davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
Alanzo's Pluck

BY Ida May, Aged II Years. Central City,
Neb. Blue Side.
There was once a boy whose name was
Alamo Dixon. His father had died a year
previous to the beginning of this story.
The family had beeh very poor, so when
Mr.. Dixon died it was very hard for Alamo
and his mother to make their living.
Alamo had always been able to keep in
school before his fathers death, but 1t
would be necessary now to leave it and
work.
This Mrs. Dixon regretted, for she
thought nothing better than an education.
Now Alamo lived in a country town
near New York City. One Friday evening
he decided upon a plan and it was this
On the next Monday morning to arise at
5 o'clock and set out for New York, to try
his luck there, SO the next Monday he
started.
The first day he looked around, but
found nothing to DO. The next day he went
to an office to buy some papers.
Alamo was new to this, and the other
boys jeered and Knocked him. but this
he did not mind.
Afterwards he got a place in a New York
firm (Which belonged to Mr.. Brown to
deliver bundles.
His employer found him so faithful to
his work that he kept raising his wages.
Alamo has kept in this firm for five
years and at the end of two years he
expects to become a Junior partner.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
The Dying of a Stick Horse
BY Push.

and. in the distance ] saw a haze and
countless chimneys and spires and sky
scrapers, towering up like goods boxes on
the sidewalk.
Now" said the boy, I'VE are almost to
the sea-" And I could behold a stretch
of green. with birds careening over the
waves and sails and smoke In the dis
tance.
Then we raced to a train, and actually
beat it; and at last, wearied with our
travels, he hitched me to a fence to feed,
and under my parent tree he went to
sleep.
Now, this was life. Oh, the many places
we visited together! Oh, the many trans
formations I made, from a horse to a
sword, and from a sword to a scepter, and
from a scepter to a train, and from a
train to another boy. Not everything that
begins with an acorn and then dies, in
part, turns into as many things as / did
Sometimes I could hear the squeak of a
hickory whistle another little boy carried
and knew 1t was part OF me; but It did
not seem like IL was. and this was the
most wonderful thing of all.
After a long time the little boy lost me
in the grass, and I lay there the longest
time, nothing but a stick, getting drier all
the time. My, but 1t is lonesome, and tire
some, to be lost and useless! 1 confess
slept a good deal. merely to pass the time
away. Once, there was a white eoverlet
spread over me, and at first 1t was cold
and I thought 1 was going to die; but
after a while I lay so snug and warm, and
snoozed for ever so long. When I awakened
grass was growing partly over me, and a
violet nestled at my side, and sometimes
spoke to me with fragrant breath.
I must tell you what l saw one day.
There came first a wagon, being driven
very slowly, and inside was a little white
box; and behind II followed another wagon.
in which there was a woman in black.
weeping softly, and a man, and the big
boy. who had cut me from my stump and
behind them was a string OF wagon NOV
ing slowly. all in a row. There was some
thing about It which made me feel very
sad.
Just then something passed me which
seemed only a shadow, and II appeared to
me that l could see the little boy with
whom / had had such times. He bent
over me and l heard him say softly, like
the voice of the violet, "oh, there is M
good stick horse. Come with me, Horsey.'
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
The Picnic

BY Orion Mayes, Aged 70 Years, Lusk,
Wyo. Blue Side.
1t was a bright June morning when Flor
ence heard her mother calling her for
breakfast. Hurry up, you know you arc
going to have a picnic and you must help
me-
Florence helped her mother very much
and about 10 o'clock she went out 10 sweep
off the porch and saw the children coming
in three carriages.
She ran out to meet them and they
cried Happy birthday" and dropped roses
at her feet.
Her mother brought out the basket Of
lunch and they rode away to the woods
with Florence and her mother in the front
carriage.
Florence wore a small diamond breast
pin, which her mother had given her for
her birthday and of course. like most
children, she felt very proud with 1t on.
The boys made them some swings in
the trees and they swung and played out
door games until lunch time. Then the
girls helped spread the lunch while the
boys were getting water from the spring
and doing other helpful things.
After lunch, Gertrude said to Florence:
ooh, where is your pin?' "Oh, it is gone!
1t is gone!" cried Florence.
They searched and searched, but couldn't
find it.
They went on playing again in the
swings and the boys climbed the trees
and threw cherries down to them.
Then all of a sudden one of the boys
cried, "Oh, 1 found 1t in this magpie's
nest.'
"Oh thank YOU, thank you, ever 30
much!" cried Florence. and they all ran to
break the joyful news to her mother.
She was very glad also and gave Law
renee Ohe boy who found III a tie pin
for his birthday. And the picnic was very
pleasant to all
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
honorable Mention.)
The Magic Ring

