davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
l received pretty card from the
Courier Junior the other day. It is the
Stone gate, one Of the most interest
ing streets in the ancient city OF
York. The card gives good idea OF
the quaint old fashioned, half timber
ed architecture of which the city pos
sesses many specimens.
l have about three hundred and
twenty-five postal cards and about
twenty-five from the Courier Junior.
was thirteen years old on May l3,
and got new hat and some new slip
pers, some candy, birthday cake,
SO and I got my croquet set from the
Courier Junior the day after my
birthday. also got a. good many
cards from the Juniors.
My croquet set is very nice one
and thank the Courier Junior for It
very much. We play every night and
have good deal Of fun.
l graduated from the eighth grade
June and got honorable mention.
Mamma gave me ring and high
school pin, my Aunt Anna gave me
some gold beads, and my aunt Grace
gave me high school pin also.
We have about 100 little chickens
My little sister, Mariory will be
eight months old on July 4. She has
little tooth.
Juliette Ensembles, age 10,
4O1 w. Park Ave-, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
Beti11a and Mabel
SpendaHappy
Fourth
BY Helena Davis.

''Oh, isn't it just too disappointing?"
cried Betina, early on the morning OF
the Fourth as she stood by the window
looking out at pouring rain.
Eyes, it certainly is, sister, agreed
Mabel who was also watching with
disappointed eyes the downpour with
out. "And from the appearance of the
sky, it will keep up all day."
"You mean it will keep coming
down. declared Betina petulantly.
"And we had expected to have such a
glorious day in the woods-with all
our best friends, too. 1t Is really too
bad"
"And after papa had engaged a pic
mic wagon for the day, too" said Ma
bel. "And mamma had gone to all sorts
, of bother fixing lovely picnic lunch
con And all our pretty flags and flow
ers-with which to adorn the wagon
lying in the parlor, waiting to be put
to use. It is SO terribly disappointing.
could just cry"
"Now, my dears, don't take 1t so to
heart" said a sweet voice behind the
girls, and the sisters turned to see
their old grandmother entering the
room. She was neatly dressed in a
black: summer silk, her snowy hair in
q simple and becoming style. Her face
was beaming with youthful happiness,
quite in contrast to the expressions on
the faces of Mabel and Betina.
"Oh, good morning, granny cried
Retina and Mabel in breath Then as
fhey both ran to kiss her good morn
ing Bettna said. ''How lovely YOU lootss
this morning, granny dear. You always
look SO pretty; but prettier than usual
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

Abba, a., June q, 1910.
Dear Friend Pearl:
will write you letter and put it
in, the Junior page.
How are you? Are you going to
school now? I am not. My school
was out April II. How many chickens
has your mamma got? Have you e
play house? I have one.
For pets l have pony. Her name
in Doll. / have two cats and pet
hen. She has some chickens. Have
you any pets? I have 127 post cards
Two of them are from you and four
Of them are from the editor of the
Courier Junior How many post cards
have you got? When is your birthday?
Mine is March l. saw your letter IN
the Junior page so l thought would
write you letter, as you remembered
me in your. letter. have not joined
in any Of the contests yet, have you?
l will close, hoping to hear from
you soon.
From your Junior friend,
Mildred Hall Smith, age s,
R. F. D. No. 5, Abba, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
WHY GEORGE WASHINGTON
CHOPPED THE CHERRY
TREE DOWN.

Once George Washington's father
gave him a new Ratchet. He first
looked at the bright edges and then
at the bright red handle. He went in
to the yard and found a stick and
chopped it into little pieces Then he
went into the garden and found one
of his fathers cherry trees. He want
ed to try his new Ratchet and IN
few minutes the tree was down.
When Georges father saw what he
had done he called him In and asked
him if he chopped the cherry tree
down.
George said, Eyes, father, was try
Ing my new Ratchet thought it
would do no harm" well, my boy |
am glad you have told the truth. |
would rather lose all my cherry trees
than have you tell lie.
IT hope you will grow up to be
good and truthful man."
Erma Myers, age 10,
I. r. F. D. No. 1, Eddyville, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

