davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
SOMETHING ABOUT PUMPKINS.

.
AS far back in my life as can re.
member I was little seed.
One day a farmer planted us in
cornfield. The sun shone down upon
us. The rain came and in little
while there began to grow from the
seed a little white stalk. In a little
while the ground began to burst open
and there came little leaves from un-
der the earth. And there was soon a
very large vine. Then there came a
bud. 1t burst open and there was q
yellow blossom. Soon the blossom
fell off, and little ball shaped pump
kin, and then it grew larger and larger
until it became very large pumpkin.
One day a little girl and boy came and
got me- was then baked into some
pies for Thanksgiving day.
Efie M. Howard, age IA,
Riverview Addition, Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
ETHEL FORMERLY LIVED IN OF
TUMWA.

Dear Editor:
This is my first letter to the Junior.
live in the country two miles from
Ottumwa have always lived in OF
tumwa until year ago when we NOV
ed to the country. l like the country
very we'll, but I have two miles to go
to school, My teachers name Is Helen
Garvin. I like her very much l re
ceived a pretty valentine card from
her. We have nice coasting hill ana
we live near the Des Moines river and
we have very nice time skating ana
coasting. There is a little island where
we skate and we have nice time
PLAYING on it, One day my two sisters
and piaymates went on the river with
our sleds and skates. The names OF the
ones that were with us were Mary
Treasa and Paul Hines, Cecil and Ell.
va Huffman When he would get tired
skating and coasting we would play on
the island. For pets l have two dogs.
Their names are Queen and Clip.
Queen is birddog. She is very good
to catch quails. She Is black and white.
Clip is a water spaniel. She has black
curly hair. She can shake hands and
sit up.
Ethel Huffman, age 10,
'ChillicOthe, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19

Washington was born in Virginia;
February %, 1882. From early child
hood George developed noble charac-
ter. He had vigorous constitution,
fine form, and great bodily strength.
IL his childhood he was noted for
frankness, fearlessness and moral
courage. One, time he cut down a
cherry tree. His father was very in
dignant and questioned him. George
answered, Father cannot tell lie;
cut the tree" "Come to nv heart, I
said his father, and his eyes filed
with tears, III had rather lose thou
sand trees than find falsehood in my
Is y" ~ gfa
At sixteen Washington was man
of character and almost one i'll size.
He was a good student and especially
good in mathematics. When seven.
teen the state OF Virginia employed
him as public surveyor. At the age OF
nineteen ha was one of the prominent
men of Virginia. At this time cfviliza-
ton was rapidly taking the place Of
barbarism, and the Indians were be-
coming alarmed. They held counsel
and decided to sweep every vestige OF
civilization from the land. The mill
tant force of Virginia was called to
meet this foe, and Washington, nine
teen years old, became one OF their
majors.
In this terrible war he was at
deaths door several times. However,
he did his work and returned In safe
ty to the legislature of Virginia, and
there was greeted with a burst OF ap-
plause.
When Washington WAS twenty-slx
years of age the beautiful estate OF Mt.
vernon was bequeathed to him
through Inheritance. On the sixth OF
January, 1859. he married Mrs. Martha
Custis, lady of great wealth and
beauty. Then he retired with MS
bride and her two children to Mt. Yer
non, where they spent many years OF
unbroken happiness.
Then came the great Revolutionary
war, and Washington was chosen COM
mander-in.chief. He did his work so
we'll that in 1889 he was elected BY a
unanimous vote and was inaugurated
president April -. He rename. in
this chair for two terms and after
wadrs went back to Mt. Vernon, where
he lived many years. In December,
1899, he was taken i'll with cold and
never recovered. He was buried IN
the tomb at Mt. Vernon.
Yo-r Junior friend,
Juliette Eisenbeis, age u,
401 West Park ave-,
OttumWa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
a DARK ROOM.

