dutch .cities or gardens. Their
children were obliged to attend Dutch
schools. and We're fast losing the use
or the English tongue. The sons of the
Pilgrims entered the Dutch army and
navy and the young people began to
inter-inarry.
The, Pilgrims feared that if they
stayed in Holland any longer, their
families would become Dutch. They
all decided that they would like to go
TO America. They sent two men to
get permission of the London company
TO settle on its land. The company
was glad to get them for coionists, and
save them charter Of privileges The
sturdy Englishmen desired to keep in
tact their language and their radical
characteristics and worship God as
they deemed right. 1t was in Deem
Dor when they made the landing on the
coast OF Massachusetts when summer
came the Pilgrims saw the colony with
stores that would keep them through
the coming winter. They We're not
flch IN worldly goods, but their hearts
reached out to all humanity, and SO
on this feast day they invited to their
table. Massasoit. an Indian chief, and
forty of his men. And the Pilgrims
called this dinner Thanksgiving dinner
1t was a great undertaking for the
small group. yet they gave from their
hearts IN the fullness of their graft
tude. This sweet and wholesome spirit
has become part of the national cell
ebration. Thanksgiving is a day Of
festivity OF family reunion, Of feasting
and of gladness.
Hazel Smith.
Buxton, Ia.
Aged IA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

Nearly three hundred years ago the
Pilgrims came to this country from,
the other side of the ocean. They did
not have enough to eat and many OF
them were ILL., Before spring came half
Of them died Of cold and hunger In
the spring some friendly Indians
helped them to plant corn and the
next year there was great harvest.
They had given thanks at every meal,
but now they had great thanksgiv-
ing feast and invited their Indian
friends to share it.
The Pilgrim mothers made cakes
and pies. The Pilgrim fathers went
hunting and brought back fish, tur.
keys and deer. Then the Indians came.
dressed in their best beads and feath-
ers. This was strange sight for the
children. They enjoyed It, although
they were a little afraid OF the paint.
ed chiefs.
They prayed and sang, as well as
Toasted. Thus they kept the first
Thanksgiving. Now we keep Thanks
giving day every year.
Esther Mendenhall age 9.
r. R. No. g.
Richland, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
Aged 1e.
MILDRED's THANKSGIVING.
Dear Juniors:

dear Juniors:
! am not Junior but am going to
be. This is the first time ( have
Written, and ] am going to write about
'Mlldred's Thanksgiving'
Mildred was a little eight year-o,6
glrl with a bad cold. She could not
play out Of doors THANKSGIVING day
and SO she did not look forward to II
much ~
Mildred's father was dead end her
mother was very poor. Mildred had
no relations but an aged maiden aunt
ana an old grandmother who did not
like children very well Both would he
present on Thanksgiving day.
AT last dinner was over, only chick
eE and dressing was on the table more
than what they usually had.
Mlloreds mother was talking to the
company and Mildred was sulking
when there came g tap at the door
Mildred ran to open II and there were
her eight best girl friends.
Oh. she said. as she stared some
what impolitety at the little aroup.
RE guests came in and all were en-
Joying themselves when in came MIL
dred's mother with large pan or
pop corn.
When the guests all went home, all
declaring that they had had a good
time, Mildred said 81 have had a lhappy
thanksgiving day. mother, dear"
Ruth Cunningham.
Biakesburg Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.
r. r. No. 3.
Richland, Iowa

The modern Interpretation Of
Thanksgiving day means a reunion IT
friends with little thought Of the origin
Or significance Of the day.
We all know OF the pilgrims and
their voyage from Holland in the good
ship Mayflower and OF their landing on
the 31st daE Of December on Plymouth
Rock.
At first they used the ship as their
home. The men went ashore every
morning to work and returned to the
ship at night. They soon built com
mon houses, where the sick and diving
were removed and then they built two
rows OF houses with wide street be.
tween them. They then removed the
provisions from the ship to their
homes.
This was in March and month la
ter the little ship rallied away. The
good Indian chief Massasoit visited
them and warmly welcomed them. He
showed them how to plant their corn.
In the spring of 1921 they sowed their
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
ELLEN CELEBRATES HER NINTH
BIRTHDAY THANKSGIVING,

