davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Alice and Rover's Walk

BY Mable Stafford, Aged 10 Years, Dewey
Street, North Platte, Neb. Red Side.
One bright morning in May, Alice awoke
and saw the sun shining very bright. She
asked her mother il Rover and she might
take a walk. Yes" said her mother and
they started a few minutes later.
They walked down by the river. She
then said to Rover, y will throw some
sticks into the water and you go in after
them" they went to the river-bridge, Alice
threw the sticks in the water and Rover
would go after them.
As Alice was throwing the sticks, the
wind blew her hat into the water, and
the water carried it down the stream. She
went home crying. Her mother asked her
what was the mather? she said that
Rover and she were playing on the bridge
and the wind blew her hat in the water
and Rover or she could not get It,"
well, never mind" said her mother as
she took Alice on her lap. do not cry
over spilled milk"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Grandma's Visitors.

By Myrtle Siekkotter, Gretna, Neb. Blu
Side.
Grandma had been i'll for some time and
could not see any company. One bright
warm summers day little Mary came run
ming upstairs with an excited tone OF voice
and handing Grandma two visiting cards.
said. there is a very handsome carriage
at the door and a lady and a gentleman
are sitting In It,"
"Why did you not tell Jane to tell them
1 am not well enough to see them. Go
tell Jane to tell it to them now" said
grandma.
But please" and the head with the
golden hair was laid on grandma's shoulder
and the blue eyes filled with tears. But
please read the cards grandma
A right" said grandma, Il will read
the cards, but 1 cannot see the company"
Then she took the cards and read Mr..
Timothy Pussner and Miss Velvet Coat
Pussner, II will break my rule this time, I"
said grandma. Invite Mr.. and Miss Puss-
ner up 10 see me-" Little Mary went
away happily and soon returned bringing
the two gray Kittens dressed I'm the dolls
clothes and sitting in the dolls carriage.
These were gFandma's visitors.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Honorable Mention.)
The Greatest of All

BY Eunice Bode. Aged Y Years, Falls City,
Neb., Lock Box 229. Blue Side.
A pile Of dried grass was thrown on a
little fire, burning by the roadside. The
fire quickly burned up the grass and
crackled happily to itself, How great I
am, 1 can consume anything put into me-"
Then It began to rain and the fire was
put out. Oh! I am so great said the rain,
Il put out that fire so quickly" but 1t had
scarcely touched the ground until the sun
shone warmly and dried up the rain
drops. surely I am very powerful, d"
thought the sun, but a dark cloud floated
In front OF his face and he was bidder.
How great 1 must be to hide the face Of
one so great as the SUM- said the cloud.
But a wind came up and blew the cloud
away, "Oh! l am great, everything bows
before me- the wind said as he rushed
inward over hills and valleys until he
came to a great mountain. The solid rock
stirred not an inch to the strength Of the
wind. II am the greatest" said the noun
tain, nothing can hurt me. But a man
with a pick axe came and hewed great
pieces out of Its side. "Oh!' said the man,
nothing is greater than man, but God,
and He is master of ALL"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Teddy's Store.

By Marie Spies. Aged u Years, Platts-
mouth, Neb. Blue Side.
Dear mel" said Teddy's mother. as she
was dressing the baby, one morning; Il
cant find a pin anywhere, and 1 never
can remember to buy any when I'm down
town" IT youu max me a big pitcher
Of lemonade with Ice in IT," said Teddy.
I'm get you all the pins you can use in
the next MONTH" "How?" asked his
mother. by keeping store" answered
Teddy. His mother laughed but she mado
the lemonade, and Teddy carried It out
10 a tent in the grove back OF his fathers
house. Then he asked Len Dale, a largo
boy who knew how 20 write to put Lem.
onadel Ten Pins a Glass on a sheet OF
paper. This was fastened on the tent, and
in a few minutes all the children Of the
neighborhood were there with pins in their
hands. The day was warm and the lemon
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
(Second Prize.)
An Afternoon in the Woods.

