davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
SOUTH ENGLISH RIVER.

South English river is about three
miles south of here. don't know foH
sure how long it is but 1t Is between
25 and 80 miles long 1t is one of
three group rivers. The three are
called North English, South English.
and Middle English. North English is
the largest, South English is next to
the 1t and Middle English Is the
smallest.
South English and Middle English
flow in to North English several miles
east of here, but the South English
is the closest to us. It is about 30 or
GO feet across from bank to bank. It
is not large at all. About quarter
of mile north of the three rivers are
three small lakes, two OF them east Of
the wagon road and one is west.
About half way between them is q
railroad crossing called Cuba.
They had large picnic on the
Fourth of July at Cuba. They joined
the two east lakes together and run az
steam launch there They also have
shoot the chutes. They still run II
on Sundays.
A few feet east of the bridge there
is a dam. The water is about 80 feet
deep there.
l have been all along the river fish.
ing. Well will close as this is all I
can write about such a small river. 1
Lois Thomas, age 10,
R. F. D. No. 3, Box Sc, North English
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
THE TAME CROW.

Amos Long lived on farm. One day
in the spring he caught a young crow
in the field. He took him home and
tanned him. He taught him many fun
ny tricks. Mink. as the bird was call
ed. would take the tail of one Of the
kittens in his bill and drag her around
the room. Neither the kitten nor its
mother liked this and they cried with
all their strength.
Mink used to steal thinbles, spools
of thread, gloves and other things and
hide them in out of the way places. If
he saw a handkerchief sticking out of
any ones pocket he would snap at 1t
and drag 1t out. One time Mr.. Long left
a tapping at his back and found that
Mink was filling his coat pockets with
red berries. When the men are milking
Mink will hop along and peck the
cows noses. Mink will not let any one
take him up or pet him, but if any
person holds out stick no matter how
short it is he will perch, upon it. On
this stick he will let himself be carried
about the house.
Lacey Canny,
Agency, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
MIDSUMMER ON THE FARM.

This is very busy time for the
farmers. Wheat and oats to harvest,
hay to be cut and stacked. The thresh-
ing machine is now threshing in the
neighborhood Some of the farmers
have not cut any hay yet only few
have finished harvesting hay.
Beside our crop of wheat, oats, corn
and hay we have horses mules. cat
tie hogs, and two little mule colts They
are just about the same color, brown
with white noses. They romp and play
together. They never act like they get
tired of playing. We have five little
calves. They are all red with white
faces. The dahlias in the garden are
blooming. They are red, pink, yellow
and straw color. The blackberries are
ripening. We have lots of them. We
have picked and solo fifteen gallon this
week, besides what we used on the
table. There is so much to see and
do on the farm I do not see how any
little girl could say they like to live
in town in the summer time.
Joy c. Roberts.
Ash Grove, Ia.
Aoo 30
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
sToRIEs-LETTERs
DIES MONIES RIVER.

The Des Moines river rises from a
group Of small lakes in Murra county,
Minnesota. 1t takes a southeasterly
course and flows across three coun-
ties In Minnesota and enters Iowa at
the northwest corner of Emmetsburg
| county and flows across the western
part of the county. Then it enters
Patio Alto county crosses that county
and then CROSSES the notheast corner
Of Pocahontas county and then the
southwest corner Of Humboldt county,
enters Webster county almost In cen
ter and passes out at the southeast
| corner where it enters Boone county
and flows almost through the center
OF the county, crosses the northeast
corner of Dallas county; enters Polk
county at the northwest corner and
passes through to the southeast corner
and crosses the northeast corner of
Warren county, enters Marion county
at the northwest corner and passes
through to the southeast corner crosses
the southwest corner of Mahaska
county, enters Wapello county at the
northwest corner, passes through the
county and passes out at the southeast
corner, crosses the northeast corner of
Davis county and enters Van Buren,
county at the northwest corner, flows
southeast until in the center of coun-
ty, when it takes curve and passes
almost around the city of Keosauqua,
then takes southeasterly course and
passes out at the southeast corner,
then passes between Lee county, Ia,
and Clark county, Mo-, and enters the
Mississippi at KeoFuk. The Des
Moines is used for pleasure yachts but
not big boats yet. hope l will have
the pleasure of seeing big boats on it
before many years. l will now name
some Of the largest cities on the Des
Moines river and give as near as pos
sible the number of inhabitants. AT
the mouth of the river is Keollul1. H.
Gal, Keosauqua, 1,117 Is the county
seat of Van Buren, county; Ottumwa,
$4,000 in Wapello county; Des Moines
is in the southern part Of Polk county
and has population of 62,139, and is
the capital Of Iowa. Fort Dodge is in
Webster county and has a population
of 12,162! Esterville is in Emmett
county and has population of ,23T.
Retta Ruark, age -,
R. F. D. No. 3, Pennington, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
THE SKUNK RIVER.