Dear Juniors:
was sitting in my little chair think
ing about the different subjects we
We're to write about for THANKSGIVING
contest when fell asleep. I thought
that crowd of my young friends
came into the room and each Of them
mad chosen different subject to write
about until all We're taken. They each
one said they thought it wrong for me
TO write on the same subject they had
CHOSEN. What to do l did not know.
When my little friend Cloyd came in
and said: Never mind Ellen, we'll
show them how to spend the best
Thanksgiving yet"
You know Thanksgiving will be your
birthday. 50 you invite all your little
friends to have a party with you in the
afternoon. For it won't be much both
err Tor your mother will have plenty of
good things left from dinner to feed
them all. And I'll just go around and
collect 10 cents apiece from each in
vlted guest and we will get you a nice
present. ] of course begged mama, and
she said yes, and just then the crowd
came. Jostling in. I woke up to find
1t only dream. and that dream is
rust the way ] intend TO spend my next
thanksgiving, which is my ninth BIRTH
day.
Ellen Owen,
Eldon, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THANKSGIVING AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.


Thanksgiving day at the white
house is spent in much the same man
ner as in thousands of American
homes.
The president of the United States
usually enjoys on that day dinner Of
First Fruits. a%ssg2
Mr.. Horace vose of Rhode Island
the leading poultry man of that dis
trict, generally provides the turkeys
for the White house board.
President Mckinley. whose tastes
were simple and easily satisfied. had
his private ideas about his bird's
preparation, and the fowl was inyaria-
bly, carved by his own hand at the
table.
President Roosevelt also caryes his
Thanksgiving bird, and like his pre-
decessors. Uses the silver "sticker."
an unique table instrument belonging
to the White house plate, which IL
snrmounted by an American eagle.
On MANY pieces Of the silver In
stamped tho American coat Of arms.
and every piece is marked PRIEST
dents House
The lately acquired sheffield Ash
slice of President Washington's may
be on the toble Thanksgiving.
FOR the coming feast day. the beau
tiful china set selected for the White
house by Mrs. Roosevelt, will be In
use.
IT consists of nearly fifteen hundred
rieces and on every piece as the main
decorative feature is produced the
American emblem in it's natural colors
red. white and blue
The meals served upon such familv
holidays at the White house az
Thanksgiving. are partaken Of in thu
private dining room. The general eff.
feet of the room is Colonial. There is
at this time but one picture in that
room. That is an oil painting portray.
ing President Roosevelt in rough rider
costume.
The Thanksgiving dinner is prepar-
ed in the snotless kitchen in the base
ment Of the mansion.
Two large dumb walters. operated
by electricity, carry the food to the
buffers pantry.
The presidential household makes
1t a rule to attend the special church
services.
After luncheon each member of the
FAMILY NAV go to his or her separate
way, but every member OF the family
assemblies at half after seven in the
dining room, and there with
true patriotism and good appetite. do
Justice to the unrivaled feast known
as the American Thanksgiving din.
ner.
Lucille M, White, age l3.
kirksvilIe, Mo.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

| roofs were very steep and were GOV
cred with grasses and rtlshes.
IL had been busy summer TO,
the Pilgrims. They had worked hard
IN the gardens and the fields. hut the
harvests We're good and there would
oe 1000 enough for the coming win,
ter. How thankful they We're,
Let us set aside a day in which to
give thanks for this great harvest, .
they said
1T is God who has sent the sun.
SHINE and rain to make the seeds
grow. We will have a day Of thanks
giving and ask the friendly Indians to
come and rejoice with US"
So the Indian chief and his band
were invited to the feast. Such a
busy time as that was for the Pill.
grims! The men went to the forests
to hunt deer. wild turkeys, and other
game. All of the women were al.
work, and the smoke Of the ovens
rose from the chimneys.
Even the children helped Some of
Them gathered the cranberries that
We're turning red in the lowlands.
Some picked the wild grapes that
were turning purple on the vines
Others brought home nuts that they
had found on the ground in the for
est. The older boys were sent 10 the
beach to hunt clans.
The Indians We're invited to come
on Thursday. At sunrise on that day
the Pilgrims were awakened bv the
Whoops and yells which told them
that their guests had already arrived.
1t was in the month of November,
but the weather was mild and lovely.
and a soft blue haze seemed to veil
the woods.
Late wild flowers were blooming and
the bright leaves We're falling from
the trees. 1t was what we call In
dian summer.
A big fire was built outside for the
cooking. and long tables were spread
III the open air When the roll OF
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THE PILGRIMS THANKSGIVING

