davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
Marie's Lesson

BY Ethel Reed. Aged 10 Years, Fremont.
Neb. Red.
IL declare, I think mammals mean. Here
I've Just leased and leased her for a beau
tiful big doll, and she just won't get it"
These few words were interrupted by a
storm of sobs, which shook the frail body Of
pretty 12-year-old Marie Bell. Her father
was the owner of a prosperous mill in the
city. Although Mr.. and Mrs. Bell were
good people. they spoiled their only child.
A severe sickness when she was very small
left her healthy body in a bad shape. Since
then her every wish had been granted until
Mrs. Bell suddenly realized her mistake.
After her storm of tears, Marie, some
what relieved, put on her coat and hat for
a walk. Soon a thin, shrill voice reused
her from her deep thoughts and she saw be-
fore her a small child. In her impulsive
manner Marie followed the child to It's mis-
trable home. Such n picture Of poverty
can not he pictured here. There she found
she could do more for them than for her
self with the doll. On her return home she
ran into the house and to her mother, cry
ing: OH! Mamma! I'm so glad you didn't
get that doll for me. I would much rather
have the money, for then I could help Mrs.
Langdon."
why, Marie; what is the matterr - asked
her mother.
Then followed the whole story. Since then
Marie has been happy in helping others.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
Sally May and the Squeezed Man
by Maud walker.

a second one. NO, Sonny; not for half
an hour said mamma. Bananas are
heavy food and hard for little stomach
to digest If eaten in great quantities. One
banana at a time as sufficient, You may
have one more in half an hour or so. But
after that no more until tomorrow"
Tommy, a most obedient little chap, did
not coax or pout, but said: IAN right,
Mamma" Then he began his game with
old puss and kittens, feeling vat his
mamma knew what was best for him. And
Sally May, having already eaten four ban
anas, had the audacltv to ask her mamma
for another one, saying: Tn so hungry,
Mamma. and I'm so much bigger'n
Tommy; can't l have just one more ban
ana, please?"
mo, dearie; you know I have told you
often that you must be very careful about
eating bananas. One will do you no harm,
but more than that might make you Ill.
Mothers little daughter must not ask for
things which she has been told are not
good for her. Now, in half an hour you
may have another banana, but not till
then"
But at the expiration of the half hour
Tommy had gone out to play SNOWFALL
with his little neighbor, Toodles Brown,
and did not remember his mothers promise
Of another banana. And Sally May had
stolen softly upstairs, feeling badly in her
stomach. Into her room she crept, and as
the pain increased as she walked she de-
cided to lie down. So upon the little white
bed she climbed, not taking time to remove
her shoes, which were soiled from having
been out in the soft snow and softer mud
of the street. But Sally was not in a mood
e. ~ II ---- l.N 49,. MI
pains in her stomach were chasing each
other up and down., making Sally bend
double and almost scream.
At any other time Sally would have
called very loudly for her mamma but just
now she felt too guilty to nave her mann
ma question her about herself. She knew
she had done very, very wrong in eating
so many bananas, and also knew the sud
den terrible pains mad been caused from
the overeating OF the heavy fruit. So, she
decided to stand the pain and suffering
without letting anyone know about It.
And there. doubled up on the bed she
rolled about In agony,
After a little while she began to feel a
bit better, and grew drowsy. Fixing the
pillow comfortably under her head she
closed her eyes and fell into a sleep. But
hardly had she done so when a tap, tap,
came at her bedroom door. Now, who
can that be?" Sally May asked Of her
self. half waking. Tap, tap, tap" again
went somebody's knuckles on the door.
Now Sally sat up in bed and called out:
Come in, and don't make so much noise
on my door. Who are you, anyway, that
dares to come and wake me up? And /
am sick, and need to rest"
The door SLOWLY ODene1. and the ouper-
est-looking little old man, followed by a
hunchback who carried a knapsack over
his shoulder, entered, Lifting his finger
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
A Poor Widow