This is my first attempt to write a
letter to the Courier Junior. have
been reading the letters and enjoy
them very much. We live about ten
miles from the Skunk river. Last
summer we all went to the river and
stayed all day. We gathered flowers
and had a very pleasant time.
l have two uncles who live very
close to the river. Sometimes II
overf1ows and destroys their crops MY
grandfather goes to the river and
catches many firsh. One das- he fell
into the river where the water was
not very deep. He could not get OUT
for long time, but he was not hurt
bad. The Skunk river flows SOUTH
east and is about 300 feet wide. It is
not used for large boats.
Vida Conger, age IL,
r, F. D. No /, Fairfield, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07

Medford, Mass, Aug. 5.--Norbert
Weiner, the lad who graduated from
Tufts college recently at the age of ID
years, with the bachelor of arts de-
gree, is the youngest college graduate
in the world. He entered Tufts col
lege, fully prepared, at the age Of 10,
after a phenomenal course of work in
the high schools. He took UP the full
academic course at Tufts and some adj
ditiohal studies and now he is booked
for more degrees, according to his
father, Prof. Leo Wiener. Professor
Wiener says that he intends to have
his son enter Harvard in the fall, to
study biology, but to take it as the
senior year, so as to get the Harvard
A. B. degree in 1910. This will make
him the youngest student who ever
graduated at Harvard with a degree.
After that he will probably study biol
ogy in a German university for two
years. After that Professor Wiener
plans to have him take both his M. D.
and Phi. d. degrees, either abroad or in
America. In spite of his phenomenal
development in his studies, he is in
every way normal, healthy boy,
though quieter than most boys. He
enjoys outdoor sports and is now sum
mering at Harvard, Mass, with his
father.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
week or ten days and brought 1t and
buried it by its mother and sisters.
Mirth Hudgens, age 10,
Unionville, Iowa.
FROM "suNNY KANSAS"

Dear Editor and Juniors: Will you
let me into your jolly little corner for
moment till tell you all have to
say live in Sunny Kansas" The
place where the sunflowers and grass
hoppers grow. Ny grandma takes the
Tri-Weekly Courier. She is visiting
us now. Well, / will tell you about
my home. 1t is situated in the Grouse
creek valley, in the extreme southern
part of the state in Cowley county.
we live on a farm of ga acres. The
products are corn, wheat, oats, pota-
toes, fruits and vegetables and alfalfa,
which is an excellent food for cattle,
hogs and horses. Sheep are not raised
very much in this section of the coun-
try. Well, I will describe myself. I am
about 51a feet tall, have brown eyes
and brown hair, light complexion
weigh about 1870 pounds, and am
15 years old. Isn't tina. a good
description? This is the first
| time have written to the
Junior Ny studies at school are read
ing, physiology, arithmetic, United
States history, Kansas history, gram
mar, spelling, classics, writing and
civics. l go to school at Townsend,
which is small village 1 " miles east
of our home. 1t consists of two stores,
one blacksmith shop and seven dwell
| ing houses.
| Grouse creek is about As miles long
and has numerous branches. The
main branch being Silver creek, which
| is about 25 or 80 miles long. Grouse
creek is about go feet wide and fur
nishes many pleasures for the people
during the summer months. viz: bath
ing boat riding and fishing, which is
| the main attraction. The fish caught
are catfish, carp, German carp, white
perch, sunfish, pike, hickory shad,
bass and eel, which looks very much
| like a snake, but tastes like fish. The
source of Grouse creek is very near
Elk county, county east of Cowley,
and joins the Arkansas river at the
line between Kansas and Oklahoma.
The largest cities in our county are
Winfield and Arkansas City. The
Sd of July l went to Maple City and
on the 9Th went to Arkansas City and
Winfield and had a real good time.
| I have three brothers and no sisters.
have an aunt living in Ottumwa.
1t is raining today. My father and
brothers own threshing machine and
have been threshing but quit for a
while on account of the wheat being
wet. Mamma and do the work while
they are gone. We have several kinds
of house plants.
Well 1 expect had better close, so
goodbye.
LaRue Fresh. age Is,
| Townsend Kansas
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07