In 1920 ship called the Mayfower
landed on the shore OF Plymouth Bay,
Mass.
There were 102 Pilgrims on this
ship. They had left their homes in
England and came here that they
might worship God as they pleased.
The men went into the woods and got
some logs TO build their houses and
before long they were ready for their
families to live in.
The first year they endured many
hardships. many of them starved to
death during the winter.
But such harvest as they had in
the fall of 1921.
The men stood looking over their
large fields OF yellow grain and
thought they ought to thank God in
some way for being SO good to them.
So they decided to have a day Of
Thanksgiving and invite the Indians
to eat with them. SO the men went
hunting and killed some wild game
for their feast, while the women baked
cakes and pies and cooked other
things which they had raised during
the summer.
Wnen the morning OF the feast day
came they were all up early that they
might have long Thanksgiving day
The children played woodtag and
other games like we play now.
Massasoit, the Indian chief came
early and brought a hundred red men
with him. They visited all day long,
from one cabin to another. playing
with the children and watching the
women cook. 1t was different from
any cooking they had ever seen be-
fore, but when it came time to eat
they showed their approval of it by
the way they cleared the tables OF
food set before them. The day was
Joyous one, both to the red men and to
the colonists
Grace Frye, age il,
Eidyville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

The Pllgrams. landed Sunday May
1920. They had very nice Thanks
giving. The women and children
were very busy. The children went to
the woods to gather cranberries and
fruit They got the dinner and said
yes go to the woods and hills and they
started for the log church The chill
dren knew the good dinner that was
waiting for them.
When they got home they invited
an Indian chief to come. The Indians
were very much pleased with the din
ner
go to school every day. Ny tech
er's name is Ellen Rothwell.
remain your little friend.
Aurelia Mccormick age s
2 Trumbull, Neb.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
SURPRISE PRIZES.

We will have something big to say
next week. III the meantime. we want
the Juniors to write on one Of the fol.
lowing subjects. and the first 80 writ
Ing the best stories will receive sur
prise prizes. The subjects are:
My ,irst Ride on a Robsled.
My First Ride OH Bobsled.'
What Did Thanksgiving.
1.-TWO Little Mules
What Will Do for the Christmas
Stocking Club"
"A Children's Party (Real or Imag.
mary
This contest opens at once and
closes Wednesday,. Dec 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

One day On the twenty-frst of De-
cember. 1920 The winter had set in
early. That winter was bitter and
cold. Their food was poor and scanty.
'They lackec the comforts of life. Is it
any wonder that man. grew sick and
died? At last summer came. All
through the first summer the colony
prospered. The fields produced corn.
The streams were full of Ash. The
woods were full Of wild turkeys. There
was no longer any scarcity of food
After the harvest was over the Pill.
grims decided to have feast as a. sort
of Thanksgiving. Hunters were sent
into the woods for game and came
back with great quantities of 1t. The
came and feasted with them.
It was a memorable thanksgiving. the
firstsever held in our country on this
day.
Alden Doud, age II.
Douds-I. eando. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.