BY Charlotte Boggs, Aged 13 Years, 227 S.
18th St., Lincoln, Neb. Blue Side.
May I go out in the woods this after
noon, mother?" asked Betty one morning.
YES, dear" said her mother, "and after
Don has taken his nap I'll send him out
with a little lunch for you both"
That afternoon as Betty entered the
woods the sun was shining brightly and
the birds singing sweetly, Betty seemed
10 fit right in with the trees and flowers.
Her light hair shone like gold and her
eyes danced merrily as she tripped here
and there picking overs.
At last, becoming tired, she fell asleep
under a shady tree. She dreamed that a
little elf came to her and said that they
were going to crown her queen Of the
woods. Just then a little cart drove up and
she got into 1t. The little elfs danced hap
PLY. When at last they stopped Betty
found herself in a land where the elfs and
the fairies live. She seated herself on the
velvet cushion and then Immediately the
crowhing began.
The little elf prince placed the crown OF
stars on her head while the fairy princess
put the wand Of gold in her lap. After the
browning came the feast" or Spread"
lowers, served in a nutshell, and wines
from the wild fruits. The wine was served
in honeysuckle cups
Against Betty's cheek Just then there
came a soft little pat followed by a kiss.
Betty started up and, seeing her little
brother Don looking at her with wide
open eyes, began to explain.
'oh, Donl" she cried, rive had such a
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

hill. Come mother and I viii show you"
Donald led his mother over the hill and
what do you think Donald showed his
mother, it was a corner Of Il chest sticking
up out OF the ground. "Run home and get
your papa and bring him up here and bring
a pick along too" said Donald's mother.
Donald ran home as fast as his little legs
could carry him. He brought his papa and
Donald brought a pick. His papa dug the
chest up and how their eyes did sparkle
when the chest was opened, II was full
Of gold. 1t was brought to the house and
placed in a corner of a room. 1t was worth
a large sum OF money.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
A Conversation,
BY Mae Luton, Aged II Years, Waterloo
Neb.. Red Side.

BY Mae Luton, Aged IL Years, Waterloo,
Neb.. Red Side.
d you wish to buy anything today,
ma'am? 1 have some very nice things to
sell, such as laces and pillow slips and
other things very useful in the house"
That's what they all toll me. / don't
want anything. 1 have enough in the
house now to last two or three years, and
they're not fit for a pig to use. 1 bought
them from another peddler who was here
two days ago. I wouldn't have taken a
thing If he hadn't looked so poor and rag
ged that / thought IL 1 didn't buy some
thing ia be arrested for cruelty to ami
mails. Now get out. Do you hear?"
I'm not deaf, ma'am, but 1 have some
very nice things here and"
Get out Of here or I'll get Tommy, the
bull dog after you. 1 think maybe you will
90 some then"
I've never seen a Tommy. I was afraid
of yet"
"Well you'l see one now. Come Tommy,
come Tommy. Show this gentleman out.
The gentleman saw a Tommy he was
afraid of then, and made haste to get
over the fence, leaving a piece of his
trousers behind i'm.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
The Flood.

BY Adlena Sorry, Aged u Years, Monarch,
Wyo. A True Story. Red Side.
Every year in May and June we have
a flood and sometimes in March.
This year 1t started in June, the date
was June {, It ended June q, 1909. 1t
usually ends in a day,
Last year the flood was a foot deep in
the house. A year ago last March when
the flood came they had to blow up the
dam because there was ice I'm the river.
We were afraid TO go out of the house.
Once when the flood was here 1 was go
ing down stairs with my baby sister. 1
stumbled downstairs. She was not hurt
much, for she laughed.
Every May or June when the flood
comes, It washes our garden out,
Last year when the flood was here, it
drowned our cat and my pet rabbit. This
year It drowned two little puppies.
When the flood comes we have to wear
boots. Sometimes we have to make a
raft to go from the house TO the store. We
have a great deal OF fun on the raft.
When the flood comes we can get a ride
on the raft.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Two SnarroWs.
BY Leah Baker, 221O Ames Avenue, oman
Red Side,