By Letitia Van Buren,, Aged II Years, 1923
S. 18th St, Omaha, Neb. Red Side.
Goodbye, mamma called Rose.
Goodbye, daughter" said her mother
as she saw Rose take her little basket and
go toward the woods.
Rose met her chum, Molly, seated on a
stump in the woods. This was where the
children spent their Saturdays. The little
girls played games and then ate their
lunch.
After lunch they laid on the ground to
rest. Suddenly from behind a bush twelve
little fairies came and circled around them.
A little gold chariot next appeared, drawn
by six white birds and in it sat the fairy
queen. She alignted from her chariot and
said, Welcome to our realm" The fairies
began to dance and sing and the girls
watched attentively.
Pretty soon Molly saw darkness coming
and said they ought to go home, but the
queen bade them wait awhile and she dis
appeared but was soon back again with two
little pages. each bearing a tiny box.
The queen gave the children each one,
They opened them and found a tiny gold
ring with a moonstone setting that locke
like a dewdrop. Then the fairy plucked
two withered flowers.
Now" she said, put your rings on these
flowers n see what will happen" They
did so and Immediately the withered flow
ers were changed into beautiful blossoms
Take the rings home and to every with.
cred flower do the same as I have done
and you will have the best results" SAID
the queen.
So they did, and you will never find g
withered flower in their yard.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
A Day in the Country

BY Helen McFarlane, Aged 10 Years. Lusk,
Wyo. Blue Side.
One day Helen's stepmother went 20
visit her sister in the country, so Helen
and her father stayed together, because
she could keep house, and, one day her
father had to go to his ranch, so he took
Helen and her cousin Orlan along, and
they cooked dinner for Helen's brother and
father as it happened that her brother
lived on the ranch. After they had their
dinner they washed the dishes, then they
went out in the barn and made two swings
and swung until 1t was nearly time to go
home, then they took down the swings and
put the ropes away.
There were lots OF sweet peas, wild roses
and other flowers around the ranch, SO the
girls went out over the hills and down in
the valleys picking flowers After they
got a lot of them they took them up to
Helen's little brothers grave. Finally the
time came to go home, so they had a
very pleasant day.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
(F1rst Prlze.)
Edna's Dream

BY Freda Trustin, Aged IS Years, 2416 Pierce
Street, Omaha. Red Side.
Edna was sitting on the porch reading a
new book that she got for her birthday.
II was a warm day in July and she felt
very drowsy. Suddenly she threw down
her book. EDNA never took the least care
of her books; she would write on the pages
and tear them.) "Oh," she exclaimed, 1T Is
so dull reading, l just believe I'll take a
nap. She laid down on the broad bench
and soon fell asleep.
Presently she saw soiled and coverless
books dancing before her. why there is
my old geography that I've been looking
for everywhere" and she grabbed it and
began looking It through, but she groaned
as she opened it. Each page was greasy
or ink spotted and nearly every page was
dog-eared. All the books she looked at
Disguised her so hat she could look at no
more. Then all the books stood in a line
and the book she had just been reading
stepped forth and began: 81 am a brand
new book that your aunt Just gave you
for your birthday; just look at me and
then look at these other soiled and cover
less books and note the difference. Would
you want me to be turned into an old book
like that7 I know you like me, but II you
oOH I treat IN any Dellek liza yOu nave
treated these other books / shall disap-
pear" He stepped back and then the geog-
raphy gave @ loud whoop and danced be-
fore Edna's eyes and all the other books
followed. They kept 1t up so long that
Edna could not stand It any longer and she
rolled off the bench on which she was lying
and felt herself falling down, down down.
why. Edna. dear, what is the matter"
cried her mother, running from the house
well I'm glad II was only a dream, -
said Edna, picking herself up. Mamma,
I'll never mistreat a book again as long as
I live" And then she told her mother all
about her dream. well, I'm glad you
learned a lesson, dear. I'll get you a new
set OF school books and then you can be.
gin all over and surprise everybody"
"Ail right" cried Edna, jumping up and
down. A few days later Edna's teacher
was looking over all the books. When she
came to Edna's she was very much sur,
prised and she exclaimed, why, Edna,
you don't mean to say that these neatly
covered books are yours?" Yes, ma'am, -
replied Edna, smiling. I'VE learned a les.
son In Bookland." l believe her teacher
understood, for she asked no questions.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
Fred and His Valentines