The immediate occasion of the first
thanksgiving was the surrender of
General BursoSne to General Gates in
me fall of III. Thursday. the 18th OF
December. was designated. and in
compliance with the order, OF congress-
the army at Valley Forge duly observ-
ed the day-the army that had tracked
its way in blood. 1t was observed by-
the Continental Congress.
washington, S President Of the
United States, issued his first nrocla :
nation for the observance Of a, day of
thanksgiving at the city Of New York
on the Srd of October 1888, setting
apart Thursday the 26th day of No
Nemoer or that year ito be devoted by
the people of these states 70 The sar.
vice OF that great and glorious being
VINO is the beneficint Author Of all the
good that was. that is, or that will be-"
Margaret Spencer.
Abba. Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28

and her mama drove to a poor widows
nome and made her and her children
very happy.
me drive home was very pleasant
to Mildred and her mother. after sun
per as Mildred was getting ready to so
TO her room her father called her and
sad: My little daughter. this is the
happiest Thanksgiving I, have ever
mad the pleasure of attending, and it
was all because my little fourteen year
Ola daughter made 1t So Her moth
er put her arms around Mildred low
lngly and said: Il am so thankful for
liavlng daughter that is happy in
others happy, and Mildred
went to bed feeling that her Thanks
giving had been happy one.
Norma Daniels,
Eldon. Iowa.
reS II
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
SOUVENIR POSTALS.

We are still sending out beautiful
postals. so we will want the Juniors
to write stories about the subjects
represented on them We do not want
the Juniors to acknowledge them by
simply thanking us or writing re-
ceipt. Either write Oh the subjects
they represent or else write nice 1T
tie letters telling US of your pets. your
home. the beautiful flowers or some
thing else Of interest.
We will still give souvenir albums
10 the Juniors when they have % pos.
tails from the Courier Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
Aged S.
MiLDRED'S THANKSGIVING.

In cold garnet a group was gather
ca. thanksgiving morning. father,
mother and Mildred. Her fathers face
was pale and laggard from lingering
sickness, hungry and faint for want
or FOOD, scantly clothing. and no fuel.
And so Mildred wondered what they
had to be thankful for. Then Mildred
nestled upon the bed and a piece OF
carpet was spread over her Mildred
sad, what do poor children do, won
Ger, with no warm carpet to cuddle
under, and no father or mother to give
tim any bread A knock was heard
at the door, and big basket of turkey
pumpkin pie, doughnuts and other
food was in the basket. AS Mildred
with a happy look, took an apple from
the basket, she could only say, this is
certainly Thanksgiving day" t
# Irene Schafer
925 Plum ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
GOES TO MAKE UP
THANKSGIVING DINNER.

| think the following would make
nice Thanksgiving dinner:
A nice Sat turkey. goose, chicken,
four or five quaiIs, ducks, peach pies.
apple pies. mince pies, cherry pies,
etc. Chocolate cake, cocoanut cake,
loaf cakes, sorghum cake, etc. A dish
of celery. some cottage cheese, a dish
of pickles, a pan Of pudding, pitcher
of rich cream, a coffee pot Of coffee.
a pitcher Of milk, sugar, pepper
sauce, oranges, peaches, pears. apples,
and other kinds OF fruit
sauer krau-. different kinds of pickIes,
cabbage, tsrts and dressings. and the
table cloth should be ironed and
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY

King James Of England was very
cruel. especially to the Puritans. If
they did not, would not. believe the
way he did. they We're prosecuted. So
1t was with the Puritans. they wanted
TO nave their own church, and wor-
ship God the way they pleased. So
they went to Holland, where. they
could worship as they desired, Thay
stayed there twelve years. They we're
all good English people, and they
wanted their children to be Ensjisi,
too, and II they stayed In Holland
they would be Dutch, so they thought
they would go to the new world, then
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-28
Aged II.
"THANksGiVlNG AT HOME"

! VIII tell you what I would like 10
do Thanksgiving.
J would like 80 have about thirteen
OF my girl friends come and spend the
day with me. I would have a Thanks
giving dinner. The, menu would be
as follows: roasted turkey, mashed
potatoes, escalloped oysters and bread
and butter and pressed ham. Pumpkin
and mince pie, cranberry sauce,
oranges, bananas, ice cream. cake and
coffee.
In the afternoon we would play
games and sing songs. and in the eve
ming we could go to party some
where together.
Your Junior friend.
Ida Chacey. age IL
R F No 8 Hedrick, Iowa.