davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Harry's Fathers Last Words.

BY 1ohnnie Scharfen, Aged Q Years, West
Point, Neb. Red Side.
Harry Lane returned home from the field
at noon and he was very tired, for it was
very warm.
His poor old father came out to him and
said, Son, will you do me a favor?" Harry
didn't know whether he should say yos
or no, for he knew it was something he
didn't like to do. He thought n while and
then said yes, but it was not his consent.
VIII you go TO town and get something
for me? | am not feeling we'll, else l would
so myself"
Then Harry frightened up and said,
Sure, father, I will 60" The aged fathec
bent over and kissed him on the forehead,
and said, You are my best. my very best;
always have been, and always shall be-"
Harry at once started for town, and on
returning home his uncle met him on the
place and said. BOY. l have sad news for
you" 'Oh, tell me quickly. uncle, what
is it?" LAS your father stepped into the
door when you left him he fell over dead,
and his last words must have been to you"
The boy, remembering those words, burst
into tears and said, You are my best, my
very best; always have been. and always
shall be-"
Moral: Never leave home with unkind
words. for they may be your last.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

He stood with eyes on the preacher,
drinking In every word. and when the
speaker paused for a moment he called
out in a hosrse, strong voice: Say, par
son, l come in here to git a bit Of fun
out'n this doings; but I'll be blamed eff I
hain't got something else. Say, that music
what was played by that little angel went
clean through this old hide O. mine and
the songs and all the rest of the trimmings
have got a-hold Of me like a bull terrier.
and won't let ago. 1 say, parson, rye
been took back to my old hume-away
back east-and i've heard my own mothers
voice a-slngin' them songs. and I've heard
my own fathers voice a4saying them words
what you've just said. And. by doggone,
II has made me feel like a different belngl
l hain't felt like a man for years and
years; I've felt like a wolf on the praIries
But ! want to tell you now that I'm goin'
to sell the latest steer in my herd tomor.
rer and give the money to you for bulldin'
a church. I want this music. this sort Of
meeting, every Sunday, by gracious. Itn
help us poor dogs that haven't felt like
human beings for so long. An all the
other boys will Timber w. too, end drop
a steer or two in the hat for the building
OF a church and the buying of an organ.
We've got to have some music. sure;
music as well as rreaehln', parson."
Then the rough but good-hearted cow
boy sat down, wiping his eyes on his
sleeve. And others In the little frame
house had 20 wipe the mist from their
eyes that morning, for many-lke the
"cowboy"-eame ito see the show and
went away with serious minds and full
hearts.
And the church fund grew and grew
from that Easter Sunday when little Flossis
found the way TO the hearts OF the people,
and thereby TO their pocketbooks, and on
the next Easter Sunday services were hcll
in a comfortable little church, with a pull
pit decorated with paper flowers, and an
organ in the corner, with Flossie as or
ganist. and the rough cowboy was there,
in a black suit and white shirt, just 10
show his respect for the organlst and the
''parson," as he put II. And he was one
OF the leading members Of the church. too.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

range for special Easter services for next
Sunday2"
You are a true Christian girl, my daugh-
ter" said Mrs. Stone, land l believe we
might do something to help Christianity
here in this wild place. The people are
not bad, nor lacking In true Christian feel
ing, but they are forgetful and nave been
so long from civilization that they readily
drop into the spirit of the plains. But 1
am glad to hear you speak so earnestly
on the subject and 1 shall do all / can
to assist in having special Easter service.
Let me see-where could we hold the meet
ing? Mr.. James house is so very small.
Only about ten people can be accommo.
dated in the James front room"
Flossie looked about their own large
front ROOM" which served both as living
and sleeping apartment for the family.
I'm wondering why we can't take down
the beds for the day and borrow chairs
from the ~neighbors." she said. you sec,
a table could be arranged at the end OF
the room to take the place of a pulpit. Mr..
James would conduct the services; l could
play the piano, and you, mother, could
lead in the singing. You nave a good
voice. you know. And father-well, what
SdA At W " hSoAeN Oht a nave IL ne
could pass the hat after the first prayer
Flossie and her mother laughed merrlly
over the duty assigned to Mr.. Stone. well,
1t is quite necessary to take up a collec-
tion,' declared Flossie. for every penny
will help toward the new church which
Mr.. James Is so anxious to see begun be-
fore the year is out"
I'm glad we brought our plano with
u.s." said Mrs. Stone. when your father
suggested that we sell II. thinking we
would have 10 make many sacrifices in
our new western home before we got nicely
settled, l said no; that you must have your
plano so that you would not lose the little
you had learned OF music, And how nice Il
will be to have plano music for our Easter
service. You must get at your church
music at once and memoflze one OF your
most soul-stirting voluntaries. You know
that music hath charms to soothe the saw
age breast, We must try to tame the wild
man OF the plains. He has not always been
wild. and II is our duty TO help In bring
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

