davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

NO" Then the king went to all the trees
and asked them all II they had seen it,
but none OF them had.
When the king came to the forest where
the old man had been the night before, he
asked all tho trees in the forest. but they
had not seen 1t. The king then said. Hold
up your arms, that / may see you are
telling the truth" All the trees held up
their arms, but out of one tree fell tho
pot Of gold. The king was very angry. and
said. $50 you are the thief, are your"
The tree said, mo 1 had seen nothing Of
the pot of gold until now. And to prove
my honesty, 1 am going to hold my arms
forever toward heaven
And as Daisy ended the queen turned
to another little fairy whom she called
Violet and said, you may tell your story
next, Violet Next week 1 will tell you
the story Violet told.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Willie's Lesson

By Emile Brown, Aged 10 Years 1922
Boulevard, Omaha, Neb. Red Side.
Willie Jones, a boy of 5 years, would
never mind his mother. Whenever she
told him to do anything he would say,
Il don't want to-" And he would not
do IL.
One day as he was playing marbles his
mother called him to go to the store and
get a dozen eggs. But Willie said, II
am SO tired 1 do not want to go to the
store" But his mother said, IF you
are too tired to go to the store you are
too tired to play marbles and 1t would
be best If you would go to bed" But
Willie did not want to go to bed, so he
said, 81 will go to the store"
He started to go to the store at 4
o'clock and did not get back till $3.50
When he came back his mother told him
he would get paid back some day for TAX
ing so long in going to the store. In a
little while Willie's father came home
and told Willie that he could go to the
show that night. Willie was getting
ready to go to the show, when his mother
asked him IL he would please run to the
store before he went to the show. willie
said, 81 don't want to-" But his mother
said, "If you don't want to go 10 th'
store you don't want to go to the show
but you may go to the white lily show
Willie was sent to bed, but he never for
got his lesson.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Second Prize.)
The Story of the Pine Tree
BY Helen yerrill, Aged 70 Years, The stref

BY Helen Verrill, Aged IL Years, The Streh-
low, No. 10, Omaha. Blue Side.
Now, this is the story Daisy told as 1
was resting inside the carnation. 1t told
me why the pine tree holds its branche
up.
Many hundreds years ago, when pine tree
branches grew like any other trees there
was a king who reigned over the rainbow
He had a most beautiful sister called
Nature, and at each end of the rainbow
was a pot of gold. The king had an enemy
whose name was Old Age.
Well, it was a bright moonlight night
and there came an old man walking
through the woods. He had something
under his coat, and at nearly every step
he looked around. So, you may be sure. he
wasn't doing right, and this was the kings
enemy.
The old man stepped on a twig and IT
cracked so loud that he got frightened
and took a big pot of gold from under his
coat and threw it up in a tree, and then
hurried away as fast as he could. Early
next morning the king went to his sister
and asked her II she had seen one of the
pots Of gold; that it was gone. She said,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

She then gave a leap and lit upon the
chair, but as she leaped her foot slipped
and scratched Ned in the head. Bow,
WOW, wow" barked Ned. as II to say, I'm
fix you" But Puss (for hat was the cats
name) did not even stir, how she was
scared. But in the meanwhile Nellie Qor
that was the cats mistress) was calling
Puss to come and get a piece of meat, but
as Puss was having a fuss with Ned she
did not hear Nellie call and so Nellie gave
the meat to Ned. But as Ned was looking
around to see IL anybody was around, Puss
slipped under him and took the meat and
jumped upon the chair, 80 that he could
not take II away from her.
Ned was so mad that he did not know
what to do, but he said again, IN fix
you for this"
Now, Ned's little mistress, a little girl
of 4, had a white cat similar to this cat,
but it was made OF rags. Mildred Qor
that was the little girls name) had forgot
ten about her cat and let it lay on the
floor. IN fix you now" said Ned. He
took the cat, bit her and chewed her up
to pieces. He then said, That cat will
never bother me again" Just as he said
this, in walked Puss, as proud as II to
say, "Ahal you were mistaken" Poor
Ned, how ashamed he felt. He then real
lied what he had done, and he barked at
Puss as II to say, II am sorry for what
1 have done, and 1 will never torture you,
Puss, again"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Slow and Sure