BY Fred Sorry, Aged II Years, Monarch.
Wyo. Red.
There was once a very poor widow, who
had three children. Often the poor woman
would sit in a poor homemade chair think
ing of the happy times she had with her
dear husband, who was dead. Many times
the children would sit in ono corner and
weep for hours. The poor woman had to
get some wood to keep the fire burning, for
1t was a very cold winter, She became
weaker and weaker every day from lack of
food. One day she heard a noise outside
by the corner OF the house. 1t sounded like
the ringing of a shovel. She walked slowly
to the door and, looking out, she saw a
man dumping coal by the side of the house.
She wondered IL she had ordered any. She
thought 1t over for a while. II believe I
did not" she said in a low whisper to her
self. Then she wondered why he brought
the coal there.
Then there was q low knock at the door.
She went staggering to the door, opened It,
and there stood a tall man with a basket
in his arms. Here Is a basket for you and
your children. Misses. and there Is a load of
coal by the house. Mr.. Bradley, the mine
superintendent of the Elmer Coal company,
sent these TO you"
The widow thanked the man and the
superintendent very, very much for bring
ing all these nice things. The man went
away Now she didn't have to 80 out every
fifteen minutes to keep the fire burning.
The widow lived happily after that by the
help of Mr.. Bradley.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
A Christmas Story

By Dorothy Koepnick, Aged 9 Years, Ban
croft, Neb. Rcd.
It was Christmas eve and a little girl
sat by the fire. Her stepmother was sit
ting beside her. Her stepmother was very
mean and began to scold Ellen, when all
at once there came a knock at the door.
Who could it be? They sat still a moment
and then her stepmother went to the door.
There stood some children. One was a girl
with curly hair and the others were two
boys. They asked if Ellen was at home.
She said yes and they came in. One had a
doll, another a sled and another a kitten.
Ellen was very happy. There was also
some candy and nuts. They said they had
saved up all the money in their banks and
bought her some presents with It. When
she went to bed she dreamed of all the
pretty things. l think the children who
gave her the presents had a happy Christ
mas, don't your
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
A Kind Master

By David Carl Bingaman, Aged 10 Years,
2215 Grant Street, Omaha. Blue.
Once upon a time there was a little boy
whose name was James. James had a little
donkey whose name was Prince. Prince
was a good little fellow, SO his master loved
him very much. So he was fed every few
minutes in the day, and that was five times
a day. They both were good little friends.
They stayed together in a little room which
was his barn. There was no way on earth
for Prince to get hungry, for when he
wasn't hungry he would have to eat. James
went out driving twice a day and often
three times. James has a very large green
pasture for Prince. l believe he is the
luckiest donkey that ever lived. Prince is
kind to his master and his master is very
kind to him. l think he is a happy donkey.
This ends my story Of the kind little Prince
and happy little James.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

bananas that are about to choke your little
stomach to death. Come, lie on your back
and be perfectly quiet. You see, l am a
very busy man. l have to cut up so many
disobedient boys and girls. Why, I've got
to hurry over to your little friend Ethel's
house as soon as l leave you, She has been
disobeying her mamma and the result is l
have 20 cut off one of her fingers"
''Oh, ugh, OH shrieked Sally May, hiding
her face in her hands. The terrible news
that Ethel was to have a finger cut off
made Sally May quite i'll. why are you
going to do that?" she cried to the Squee-
gee man.
We'll, little miss, you see, It's this way:
Ethel's mother had some very choice spiced
picked peaches. She had put them in the
cellar to keep till she shall have a big din
ner party. Well, she told Ethel about
them and told her they would have them
for dinner when Ethel's aunt and uncle
and cousin should come to pay them a
visit. But the naughty Ethel couldn't walt
for the promised dinner, so she crept into
the cellar. tore a tiny hole in the piece of
paper that was scaled over the jar of
pickles and thrust in her longest finger
and drew forth a peach, And every day
she did that till at last every peach
though there had been a dozen-was taken
from the jar by means of her longest
finger. So l must go and cut off that Of
Tending finger, And that's why I'm in such
a hurry to get through with your case.
Now, Hunchy, give me the knife and the
scissors"
The hunchback removed from the KNAPP
sack he carried a long, sharp knife and a
pair Of tremendous scissors, These he
handed to the Squee-gee man, who took
them in his hand with a merry laugh.
All, now little miss, Wen soon have you
cut open" he said, and, advancing to the
bed, he placed the point OF the long, sharp
knife against Sally Mays stomach and
gave it a twist. Cut, cut, right through
her pretty white, lace-trimmed apron, then
through her pretty, red, wooden frock, went
the knife, "Oh. oh. oh! Mamma! Come.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

follows:
After being called upon to speak, I will
repeat to you a story which l once heard.
a farmer who had been planting grain no.
ticed a sparrow in his field one day. He
watched it for several days and was
anxious to discover what it was doing. He
thought it was picking out his grain, but
he was much mistaken. This little sparrow
had seen insects on his grain and was try
ing to kill them so they would'n injure his
grain. One day this farmer got a large gun
and killed this little sparrow and from that
time he was so bothered with his grain that
he decided it was the bird that had saved
his grain.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