William Cullen, Aged IL Years. 3212 Web
ster St., Omaha. Red Side.
1t was the 14th day of February and, as
everyone knows. st. Valentine day. 1t was
quite cold and the ground was being rap
idly covered with snow. All the trees were
bare and everything without looked bleak
and cold, but this did not hinder the little
birds from singing their sweetest songs
for even they knew what day 1t was.
When Fred was looking among his toys
the day before, he found a valentine. He
put a stamp on 1t and mailed It to himself,
because he knew he was too young TO re-
ceive any. The next morning he was ex-
pectlng TO get his valentine. The mailman
brought 1t and Fred was delighted. Fred's
mother saw him mailing the valentine, and
she mailed him one also, without him
knowing anything about 1t. The postman
whistled in the afternoon, and Fred re-
ceived a lovely valentine. "Oh, 1 wonder
who sent 1t to me. Mamma" said Fred.
Maybe some little playmate" And even
to this day Fred does not know who sent
him that lovely valentine, when he did not
expect any atsall except the one he sent
himself.
A little later that afternoon the children,
Fred's brothers and sisters, came home
from school, each having their valentines
wrapped up. They showed their valentines
to Fred and their parents, and they were
very proud to think they had such a col
lection OF them.
Pretty soon Fred ran out Of the room
and back again. with a large valentine in
one hand and a small one in the other.
II got two valentines. This one Is lots
prettier than any OF yours said he. And
it was, to be sure. The children were
astonished to see Fred with valentines, be-
cause they thought he would receive none
and they tried to find out who sent them.
but they never did. Their mother would
not tell them that she was the sender OF
the largest one and that Fred sent the
other to himself.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
Tragedy

By Ruth Ashby. Ex-Queen. Aged IS Years,
Fairmont, Eeb. Red Side.
II was one OF the coolest days OF winter
and four small children were huddled in
a small room in a crowded tenement. The
eldest was about ~ years of age. Her face
was thin and far too old for a girl OF her
age, but Jessie Belmont had been mother
TO the three younger children every since
their mother died. when the youngest,
now a child Of 9 years, was about 6 months
OF age. The baby had a pretty face,
though now thin and closely resembled
their mother, These children were not
simply poor tenement children. Their
father and mother had both belonged TO
good families.
But Mr.. Belmont love OF drink a
been his downfall. for when his family
saw how he had sunk they cast him off.
His wife. Virginia challoner. refused 10
give him up even when he beat and abused
her, go her father and mother had refused
10 see her again. But her husbands career
soon killed Virginia Beldmont.
Here. Bessie and Harvey. you can come
closer under this shawl, for Virginia and I
are warm as toast. But don't forget "a
watch for father. for II he comes home
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07

asked the fairy. "My wish is that every
thing that 1 wish should come true"
every WE'LL" answered the fairy and,
waving a wand over Elsie's head, she
disappeared.
One day Elsie went up TO her room
and found a big box containing a beauti-
full dress with a card pinned to IL, which
said: ITO Elsie-From Grandma" Elsie
was overjoyed and ran downstairs to ask
her mothe err II she might not wear the
dress. "No, dear" her mother answered;
grandma bought IL on purpose to wear
TO Ellen's birthday next week" ] won't
dirty II: / will take care of II II you
let me wear It," mo, dear. you cannot
wear it." A thought popped itself into
Elsie's head; had she not spoken TO a
fairy yesterday, who had granted her Il
wish? So she said: ~ wish / could
wear my new Dress Scarcely were the
words out OF her mouth when her mother
said: well, Elsie. dear, you can wear
the dress. but be very careful. Elsie
promised readily and ran upstairs to put
1t on. Later in the evening she sat down
TO write a story to the Busy Bees own
page" when her mischieVous brother,
Tommy, caught hold of the ink bottle and
spilled the ink on her new dress. Alas!
how she cried and walled; how could she
go to Ellen's party2 To be sure she had
many dresses, but not any as fine as this
one, and she had wanted to show it to
her playmates. But, alack! how could
she now7 In the midst of her grief she
had forgotten the wish the fairy had
granted her. Her grief knew no bounds;
she thought she could never be happy
again. Suddenly she felt an arm laid
upon her and a w~ell-known voice was
saying: wake up, Elsie, and see the
new dress grandma bought you to go to
Ellen's party" She got up with a start
and looked about her. OH how glad she
was that 1t was only a dream and not
true at all. Sure enough, there in her
mothers arms was the very same dress
she had seen in her dream. She told her
mother her strange dream. Her mother
said: THAT, Elsie. dear, means that you
must always obey mother" You may be
sure Elsie always obeyed her mother. and
she went to the party after all and had
a very nice time.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
A Strange Dream

