davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

don't like well. Some of us wonder
why we observe Valentine day.
Not much is known about it. Val.
entine was man, a bishop, who sut-
fered martyrdom in the third century,
and his remains are preserved in the
church OF ST. Prapedes at Rome
where he died, and we observe Valen.
tine day in commcmoration of the
good, loving old Saint Valentine III
Rome fes ival was held in February
when the names of the young women
are drawn from a box, as, they do in
England and Scotland, the names that
are drawn are accepted as the valen
tines of the young men.
In the time of Charles II it was the
fashion for the chosen valentine to
give his sweetheart an expensive pres.
ent. Well l will close, hoping ali the
Juniors get a pretty valentine.
Forest Weber, age Z.
TN, Y@1
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
VALENTINE DAY IN AMERICA.

A long time ago there was a good
man named Valentine and the 14th OF
February was named st. Valentine
day after him. Today people observe
the day by sending Valentines with
cupids and hearts on them. Some
times people have Valentine parties
and Valentine boxes at school. When
we had the Valentine box at our
school, We put the names on the
Valentines and dropped them in the
box.
Then the teacher took them out
and read out the names on them
and we came up and got them. sent
valentines to my schoolmates and
some to people far away, and 1 got
many pretty ones. l haven't any pic
ture of myself 1 could send. am 10
years old. I am Daily Junior.
Your friend,
Vera Kendall,
Agency, Ia.
r No 9
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
e =
JUNIOR STORIES.
y
1, s. 4 81 $3.50
VALENTINES DAY.

Valentines day is celebrated on
February IA. in honor of ST. Valentine
who was beheaded on that day.
1t was first celebrated in England,
Scotland and France. The cid maid )
and bachelors got together and wrote
their names on strip of paper, then
put them in basket. Each one would
take out a name the girls would
take out the boys and the boys would
take out the girls, the one they drew
would be their valentine 1t was
brought here at an early day. The cell
ebration has made many changes 1t
used to, be mostly the older people that
celebrated Valentines day, now it is
the children that celebrate it. There
are two kinds of valentines = funny
ones and pretty ones. Children send
valentines to their friends. There are
many valentine parties held.
Mildred Lucille Adams, age Z.
Seymour. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
EIGHT RULES FOR THE JUNIORS

/. Use one side of the paper only
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil
3. Number your pages.
4. At the bottom Of the last page
write your name, age and address.
5. Do not copy stories or poetry
and send US as your own work.
g.. Always tell whether you are a
Daily Junior or Tri-Weekly Junior.
Z. Address the envelope to Editor,
Courier Junior. Ottumwa, Iowa.
8. Your stories must not contain
more than 200 words
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
THE SOUVENIR PosTALs.

We will still send souvenir album
TO the first Junior who has 25 cards
cent by the Courier Junior. Besides
writing letters we want more Of the
Juniors to write short stories, from so
10 100 words, on one of the following
Subjects:
HISTORY OF A THIMBLE.
A ROLLING PIN.
MY MAMMALS BISCUIT CUTTER.
A ROCKING CHAIR.
MY HIGH CHAIR.
VALENTINE DAY AT SCHOOL.
We have some especially beautiful
souvenir cards for February and ev-
cry Junior writing on one Of the above
subjects will get one.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

names on the valentines. In about an
hour or two they started out. their
hearts bounding with joy. They went
to about all of the poor children S
homes and left valentines. which
made many children happy on that
day The children thought the day
passed quickly, but when they did
part they all said, I'm so happy be.
cause I've made SO many poor chill
dren merry and glad
"And,' said Willie, 81 shall always
remember this day. I never was Sc
happy in all my life"
The other children thought the
same. They parted with light hearts
They all felt better because they had
made so many children gay.
Ruth Graham, age 9.
145 East Maple Ave.
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