page. But received or postal
cards from you which are very pretty.
thank you very much for them.
received three post cards from the
Juniors for my birthday April IL, 1910.
The Juniors that received postal
cards from are Maude and Mabel Skivin
Floris, la. r. r. No. 2, and received
one from you. I thank all three OF
you for the postals that you sent me.
My sister Leona and I sent Maude and
Mabel Skirvin a card for their birth
day. My sister Leona and would
love for the Juniors to call us up over
the old telephone. They can call from
Ottumwa. If they call ottrmwa
telephone central and tell her to give
you IA or (Mendenhall centraD and
when they set them they can ask them
to give them ]. A. Vet and then CEN
trail or IA will ring us and then you
will have US in q second II the lines
aren't busy and if the lines are busy
you can wait until they aren't pussy
and call as you did at first, and we
will De glad to talk to you.
For pets we have a Scotch Collie
puppy 2 weeks old, an other dog name
shep Our little puppies name is
Rover, some pet hens and mamma has
6 or Z hens set and about or 4 more
that want to set and our incubator
that holds 200 eggs, so We'll soon have
some little chickens for pets and we
have some kittens but don't play with
them very much. Our school is out
now. We had 7 months of school.
Our school was out April LIST 1910 and
won't have any more until September
some time as scar as know. have
brother Arnold age years. 2 sisters
Leona will be IA June 1th and Ella will
be 4 years July 18th. Arnold will be
z October 25th. I was 10 yeras old
April 18th 1910. I will be II years
old April 18th 1911. will close for
this time Answer this letter soon,
Agnes! Hoping to see my letter in
prime. am Tri-Weekly Junior girl.
Hazel L. Vest, Age10.
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. r. No. s.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
HARoLD's F'ibr LETTER.

Dear Juniors:
This is my first letter to the Junior.
am 10 years old My birthday was
April 8th. My teacher had post card
shower for me and Il received 40 post
cards. My teachers name Is Miss
Mayme Davis. went to her two terms
without being either absent or tardy.
I received prize at the end Of both
terms. My studies are reading. writing,
arithmetic, spelling, geography, Ian
guage and music. I liked my teacher
Just fine. have pet kitten which II
call Cricket. / have an old hen and s18
little chickens. I have four brothers
and one sister My brothers names are
Oscar, Richard, Gilbert and Raymond.
NV sisters name is Nellie, tie grad
uated this year from the Libertyville
high school. There were nine in thu
class. AZ.
Harold Swanson. ago 10.
Libertyvflle, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

Dear Editor:
This letter I am writing to one of my
Junior friends which I wish you to
print in the Junior if there is room.
Miss Maude Skervin, Floris, la.
/ Dear Junior Friend:
read your nice letter you wrote to me
in the Courier Junior, thought 1t was
real good, was so glad you thought
Of me. Now l will try and answer
it know this will not be as good as
the one you wrote me but there is
nothing like trying. Did you get the
post card I sent you and Mabel. l
have ninety six If it were not for the
Courier Junior and my Junior friends
I would only have forty-six. The
Juniors that exchange cards with are
as follows: Mabel Skervin, Juliette
Eisenbise, Roxie Wood, Maude Squire,
Ethel Huffman, and you. I thank
them all for the pretty cards they have
sent me- Did you get your birthday
card I sent you in time for your birth
day. They laid In the mail box for
two days before the mail carrier took
them. Our school was out Friday
June the third and we had a program
I had recitation and was in a dia-
logue and three songs. always hate
to quit school but there was so much
work at home can do. We have lots
of garden and two hundred and sixty
little turkeys. This Is my second
year on the farm and am sure l
would much rather live on farm
than in town. I can't say how like
to live here we are renting this year
but we own farm about three miles
south of Blakesburg and I would
rather live on farm we could call
our own We will move on our own
farm next March. go to Blakesburg
every Saturday it's only, three miles
from where we live to Blakesburg
Some of the work that do at home
is, do the dishes, sweep, gather the
eggs, feed the chickens and turkeys.
feed the horses and hogs and some
times I help milk. While its cool in
the mornings and evenings hoe in the
garden and rake the yard. When l
take music lessons practice two or
three hours day. I like to work out
OF DOORS While 1t is too hot to be out
Of doors practice my music lessons
and read. Well I will close for this
time so there will be room in the
Junior page for the other Junior let
tiers and stories.
remain your Junior Friend,
Leila Saum,
Rlakeshurp IA r r No
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