Dear Juniors: I thought I would
write you few lines as | have never
written before. A dark room is often
used when there are very sick people.
And when people are asleep on a hot
summers day. In dark room where
there is no light you can hardly see.
In the summer some people have the
rooms dark to keep it cool and keep
the flies from getting in and buzzing
all the time. l like to stay in dark
room and play by myself, and so no
one can tell where I am. would
rather stay in a dark room In summer
when it is nice and cool. A dark room
is always comfortable on summers
evening.
I hope all the Juniors have good
success with their letters.
Your truly,
Eve Fisher, age II,
400 Cor. Keota and Webster Sts.,
South Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
ROBERT WAS NOT A COWARD.

am always a coward in the dark
If I am the first to go to bed ! have
mamma put a lamp on the dresser
in nv room. I,guess l am afraid OF
the DOGGY man. But I know two little
girl friends that say they are not
afraid in the dark. Once there was
a little boy who was afraid in the dark
and his brothers mad sisters called
him a coward. His name was Robert.
The houses in the country where Rob
ert lived were not so thick as they are
in our country and there was more
brush. Robert always tried to obey
his mother. SO one day he went to
visit his friend, Edward. His mother
told him to come home before the
sun set. but Robert had such good
time that he forgot himself and play
ed with Edward until after sunset. He
hau dark woods to pass through. On
his way in the darl forest he saw
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
A BIRTHDAY PARTY.

It was in the year Of 1908. in which
our school, called Ben Butler school
No. 2. was going to have party on
February goth.
There were many people invited to
come to our school and each scholar
was to bring basket Of good things
to eat. All of the people were to eat
in the schoolhouse. because the din
ners were all there for them. There
was little girl whose name was Ruth
had a birthday that day; she had only
had three birthdays, but she was
twelve years old. She got many pres
ents for her birthday, because she
had missed many birthdays and she
had not gotten any presents at all.
She got many presents for her third
birthday; shot got a pair of hair RIB
bons, bracelet, pair of skates, pair
Of gloves and locket.
She was very well pleased with the
presents she got for her third birth
day.
Your Junior Friend,
Mary Sauer, age 10.
Hedrick, Ia, R. F. D. No. S.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19

pair of shining eyes in the path ahead
of him. He thought OF running back
to Edwards house, but then he
thought Of his mothers advice, SO he
went straight on. He could see 1t
moving in another direction. He ran
home and told his parents and broth.
ers what he had seen. They called
him coward, but his father took the
hired man and his gun and dogs and
went into the brush and killed the
beast. 1t was a catamount. The neigh
bors came next day from far and near
to see the animal and to hear Roberts
story. The little boy was never lied
coward again.
Celia McElroy, ;.ge 10,
r. D. No. 2,
Blakesburg, T. "a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
sroaIEs-LETTERs.
ST. PATRIcK's DAY.

It was a keen night nd March and
Miss Ainsworth, who had gone over to
the postoffice, decided not to go PACK
to the boarding house. She thought
she would go down another ALlock to
Mary Ellis and see what she was
doing. Mary taught the second grade
and Miss Ainsworth taught the fifth.
She found Mary busy with her post
cards. "What are you doing?" asked
Miss Ainsworth. "Are you making
room in your postal book to put some
new ones in there, too?" .'No, indeed,
said Mary II am sorting out thu irish
post cards. Tomorrow is the l7th,
you know, and l want something to
honor the day" "The seventeenth, :
said Miss Ainsworth, anxiously, what
day is that? Is it some ones birth
day." 1T is St. Patrick's day." said
Mary: II thought would take down
my Irish post cards and show the
children. They like to look at pic
lures and post cards. Here is view
OF Queenstown; The Dublin Fair; The
Lakes of Killarney; Blarney castle;
Kate Kerney's college; beautiful
Muckross Abbey, the finest ruin IN
Scotland, and picture of a jaunting
car. am going to tell about the fair
days, and the market women with
their little pigs scrubbed pink. and the
stockings which. the women bring IN
to SELL" What are you going to tell
about St. Patrick" said Miss Aims
worth. "Well,' said Mary, II don't
know much about him, except his ban
ishing the snakes from Ireland. So
went over to the library after school
and looked him up in one of the en-
cyclopedia. He was born in Scotland,
a few miles from Glasgow. Isn't 1t
funny to think of st. Patrick being a
Scotchman? When he was sixteen
years old he was captured by pirates
and taken to ireland, and there he
was sold. He was slave for six
wears. He had to take care OF the
snakes on the hill tops He finally es-
caped from his master and went to
France. where he lived long time.
He returned to Ireland and began his
labors there in the year 405. His life
was full Of sacrifice and hard labor. 1t
is said that he found no Christians in
ireland and that he left no heathen
His was an unselfish and noble life..'
Grace Frye, age IL,
Eddyville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
III NJ