on the morrow bright and early the two
beds would be removed from the big
ROOM and the chairs from the nelshbers
brought In. Notice had been sent to all
who lived within ten miles OF the town
that Easter service, with plano music,
would be held at the home OF Mr.. Joseph
Stone. and that every person would be
most welcome.
When the little clock in the Stones
kitchen struck the hour Of l0-the time APP
pointed for the Sunday servict to begin
there were assembled about twenty persons
in the big ROOM" ami Mr.. James, standing
beside a prettily decorated table, on which
lay his Bible and hymbook, began an i'm
pressive Easter sermon. AL the week
Flossie had worked like a Turk. to use
an old saying. and not only had she learned
the music Of several hymns and a beautiful
voluntary. but she had made wreathes and
boquets Of paper lilies with which to
adorn the table which served as an altar,
for no other kind Of flowers could be OBJ
tanned, there being no florist within 100
miles OF the town in which she lived. And
such a tremendous sensation did the paper
wreathes and bouquets and the piano make
with the small congregation that Flossie's
ncdlN btaN WIN pIlut III oaAASluIAiohs
Flowers and music appealed where the
preachers voice failed to make much lm-
preston. These people, living in huts,
dugouts, shacks and without the least
particle of adornment OF any sort about
them. were moved by the f~lowers-that
looked so natural that several of the women
went so far as to put their noses to them
10 gather their fragrance-aud the strains
Of the PLANO music. And, with heart stirred,
they Joined in the hymns, which carried
them back to former times, when they had
known more Of refining influence then they
now enjoyed.
After the service, and as Mr.. James be-
gan an appeal to each person present to
give him aid in the building and sustain
ing Of a little church in their town, a burly
fellow, dressed in the regulation cowboy"
sarb, stood up near the open door. He had
dropped in ITO see the show" as he put
It 10 another cowboy" friend who like
wise was present
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

started TO explore the farm. There we're
so many things to do and see that IT seemed
but a few minutes before they were called
In to supper. After supper Elsie went to
bed, but not TO sleep. She had too many
things TO think of. but after a while she
dropped off. She awoke IN the morning
with the sun shining In her face and a little
robin singing in the tree just outside Of
her window, and she heard Roy calling to
her frem downstairs. She slipped quickly
into her clothes and ran downstairs. After
she had her breakfast she went outside
with Roy to watch the men milk the cows.
Then they went to see the chickens and
the ducks. Every day she found something
new and interesting TO see. There were the
calves and the geese, the pigeons that lived
in the barn, the ponies and many more
things. When the time came to go home
she said: Il believe 1 have not seen half
of the things yet. but l will come back
next summer and see the rest" She told
everyone that visited their house after
wards about her visit to the farm during
her vacation.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
The Dear Old Farm.
BY Esther Hopping, Aged u Yea

By Esther Hopping, Aged u Years,
Shelby, Ia. Blue Side.
Once there was a family who had only
one little girl, 4 years old, Her name was
Esther.
They had sold their farm and were going
to move to town, but one day the mother
could not find Esther, She hunted all over
till she found her sitting behind a door
crying, and when she asked her what
the matter was, she said in German 0or
she could not speak English) Itch will
heir nicht wey. Ich will heir bleiben die
Eiet zu vertrelben," (Which means, | don't
want to go away, 1 want to stay here and
spend the time).
They did not pay any attention to what
Esther said, but moved to town and there
were occasions when they wished they
had taken her advice. For they did not
like town and are living on a farm again.
This Is a true story for the little girl is
myself.
This Is the first time I have ever written
and hope to see this in print.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