landed at Shanghai China. How
strange everything looked to her. They
dressed 80 strange. The women wore
bright colored gowns with very large
flowers, wooden shoes and carried
large paper umbrellas. The men
wore wooden shoes and very curious
clothes, indeed. They braided their
hair and tied bright ribbon on the
end and let it hang down their back.
Whenever Emily went out buggy rid
ing she would be drawn up and down
the street in small buggy just large
enough for one person to sit in. They
didn't have horses, so stout China
man was used to pull Emily's buggy.
Emily was there during the festival
of the Lanterns. While it lasted they
didn't care for anything, but to eat,
drink and make fun. They go about
carrying long canes of bamboo with
lanterns on the end and at the same
time beating on drums and tom toms
until the lights and noise almost
makes you wish yourself Chinaman
in order to enjoy it. Even the ladies'
are allowed to go on the street which
they cannot do at any other time OF
the year. Shops close and all bust
ness stops Old people drive hoops
like children and fly kites from the
roofs or sail paper boats on the rivers.
Everybody fires squibs and crackers
until the air is filled with the scent
of powder which can be smelt far
off at sea. Now as yon may imagine
these things seemed very curious to
Emily. Emily sent her mother post
card with picture of old men and
women flying kites, driving hoops and
sailing paper boats upon river.
Emily Johnson spent year in this
curious place. Emily boarded at a
fine hotel When their meals were
ready they would sit on the floor
about the room Each one had a
table foot high and about foot and
a half square which they eat from.
Instead of having beds they would lay
on strip of mating with their
heads on wooden block for pillow.
Emily went through a silk factory and
visited farm where they had silk
worms. Out at one side of the yard
were six mulberry trees hanging full
Of large cocoons of silk. Emily Wis
tied the whole land Of China and then
returned home She had great story
to tell her relation and friends.
Ruth Maring, age u,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
JEALOUSY.

Ella and Marv We're good friends.
They always went to school together.
AS the examination days were COM
ing on Ella worked very hard. But
Mary worked very little. On Friday
morning they had examinations in
arithmetic. Ella got them ALL but Mary
got but six of the problems. On Mon
day morning the teacher handed back
the examination papers. Ella got a
hundred in her work, and Mary got
seventy-five She was awfully mad
Ella was the only girl that got one
hundred. The teacher was glad that
one girl got a hundred and she said
ELLA is the only one that got a hun
dred in arithmetic and she is going to
be put two classes ahead of you ALL
Mary became jealous and got mad at
Ella. Ella went home and told her
mother what the teacher had said and
that Mary was mad. Her mother said
MY dear child, do not care, she is
only jealous
Title Hickman,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Apa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
vERA's INTERESTING LETTER.

Dear Editor: AS I have never writ
ten before, I thought I would write. l
will write about flowers, also about the
timid little birds.
Some flowers are beautiful. The
children like to get their May baskets
and gather the flowers.
will name some flowers I gathered
this summer which are sweet williams,
blue and yellow violets, cowslips,
lamb tongues, bluebells, wild bleeding
hearts, ferns, lobelias, crowfoot and
buttercups. I also gathered some haw,
plum and wild crabapple blossoms.
They have some fragrant, sweet smell.
l will name some flowers that are in
our yard There are sweet peas, red
velvet, red, yellow, white, pink roses,
yellow violets, peonas,. golden glow,
chrysanthemums. gladiolas and fern.
l will write about the timid little
birds now. ! like to watch the little
birds build their nests in the spring
and summer. There are many differ.
ent kinds of birds. l will name some
of the birds l know. There are the
blue jay, crow. hawk, owl, lark, swal.
low, English sparrow, pigeons, parrot
ilSe'uoN iolh, WIlppOOl Will, UlCWu
thrush, yellow hammer, robin red
breast. orioles, canaries and wren.
The mother bird sits on the eggs
while the father bird gets food for her.
In three weeks the eggs hatch. When
the eggs are Matched, the mother and
father bird have food to get for the lit
tie ones. In a week the little birds
can fly and can get their own food
There are many different colors OF
eggs. The robins eggs are blue. The
turtle-doves eggs are white, the brown
thrush's eggs are speckled, the pigeon
eggs are pure white.
\ We Ravens any trees big enough for
e birds to build in. Meadow larlls
Build their nests on the ground in the
meadow. Swallows build their nests
in the chimney, and the pigeon some
times build their nests in the barn.
Vera Fay Salladay, age -,
| Tihprtyyi1Ia Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
LITTLE MISS JOSIE.
Lacey Canny,
Agency, Iowa.