Valentine day comes on the 14th day
of February of every year. On that day
young people send missives OF love
to each other these we call valentines.
St. Valentine was bishop OF Rome
during the third century. He convert
ed the Romans to christianity.
This displeased the emperor, Wha
hated the little Christian band and ST.
Valentine was punished by orders OF
the ruler He was beaaen with clubs
and chen beheaded February Ia. ST.
Valentine was SO famous for his love.
and charity that the custom OF sending
valentines took it's start from this.
When the Saint came to be placed on
the calendar his name was given to
the day of his death and this was
made a festival day.
Verda M. Bags, age Z,
Florence Colorado
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

out with surprise "Oh, look!' said
Mary King, Just look at those valen-
tines
And another cry was heard from
Willie. Just see that beautiful one
with hearts on it, I'm going to give
it to that poor little girl on Washing
ton st,-.et. 1t will make her feel so
happy when she sees it. Let's all give
her one. will your
A glad cry Of yes" was heard from
each child. They all decided what val
entine TO give to certain children and
soon they had great envelope filed
with pretty valentines which cost
them their dollar and ten cents. Then
they went home with glad hearts and
they all counted the days till at last
the happy day of St Valentine came.
They were all up at the hour of
half past six and were putting the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
--------------------
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

Hello, Jack" said eight-year-old
Willie.
Hello there, Willie. Are you going
to celebrate ST. Valentines Day."
Eyes. l am. Let's get up little par
ty of boys and girls, Willie. and put
some money together and buy some
valentines, I mean, explained Jack.
Lets each one Of US give about five
for poor children. Will you do it,
"Oh yes l will. Let's have Mary
King and her sister and Mason
Pierce and his sister. That will be a
Zig enough party, won't it,"
"Of course it will. Let US begin
right now and get the money and
buy the valentines"
"All right" said Jack.
So they parted, but in an hour or
so Willie came back and said:
ooh, Jack, my mamma said that
could put in twenty-five cents in mon
ey."
so did my mamma said Jack
"And the other children are going tc
give fifteen cents each and that viii
make one dollar and ten cents. Oh
goodyn' said Jack, hugging Willis
tightly. I'm going down town right
now and get them. Will you come
with me-"
"Yes, but wait till get the rest Of
the children, because they will want
to help select them
They got the children and went
down town. AS they came to store
with the windows decked with beau
| tiful valentines the children called
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

impudence to offer to assist me with a
problem couldn't do the other day. l
turned up my nose at her smartness
and told her | was capable OF getting
my own lessons Then she remarked
that she had only offered to help me
because she had seen me copying my
answers from the book and that she
felt sorry to see me coming that. Now,
what would you think OF that? On,
she's one of those poverty stricken
goody- goodyists. Her father clerks In
a 1O-cent store and her mother does
plain sewing. Those are reasons
enough why she should not be invited
into our set"
Yes, should say they are" agreed
Stella But the way Jack has taken
fancy to her of late is really shock
ing. And his father a banker and his
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
The Courier Junior
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.,
oTTuMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEVEREAUx.
EDITOR.
OUR VALENTINES.

Dear Juniors. - Today we have the
pleasure Of presenting to the Juniors
i've valentines. These valentines are
pictures of five of our Junior friends,
Alden Doud, Mildred Lucille Adams,
Norma Daniels, Helen Rowe and Ma
bel Reifsnyder. We received a few
other pictures. but not as many as we
would like TO have. Two of the pic
lures we were unable to use because
they were group pictures. Each OF
these prize winning Juniors who SO
carefully followed all the rules of the
contest will receive big valentine,
and each of the other Juniors who
sent in valentine stories will receive
a valentine postal.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

to return to the matter under discus
sion-we must put Lily's name down
here"
Yes. Jack. I've taken great
fancy for that pretty little Lily Long.
She's so modesto unpretentious.
The other night, when | asked her Il
she would sing she blushed and said :
'Oh,a little for papa and mamma Then
insisted upon her going to the piano
and allowing us to be the judges Of
her voice. Why, she sings beautifully,
though her voice shows that she has
had little or no training. 1t is just
naturally sweet and full of melody.
And SO you recall how I chatted with
her for few minutes in the hall be-
fore she departed? WE'LL was ask
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
ST. VALENTINES EVE IN
DASHTOWN.