Ned Victor, who had been Jacks rival
in every race, and Annette Lathrop.
No girl had ever tried before and the
pupils did not approve Of it, but An
nette did not care for their dissaproval
She was very strong and could row
exceedingly we'll but Of course no one
thought that Jack could be beaten by
girl
At o'clock the next afternoon all the
young folks were gathered about the
boat house watching the competitors
give their boats the final touches.
SIS everything all right Annette :
asked her brother. "All in fine shape
she answered.
Jack and Ned were getting into posi-
ton on the line and Annette pulled out
and slid gently into her position be-
tween the boys. The race was to
take place on the Trent river, from
the old State bridge to the new rail-
road bridge and back again, making
a distance of two and one-fourth
miles.
Judge Appleby fired the signal shot;
the three racers dipped their oars and
the race began.
Ned was very much excited and
pulled with a short uneasy stroke.
Jack kept his course fairly well but
Annette outdid them both by her long
steady sweep.
For the first hundred rods they kept
pretty well together, but when Jack
heard and realized that the people on
the shore were crying: go it Hasel'
by, go it Haselby." He pulled ahead
of the others and remained ahead un-
til they reached the railroad bridge,
where Ned got ahead for a little
while. While Ned was ahead Jack
took time to look back and see what
Annette was doing. She was not max
ing any effort to pass him but was
gradually gaining. Jack turned back
and went to work to pass Ned He
was soon neck to neck with him and
then, putting all his strength to work
he passed him and, was boats
length ahead. But now Annette pass
ed Ned and slowly came into line
with Jack just as the cries Of go 1t
Haselby, hurrah for Annette. What's
the matter with Victor?" could be
heard.
Jack worked with all his might to
keep ahead of Annette, but she did
not seem to care and kept in line with
him until about fifty feet from the
home bridge. Then Annette suddenly
pulled ahead and went like shot un-
til almost home and then she slowed
up and passed under the bridge amid
shouts of 'Hurrah for Annette, she's
won, she's won. Three cheers for An
iette."
Alice Lea, age IA,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
The Courier Junior
Published BY
THE COURIET. PRINTING Co
OTTUMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEVEREAUX
EDITOR.
THE MONTHS CONTEST.
Dear Juniors

Dear Juniors
We are receiving some splendid
stories tor the July contest which will
continue all during this month, with
new subjects each week. The subjects
for this week will be:
A SUMNER VACATION ON THE
FARM.
A SUMMER VACATION IN THE
CITY.
The prize. for this contest Will be a
beautiful ring with the prize winners
birth stone for the setting.
To ~besranked as prize winner, the
Juniors must write each week. we
only want short stories. not more
than .2Oo>words.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
HOW CARLO SAVED JEsslE's LEE

Dear Editor and Friends: One day
Carlo and Jessiel were resting in a
cave that some bf1 had dug and then
deserted. They ID not been there
very long until tHSsand slid into the
entrance, filling A. Entirely. The lit
tie girl was scarf and began to cry,
but the dog Mckd sher face and then
began to scratch IBIS way out. Az
soon as he was o1sAe outside he start.
ed for home on til run. When he got
home he went toll 3ssie's father bark
Ing and wagging p tail. The father,
thinking there WI something wrong,
followed the doa 10 the cave. Jes-
sizes brother aid mwent. And there
they found her ar& hug her out. Thus
Carlo saved Jess es life.
Mab{ Diver. age 10,
R. No. i, Box Selma, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

The first flag Of the United States
was composed Of thirteen stars and
thirteen stripes and was made of g
piece of blue jacket, some stripes of a
white shirt and some scraps of red
flannel. This flag was first made by
Betsy Ross. It was thought that when
q state was admitted into the union
there would be added one star and one
stripe, but the people found out the
flag would be too large SO they
changed it. The thirteen stripes rep
resent the thirteen original colonies,
and the stars represent the states OF
the United States.
Malcolm Trout,
BIRMINGHAM Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
At NIGHT IN THE FIELDS.
By.Laura Spencer Portor.