Little Miss Josie is very sweet lit
tie child with dark eyes and soft light
hair. She has a large dolly and when
she comes down in the morning with
Miss Dolly in her arms everybody is
glad to see them both. She talks a
great deal and sometimes we cannot
make out all she says but we like to
look at her and hear her sweet words.
One morning she went to breakfast in
the big hotel all alone and had round
table and big waiter for herself. Jim
was very good to the little lady and
proud to wait on her, but Josie want
ed as many things as two or three
grown up people would have wished.
She held out her hands for so many
things that Jim did not know what to
do. Mamma came in and would not
allow her to call for anything more,
for fear she should make herself sick.
Minnie Canny.
Agency, Ia, r. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
WINNERS IN THE JG.sAW cor.
TEST.
TfIELMA PEPPERS.
RETTA RUARK.
VERDA BAGGS.
THE SOUVENIR CARDS.

You all know that we give the Jun
Tors souvenir postal album when
they have Is cards from the Junior.
We will not use the letters when the
Juniors simply acknowledge the pos
tails. We always want a nice little
story when the Juniors do not want to
write letter If you all do not want
to select your own subjects, you may
write on one Of the following sub
jects:
"WHAT 1 HAVE ENJOYED MOST
THIS SUMMER"
"THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE
YEAR."
nWtiY / LOVE TO SWIM"
Besides sending a souvenir card, we
will give surprise prize to the Jun
Tors writing the best letter be-
tween now and September 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
THE DIES MONIES RIVER.

The Des Moines river is the nearest
river to my home. 1t is over two hun
bred miles in length. 1t is three or
four rods in width. Some of the cities
on this river are: Webster City, Des
Moines, Eddyville, Eldon. Ottum-
wa. The Des Moines river is not used
for large ships. There are many row,
boats and yachts sailed on this river
This river passes through the capital
city of Iowa. This river passes through
no mountains, but rushes on in and out
about the cities, town and country.
Leila Saum. age II,
Blakesburg, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
Seven Times One Are Seven

There's no dew left on the daisies
and clover,
There's no rain left in heaven;
rye said my "seven times" over and
over,
Seven times one are seven.
I am old, SO old can write a
letter;
My birthday lessons are done;
The lambs play always, they know
no better;
They are only one times one.
o moon! in the night have seen you
sailing
And shining so round and low;
You were bright! ah, bright! but
your light is falling
You are nothing now but bow.
You moon, have you done something
wrong in heaven
That God has hidden your face?
l hope If you have you will soon be
forgiven
And shine again in your place.
Q velvet bee, you're dusty fellow;
You've powdered your legs with
gold! -
o brave marshmary buds, rich and
yellow,
Give me your money to hold.
o columbfne, open your folded wrap
per,
Where two twin turtledoves dwell!
o cuckoopint, toll me the purple clap
per
That hangs in your clear green bell'
And show me your nest with the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
Age 8
LESLIE A NEW JUNIOR.
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
1 have never written to the JunYor
before. am going to try and write. My
aunt has about 200 chickens and !
help her take care of them. My school
was out the 18th of June. . to the
Ragtown school. I have two brothers
and two sisters. They live in Ottumwa
with my papa and mamma. have
been at my grandpa's for a long time.
] am going home after harvest. have
five little kittens and big brown dog
named Beaver. We have some little
red and white and black pigs, lot
of little calves and colt
Leslie Brewer,
Charlton, Ia r. No. 4,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
HERsEL's INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Dear Editor and Juniors. AS l have
not written for quite a while will
write again. l will tell you what did
to celebrate independence Day. We
stayed at home in the forenoon. We
went to Bloomfield in the afternoon.
had lots of fun. When we went out to
my grandpa's for supper / shot some
firecrackers. We stayed for the fire.
works. thought that they were nice.
got to see balloon go up on the 4th.
like to see balloons go up. I think
they are so pretty. like to celebrate
the 4th of July. 1t was just about mid
night when we got home. This makes
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
MIDSUMMER IN THE GARDEN