BY Leah Baker, 2210 Ames Avenue, Omaha
Rec Side.
Once there were two little sparrows, who
built for themselves a nest on a small tree
by the wayside. The mother bird laid four
little eggs in it, and there she sat, while
her mate chirped merrily on a tree near
by, till one fine day in May, four little
sparrows were Matched. How glad the
parent birds werei and how they flew
around to get food for the little ones. They
were willing, almost, to starve themselves
so that their children might not suffer
from want oh, what hungry children
they were. How they stretched out their
necks and opened their bills for food as
father and mother drew near to feed them.
But one day, one sad day. q man came
by with a cart, and, seeing the nest, took
It, with all the little brides and placed It
on some straw in his cart. The parent
birds, wild with grief. flew round and
round, but 1t was of no use. Then they
followed the cart and continued to feed
their young as well as they could, though
the cart was in motion. But a little girl,
whose name was Laura, and who was
taking a walk with her mother, saw the
man remove the nest, and at once made
up her mind to try and get it away from
him. So she went up and asked him II he
would let her have the nest If she paid him
for It. The mar seemed a little ashamed
when he saw Laura and her mother, and
he replied: well, little girl, it didn't cost
me anything, and so you may have 1t for
nothing"
"Oh, I thank you ever so muchP' and
then she and her mother found a safe place
in a notch of a tree, hidden from the road,
and there they placed II. hen they Wake
away and stood at a distance and watched,
till they saw the parent birds fly down
from a high branch to their own nest, and
again begin to feed their little ones, How
they twittered and chirped with joyl The
feeling that she had made the birds happy
made Laura happy too. Every day for a
week she came TO see how the little family
were getting along. On the eighth day the
nest was empty. They had all flown away.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Sarah and George.
BY Anna Griffin, Aged Is Years, 524 South
Twenty-fifth Street. Lincoln, Neb.
Red Side.

Twenty-fifth Street. Lincoln, Neb.
Red Side.
One summer day there were two children
playing in a yard. Their names were
Sarah and George. George said, lets
play in the sand"
Now as I have not yet told you George
was only 3 years old and Sarah 8.
Alright" said Sarah, so they built many
houses and played happily for a long time,
After a while George began to get restless
eyes so she could hardly see. She went
into the house and her mother asked her
what was the matter and she said that
she and George were playing in the a
and that George threw some of 1t In her
eyes. Her mother told her not to rub
them, or they would get sore, but to walt
until the doctor came. Sarah waited awhile
and then came q knock at the door. Her
mother went to the door and there was the
doctor. He asked h was sick, n was
very sad to find out 1t was dear little
Sarah whom he loved so we'll. He looked
at her eyes and said that he would try and
do all he could for her, but was sorry
she would have to keep them tied up for
a long time and said he would come every
day to see her. and it was not long till
she was better and could have the badges
removed. Sarah was so glad and clapped
her hands, for it was just a week that
she had them tied up. But the doctor said
she must be careful about playing in the
sand and not get hurt again. Sarah aid
tina she was never again going to play In
the and.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
Dumpy-Doo Lost in a Great City
ny Maud walker.

from her seat and ran across the railroad
tracks, going on to the shop she had seen
the man. whom she thought to be her papa,
enter. On reaching the shop door she
looked about inside but the place was full
OF customers, and Dumpy-Doo supposed her
papa was In the rear Of the long room.
She entered and looked about. Several
men were there, but her papa was not one
Of them. Then Dumpy-Doo noticed that
there was a side door which led into an
other street, and she thought that probably
her papa had rome out at thai doom In
tending 70 walk around the block end ap-
proach the railroad crossing from another
street. Dumpy-Doo went out at the side
door and ran down the street, hoping 70
overtake her papa. She went quite a long
way before she realized that she was not
taking any notice OF the distance she was
going, nor the corners she had turned.
Then she stopped and looked about her.
The street was strange 70 her, and she
could not tell one direction from another.
She thought she knew the direction In
which her own home lay, and started out
quickly, fearing her father would reach the
crossing before she should arrive there
and 80 on home without her, and thai her
mother would be made very uneasy when
the papa should arrive without the little
daughter.
So on and on went Dumpy-Doo, thinking
It strange that she should not have
thought the distance so long IN coming,
for now It seemed endless.
And after q while Dumpy-Doo noticed
the street lights were glowing. It was
coming night She hurried now ali the
faster. And soon found herself In busy,
h~igh-walled streets. not at all like the
streets Of her homo suburb town, where
the houses and shops were few and Tar
apart Dumpy-Doo became frightened. She
was lost and lost in a strange place which
she 'had unintentionaily entered. The
crowds became dense, the street cleaned
from great shop windows. It was full
night, and still Dumpy-Doo was far, Tar
from her beloved home. How long she
had been wandering about she had no way
OF knowing. II was perhaps 8 O'Clock
when she left home TO meet her papa, tor
that was the hour he usually arrived home
Then pumpy-Doo behald q great clock
away W on he front OF q building. The
hands pointed at five minutes OF 8
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

