davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
Second Prize.)
How the Gold Ring Was Lost
and Found

By Marie Pendleton, Aged IL Years, Lex
ington, Neb. Blue Side.
Little Jack was almost a year old, but
he could not walk a step or speak a word.
All he could do was to sit upon the floor
and play will blocks, and make his rub
Der doll squeak. One morning his mamma
was going to make preserves, so she took
off her gold ring and put It on the table
in the dining room. Then she left Jack
there on the floor while she went into the
kitchen. Pretty soon Daisy, the white kit
ten. came In and jumped upon the table.
When she saw the ring she whisked 1t off,
rolled 1t over the floor and had q fine time.
AT last as she was pushing 1t about in a
corner II sunk Into a small hole in the
carpet that a moth had made. She tried
TO get it again, but by and by 1t slipped
clear out Of sight, After she had done
this she strolled out of the house. Jack
had watched her movements, but as he
could not talk he was unable to report
her wrong-doing. When his mamma looked
for her ring she could not find it anywhere
and she felt very sorry. For nearly three
months that ring lay in its snug hiding
place. During that time Jack had been
growing and learning a great deal. He
could get all around the floor now. One
day when he was creeping in the corner
he found the tiny moth-hole and put his
finger into it. Then he would often go
grew larger. At last he saw something
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
The Valentine PARTY

BY Esther Knight, Aged 10 Years. 3601
Davenport, Omaha Blue Side.
1t was two days before Valentines day
and Grace and Boil Taylor were going to
have a party, Grace and Boil were twins
and they were 8 years. old. Their mamma
had planned to give them a good time be-
cause they had never had a party before.
Grace wrote invitations and Boil took them
to the houses. There were going to be
three girls and three boys. so that just
made six children. The day came at last
and the children woke up very early that
morning to help. 1t was going to be a
lovely day, so the children helped all they
could, and a half an hour before the chill
dren came Grace and Boil got all ready
and sat down in the parlor waiting. Well
the visitors came one by one until all
were there. They played nice valentine
games and then at lunch Mrs. Taylor cut
paper napkins in two pieces and passed
them 10 each child aid they had to find
partners In this way, the ones that nap
kins matched were partners. Well they
had a delightful time and Grace and
Boil did, too. When each child was ready
to leave Grace and Boil gave each one a
very pretty valentine and they never
afterward forgot that lovely valentine
party.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
Helping Mother

BY Esther Knight, Aged 10 Years, 36O1
Davenport Street, Omaha. Blue Side.
Alice liked to play very much and did
not like to work. She would go out with
her friends early in the morning and play
all day; so one day her mother was very
III and Alice went out to play anyway
and when it was drawing toward lunch
time Alice grew hungry, and the other girls
went home. She went in the house and
her brother had come home for dinner and
told Alice she would get a scolding from
her father, so Alice hurried and got the
best lunch she could, and her mother was
i'll for a long time and Alice had to keep
house, and she liked to so we'll that Alice
always helped her mother ever after.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
Maggie's Valentine

BY Dorothy Taylor. Aged 9 Years. Abbott.
Neb. Red Side.
1t was ST. Valentines day and Maggie
was waiting to get some valentines from
her schoolmates. Every year she had got
valentines, and she expected some this
year. Every time her father went TO the
postoffice and came back there were no
valentines. She had sent all Of her friends
a valentine and wondered why they did
not send her any, She went TO the nursery
and sat down by the window. Hardly had
she taken her seat when the doorbell rang
Maggie went to the door and there was a
big Pile Of valentines. They were all very
pretty. Some had lace around the edges.
The one she liked best was a plain cara
with a verse written on II.
II was from a poor little girl named
Kate smith. Maggie saw her friends run
ming away from the house as fast as they
could run. And now you see all or Mag
giles friends sent her a valentine. Mag
gie was sure they had forgot it was Val
entine day.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

penny ones were so much more attractive
that they could not choose from the
cheaper ones. Then an idea entered Toms
head. Say, Emmy" he whispered, you
know l meant to put a stamp an envelope
on the valentine so as to send 1t to you by
the postman. But s'pose 1 put the extra
pennies on the valentine-an' carry 1t to
you myself, I'll come in the morning an
ring your bell, an say: Something for
Miss Emmyv An 1t will be Just the same
as though it had really and truly come by
the postman."
"oh, that's a good idea" exclaimed
Emmy. An we can get one ever and ever
so much nicer, We can spend three cents
on 1t, can't we2'
Sure" declared Tom, Strengthening up
proudly, and ramming his little degrimed
fist into his pocket, from which he drew a
few copper coins. See. here they are"
1t didn't a k long now to make the
selection OF the valentine, and one, all gay
with Cupids and roses and a sure enough
ribbon bow in one corner was bought and
paid for, and the two happy children de-
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
The History of a Bag of Wheat