Oh, you need not suppose when you're
in bed
All the world -is=asleep, dear Sleepy
Head!
- there's many thing that is going
on
IN the wide night fields, 'tW1xt the
@ stars and dawn.
There are parties and balls in the
greeny homes
OF the gray field-mice and the long
cared gnomes;
Where the partners bow and dance
and smile
To the buzzing sound of the grasshop-
per's viol;
where the grasshopper saws on the
double bass
Till his arm Is tired and he's green in
But they viii keep on! Retreating,
advancing,
Just for the dear glad Joy of dancing.
And they never would stop, I've heard
It said,
But the lily lamps flicker, then faint
and fade;
Then the gnomes and their partners
recall the dawn:
Just one more dance! On, It's time
we were. gonel"
Then the lights die quite. It Is almost
day!
They bow and curtsy and scamper
away
With wee small squeakings and chat
tering laughter
And the stir old grasshopper hopping
after.
And when you are just waking, dear
Sleepy Head,
'Tis they will be yawning and going
to bed.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
7ELLfs PETS.

have two MIC pet calves. One Of
them is black anil THE other one is .
roam. The blackt pane is Hazel. ana
tho roans Is WIN They are nice
pets think. q go out in the pas
ture and call thel! hnd they WI. come
to me. I have Pm in the pasture
where my father IL sixty head OF cat
tie and when the pee me they follow
me around. hey little pony that
weighs six hundIS and fifty pounds.
Her name ia Pei She is q gray. I
ride her after theoows in Intervening
and ride her to c1Ich. I like to ride
horseback. havepy pony ride every
day. / can turn 4 pony out with the
other horses andRhen want her I
coll her by mainland she comes to
ME. I am small work in the fields,
Iycan drive my eother's team and
plow and harrow My mali. carriers
children
Tell Cary, age 10,
RI F. D. No. 1. West Grove, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
AURELIA TO LEONA.

Seeing so many nice letters written
by you, I thought would write to you
and put it in the Courier Junior.
live two miles and one-half south OF
Trumbull, Nebr. I have that far to go
to school. My cousin is going to teach
our school next term. How many post
cards have you got from, the Courier
Junior? have six. I have four hum
dred and sixty-etght cards. have one
sister and one brother. Their names
are Charlotte and Warren. My sister
has twelve hundred post cards. !
would like to exchange post cards
with you.
Aurelia Mccormick,
Trumbull, Nebr., r. No. L
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
STo3IES-LETTERs.
ODA LIVES IN OKLAHOMA.

Dear Courier and Junior:
AS haven't written before SO I will
write.
live in the country ten miles from
Carnegie and four miles from Boise.
I go to school every day.
Our school will be out in month
my teachers name is Miss Docia
Clark, l like her fine.
We have good school the name Of
it is Silver Moon.
I would like to change postals with
some of the Juniors.
Oda Lawson
Carnegie, Okla, r. F. D. MOL Box70.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
A NEW JUNIOR.
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
AS have never written to the Junior
thought I would write now. l am
little girl 10 yeras old. have no
pets.
have about sixty post cards now.
My papa takes the Tri-Weekly Courier
like to read the letters and stories
in the Junior
go to Armentrout school, District
No. g.. Our school was out the Sth Of
April. We had a program.
My teachers name was Margarte E.
Smith.
Very truly,
Verne A. Oliver, age TO-
Selma, Iowa, r. F. D. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
BLANCHE WRITES TO LOIS.

Miss Lois Griffin.
Dear Lois: am writing you letter
and am sending it to the Courier Jun
ior. I love to write and read the Courier
Junior letters, don't you?
am so sorry you are sick and !
hope you will soon be we'll. Ny school
was out the 22nd of April, and am IN
the fourth grade. What grade are you
in? 1 am 10 years old. How old are
you? We have 33 little chickens and
hens sitting. For pets have two cats
and one old hen. received your post
card you sent me and thank you Tor It.
/ live twenty-four miles from town,
but I see teams and automobiles every
day. What are you planning to do this
vacation?
Blanche Byrun,
Belle Fourche. S. D.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
sEvzN-RuLEs FOR the JUNIORS.