The boys and girls of Dashtown
were making great preparation for a
st. Valentines party. Two of the
town gils-May Bruce and Stella
Jones-were the chief promoters" as
they styled themselves. The project
was Of their planning and they got to-
gether every evening after school to
talk over the forthcoming festivity
1t had been unanimously voted by
the boys and girls to accept the kind
offer Of Jack Downs to have the party
at his home, for Jacks mother was a
royal chaperon and hostess to her
boys young friends; and the Downs
house was a spacious one, being finely
fitted for the entertainment Of guests
Have you made out the list Of
guests?" Jack asked May and Stella
one evening as the three walked from
school together.
Oh, yes, Jack" answered May.
and as the party is to be at your
home we want to submit the list to
you, it being your privilege TO add or
subtract names, you know. Stella and
| have tried to omit none OF our
friends, and hope we have included no
one will object to-
'Oh, as for my objecting to any
one" laughed Jack, | am sure there
isn't a boy or girl in town who is not
welcome at my house. only hope
you haven't forgotten anyone. 1t Is
hard to be left out, you know And
shall avail myself of the privilege you
have granted me and add any name or
names OF those whom you might have
overlooked"
AS Jack said this he looked rather
knowingly at the two girls and his
look was not lost on them. But they
pretended not to have noticed any,
:hing unusual in his tone or manner
and Stella handed him the sheet OF
paper containing the chosen list OF
names for the Valentine party
Say, wasn't Jack nasty thought
asked May as soon as she and Stella
were out of his hearing, having parted
with him at the corner. 81 know what
he meant ali right. He greatly ad
mires Lily Long and as sure as fate
he'll want to add her name to the list
well. we'll never, never consent tc
have her invited" declared Stella
Her sanctified face, her very proper
manner and narrow mindedness make
me disguised. The other day she
caught me cheating at exam, and the
way she looked at me would have
made one think l had committed al
objectionable sin. I hate her. Ant
how the teachers and few of the
boys do dote on her. She's deceitfu
little rat. That's my opinion of her.
You can't dislike her more than
do" asserted May. why, she had the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
ST. VALENTINES DAY.

We observe st. Valentines day be
cause it was the day on which st
Valentine died. st. Valentine was
kept in prison for a long time. then
one day in prison he healed a girl OF
her blindness After that he was kept
in prison for quite long time. and
finally he was beheaded. The custom
of sending valentines has always been
kept since the date of the death Of
ST. Valentine 1t has been kept on OF
about the fourteenth of February
The custom was only accidental.
Mabel Reifsnyder.
522 East Second street.
OttumWa. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
"sT. VALENTINES DAY."

The only possible solution of why we
keep ST. Valentines day is the fact
that the Ecclesiastics in their eager
ness to appropriate a period of public
manifestation seized upon the nearest
Red-Letter day, which happened to be
ST. Valentines day At the Roman
feast Of Lupercalia when the populace
honored Paw and Juno, the names Of
young women were put into a box
from which the men drew them &C
chance favored and called them their
Valentines. Later Ga the men desiring
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
VALENTINE DAY.

Well as we all know the 14th day
Of February is Valentine day and we
will be looking for some pretty card
from some of our friends and also
sending some to our friends. I expect
we will have a valentine box at school
as we most generally do. have been
making a good many for my little
school mates. Some folks send comic
ones. l don't care for them Some
folks send them to some one they
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