Jim is one Of pair Of horses that
transports the children to a school,
from the suburbs to the center OF
town. He feels the responsibility OF
the barge full as much as does his
driver. His mate, Lou, never takes
much interest in the goings, on. ex'
cept occasionally to turn a jealous
eye whenever she thinks Jim is get
ting more than her share of attention.
Jim always knows when barge time
comes, in the morning, and he needs
only to hear his master say, Come,
Jim, it's time for school"
At the words he leaves his stall,
walks sedately over to where the
barge is standing, backs into the
shafts, and whinnies for Lou. The
Whitney does not always bring her,
however, for Lou Is an easy going
horse, and chooses to be led to her
place, rather than to be enriced by
any argument Of Jim's.
The children who ride on the barge
all love the horse whose large. ex
pressive eyes respond to each CHEEKY
"Good morning, JIM" and from whom
a pat on the back always elicits an
answering whinny.
Jim has one accomplishment Of
which he Is very proud; So also, are
all his companions on the barge, who
happen to know of his clever little
trick. Like a great many children
and older people, as well, Jim does
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
CECIL WAS At A BOX SUPPER.

I have never written to the Courier
Junior, so | thought I woulc write.
am little girl II years old and ave
with my uncle. go to the Comstock
school. MY teachers name is Miss
Cecilia Rowland. We have nice neigh
bors. One of our neighbors fell and
broke her arm this winter. We had a
box supper at our school this winter.
We live in the country. I study arith,
metic, geography, grammar. spelling,
and reading at school. My uncle lives
5 miles from the end on the street car
line. Yours truly,
Cecil Potter, cge II,
r. F. D. No. s,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
MlLDRED's BIRTHDAY.

Dear Editor:
Mildred aged 4, only had a birthday
every four years, SO this was her
first birthday. Her mamma invited a
few little girls over to spend the day
with her. They had very nice time
and Mildred's mamma gave each OF
them small doll to take home. They
ate pink ice cream, cake. fruit, candy
and nuts. Mildred's mamma helped
them play games. The little girls each
brought Mildred present so
she got a cup and saucer, little glass,
a blue hair ribbon, a string of pink
and white beads, doll, hat and a
ring from her mamma. new dolly
from her papa and new dress from
her grandma She and her playmates
certainly had a fine time and when
she went to bed she found bright sill
yer quarter on her pillow with happy
birthday wishes from her grandpa.
got several postals rom some
little babies and thank them very
much. have Ave postals now.
Your Baby Junior, Marjory Louise
Eisenbeis, 401 w. Park Ave.
Age 31k months. Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
LIVING ON A FARM.

This is my first letter to the Junior,
| live on a farm east Of Blakesburg
I love to live on a farm, we can have
so much fun. I have one sister and
one brother Their names are Belva
and Emery. My little brother is two
months old.
Belva and | go to school every day
that we can. 1t has been very cold
this week. We go to Mt. Carmel
school. We have to walk mile
There are twenty-five scholars in the
country school, My teachers name Is
Miss Ethel Dowd. l like her very
much.
l will be glad when summer comes
SO we can make garden. We have a
tent and we will set it up next sum
mer. Belva and I have lots of fun in
the summer. l like to go to the field
with papa.
AS my letter is getting long, l will
close.
Remaining your friend,
Ruth Hedgecock, age II,
Blakesburg, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19

not like to wait for ANYTHING, even
though it be only q drink Of water.
So he has discovered a way to let him
self out Of his box stall, without the
assistance of anyone, and waiting up
on himself.
The owner Of this intelligent animal,
having learned Of Jims independent
manner of strolling about the stable, IN
turn planned q trick whereby the
horse might find it easier to get out
of the stall than to return to 1t. So,
one day, happening to hear the horse
nosing round in his stall he concealed
himself from view and saw Jim reach
his head over from the inside, turn the
button with his teeth, push open the
door, pass out, and down the inclined
board that led to the watering trough.
Leaving his hiding place the man
hastily shut and buttoned the door,
and then returned to watch. Soon the
heavy thud of hoofs was heard climb
| ing the board, and Jim's head appear
ed in view. Having satisfied his thirst
he was now ready to return to MUNICH
Ing his hay.
Finding the door closed, which he
had left open, for minute the horse
appeared nonplused. He stood still
and pondered. II opened it once,
can again." he finally decided; and
forthwith went to work. He used his
nose this time; for Jim had to learn
that the button which he had turned
with his teeth from the inside OF the
stall required poke of the nose to
twist round from the outside.
Having accomplished the task after
considerable patient effort, the horse
gave satisfied whinny as his moor
beats echoed down the stable while
he settled himself into his stall again
like the we'll trained animal that ne
was Ever since, Jim has had the
run of the stable, and goes and comes
at will The Morning otar'
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
Big Sam and Little
Sam