come, come! The Squee-gee man is cut
ting me open. Oh, oh, OH"
why my darling child" cried Sally
Mays mamma a minute later. what on
earth is the matter, my daughter. I heard
you screaming in such a frightened way
and came hurrying upstairs TO find you
all doubled up and crying out in your
sleep"
Then Sally May, sitting up on her bed,
her hands pressed against a very i'll little
stomach, told her mamma all about the
stolen bananas. and the Squee-gee man and
his terrible assistant. And she even looked
on her pretty apron to see II the knife had
cut a hole in it.
1t took several minuteS' explaining be-
fore Sally Mays mamma could make her
understand that she had been suffering
from nightmare, caused, doubtless, by over
eating cf the bananas. Then, calling to
the h~ousemaid, Sally's mamma told her to
phone for the doctor, for Sally May would
have to take some very bitter medicine,
go without her supper, and lie in bed for
two or three days, perhaps, on account Of
her naughtiness and greediness.
"Oh, mamma, I'm so sorry" walled Sally
May, still holding her hands over her pain
ing stomach. Never. never shall l bs
naughty again, never, AND l wanted 10
play snow ball with brother and Ethel this
afternoon. Butt wonder II the Squee-ges
man has cut off Ethel's finger!' she cried,
eNcitedly, for getting for the moment that
her dream had not been a reality, Then,
recalling the truth, she lay down on her
pillow, saying; Il guess naughty children
always have TO suffer for their naughtI-
ness, don't they, mammal"
Yes. darling, and the older they get the
more they suffer from their wrongdoing.
50, my little daughter must grow better
and better as she grows olIe-."
Il shall, manma l shall" declared Sally
May earnestly. and never shall / forget
that squee-gee doctor, the ~hunchback. and
their terrible knife and scissors. Ugh"
but at that moment the doctor came and
Sally May had to be quiet and swallow
some very bad medicine.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

to Sally May, the old man said in very
low tones: Now, don't make a noise,
little miss, when l tell you l am the Squee-
gee man, and this fellow here pointing to
the h~unchback), is my assistant. We've
come to cut you open. oh, don't cry out.
II you do your mamma will hear you, and
she'll come running to see what the mat
ter is. And then 1 shall tell her you have
eaten four bananas, while she thought you
ate but one. IN tell her you ate three
OF the bananas before reaching home from
the fruit vendors stand at the corner. And
what do you suppose she will say to that?"
After his speech the Squee-gee man
laughed, and the dwarf initiated him Their
both shook hands and laughed some more.
Sally, stil sitting up in bed, in trembling
tones: But why do you wish to cut me
open, please sir?"
ITO remove three of those bananas, my
dear miss. Otherwise. you may die.
They'll choke your poor little stomach to
death, you see"
Sally threw herself on her face and be-
gan to weep, for the squee-gee mans words
frightened her so terribly that for q mo-
ment she did not feel the awful pains that
chased each other in a mad frolic about in
her poor little stomach.
"Oh. l don't wan to have my stomach
cut open" she walled. "Oh, l wish / had
not disobeyed my mamma I knew when
l ate the three bananas that | was doing
wrong, for my mamma had often told me
not to eat more than one at a time. But
l was such a pig"
Pig! Ho. no, no! Just hear that, Doc
tor Squee-gee!' cried the awful hunchback
assistant. Isn't that too funny? A little
girl pig! Ho. no, no! shall surely
die a laughing"
The Squee-gee mar also Joined in the
laugh. and Sally Mays walls were drowned
by their merriment. "Oh, how wicked they
are" declared poor Sally May,
Better to laugh than to cry over eaten
bananas" cried out the Squee-gee man.
But come, I have no time TO lose. l must
cut you open and TAX way those three
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
LETTER FROM NEW QUEEN.