Mary Quite Contrary and asked, How
does your garden grown She answered
with a laugh, with silver bells and cookie
shells, and pretty maids all In a row."
Walking on, he spied Little 30 Peep
hunting for Ba-Ba-Black Sheep. Then
looking up, he saw the Old Woman speed
ing away on her broom.
He started from the castle alone and on
the Kings highway he saw the Old Lady
Whose Skirts lac Been Cut off by the
Peddlar.
At last, tired with his sightseeing, he
came to the sea and the Three Men in the
Tub took him safely home to his mamma.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

I'D " a tiny ~ VI Il klTlt was u
not? Dumpy-Doo was not her
FEYFYgE4 sure-enough name, but one
tRS48$I which her papa gave her be-
AaAAD cause she was such a dumpy
little miss. Her real name was Grace, but
no one ever called her that. She was
known everywhere as Dumpy-Doo.
Well, this little Dumpy-Doo lived in the
suburbs Of a great city and her papa went
to work In the city every day. leaving
Dumpy-Doo and her mamma alone TIL
evening. Then such good times they all
had, when Dumpy-Doo and her mamma
would go 10 meet the papa at q railroad
crossing, and from there they would walk
home together. hand in hand. Dumpy-Doo
would walk between her papa and mamma,
and she always felt that nothing could
harm her then. And. of course, nothing
could. When little girls and little boys
are with their papas and mammas no harm
can come to them, for both the papa and
the mamma ~thoughttully and lovingly pro-
tect them.
Well, one evening Dumpy-Doo's mamma
was i'll and she said to her little grille,
Daughter, mamma mo go with you
TO meet papa this evening; she 10 feeling
too Ill, with a very bad headache. DO you
think you could go alone TO meet papa3'
"Oh, yes, mammal cried Dumpy-Doo.
IF neither OF us go to meet papa he will
wonder what is the matter. III run down
TO the railroad crossing and wait for him.
We'll, the crossing Is only two blocks
from home, and you can see our cottage
all the way" said the mamma "And
there are no trains passing at this time
In the afternoon, only in the mornings and
at midnight do they come numbering along.
So therein be no danger in your going
down there. But do not cross the tracks
unless you see papa coming on the other
side"
Then, as II was almost time for the pape
TO be coming home, Dumpy-Doo got her
little sunbonnet, kissed her mamm good.
bye and ran down the little g~rass-growr
suburb street toward the railroad tracks
two blocks distant. She reached the cross.
ing and sat down on a big stone to avail
her papa's coming. After a few minutes
she espied a man down the street who re
sembled her papa, and just as she wal
about to take off her little ~sunbonnet e
wave to him he disappeared into a shop a
q distant corner. Dumpy-Doo jumped VI
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

to Civ me the name Of the place you are
IN, so that papa will come for you as soon
as he learns OF your whereabouts. Oh,
you don't know how papa and mamma
have been distressed, dearest child But
now that you are safe wen all be so happy
again" Then, with a kiss through the
telephone, Dumpy-Doo's mamma rang off,
for It vas time to receive a message from
the papa who was still searching for his
straysd or stolen little girl. And you may
believe there was a happy man hen
Dumpy-Doo's father received the good
news over the phone a few minutes later,
and he in turn called up the drug store,
where Dumpy-Doo was waiting for him, to
say he would soon be there. And he was
soon there, too, for he came in an electric
cab which made a quick trip, for Dumpy-
Docs papa could hardly wait till he
reached his little daughter.
on their way home Dumpy-Doo's papa
said; why, grille, you Travelled about
three and a half miles from home, You
went into the big city, And when Dumpy-
Doc told OF having seen a mar whom she
thought to be her father entering a shop
close to her home, and how she had run
to meet him. 20 find he had disappeared
somehow, her father said: mo, child, 1
was not in any shop on my way home.
You saw soue one who resembled me-, and
that is how the whole mistake came
about"
well, never, never again win I cross
that railroad crossing without either you
or mamma with me-" declared Dumpy-
M a ~ anN... aa. 49, "a
tigue, and aid not awake until her papa
put her safely in her dear mamma's arms.
Then, with q cry OF Joy. Dumpy-Doo
Rugged her ann saying: There's no
place like home. is there mamma? And
how dreadful 1t is to be lost in a great
city, .
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27