BY Renwick Mitten. Tekamah, Neb. Red
Side.
1t was on a farm away out in the coun-
try, when a bag Of wheat was sold to an
honest farmer.
He had the soil ready for planting and
the seeds were dropped into the dark
earth and covered up. They wanted to
grow out Of the dark place, but alas, they
could not till the rain and sunshine came
to help them, and when they did come,
how they did grow, so fast that even the
farmer was surprised, but they kept on
growing and growing all summer long.
When harvest time came in the fall they
were cut off near the roots, which was so
painful, but It was all over in a second.
Then they were put into something (Which
they heard the farmers son call a thresher)
and shaken badly and came out nice and
clean. They were then put into a bag of
some kind, they thought, and carried to a
place right beside a swift stream and
they were ground up. Oh, it was so awful.
Then they were sold to a baker for 50
pence. He made them into what he called
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

He's says he's making enough money so
that he an Sis can have a little fiat all
rlXed up With a carpet an sofer an phono-
graph. An wen all hear the music every
uay when we so a-vislrin' them"
Emmy's fase clouded. IF you and YOUR
Ma go in to Hive with sis after she's mar
ried to Handsome Peter" she said sadly
'whatll become of me? III get that lone
some, Tom, without you. You are my best
friend"
well l want to be your best frlen',"'
declared Tom candldly. AN no matter
how rich l might ever get to ba you'u AL
ways be my bes' friend. An after we've
growed up as big as Sis an Handsome
Peter we'll get engaged like they are. if
I'm rich enough to take a flat and have a
carpet an a sofer an a photograph"
An then you'n send me valentines
every day, won't YOU" asked Emmy,
polishing her penny on her apron. my
ma used to get valentines when she was a
young lady. An she says at Pa always
sent her a valentine-even after they was
married-til he died, Then he couldn't
send 'em any more. An Pas been dead
for three years-an' I'm T."
AN I'm g." said Tom, standing to dis
play his great size. but, say, Emmy.
shall we go and pick out the valentine? ."
Yes. Wen go down to old Crooked
backs shop in the next street" said
Emmy. He has lots an lots OF valen-
tines for a penny each"
Tommy buttoned up his patched over
coat, Strengthened his cap on his ~head-for
he knew what ~gallantry was, and meant
TO look his best when walking beside his
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

play sweetheart-and said; Tn ready,
Emmy"
Together they went down the street, and
Emmy asked how many papers Tom had
sold that morning, for Tom was n city
newsboy, one of those little fellows on
whose shoulders rest the burdens of max
ing a living for themselves, and some
times having to add a few dimes to the
family I'M
''Well, I've done pretty well, lately"
confided Tom. Il make about % cents a
day. an go to school besides. That's
better'n working all day an going to
night school, isn't it?'
But, why aren't you to school how?"
asked Emmy.
For the same reason at you are at
home" smiled Tow. ITS Saturday"
Emmy laughed at the joke on herself,
and then they entered the shop of Crook
ed-back," a queer, black-eyed old hunch-
back, who was so often the victim of bad
Ohlldren's pranks and ugly jests. There
the two little ones looked over the assort-
ment of penny valentines, but the two
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
A Fairy Story

BY Erma M. Bressman, Aged 10 Years, 1881
Emmett Street, Omaha. Red Side.
A long time ago a man in England sent
his boy to school. The boy went for a
year and started back to his home, which
was about fifty miles through the woods.
About half way home he was captured by
a witch. The witch took away his knowl-
edge and put the knowledge of a dog in
his brain and then let him go.
He wandered about till he came to a
castle which was guarded by a dog. The
dog told him that a boy who could talk
the dog language would come to the castle
and this boy was his nephew. The boy
told him that he could talk the dog Ian
guage. Then the dog took the boy before
the people and told the people about the
boy. The people then crowned him king.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
The Fairy Queen
BY Margaret Matthews, Aged 9 Years, 2s
California Street, Omaha, Neb.
Red Side.