1. Uso.one side Of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
inksora sharp lead pencil.
3. A1ways sign your name in full
and estate your aga.
4. Number your pages.
s. Do not copy stories or poetry
and. send US tas your own work.
6. Always state choice of prize
on a separate piece OF paper, with
namesand address In full.
Z. Address the envelope to Editor,
Courier Junior, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
ETHEL'S FIRST LETTER.

Dear Junior:
This is my first letter to the Junior !
love to read the Courier.
My playmates are Marie Utterback
and Lulu Jones. I go to school every
day My teachers name is Zena
Thomas. l like her very much.
study reading and spelling physi.
ology, geography, arithmetic and
language.
Ethel hollingsworth age 9.
Hayesville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

Dear Junior:
I will write again as have not
written for long time.
1 received 80 postal cards for my
birthday and thank the Courier Jun
Tors very much for them.
l am not going to school today. l
am going to stay home and help
mamma. Our school will be out Fri
day. Mamma has 1876 little chickens
and 16 little goslings and three little
ducks. We have one little calf we
call Billy and four little lambs. We
have six little kittens. They are all
black, Our incubator is Matching. My
sister Faye has an old duck setting on
eleven eggs. My papa's birthday was
Sunday.
Madge M. Heron. age II,
r. F. D. No. 8. Tacoma, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

do many other things that the boys
cannot do.
In education the girls can be book
keepers, neat seamstresses, nice
cooks, music and school teachers and
neat fancy workers.
Therefore, I think the girl of IL Is
ahead of the boy at IL.
Vasila Sears, age IL,
wv. Second ST., Buxton, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
NY SCHOOL.

Dear Editor and Juniors:
We have % scholars. Their names
are: Enice Wallace, Dele Neal, Sarah
Myers, George Myers, Edward Lewis,
Dewey McCauley, Carl Forsythe,
Elmer Lewis, Alice Forsythe, Mar
gurite Neal, Milessil McMulin, Mabel
Rheuport, Katie McCaulley, Elsie
Rheuport, Reba Lewis, Sam Myers,
Clarence McMulin and Cora McCaulley
Edna Neal age 8.
Abba Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

their back and they wear it SO long
that 1t comes to their waists and the
chiefs most always wear feathers in
their hair.
would like to exchange post cards
with any Of the juniors
Blanche Byrum,
Bell Fourch,l s.. D.,,tAlzada route.
Care OF Mrs. o. j. Bare.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

Little Myriel rushed into the house
flushed and breathless. Oh. mother
she cried don't scold me for being
late to tea. for I've had sch disap-
pointment horse fell down and they
said they were going to send for a
horse doctor so Of course had to
stay. and after I'D waited he came and
what do you think, it wasn't horse
doctor at all, 1t was only man.
Bessie Smith, age Is
Floris Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
A BOAT RACE.

A group of boys and girls were
standing on the steps of the Gains
bouro academy talking about the big
boat race which was to take place
on the next day.
There were three contestants in
the race, Jack HaseIDy, who had been
champion of the school for four years,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
THE~souvENIR CARDS.

We want the Juniors to continue
to write nice letters. The Juniors
show a. great Improvement in their
letterawrtt1ng
We.will giveea-surprise prize at the
end Of July to the Junior who writes
the best letter, as we'll as send souV-
euir.cards Whenever their stories or
letterH.appear.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
A NEW JUNIOR.
Dear Junior:

Dear Junior:
thought would write to the Jun
Tor as l have never written before.
For pets I have dog, and a sheep.
am in the sixth grade In school.
NV papa takes the Daily Courier.
like to read the story letters.
Your friend,
Clarence Oral Long, age IL,
R. F, D. No. /, Unionville, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
'HAZEL WRITES TO AGNES
BENNETT" a:..'..

Dear Junior Friend:
| will try and write you line or
two for the Nrst time to- the Junior
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
Blanche Byrul
MILDRED WRITES 70 PEARL.

Belle FOuTCne. >. ..
Alzada route, care Mrs. O. J. Bare.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
MADeE HAS 1876 LITTLE CHICKS.

Blakesburg, Ia, R. r. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
LEILA WRITES TO MAUDE.

Floris, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
THE STONE GATE.

Abba, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
DISAPPOINTED.

Carnegie, Okla, R. F. D. mol 30,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09
HISTORY OF OUR FLAG.

Abba Iowa.