Dumpy-Doo's heart dropped within her. 1t
was her usual bedtime. And here she was,
in the heart Of some TRANCE place. tired
to death from walking and running, and
much frightened. oh, to be at home again
with her pap and mammal And what
were those dear parents doing? Dumpy-
Doc knew how terribly frightened they
would be when she did not come home.
Stealing into a corner Of a building poor
little Dumpy-Doo began TO weep heart
brokeniy. She feared she would never find
her home again. Just then some one
touched her arm. Dumpy-Doo looked up
into q tall polieeman's face. 'TWhat're you
doing here. little oneT" asked the officer.
Pm lost, air." walled poor Dumpy-Doo.
Then, as best she could talk for crying,
Dumpy-Doo told her story, and the officer
said: "Has your folks got a phone, miss?'
Yes, and It is No. 100 Anderson street"
replied Dumpy-Doo. her memory clear.
Then she told her father's name and their
home address. Why hadn't she thought
10 DO that long before-to some Of the po-
Iicemen she had passed on the many
streets she had traversed. But now she
would soon be all right and she dried her
eyes and went with the officer into a drug
store, where the officer teiephoned 20 her
home. And then Dumpy-Doo heard her
dear mothers fearful voice answering the
officer. 'Oh, I've got the little one safe
and sound, missus," the officer called over
the phone. DO you want 70 speak to
her7' And Dumpy-DOo was put to the
phone, through which she called out,
'HeiIo. mamma dear Then = Joyous voice
answered, saying: Papa IL out hunting
for you, dearie. He has reported your dis
appearance 70 the police, and he calls me
up every twenty minutes to find II I have
got news OF you. and to report his success.
II is almost time for him 10 call me again.
Tsl the officer who has you in his care
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
The Ranch

BY Elsie Catch, Aged II Years, Bridgeport,
Neb, Blue Side.
I live on Bratens creek on a ranch. I
live in a great house with a sod kitchen.
There is running water and a nice grove
Of trees. Under the trees / have a play
house. We also have a saddle pony, which
1 often ride after the COWS. There are
many hills around our home and we have
about ninety head Of cattle. l help with the
work on the ranch before l go to school.
l often go swimming. I planted a garden
and set out some trees this spring. We set
two geese and one hen and now we nave
twelve little chickens. There are many
wild roses here. Each summer we raise
some flowers. The ranch is ten miles from
town.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-06-27
The Selfish King.
BY Bertha McEvoy, Aged Is Years, Mis-
souri, Valley, Ia, r. r. No. Z
Box Is, Blue Side.

BY Bertha MeEvoy AEed Is Years Mis-
souri, Valley, Ia, r.. r. No. Z
Box Is. Blue Side.
Once there was a very rich king. he
was very selfish though he had everything
that could make him happy. He kept SOL
diers to guard his fields, while he sent
men to destroy his ~neighbors' crops so he
would get more money for his grain at the
mill, as he would be the only one that
would have any to sell.
But there was one man he always
missed, and when this man brought his
grain to the mill and heard hi the king
had done, he went to teach him a lesson,
lie went to the kings palace, and the
king was away. He then called the neigh
bors and went to the soldiers that were
guarding the fields. and gave them a
sleeping draught They became very
sleepy. The king had told them not to go
to sleep, but to watch. At first one be-
came sleepy, and told the rest 70 watch,
and If anyone came, to awake him, and
then they all became sleepy, and all fell
asleep. Then the neighbors all came and
got the grain.
The king was very angry at the soldiers,
but afterward he got over his angry spell,
He then went to the neighbors. They we're
very much afraid, but the king told them
II they would give back tho grain he
would never bother them again. Besides
he gave them some money, He never
bothered them any afterward. He became
the best and kindest king in the country.
He now knew how he felt to have his
grain taken away. And he thought how
much worse II was for those poor people
TO have their grain taken away from
them.