BY Bessie Jackson, Aged II Years, s25
south Tw~enty-third Street, Omaha.
Red Side.
Elsie Brown sat in the sitting room on
a comfortable Morris chair. She mad
been reading. but now her hands lay idly
in her lap as she watched the snowflakes
as they fell on the ground, which was
like a white sheet. Suddenly by a quick
movement she sat straight in her chair.
then she sank back again. Positively
she had heard a voice which sounded
like the tlnkling Of bells. But where IL
came from she knew not. Again she sat
up in her chair; she was sure she had
heard the same voice as before. She
looked behind her and what should sh .
see but a beautiful little fairy, who said
to her: II have often heard you wish
that you could see a fairy and you would
ask her TO grant you a wish" "Obl /
am so glad you came" said Elsie. and
I want you TO grant me my dearest
wish" what IL your dearest wish7'
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
The Stab

BY Frederick Ware, Aged 10 Years, Win
side, Neb. Red Side.
One time a bank messenger was sent
from a small village to a city with a bag
Of gold and a package of bonds. He was
TO start August % at 4 o'clock a. m.
he, however. was late and didn't get
started until 5:3O. A robber heard this,
the morning before, and decided TO go
ahead and waylay him. If he did he
would get about $4,000. This robber
had been disturbing many small villages
around this one. once he got a gang Of
men and broke into a bank securing
$4,000. A reward of 5000 was offered
for his capture. This bank messenger
had been warned about him on his previ-
Gus errand, but he not being caught he
did not think OF anything like that be-
ing true. A little while after this man
started out the moon came up. II shona
brightly all around-in fact so bright
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
Mr.. THOMPSON

BY Elmer Siekkotter, Aged IA Years,
Gretna, Neb. Red Side.
Mr.. Brown was taking dinner at a new
boarding house one day. He saw that
there was a vacant chair.
Where is Mr.. Thompson" asked one
of the boarders.
ooh! Mr.. Thompson is late, isn't hep"
Mr.. Brown wondered who Mr.. Thomp-
son was. BY and by a big yellow cat
came into the room and jumped into the
chair. A waiter came along and put a
napkin around his neck. tucking it in
his collar. Mr.. Thompson put up his
paw as If it wasn't quite right. and then
waited for his dinner, with two paws on
the tablecloth before him.
Soon the waiter brought in a little dish
Of milk toast, and Mr.. Thompson ate II
all VI without spilling a drop. The
waiter took off the napkin and puss
walke out Of the dining room.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07

drunk we must hide before he gets here.
You must carry Harvey and I'll take
Virginia, for we promised mamma to take
care Of her"
The children were tired. and soon even
Jessie's head began to nod.
Just then a heavy step was heard in the
hail. It's father" gasped Jessie. But
there was no means of escape.
Mr.. Belmont came in and was evidently
very drunk.
He pulled Virginia roughly away from
Jessie and then the baby began to cry.
"Tll teach you to be afraid of your own
father" said Mr.. Belmont. starting out
OF the door.
Father. father, please don't hurt her"
pleaded Jessie, remembering her mothers
dying wish. But Mr.. Beldmont plaid no
attention and started off toward the river.
where they were making ice. The three
children followed him, Jessie pleading all
the way until at last Mr.. Beldmont put
down the baby and gave her a singing
blow over the head, which stunned her.
He proceeded toward the river, and,
where the ice had been cut away, held
Virginia underneath until she ceased TO
breathe. AS he held her tiny body he in
stantly became sober and realized his
action. ooh, Virginia, what have I done?"
he gasped. Jessie had come up. "oh,
father, when mother way dying she babe
me keep careful watch OF baby Virginia
that you might not harm her" And Jessie
burst out crying.
John Belmont was a changed man from
that day. He drank no more and his father
gave him a partnership in his own busi-
ness. Mr.. and Mrs. Challoner are proud
of their three grandchildren. John Beld-
mont has never forgotten the awful deed
he did, but baby Virginia is with the other
Virginia, whom John Beldmont now almost
worships.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
How a Little Girl Got Lost