10 he relieved from especial devotion
to the women, gave them valuable pre-
sents, thus the habit Of giving pre-
sents on St. valentines day came IN
to existence. Then came the period
when exaggerated caricatures were
sent as Valentines, later they typefied
fun and merriment Today we nave :,
the post cards which are here in all
their splendor and numerical variety.
In SO far as they express true affection
and good will they are most welcome.
Anything that helps to spread the
gospel OF love and advance the value
of good cheer, should be hailed with
delight by those who believe with the
late Henry Drummond, that Love IL
the greatest thing in the world
Naomi Roberts, age ",
pirn,in cham Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

mother the society leader of the town!
Really, l should think his mother
would select his friends. Name Thomp-
son told me this morning that Mrs.
Downs gave a little birthday supper
for Jack last week and that Lilly Long
was one of the few guests. Now,
isn't she just forcing her way into our
set?"
well, she'll never get in where
have say" declared May. "Just be-
cause she stands at the head of her
class is no reason why she should be
forced upon us socially. And anyone
Of us could be up In our classes If we
choose to put in every minute over our
books and were so old fashioned that
we'd draw the line at cheating &C.
casionally. Well, for me, just cut out
all such foolish ideas of honor and so
forth. l want good time, and if my
! pleasures have to suffer on account
Of my studies-Pll let the studies go
hang and cheat at exams. to pass
That evening Jack Downs and his
mother went over the list of names
that Stella and May had given him
why, mamma, they've left Lily Long
! QUIT" Jack exclaimed. Now, that
isn't right. She's such bright, clever
girl and stands at the head Of her
class. She has the best record of any
girl in school and the teachers all
swear by her. They know she never
resorts to dishonorable methods to
pass in her exams. and that can't be
said of lots of the others. Really,
mamma, l heard the other day that
Stella Jones and May Bruce We're
caught copying answers to their pro-
blems from the book. I hate to be-
lieve it about them, but it's hard to
doubt the source OF the story. But
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
THE DAY YOU SEND LOVE
TOKENS.

ST. Valentine day is the day you
send love tokens to your friends, and
fall dead in love with somebody and
tell them so in some way. But think
it is nice to have 365 days In each
year that you love everybody and not
wait until the 14th Of February to tell
them so. I am going to make sorno
valentines to send to some Of my lit
tie friends, by cutting some pretty
hearts and writing verses on them.
My sister Beulah made some and by
trimming them with transfer pictures
and tying them with baby ribbon
they are real pretty and every OF
likes them.
Esther Mendenhall, age 8,
Richland, Ia, r. r. No. g.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
ST. VALENTINE.

Long ago there lived an old man
named Valentine
The old man was a bishop.
Bishops are men that look after
churches.
Valentine was good-hearted man
He took care of people when sick
clothed and gave them food when
cold and hungry
Valentine prayed to the real God
but the other people prayed and wor
SHIPPED idols made of brass CLAW and
sometimes stone.
Valentine wanted the people tt
pray to the real God.
But the people thought that these
idols would answer their prayers just
as our real God does.
After while they put Valentine
into chains and then put him in pris
on.
When Valentine was too old, before
he was put into prison, he sent little
messages with his love in them. He
would send them to the children.
When Valentine was in prison {
long time, the people saw that Valen
tine was right.
Then the people felt badly for hin
and did not know what to do.
Finally they said, LET us cele
brate the 14th of February
The 14th of February was Valen
tines birthday.
So the people send messages will
their love in them.
Now we don't call them messages
but valentines.
Helen L. Rowe.
324 West Fifth street.
0ttnrwa iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
WAsHlNGToN's BIRTHDAY

Next week, on Saturday, February
20. we will celebrate Washington's
birthday. We want some nice stories
on Washington, but we also want a
variety of stories. To the Junior writ
ing the best story on one of the fol-
lowing men:
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
WILLIAM n. TAFT.
GOV. JOHNSON OF, MINNESOTA.
WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
We will give picture, and the pic
ture will be one Of the above men.
This contest opens at once and closes
Wednesday, February 10 for the Daily
Juniors and Monday, Feb. "a for the
Tri-Weekly Juniors.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
THE ORIGINAL ST. VALENTINES
DAY IN ITALY.