BY William Davis, Aged 8 Years. 22l
West Third Street, North Platte llue
Side.
1t was a raw day in December when
Paul was going UT and down the streets
trying to sell prize boxes. He had sold
about twenty, when he went home. Well,
Paul." said his mother, how much money
have your 1.-TWO dollars and forty-five
cents" hi said. THAT is fine" said his
mother. How many did you nave"
twenty-five said Paul. But the next
day 1t was worse; he had 81. Paul didn't
think 1t good, but his mother said it was
fine. The next day was st.ll worse; he
had only 60 cents. The mex day was
much better; he had $3.50. One day as
he was selling them e boy took his bas-
ket and ran away. Paul started after
him, but as the streets were crowded he
lost track of him. He went home very
sad. He told his mother all about it; he
had only rs cents. The next day he
looked for work. AS he did he saw a
necktie stand. 1t was for sale. The
owner said he had TO go away for his
health. He said he would sell it for
$40. So Paul bought the stand. He is
now earning over 395 a month. We are
now going TO skip over two years. At
tina time he had $4,000 a year and has a
store of his own and the neektie stand,
too. It is as I have said-slow and sure.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Mischievous Evelyn

BY Myrtle Jensen. Ex-Queen, Aged II
Years, 209 lizard Street, Omaha. Blue
Side.
Evelyn's long goloen curls and perfect
features had always been a source of pride
to her adm!ring, indulgent mother, and
today, when Mrs. Van Rensselaer, tsle-
phDned up that she would call to see the
pretty child, Mrs. Bradford had arranged
her hair prettier than ever and dressed
her in her blue dress and sash.
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, had been touring
Europe for the past two years and the
year before the Bradfords had been tray
cling out west. SO Mrs. Van Rensselaer,
had really not seen Evelyn since she was
2 years old.
When Evelyn was ready her mother
took her down in the library. Henriette,
Mrs. Bradford's own maid, stood at the
top of the stairs saying to herself, Did
anyone ever see such a charming miss of
5 as our own Miss Evelyn"
Leaving Evelyn On a sofa to sit stiff
and prim till the guest came, Mrs. Brad
ford went upstairs. Soon the doorbell
rang and Mrs. Bradford, as g%raciously as
possible, ushered her guest into the library.
Where was Evelyn? She was nowhere
ii sight. Running out of the room with
Mrs. Van Rennselaer at her heels, Mrs.
Bradford searched all of the rooms on the
first floor. Not a trace Of the missing
child! After exploring the second floor,
they were about to go out doors, when
Mrs. Van Rensselaer,, with her hand on
the doorknob OF Mrs. Bradford's boudoir,
said, w haven't looked In here"
On opening the door Mrs. Bradford threw
up her hands with modification. I'm
having a fine time, mumsey," said Evelyn,
holding up a hair puff and a couple OF
switches.
On the floor lay countless boxes and
bottles of complexion cream and powder
Mrs. Bradford had always Dragged Of heI
own thick black hair, and now Mrs. Var
Rensselaer, could tell the world that II
was false.
Seeing hat trouble was breeding, Mrs
Van Rensselaer, took her departure and
well, probably you can guess what hap
pened to Evelyn.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Honorable Mention.)
The Drone

By Ruth Ashby. Ex-Queen, Fairmont, Neb.
Red Side.
Once upon a time, in our hive of Busy
Bees, there was a drone.
Instead of working hard and writing
original stories, as the other Bees did, she
concluded to cory one out of al old reader
that she owned.
N one will be likely to own such a
book she reasoned, land it's a much
easier and quicker way than writing an
original one"
50 she copied the story, word for word,
nearly, and used even the same names.
Now, one of the Busy Bees saw this and
recognized the piece, got out an old book
in her possession and compared them.
Sure enough, they were exactly alike.
Now, the drone felt sorry for What she
had done when she saw her dishonest story
in print.
Sc she decided to write an original story
just as nice as possible. This she did and
was rewarded by seeing her wi story in
print.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
The Watched Pot Never Boils

BY Helen Heuck, Aged 10 Years, 1895 10th
rop Street., Omaha. Red Side.
All the girls were gathered in Sues room
ready to taste some new candy. or course,
Lou, as Sues 'lnseparable," was there and
busily stirring the mixture, which Just
would not boil. No matter how much the
girls stirred and peeped into the pan. It
stayed just a lukewarm mixture. After
the candy had been on the stove for a half
hour Sue gave up in despair and sat down
on the bed to fan her hot cheeks. 1t was
now 3 o'clock and they were all to attend
a lecture at S:45S At Si5 the candy was
still cool and the girls began to go to their
rooms to dress. All at once Sue determined
to find out just what was the matter with
that candy. All at once the girls heard
peals OF laughter from Sues room and
when they Investigated the matter she
tried to explain, and finally the girls UNI
derstood that they had forgotten to light
the fire and 1t was too late to finish the
candy before the lecture. She said they
should gather in her room at 8. Moral:
THE Watched Pot Never Boils."
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Fairy Land