Big Sam is my father
And Little Sam is me,
Though my truly baptized name
Is different as can be.
That is Mortimer.
When / was a baby wee
And had no name at all.
Mother said, We'll call him Sam
For you, dear Samuel.
That will just be fine"
But father said: mo, no.
My dear, they'd call me Big Sam,
And this boy here would always be,
l fear, just Little Sam.
That is hardly fair"
So they called me Mortimer,
And called me by it too,
Until my grandma visited,
When was half past two.
First time that she'd seen me.
She'd never heard what father said
Before had a name,
But il she had. he said he guessed
She'd acted just the same.
This Is what she said:
"Why, you look just exactly like
Your pa when he was small.
Ny! can't call you Mortimer,
1t won't seem right at all.
You are Little Sam.
And then the others in the house
Said Mortimer was long
For such tiny boy, so they
Would help the thing along,
And call me Little Sam.
So Big Sam is my father,
And Little Sam is me,
But he says if grow SO fast
He wonders who he'll be,
For I'll be Big Sam soon.
Constance M. Wright.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
OTTUMWA IOWA MARCH 1910.

know he was doing any harm. Pretty
soon George came to the house. His
father went out to see the orchard.
When he saw his best tree chopped
down he went to the house and asked
who did it. At that time George was
standing in the door. He saw his faith
sob aloud. He said Father did it. !
didn't know / was doing any harm.
though. His father picked him up and
said. This is the boy for me-" Then
Georges father said he would rather
have his cherry tree cut down than to
have his dear boy tell lie. And
George never told a lie after that nor
he didn't chop down any more OF his
fathers cherry trees.
Mamie Davidson age 10,
KirkYille, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
FLOYD GOES TO SCHOOL.

Dear Juniors:
The spring term of school commenc-
ed last Monday. / like to go to school.
I have a mile and a half to &c %
school. I received prize at school
for not missing any. like to read the
stories in the Courier Junior. I have
little brother twof years old. His name
is Glenn. like to coast but my sled Is
not very good. I have had it ever
since I was three years old. I ha, Z
over a hundred post cards. My brother
Glenn has eight.
Floyd Harshman, age 9
LihertYYille, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
THE GATES BROS. HAVE RED
HAIR.

Dear Juniors-This year will mako
two years for me. have been goina
to school two years. am in the third
grade. My teachers name is Miss
Alta Smith. She is a good, kind
teacher She has taught me two
terms. have two brothers My broth.
ers and me have red hair and we all
have brown eyes. My biggest brother
IS four years of age and have little
baby brother l have not been tardy
once this year. would like to tx
change postals with the juniors.
Francis Opal Gates, age I,
Unionville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
MAMIE'E TELEPHONE STORY.

Dear Editor: -
will write a telephone story. Nam
ma. papa, my two sisters and myself
were visiting at Walter Hentge's one
sunday. One Of my sisters and Lois
Hentz went to see the old place where
we used to live and their baby Ruth
two years old, saw them going across
the pasture where there were some
hay stacks She got IN to the tele-
phone and taking down the receiver
began 70 talk. saving Sister, if you
don,t come home from that hay
stacks baby is going to cry" Then she
acted as If she was going to cry and
would call her sister again. We all
laughed at her.
Thressie Davis, age 10,
Floris, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
HELEN AND LEILA FRIENDS.

Dear Juniors:-I am little girl 10
years old. My name is Helen Schwartz.
] go to the Irving school. am in the.
fourth room in the A class. My pets
are a dog, a cat and a bird. stop at
my friends house on the way home
from school. go to the South Ottum.
wa Baptist Sunday school. My friend
that go with is Leila Goehring. She
is my age and size.
Well that is all am going to write
this time.
Your loving friend.
Helen Schwartz.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
WANT GOOD LETTERS.