st. Valentines day was originally
the day dedicated to the incoming of
spring. The Romans kept it in honor
of Pan AMI Juno, deities of earth,
riches and human love, and the festi-
val, which lasted several days, was
the "Lupercalia." The church, desir-
ing to effect a change in this alas,
much abused feast. very adroitly re-
constituted the old practice of lottery
of lovers names.
In place of the Sabinas and Petro
nillas, whose names, written on slips
and shaken in a satchel, were drawn
by the Roman youths, the names of
various saints were substituted. One
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
WHY WE CELEBRATE ST. VALEN
TINES DAY.

st. Valentine was an italian priest
who suffered martyrdom in Rome in
270 It seems that the con-
ncction with the custom with
ST. Valentine is purely accidental. No
trace of the practice peculiar TO that
day is found in the legends of the diff
ferent saints. Valentine was a man
of most admirable parts and SO fam
Gus for his love and charity that the
custom Of choosing valentines upon
this festival took its rise from thence.
AS my story is getting long | will
close. Your little friend
Richard Collins, age 10.
400 West Nevada ST,
Marshalltown, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

dition tells us in a cell of a boy de-
voted to the portrait of his chosen
patron was always woman, while a
presumes that there were lotteries
for 10th girls and boys, for, as ira
girl would most naturally turn for
strength and succor to man saint.
The idea had its own beauty, and
the notion of dedicati lion was thus pre-
served in a more spiritual sense than
in the Lupercalia, which was assured
ly the cause Of much rioting.
This feast and not the existence Of
the real ST. Valentine, is the origin of
the gallant observances peculiar to
the day
Norma Daniels. age 10
CTl5nr Joua
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
WHY WE CELEBRATE VALEN-
TINES DAY.

We celebrate Valentines day to re-
member kind man. He lived long
ago. He was very kind to the people
and children and went to see them
often. When he began to grow old
he could not go to them, so he sent
kind messages. And to remember
him every year on February IA, we.
send messages to our friends.
Oscar Root,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
312 North Court street.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18
VALENTINES DAY IN AMERICA.

VALENTINES DAY IN AMERICA.
l thought l would write story OF
Valentines day in America. Valen-
tine day is the fourteenth day Of Feb
ruary. st. Valentine was noted for
giving presents and the other people
did the same thing, and all the people
give valentines ever since. We had
valentine box at our school Valen-
tines day and some comic ones. I
am going to give some valentines
away and hope to receive some. Some
of the valentines are of heart shape.
Some people have valentine parties.
Some of the valentines have verses in
them. Valentine day is not special
holiday. Yours truly,
Mabel Skirvin, age 9.
Agency, Ia, R. r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

If your mother and-and--you wish
1t, I'll come" And Lily gave her hand
In parting to Jack. And now I must
finish my Dishes"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-18

Eldon, Iowa
The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1908-04-04

lea breads require twice tho
mount OF soda that -four breads do.
80. III n spoon OF soda In required
for ~ quart OF aour. IL follows that
onc@hals quar-, of meal will require
Tho aatnc mount OF soda. II tho
milk Ia placed before the soda Ia
measured. thor. IL scarcely ever a
mistake with n thoughtful cook.
During tho winter months there In
aaa acid In tho milk. therefore the
soda may DO diminished one~sour,h.
\ Very Delicate nrcad.
from "a friend who was a pupil OF
Mrs, Rorcr. | go, this recipe: Plac.
Into an open frysng-pan 6 cups OF
sweet milk. bring to n gentle boil.
HAY. sif,ed . cups OF meal. with ono
hand sprinkle In lightly. stirring all
III" while After this Ia taken from
The ARE and slightly cooled. break
inio /. s eggs. and sal, TO taste. Mix
thoroughly In same vessel. and pour
into II hot creased pan-~uss no
iard-no soda.
Thls In u very delicate bread. and
u children are any judges. IL is
hnc. With the addition OF lard 4,
may be made with half or all water.
and is good.
MRS. PAMELA c. READE.
Person Co. ~. c.