BY Harold Robinson, Aged u Years, 29ll
Howard Street, Omaha. Red Side.
Chu, chu, the train bell rang, as the coa-
ductor shouted "All aboard for Fairyland,''
and the children mounted the train eagerly
to go to the land Of sugar candy and IL
see wonders they had never seen. They
rode for miles, full Of hope and JOY, until
they reached Fairyland. At last the train
stopped and the children filed out one by
one. At first they were frightened 10 zee
little black men, but their fright was
turned to Joy to find that they were blncit
negro babies. and as they were like
black men, they soon disappeared.
The next thing their eyes fell upon was
a beautiful candy house. Some peepeh
into the window and saw a beautiful fairy.
The children ram, but she called them back
and took them into her beautiful candy
home, and then they had the best time Of
their lives. f~easting on the best things that
Fairyland could afford, and she told them
that when they had finished eating she
would take them out to see Fairyland.
Just then some one called, Harold, don't
you know what time 1t lie. You'll never
get to school," and l only wished II was
Saturday, so 1 wouldn't have to go to
school, and could have finished seeing
Fairyland.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Something About Plants

BY Ethel Reed, Aged IA Years, Fremont.
Neb. Red Side.
I think the study Of plants is very in
teresting. h leaves OF trees are folded
differently in the buds. Some are curled
UP. Others are folded along the mid-veins,
with the under side OF the leaf outside
and some with the upper part outside.
The scales on the buds, too, are placed
around them differently. Some are oppo-
site and some are alternate. All buds
have more or less wax on them, TO keep
the leaves and flowers warn in the win
ter.
In the maple buds there are three or four
little green cups, which are the flowers.
In the cups there are from five to twelve
little brown and red heads on stems.
These are called stamens and contain pol
len. In some of the cups there is a kind
of stem which divides into two parts at
the end. This is called a pistil. If the
pollen from the stamens fall on the pistil
1t will make a seed. The seed Of the maple
is called p winged key.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
The Naughty Squirrel
BY Helen Reynolds, Aged I Years, Gretna,
Neb. Red side,

BY Helen Reynolds, Aged I Years, Gretna,
Neb. Red Side.
once there were six squirrels. The
mother and father squirrel and the four
baby squirrels. They lived IN a hollow
tree. The tree was in the woods ard was
a nut tree. One day one OF the squirrels
ran up to a basket OF nuts. He saw a
dog running after him and ran as fast as
his little legs could carry him. The dogs
name was Rover, and II was Mary's dog,
Mallet was her cat, Mary called out,
''Rover, leave that squirrel alone" and
Rover went back to her. Mother and
father squirrel were very much frightened
when they found that the baby was gone.
When they saw him coming down the
road. they were so glad. That night they
had company. 1t was a rabbit, and they
told him how their little one got lost. He
went home and told his wife about Il,
The next day they had a party. They In
vited Mr.. and Mrs. Robin, Mr.. and Mrs.
Sparrow, Cousin Squirrel. Mr.. and Mrs.
Rabbit. Miss Meadow Lark. Mr.. Bluobird,
Mr.. and Mrs. woodpecker. 1t was Mrs.
Squirrels birthday. She was 20 years old.
They had cake, ice cream. cookies and
peaches. The party lasted from 2 O'Clock
until S o'clock. They had a good time.
After supper they told stories. Mrs.
Squirrel told about her squirrel that ran
away. After that he stayed nea' Is
home.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
The Reward