Dear Editor and Busy Bees: I feel
greatly honored at being chosen queen
of the Busy Bees. and 1 would like to
thank all of the Busy Bees who voted
for me. l had no idea that l was to be
queen. though l have often hoped to be.
l was very much pleased to see my
story in print last Sunday. l think the
stories which received prizes last week
and the week before were splendid.
l enjoyed my Christmas holidays until
two days after Christmas, when l was
taken sick with tonsilitis, and conse-
Iuently, l spent most of the remainder
of vacation in bed, but I was well again
when school commenced. l received
many Christmas presents, as l hope the
other Busy Bees did also. l hope they
will all have a happy New Year.
Again thanking the Busy Bees for
wishing me as their queen, l will close.
Myrtle JENSEN.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

the sun moved slowly and turned as II
moved we saw many beautiful sights from
the sky We knew what time It was by the
position OF the sun. But we kept moving
slowly but surely over farther and farther
As the world is round we had to turn
from south to west. AS we were turning
we happened to look down from the sun
and see little objects moving back and
forth. We about guessed these little OBJ
iects were people coming home for supper.
But as we were with the sun and the sun
had to keep on going we could not go home
for supper. We had to keep on going, too.
just then my mother woke ms by calling
me for supper and that ended my dream.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
(First PriZe.)
The Birds Dance

By Helen Johnson, Aged 10 Years, 1874 South
Seventeenth Street, Lincoln, Neb. Red.
In a smoth grassy meadow surrounded by
a beautiful lake, the eagle Cking Of birds)
had chosen a spot for the birds annual
dance. The fire flies had offered them
selves so as to make lights for them, And
as the moon reflected upon the water 1t
made it very beautiful.
The robin fluttered over the grass with
her partner, the blackbird. And in a coy
little nook by the lake sat the white dove
with her partner, the oriole.
Their orchestra was composed of orioles
and larks. which were perched up in a
tree. The bluejay, crow, woodpecker, SPAR
row and owl hoped around across the
meadow. After the dance the parrot was
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

was often naughty. one day
k~-S-- @n~ her mamma gave her 10 cents
hGSA}ssS%g and told her to get soma
SSres5g-ssSsJ bananas for herself and little
brother Tom. Sally May loved bananas
better thar most anything to eat, and on
hsr way home with the paper bag Ct fruit
she kept smelling into the bag, shifting
hor nose and saving: MY, these bananas
do smell so good"
At tho corner Of the street, just half a
block from her own home, sally May de-
cided to do something her mama did not
tell her to Go. She decided to eat one Of
the bananas before going to the house.
AND she also decided TO hide the peel in
the corner Of the hedge, so that no one
would ever know rhc had eaten the banana
that had been in it. So she ate the banana
very rapidly, and 1t tasted so good that
she decided to eat another right down as
fast as ever she could. Now, the bag had
only contained ten bananas, for the price
was l cent apiece. So. after Sally May
had eaten two of them there remained but
eight, After eating the two bananas Sally
May counted those remaining in the bag.
only eight she unused. -Four for me
and four for Tommy" Then. closing the
bag, Sally May started en- toward the
HOuSt, bul DelNTe reaching tue gate neT
appetite got the better of her and she sat
down behind the trunk Of a great tree,
which stood just outside the board side
walk, and opened the bag and drew forth
another banana. I'm just eat one more"
she said to herself. Then therell be
seven in the bag. and I'll divide them be-
tween Tommy and me- But as she ate
she figured cut just how many apiece the
seven bananas would make. Oh here'll
be three for me and four for the other"
she said. pursuing up her little mouth
well, Tommy is smaller than l am and
should not have so much to eat. The big
gest one should always have the most"
Then she hid the third banana peel under
the hedge and closed the paper bag, going
into the house and back to her mammals
room. Her mamma was sewing and Tommy
was on the floor playing with the old cat
and two kittens. On seeing his sister enter
with the bag he cried out: "Oh, Sissy,
Have you brought the bananas?"
Yes; I've got 'em in the bag" said Sally
May, holding tightly TO the bag, lest
Tommy might take 1t away from her.
give brother just one and take one
yourself said mamma, looking up from
her sewing. Then put the others on top
the cabinet. You must not eat more than
one banana at a time, you know"
Sally May did as she was hidden, giving
one banana to her little brother and taking
one for herself, But, of course, the
naughty girl did not say a word 10 her
mamma about having already eaten three
OF the bananas, No; she simply put the
bag on the cabinet in the corner and sat
down on the floor and ate the fourth ban
ana. After Tommy had finished his ban
ana he asked his mother il he might have
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
The Lion and the Mouse

BY Frank Kostal. Aged 9 Years. 1915 o
Street, South Omaha. Red.
Once upon a time a lion and a mouse
were great friends. The lion was fast
asleep and some men were going to put
a net on the lion. But in time the mouse
saved the lion by gnawing the net. In a
little while the lion went In the forest,
but the mouse was very sorry. The mouse
tried to find the lion. In two or three
days the mouse found the lion. Somebody
put a trap to catch the mouse, but the
lion put his paw in the trap and 1t snapped
and the mouse was saved.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
A Disobedient Child