Jean De Long, Ainsworth, Neb.
Irene Mccoy, BArnston, Neb.
Lillian Merwin, Beaver City, Neb.
Mabel witt. Bennington, Neb.
Anna Gottsch, Bennington, Neb.
Minnie Gottseh. Bennington. Neb.
Agnes Dahmke. Benson, Neb.
Marie Gallagher, Benkelman, Neb. (bok I'D.
Ida May, Central City, Neb.
Vera Cheney, Creighton, Neb.
Louis Hahn, David City, Nep.
Rhea Freidell, Dorchester, Neb.
Eunice Bode, Falls City, Neb.
Ethel Reed, Fremont, Neb.
Hulda Lundburg, Fremont, Neb.
Marion Capps, Gibson, Neb.
Marguerite Bartholomew, ~Gothenburg, Neb.
Lydia Roth, COS West Koenig street, Grand
Ella Voss. 46i West Charles street, Grand
Irene Costello, i5. West Eighth street.
Grand Island, Neb.
Pauline Schultz, lf2 West Fourth street.
M SFdna M sf1a : Nf sSs East Ninth street.
Grand Island, Neb.
Hugh Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Hester +, Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Alice Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Ruth Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Ann Nelson, Lexington, Neb.
Edythe Kreltz, Lexington, Neb.
Marjorie Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Alice Gressmeyer. 1916 c ST.. Lincoln, Neb.
Marian Hamilton. 2029 l. St, Lincoln, Neb.
Elsie Hamilton, 9o2s L St., Lincoln, Neb.
Hughie Disher, 2OSO l. street, Lincoln, Neb.
Louise stiles, Lyons, Neb.
Estelle Mcdonald, Lyons, Neb,
Milton Seller, Nebraska city, Neb.
Harry Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb.
Harvey Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb.
Lucille Hazen. Norfolk, .Neb,
Letha Larkln, So. Sixth st., Norfolk, Neb.
Emma Marquardt, Fifth street and Madi-
son avenue, Norfolk, Neb.
Mildred F. Jones, North Loup, Neb;
0erevieve NJ. Jones, North Loup, Neb.
Helen Goodrich. 4c10 Nicholas street, Omaha
Mildred Erickson, 2109 Howard street,
oscar Erickson. 200 Howard street.
Omaha.
Louis Raabe, 2eOs North Nineteenth ave-
nue., Omaha.
Lena Petersen, 2211 Locust street, East
Omaha.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Finding a Nest.

BY Aleda Bennett, Aged 10 Years, Elsln,
Neb., Blue Side.
"Oh, dearl What shall l do for a nest?"
said Mrs. Robin Red Breast. Here 1
have come from the south and the trees
are not yet ieafed out" She flew over
house and barn, but could not find a
place to suit her. At last she flew in an
open window and there she saw a coat,
but before she could get TO 1t a woman
came in with a broom and she flew out.
She flew on and on and she saw a shed,
She looked in and saw a shelf, and on the
shelf was an overcoat. A few days later
there was a nice little nest in the coat.
In a few weeks four little eggs were in
the nest.
After a while some little brides. The
father and mother Robin watched over
them with the love of a father and mother.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
How the Pied Piper Got His
Magic Pine.

BY Philip Philbin. Aged 10 Years, 14S North
Thirty-first Avenue, Omaha. Red Side.
As you all know about what the Pied
Piper at Hamelin did, would you not like
to know where he got his pipe? Well, 1
will tell you. The Pied Piper had from his
youth studied magic. He had found out
that in a mountain not far from his home
lived a witch. He also knew that she had
a wonderful pipe. After he learned this, he
knew he could destroy her with a bucket
OF water. So one night he stole to the
mountain. He looked in the window and
there, in a bed he saw the witch. He
lifted the bucket of water to the window.
Up jumped the witch In her bed. But the
Pied Piper was too quick. He dashed the
bucket at her and slowly, she melted away.
After that the Pied Piper went in to search
the cave. lie found the pipe under her
pillow and got 1t. 1t said on IL! Who
ever gets this he will be rich or poor all
his life" The Pied Piper went home very
much pleased.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Second Prize.)
A Legend of the Easter Lily

BY Frances Johnson, Aged 10 Years, 1873
North Twenty-fifth Avenue, Omaha
Blue Side.
Would you like to know why the beautiful
white lily has become the emblem of the
hallowed Easter day? 1 have made a little
story which accounts for 1t.
Many years ago the lowers Quarreled
among themselves about the purity of their
clothes and the richness of their perfume
each one angrily declaring that 1t should be
chosen queen, that is, emblem Of Easter
day.
When Mother Natures secretary (of
course you know who that was) discovered
that instead of dancing in the moonbeanis
and saying sweet things to one another
they were fighting among themselves, she
resolved to give them a queen so much
more beautiful than they that they should
never fight thereafter.
So she sent the wind fairies to borrow
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Elsie's Vacation.