By Helen Heuck. Aged u Years. 1925 10th
rop Street Red Side.
One time a mother offered her two daush-
tiers, Ethel and Mildred. a reward at the
end OF two weeks to the one who had been
the most obedient, kind and thoughtful OF
others. Mildred was sure she would get
the prize, as she had always been petted
more than Ethel. For about two days she
was all that could be expected, but in
about a week her mother said: Mildred.
] want you TO go to the store for me right
away" Mildred said; 'Oh. mother, 1
don't want TO go. 1 want TO read. Let
Ethel CO." Ethel got up and went without
another word. while Mildred went up to
her room, When she got there her small
baby brother was playing there. She
scolded him and sent him out of the room,
and he went to Ethel TO be comforted. At
the end OF two weeks Mrs. Smith called
them TO the library to award the prize.
1t fell TO Ethel and she was to go to her
grandmother's for two weeks. Mildred
begged to go. too, but her mother said
mo" After this Mildred was always
kind, obedient and thoughtful for others.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

evil enemies had seen lin.
And when, half an hour later. Squinkie
entered the confines Of his own particular
wood-where a great many monkeys dwelt
he went with all possible speed TO his
mother and told her the story of his ex-
perience. OF course, his language was not
a very extensive one and he had much
difficulty in describing the tall creatures
who had walked on the ground. their bodies
so ~straight-just like certain trees, and
who had displayed a notion to entrap him.
But he made her understand that there
was great danger threatening Monkey
town, and she was not long In arousing all
the monkeys, telling them that they must
flee, and flee at once. to som more
secluded place.
And that night, while the White Hunter
rolled and tossed on his pallet Of pain in
the Black Mems village, squinkie and all
his family and friends and neighbors and
acquaintances were moving TO the south
ward with all speed, and when the morning
dawned they had com into a beautiful
place surrounded by a swamp where It
would be almost impossible for the foot OF
man to tread, for the jungle that lay
between the swamp and outer world was
so dense that even a snake had difficulty
I'm creeping through.
And to this day the natives OF the Black
Mems village tell Of the time, long, long
ago when a great White Hunter came
among them, and learned their tongue in so
short a time, and gave them many trinkets
OF shining things 10 adorn themselves; and
that all he wanted was their assistance in
catching the monkeys that lived in the
forest near to the villa &c. But they shake
4hefr heads vuban FhaxF nop,a - that ra-t -
tho story where one monkey hit the great
White Hunter across the nose and broke
r. and how .he injured ran died Of his
Vcu9Cs within a COW days and was buried
there al the outskirts Of the village, and
how no native Of that village can ever be
tempted TO try to take into captivity the
monkeys. And that Is why in one part OF
Africa Squinkie and those OF HIS own band,
were safe during their lives. and even
their descendants safe from intrusion to
this day.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Two Good Friends

BY William Hamilton, Aged Years,
Omaha, Neb. Blue Side.
Once there were two boys whose names
were Richard and James. James was
poor and Richard was rich. On Christ
mas Richard asked James If he could
come over.
James asked his mother If he could
go and his mother said yes, so he started
and they went up in the attic and there
was a Christmas tree.
Richard gave some Of the toys to
James. That evening when James went
home he told his mother about 1t.
James thought he would be a news
paper boy. At the end of the year he
quit the job. Then he bought a Christ
mas tree and some toys. He invited Rich
ard to come over. They had a Christmas
tree.
James gave some of the toys to Rich
ard. After that they were good friends.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Nellie's Education

By Vesta Eschrich, Aged s Years, Buff
falo, Wyo. Blue Side.
Nellie Harris was a little girl who
lived with her mother in a tenement
house.
They were very poor and Nellie's father
was dead. Mrs. Harris sewed for a liv-
ing and was saving money to educate
Nellie.
One evening Mrs. Harris went down
town for something and when crossing
the railroad track was run over and
killed by a passing train.
Nellie waited for her mother for a long
time and then, thinking something might
have happened to her, she started out to
find her mother. She hadn't gone far
before she saw a crowd of people with
her mother.
A friend of Mrs. Harris took Nellie TO
live with her and sent her to school.
One day as Nellie was going home
from school she saw two men talking
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02

coming home from school tonight l met q
poor little girl and she was crylnns so very
hard, and when l asked her what was the
matter, she said, oh, l am so very cold.
and hungry, too" so l gave her my coat
and hood and what was left in my dinner
basket, and, mamma, can't she come and
live witt us and go to York convent next
year with me?"
Mrs. Magoon said, "If papa is willing, I
think l can TAX care OF one more little
girl So when Mr.. Magoon came home
that evening he told Mary (for that was
the little girls name) that she could have
the little girl for an adopted sister. so
Mary ran and got the little girl and she
was never cold nor hungry any more.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
Squinkie, the African Monkey
ny Maud walker.