BY Lois B. Woods, Aged 8 Years, Stroms-
burg, Neb. Blue Side.
There was once a little girl whose name
was Florence. Her mother said she might
go over to see Mary, her playmate. When
she got there Mary was playing with the
cat, so they played with the cat and the
kittens. When It was time to go home
Mary went part way with her. When she
got home her mother sent her uptown, but
It wa getting dark. Her mother told her
to hurry, so she ran. When she was going
home she lost her way and found she was
in the thickest part of the wood. She saw
a light not far off. She went to 1t, but it
was a FREELY. She sat down and went to
sleep. When her father found her she was
cold and her father took her home.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

1. write plainly on one side of h
paper only n number the pages.
a. Use pen and ink, not pencil
8. Short and pointed articles will
be given preference, DO not use over
25o words.
=. Original stoEies or letters only
will be used
B.. Write your name, age ana al
dress at M top OF n nrst page.
First and second prizes OF books
will be given for h best " oon-
tributions 10 this page each week.
Address all communications TO
CHrLDREN's DEPARTNHNT,
Omaha Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
The Bad Bow

BY Henry Brodkey, Aged 10 Years, $40
South Twenty-fifth Avenue, Omaha.
Red Side.
One day when little John came home
from school he asked his mother II he
might go downtown. and his mother said,
mo, the paper said that 1t would rain,
and I don't want you to co." John did
not like his mother just then. for he for
got that his mother liked him very much.
And then he went downtown with some
other boys. and when they got there the
boys saw that It was going to rain and
they went home, but John did not go
home, and in a half hour a storm came.
And In this time his mother did not know
where he was, for he was lost. When he
got home his mother was very glad to see
him. and he was a good boy always after
that.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07

Jean De Long, Ainsworth; Neb'
Irene Mccoy, Barnston, Neb.
Lillian Merwin. Beaver City, Neb-
Mabel witt, Bennington, Neb.
Anna Gottsch, Bennington, Neb.
Minnie Gottsch. Bennington, Neb.
Agnes Dahmke, Benson, Neb.
Marie Gallagher, Benkelman, Neb. CboX l).
Ida May, Central City, Neb.
Vera Cheney, Creighton, Neb.
Louis Hahn, David City, Neb.
Rhea Freidell, Dorchester, Neb.
Eunice Bode, Falls City, Neb.
Ethel Reed. Fremont, Neb.
Hulda Lundburg, Fremont, Neb.
Marion Caps, Gibson, Neb.
Marguerite Bartholomew, G~othenburg, Neb.
Lydia Roth, Cos West Koenig street, Grand
Island, Neb.
Ella Voss, 4O7 West Charles street, Grand
Island, Neb.
Irene Costello. lis, West Eighth street.
Jessie Crawford. 46 West Charles street,
Pauline schultz, az West Fourth street,
Martha Murphy, g2S East Ninth street,
Grand Island, Neb.
Hugh Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Hester l.. Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Alice Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Ruth Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Anna Nelson, Lexington, Neb.
Edythe Kreitz, Lexington. Neb.
Alice Grassmeyer, 1545 G St, Lincoln, Neb.
Marian Hamilton, 2029 l. St, Lincoln, Neb.
Elsie Hamilton, 2O29 l. St, Lincoln, Neb.
Irene Disher, 2O3O l. street, Lincoln, Neb.
Hughie Disher, 2O30 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 Larkin, So. Sixth ST., Norfolk, Neb.
Emma Marquardt, Fifth street and Madi-
son avenue. Norfolk, Neb.
Mildred +. Jones. North Loup, Neb.
Gerevieve M. Jones. North Loup, Neb.
Esther Newman, 2914 North Twenty-fifth
street. Omaha.
Omaha.
Oscar Erickson, 27O9 Howard street,
Omaha.
rue, Omaha.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-07
SchOolmates

BY Mary Bertch, Aged u Years. 1927 South
Twenty-fifth Avenue. Omaha.
Red Side.
Mary Jones and Freda Johnson were
ehums. 1t was Valentine day and Miss
Jones, the school teacher. asked them il
they would stay and help her. They con-
sented and after they had finished Miss
Jones remarked: "Glrls, you do your
work beautifully" 81 thank you" was
the reply. After Miss Jones had gone
Freda decided to take something from
Miss Jones desk. Don't" said Mary.
Miss Jones may come back. "Oh, I don't
care said Freda. Just then Miss Jones
came in. We'll, Freda. what are you do
ing at my desk?" Freda hung her head
and asked Miss Jones to forgive her. She
never was caught meddling again.