We especially want to have good
letters, We will give surprise prize
at the end OF March to the Junior VINO
writes the best letter, as well as seno
Easter cards whenever their stories or
letters appear. ;.
Write on the following subjects II
Won do not want to write letters.
MY GARDEN.
THE ORIOLE.
THE FIRST SPRING FLOWERS.
AN EASTER PARTY.
EASTER DAY At SUNDAY
SCHOOL.
nv NEW EASTER DRESS.
AN EASTER HAT.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
RUTH, AGE 8, CELEBRATES HER
SECOND BIRTHDAY.

Ruth arose early on February 29th.
The sun shone brightly on her bed.
She went to her mother and told her
ii was her birthday and said she wish
eel that they would have a party for
her. Sure enough at p. m. the lie
girls began to come and each one gave
her present. There were one dozea
suests present and they were repaid
for their presents. Each one received q
Lincoln penny that was worth 25c and
al said they had splendid time. Ruth
will ,.e> e1 forget this part. becaus.
sh, got beautiful amethyst ing and
she thanked her mother for giving 1t
to her.
Alden Doud, age IL.
bonds -T.eandO. Ia. !.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
BANANAS.

Dear Junior:
Bananas are very nice fruit They
grow in California My papa and
mamma have cousins in California
| love bananas very much. have
an aunt that doesn't care very much
for bananas, but my uncle likes them
very much.
Bananas are not good when they
are green, nor very good when too
ripe.
MY papa takes the Ottumwa Courier
three times week, but I like the
Saturday paper the best.
Grace Miller, ager IL
r. F. d. No. Z. Abba. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19

Dear Editor and Juniors:
I will write story about red pep
pers.
Once there was two little girls that
wanted to make their lips very red. AS
they went up town they saw some red
pepper. They got one, put some on
their lips. OF course it burned but
they didn't mind that. They let It
burn but after while their lips were
as red as fire. They decided then that
they would not try to make their lips
red that way again.
This Is true story.
Jessie Howard, age IA,
10 West Wash, ST., Box 763 Abba.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
HAZEL Is IL YEARS OLD.

Dear Editor:
am IL years old. I have two broth
ers Their names are William and
John. We live on Kings Valley fruit
farm. I am in the sixth grade. MY
teachers name is Mr.. Walter Winni-
ford. I like him fine. We have been
having spelling contests and Mabel
Boyle and myself were the only ones
that got to enter it. For pets have a
little pony. His name is Dapple. He
gets kind Of mean sometimes. One day
was taking milk over to Mr.. Hays
and he threw me and kicked me. I
have never received a card from the
Junior.
Hazel Whipple, age IL,
Wren, Oregon.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
BUSTER AND FLORA GLEN'S PETS

Dear Junior:
I have received three postals from
the Courier Junior: I have for pets a
dog, cat and colt. My dogs name is
Flora l go to school every day and
have neither been tardy nor absent. My
schoolmates are Dale Clark, Ralph
Wolfe and Johnnie Elliott. l am in the
second reader. I like to go to school.
NV teachers name is Miss Baker. ]
like her very we'll. I have four sisters
and no brothers. AS this is all / can
think of Twill close.
Glenn Gilyeart, age s,
Route No. g. Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
JENNIE TOOK PART IN THE
WASHINGTON PROGRAM.

Dear Editor
As haven't written to the Courier
Junior for long time, | thought |
would write about our Washington
program at school. Our school was
out last Friday. My teachers name is
Edward Huxford. We had long pro-
gram. Nearly all the speeches were
about Washington. There were seven
teen visitors at our school. I will
close.
Your Tri-Weekly Junior,
Jennie Plank,
North English, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
ROLLIE WILL BE GLAD TO GET A
CARD TOO.

Dear Editor:
AS 1 have never written to the Jun
ior will send a few lines. ! have one
brother and one sister. Their names
are Earl, age 10, and F'reida, age 5.
We have no school at present. Earl
and have a wagon that we hitch a
horse to. Then we drive to the woods
and get the wagon full of wood. We
have colt. i broke it to ride. She will
soon be three years old. Her name is
Daisy. My birthday is the 18th of May.
I will be glad to get card from any
Of the Juniors.
Rollie Morrow, are IL,
Selma, Iowa.