for the creature did not speak our Ian
guage. But in his own tongue-a very
peculiar one II wasi-he told the tall white
creature that they were now in the place
to find the monkeys.
II don't want any of them shot" spoke
the white creature in the same peculiar
tongue employed by the black leader or
guide. II want them taken without a
wound, for as 1 have told you, they are
to be used for show purposes. They will
be put In cages and carried all over the
world"
Although the black guide did not seem
to quite understand what a show or a
cage or "all over the world meant, he
did understand that monkeys were the
object of the hunt through the forest, and
that they-the monkeys-must not be in
jured in any way.
wen get EN- with our traps" explained
the guide. So the white man Oor of course
you have understood that the tall creatures
walking on long, straight legs were mem
said that was just what he wanted.
Then the group OF black men-with one
white man in their midst-stood directly
underneath the tree In whose branches
Squinkie was hiding. And Squinkie, being
a warrior bold, ooked about for some
dead bits of branches that he might break
off easily to be thrown on the heads Of his
enemies should they look up and behold
him there.
As he was securing a tick-for one was
close at hand-he saw one of the black men
look up into the very branches where he
was perched. Then such a shout went up
from the whole band Of black creatures,
and they began to climb the trees surround
ing squinkie, going UP them with the agility
OF monkeys themselves. Squinkie under
stood his danger, but never lost his head.
He grasped the loose, dead limb. and tear
ing II from its place. hurled it into the
very center Of the group of long-legged
beings below. A howl of rage and pain
went up from the man who was hit. It
was the white one. and the ~stick-thrown
with such vehemenee-had struck him
across the eyes and had broken the bridge
of his nose.
OF course. the blacks had to minister to
their injured leadeS the mighty White
Hunter who had learned their tongue In
order to enslaye them and 10 make them
work for him, The guide bound up the
White Hunters injured face and they
turned about to rettaee their steps to the
Black Mems village. where the white mar
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

i. Write plainly on one sido of the
paper only aud number the pages.
q. Use pen and ink, not pencil
3. Short and pointed articles will
be given preference. 10 not use over
$50 words.
=. Original stokes or letters only
viii be used.
8. Write your name, age and ad-
dress az n top Of the hrst page.
First ana second prizes Of books
VAL be given for the best two coz
tributiona TO this page each week.
Address ali communications to
CKILDREN's DEPARTNENT,
Omaha Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
The Man in HI Moon

BY Mary Estella Butler, Aged Years.
Arapahoe, Neb. Blue Side.
Once upon a time began Aunt Mary,
"a man needed some sticks. He put OF
his hat and went out to get them. It was
Sunday, and everybody knows it is wicked
to work on Sunday. On the way back he
met a man who asked: VIII are you pick
ing up sticks todayY The man said: I
have a right to pick up sticks any time l
want to- The other mar said; All right.
you may have an everlasting day And
the man felt himself hurled up In the sky
In the moon, and you can see him to this
day with his pack OF wood on his back
"Oh, tell us some more" cried the chill
dren.
NO." said Mary, not tonight. Go to
bed"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
The Spelling Match
BY Verna Kirschbaun, Aged IL Years, |
South Twenty-fourth Street, Omaha,
Neb. Blue Side.

BY Verna K~irschbaun, Aged IL Years, 511
South Twenty-fourth Street, Omaha,
Neb. Blue Side.
There was to be a spelling match at
school, in which all the children were to
take part. The prize was $40, which was
offered by Mr.. Grey, who was on the
school board.
OF the children who were to take part,
Mary Brown was the most anxious to win,
because she knew that the $40 would buy
many things that would be useful to her
family.
The children often came to her to invite
her to play with them, but she always re-
fused, saying that she had to study.
At last the day for the spelling match
arrived and the children were very much
excited.
The first words that the teacher gave
out were spelled correctly. At last came
the word, sacrifice" and one by one the
children missed. Mary realized that her
turn would come soon, and as everyone
else was missing the word she knew that
the time had come for her to fail or to
win. She knew wha the word meant. for
had not her mother sacrificed all she had
to give Mary an education?
At last came the word, next" and Mary
realized that It was her turn.
She closed her eyes, and the letters
seemed to come to her mind. She spelled
the word and as she stopped and heard
the people clapping, she knew that she
had won the prize.
But after school as she was walking
home she said to herself, II don't believe
1 will ever miss the word sacrifice again