BY Mildred Erickson. 2709 Howard Street,
Omaha. Red.
Harold, who was a very small boy, usu-
ally obeyed his mamma, but this time he
did not. Mamma rave Harold a piece Of
bread and butter and then told him not
to go out until he finished his piece OF
bread. So Harold did not mind mamma
and went out anyway. A little dog came
along and first barked, then took the piece
Of bread away from Harold. Harold was
very much frightened, for he knew no had
disobeyed his mamma. He thought he
would not tell mamma, so he went in,
but mamma saw how pale he was and
asked what was the matter, and he told
her. He said he would never disobey
mamma again.
Harold is my own little brother and this
really did happen.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
(Second Prize.)
Virginia Gwendoline, the Fairy

BY Ruth Ashby, Aged 10 Years, Fairmont,
Neb. Blue.
1t was a hot day in July and Eugene was
tired of everything. She took her dolly,
Virginia ~Gwcndoline, and walked down the
terraced lawn till she came to a large oak
tree. She sat down and took her doll in
her arms. 20 dear! Jenny Gwen, 1 wish
that everything I wished would come true"
80 it will, Eugenie!." Eugene looked
Ground, but could see no one but jimmy
Gwen.
Yes" continued the voice, "only when
yor once wish a thing you cannot take it
back and when you once wish a thing to
so 1t is gone forever, l am Virginia Gwen.
doline, a fairy"
Eugene danced for JOY and then started
for the house. On the way she was
hungry and said, 20 dear, wish l had
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
Jimmie
BY Marion Capps, Aged 9 Years, Gibbol
Neb. Red.

By Marion Caps. Aged 8 Years, Gibbon,
Neb. Red.
I nave a dog named Jimmie. He is a
coach dog and is very cute. l got him
from the livery stable. He is very play
full, and had gotten him Christmas after
noon He has black spots on his back
and tn ere Is a man downtown who said
to mo, Why don't you wash the spots
off his back?" But 1 say, IT do not
know, because they were there when we
got him." My brother bought him from
the stable, and my mamma doesn't like
him very much because he gets into mis-
chief. But 1 do not care, because I like
him so much.
This is a true story, because he is my
own dog, and he is here in the kitchen
with me.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
Elias Lesson

BY Deloma Lambert, Aged II Years, Au-
burn, Neb. Blue.
Ella and Mary were cousins who both
took music lessons. Mary practiced and
always had her lesson when her music
teacher came, but Ella would go and play
and have a nice time, saying she would
practice tomorrow, and when her teacher
she did not nave her lesson.
When the girls were women Mary could
give music lessons and entertain people,
but Ella could not. and she wished she
had practiced like Mary.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

St me candy Instantly It began to rain
cardy. and when Eugene had eaten all
she wanted it disappeared. All went well
for a day or two. one day she wanted to
Put on her pink dress, but her mama said
NO" Dear, l wish ! had no mamma or
papa, so I could do as I wanted" Scarcely
had she spoken when Elsie, the maid, came
and told her that both father and mother
were dead. How Eugene wcpt and be-
walled her temper, but it was of no avail.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITER'S

/. Write plainly on one 1 Of the
paper only n humble the pages.
a. Use pen and ink, not pencil
3. Short and pointed articles will
be given preference. Dc not use over
$50 words.
4. Original stories or letters only
win be used
8. Write your Am age n ad-
dress at the top of h hrSt page.
First and second prizes of books
will be given for The best two oou-
trtbutions TO this page each week.
Address all communications to
CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT.,
omaha Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
A Trip to the Sun in Dreamland

BY Mary Brown. Aged ~ Years. 1922 Boule-
ward Avenue, Omaha. Red.
1t was q bright summer day some girls
and took a trip to the sun. We started
about 5 o'clock in the morning with the
sun from the eastern part Of the earth.
The sun seemed to be a ball of fire. As
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17

ran after the little dogs and gave them
a whipping. The little dogs went home
crying and told their mother. The
mother dog took the little dogs and put
them in the house. Then the little dogs
had to so to sleep. Then the mother dog
looked for the two boys but she could
not find them.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-17
The Two Little Dogs

BY Frank Kostal, Aged 8 Years. 1916 o
Street, South omaha. Red
There were two little dogs which were
always into mischief. They were running
after two boys, who were going down the
road. They barked and barked till the
boys got down to the corner, then they