BY Esther Johnson, Aged II Years, 1862
Graham Avenue, Council Bluffs, la.
Blue Side.
.oh! mamma, will the time ever CONF
for vacation?' The speaker was a little
blue-eyed, yellow-haired girl of about 7
wears. called Elsie. She was going to visit
her grandma on the farm and never ceased
asking her ~'0ot1er that same question
until they started.
why, dear. I never knew you 10 be 50
impatient as you are now" sad her mother,
CHANGING at the little figure curled up in
the armchair. you have only a few days
row until the end OF school, and am sure
II you would keep busy all the time In.
stead OF sitting in that chair the time would
pass more quickly"
At last the day came for starting, II
was fair and sunny and so they walked to
the depot, which was only a little way
from Elsie's home.
They had lust entered the depot, when
someone shouted, Here comes the train!'
Everyone rushed for the platform and
Elsie thought she never would set out Of
the crow d alive. for she was pushed this
way and that until she reached the train.
But Jhe kept nold OF her mothers hand
and at last they found themselves inside
the train.
They Travelled for an hour and then
reached Nicola, where they were I? stop.
At the station her grandfather was waiting
In the buggy, and coming up the street was
a hayrack, and away up on top OF the hay
she saw her little cousin Roy. lie ca.e1
to her and told her TO come up there with
him. Her mother rode to the farm in the
buggy, but Elsie crawled up beside Roy
and rode there with him.
When they reached the farm grandma
was standing in the door watching for
them. Elsie and Roy had a little lunch
out under a large annla trsA and than
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
A Bear Story.
By Ray Lewis, Aged IL Years. Def

By Ray Lewis, Aged II Years. Defiance,
Ia. Blue Side.
'Come on, Harry" said Joe, picking up
his fathers gun, lets go over on Bruins
island and get that bear that has been
eating our hogs"
I'm a minute" said Harry. my rubber
boots are so hard to get on"
But at last they we're scudding across
the pasture toward the lake where their
little sailboat was anchored. They got
aboard and started to row 1t along. They
were soon on the island. They saw some
fresh bear tracks, which they followed to a
large tree. Il see him." shouted Harry,
and sure enough up In one of the large
bushy branches he lay asleep. But the
shout Harry had made awoke him and he
started to climb down with an angry growl,
but Joe gave him n dose OF bucRshot In
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

paper only and number the pages.
Q. Use pen n Ink, not pencil
8. Short and pointed articles viii
BIO given preference. Do not use over
250 words.
4. Original stories or letters only
will be used.
.. write your name, age ana cd
drcRs az n cop OF the hfst page.
First and second. prizes Of books
will be given fer b best two con-
tributionB to this page each week.
Address all communications to
OHTLDREN's DsPARTnkHHT,
Omaha Zee.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

white from the dreaming clouds; for the
green she took some of her own fairy gar
ments. These she fastened to her gold
tipped wand and made the first Easter lily,
the purest flower in the flower Kingdom.
Then one moonlight night she set the
new queen among the other flowers. They
were so entranced by her beauty that they
ceased their pickering and bowed before
her. To add to the l%ovellness the king of
dew placed his most brilliant subject on
her head. From that day purity, content
ment and perpetual love reigned In flower
land.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
The Sunrise

BY Ruth K~irschstein, Aged 10 Years,
S60l Grand avenue, Omaha, Neb.
The clouds on that September day.
Tossed restless in their sea of gray,
The waves in red and golden hue,
The sun-ship parted in passing
through.
And DER the bluffs the sunlight cast
A golden light, and then 1t passed
Across the clear, and sparkling stream,
Before 1t vanished like a dream.
Again the sun burst forth to light,
The church spires in the city bright,
To tell the birds in the shady hooks,
That the sun was waking up all the
brooks.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Hold Your Temper.
By Pauline SQUIRE, Aged II Years, @