The geranium was a dainty little
plant that had been in window
through the cold days of winter. Until
the warmer days came and a lady
came to my window and took me away
from my mates. l wonder what she
was going to do with me. She took me
into the garden and put me among
some other plants which 1 had never
seen before. She went away and left
me there nodding with the others in
the summer breeze. One day the lady
brought out one Of my old mates and
put her at the side of me. Her name
was Fern. We spent the hours of mid
summer together in the garden until
the cooler days came again then We
were brought back and placed in the
window together
Leila Saum,
Blakesburg, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
LELA's ZONE.

Dear Editor:
l thought I would write a letter to
the Junior and tell about my home
Our farm consists of 100 acres and is
about two miles south Of the Des
Monies river. We have a nice garden
in which we raise may kinds of vege-
tables. We have large truck patch
and we have watermelons, musk mel
ons. pop corn, sweet corn, beans. sweet
potatoes, Irish potatoes, tomatoes
squashes and kafir corn and we have
some peanuts planted in our garden
We have two orchards. We have lots
of apples pears, apricots, the apricots
being ripe, then peaches and plumbs
We have lots of different kinds OF
plumbs. 1 am Tri- Weekly Junior.
Leila Shaffer,
Douds- Leando. Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07

mas birthday. She was rs years old
July "a. Aunt and cousin Row also
went. They live near Batavia. We
have Sunday school at Nasty Corners.
attend nearly every Sunday. My
Sunday school teachers name is
Lydia Williams. She is splendid
teacher. We have four little kittens.
Their names are Fancy, Spotty, Tabby
and Jenny. My pap takes the Daily
Courier.
Blanche Wheaton,
r. F. D. No. 1, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
EIGHT RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

1. Use one side of the paper only.
Q. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil.
8. 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 to us as your own work.
Z. Also state choice Of prize on a
separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
s. Address the envelope to Editor,
Courier Junior, Ottumwa. iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
FLoY HAS BEEN VISITING HER
UNCLE.

Dear Editor:
AS 1 saw ray last letter in print
thought 1 would write again. My papa
takes the Ottumwa Courier and like
to read all the letters on the junior
page. have post card from the jun
Tor. My sister and / just got home from
my uncles. We have been visiting
down there and we had fine time,
My school will commence In Septem-
Der. My studies are reading arithmetic.
language, history. physiology, geog-
raphy. spelling. I like to go to school.
Floy E. Young.
Charlton. Ia. r. No. =
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
GOING FISHING.

Dear Juniors:
Welcome me as new Junior, as
this is the first time l hove written.
One day three of my friends and me
went fishing. We took our dinner. We
took three fishing poles. l caught two
fish at noon. We ate our dinner. We
went home and l cleaned the fish and
we cooked Thorn. We are going again
some time. I can ride a horse. 1 have
60 post cards.
Lucille Moore.
Laredo, Mo.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
DORIS WILL FIND PLENTY OF
ROOM.

Dear Juniors:
wonder if there is any room fog
me. have never written for the pS
per before. My papa takes the Tri.
Weekly Courier. We think it is a
good paper. ! have one little sister.
We have very nice time playing
with our dolls. We swing and pull
our wagon. l help mamma do the
chores. have nice collection Of
post cards and hope to get more.
Doris Pauley, age 8
R. f. D. No. 1, Fredric, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-07
BLANcHE'S GRANDMOTHER |.
"a YEARS OLD.

Dear Junior:
AS have never written to the Jun
nior l will now try and write few
lines.
l live on a farm in the country about
half mile from Nasty Corners. I
have two sisters. Their names are
Opal and Sybil.
Mamma and my younger sister Sybil
went to Story county to spend Grand