BY Pauline SQUIRE, Aged II Years, Grand,
Okl. Blue Side.
''Go home! I don't care" cried Kate
Nation. why, you are always saying
something mean about me-" Kate had
heard Ralph say just In fun that she had
a big nose, and so got mad. She was a
very spoiled child, with a temper. One
day, not Icing after, she was going down
the street. Suddenly someone yelled out,
'sn arty." She thought that they were
thlking to her and so she got mad at once
and cried out in return, Don't care, you
are che yourself Just then a parrot
came around a house where a cat was
lying in front and began calling 1t a
'smarty.'' Kate felt very much ashamed
of herself and that taught her a lesson
never to be forgotten.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
An Honest Girl

BY May Bertch. Aged IL Years, 1897 South
Twenty-flfth Avenue. Omaha. Red Side.
As Mildred Jensen and Hilda Peterson
were walking home from school one day
Hilda remarked, "Oh, a test tomorrow, I
wonder II l will pass" "Oh, I don't care"
said Mildred. Hilda hurried home and
studied, but Mildred thought nothing about
II. When the next day came and the
teacher passed back the papers Hilda re-
ceived an extra paper with the answers
on It. H:lda took 1t and gave It tn her
teacher. When the teacher read the high
est marks next day Hilda had the highest
marks. She was given a prize. Mildred
did not have n good mark.
After that Mildred always wanted to
study.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
Little Flossie's Easter on the Plains
~ Annie James.

- ANY years ago the incidents
A narrated In this story took
IV place. It was during the early
- settling OF that vast region west
uS&1dIU Of the Mississippi river which
&G4D was then known as the plains
At that time people were scarce in that
part Of the world; towns were scarcer,
churches more scarce, and all the wlldness
of the world seemed to have full sway on
the plains. There the rangers held the
new country in their hands, so to speak.
The cowboy and the government scout we're
the heroes of the p~rairies.
To this new region had come a family of
t~hree-man, wife and little daughter. Their
name was Stone. and their little daughter
was named Flossie. She was 10 years old
and a very quiet, serious child for her age.
While the other children of the six-month-
old town played in the grass-grown streets
Flossie sat in the Dig room" of her
parents two-room frame house studying
her books, for she had been at the head
OF her classes in the school she had at
landed in an eastern state prior to coming
70 the plains, and It was her determine
ton TO continue to learn, even though
there was no school as yet In the town
where she lived.
One morning her mother, looking up from
the almanac which she had been study
ing in order to find just when to plant her
garden In the right sign Of the moon, said.
Daughter, do you know that next Sunday
Is Easter? Isn't II a pity that we cannot
have SOM sort Of Easter services In our
aew town."
why can't we have Easter services,
mother?" asked Flessie, laying aside her
book. There is dear old Mr.. James, who
was a preacher before coming here. and
yeu know he is doing all he can to get
an appropriation from an eastern church
tund toward building a little church In
our town. and he has been holding serv-
Ices in his own house every Sunday. I
know there are only a handful OF people
who attend. and that the majority OF our
citizens feel a certain contempt for the
church, but l do believe they might be
made TO feel differently could we but get
them Interested. Now, why shouldn't you
and father and l help Mr.. James to ar
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

ing him back to his former state of mind
n heart"
"Ill set to work practicing my church
music today" declared Flossie, And l
shall ask Miss Jordon in to go over some
of the hymns with us. She sings so
sweetly and she is Mr.. James chief as
sistant at the meetings he holds in his
house, VIII you see Mr.. James. mother,
and talk over our plan with him?"
Yes, and I'll do 1t at once" declared
Mrs. Stone. This is Tuesday. We have
less than a week fer preparation"
So both mother and daughter set to work
to carry out their plans for an Easter serv-
ice In their own house, not having a better
place to hold the meeting. And when
Saturday night came they were surprised
ant delighted with their success thus far.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
From the New Queen

Dear Editor and Busy Recs, I wish
to thank you many times FOR choosing
mo queen OF the Busy Bees. | shall
try to do my best for the blue side.
during my reign. l hope the contest
will be az close the next time as il
was the last, as II makes 1t more IN
teresting, Thanking you again for tho
honor conferred, I remain. A Busy
Bee. RENA N. MEAD.
Blair, Neb., April T.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11
The Adventures of Two Run.
away Rows,

BY Hubert Sinclair. Aged 12 Years, Ne
braska City, Neb. Red Side.
Paul and Robert were children OF rich
parents. They attended II public school,
not far from their home. One day Paul
was informed by some OF his schoolmates
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

the mock that killed him. Tney secureG a
rope on their beat and finally dragged him
on board. The county farmers gave Joe
and Harry 500, for the bear had given
them so much trouble.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-11

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