BY Margaret Matthews, Aged 8 Years, 2S2S
California Street, Omaha, Neb.
Red Side.
There was once a fairy queen. She was very
kind and lived in the middle of dense woods,
and she had power to do everything. WheQ
little children got lost She would send J
flying horse to them and 1t would bring
them to her palace. Her palace was OF
gold and the furniture was made Of silver.
She had beautiful pictures hanging on the
walls. The palace was so large one could
not see it all in less than one day, Every
one who came to her palace wanted to
stay there. One evening when she was
sitting on the piazza enjoying the cool
air, she heard her magic gong ring. This
was how she knew some one was lost.
Immediately she sent her flying horse to
find them. When he came back no was
carrying a little girl about 10. She had
yellow, flossy curls and blue eyes. The
queen took her to a beautiful room. shel
told her to ring the bell at the side Of the
door IL she wanted anything. The next
morning she got up and saw before her
a table covered with lovely things 70
breakfast. After breakfast the queen
told the little girl she must start on her
journey again, So the queen gave her a
piece Of paper and told her not to lose 1t
or she would get lost again. Later in
the morning the gong rang again. When
her flying horse came back he was carry
Ing a little girl that looked the same -
the other one. She asked the queen IL
she would let her go TO her sister. She
said her sister looked just like her, and
that they both were going to their home.
She said they were daughters Of the king
and queen OF the nearest city. The queen
gave her a paper and told her not to lose
IL and she would find her sister, The little
girl went away and soon found her sister.
They sald, Let's go back TO the fairy
queens palace. SO they did, When they
got back into the woods they got lost \,
The lying horse was sent, They rode To-
the palace and the queen asked them why
they went back into the woods. and they
told her. The queen asked them why they
did not want TO go home. They said their
father and mother did not love them and
sent them away. So the queen let them
stay there They lived happily syag,Gfter.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

parted. 1t was agreed that Tom should keep
the valentine and deliver it according TO his
plan in the morning. So, at Emmy's steps
they parted company and Tom entered his
own house.
He had just time to lay the valentine
away carefully and was fixing up the fire
In the cooking stove when the door opened
and in walked a very nice looking old
gentleman.
rs this where Mrs. Johnson-Mrs Mary
Johnson lives?" asked the stranger.
Yes. sir; she's my mother" answered
Tom. She'll be home In a few minutes" he
explained. "She an Sis work across the
street in that box factory. an they come
home for lunch. It's time for-ah, there
they are now. I hear 'em talking to Mrs.
Brown, on the floor below"
We'll, then you Just go and tell them
to hurry up" smiled the old gentleman,
land say that you have a valentine wait
ing for them. Seer Say a valentine, for this
is ST. Valentines Eve, my boy"
Tom was mystifled, but knew that the
old gentleman was all light, for his face
was so merry and kindly. So, running to
the hall, he called down to his mother and
sister: Hurry up, folks, for I've got
a-a-big valentine waiting for you up here"
Listen to the boy joke laughed Mrs,
Johnson. Sure, that Tommy OF mine Is
the greatest boy on earth, he's always SO
happy and But here they We're now
entering their own room, and Mrs. Johnson
started back at sight Of the old gentleman.
why, Uncle Toni" she cried. Where did
YOU come from?'
I'm your valentine" he explained. Il
came In to bring you good news. I've struck
1t rich in my mining ventures out west,
an here / am, come TO do what l can for
my only sisters child. How goes It with
you. Mary2"
And then as eXlauations and happy con-
versation followed, Mrs, Johnson making
some tea and spreading some luncheon,
Tom slipped TO the house next door, and
getting Emmy, led her to his own abode,
whispering: We've got a sure enough
valentine, Emmy, and the best In the
world. An maybe he'll give me the extra
pennies 80 that / may send your valentine
by the postman, after all. Won't that be
great?
And Emmy, all excitement over the news
Of the newly arrived rich old uncle, de-
clared that she was lust too happy for
anything, for now Tom might have the
chance 10 learn that he had always
wanted" And then she added: AN IN be
your valentine, Tom, so as you can't say
you didn't get one, See?"
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
Mary's Dream About Fairies

BY Emma Bressman, 1881 Emmett Street.
Omaha, Neb. Red Side.
One sunny day Mary lay in the hammock
reading. It was not long before her book
fell out Of her hand and she was sound
asleep.
Mary" said a sweet voice. do YOU
want 10 go to the fairies ball?'
Yes, ! would" answered Mary. "Au
right, then, come get into my chariot and
you shall go II you will promise not to
hurt any Of US" "Oh. l wouldn't hurt
anyone" answered Mary. "Then / will
make you small like me-
So off they started. Then soon STONED
in front Of a beautiful palace, made OF
gold, set with precious stones, diamonds.
rubies and sapphires. Then they started
TO dance. When Mary awoke she heard
her mother calling her to supper. Then
Mary went in and told her mother about
her dream. When she got through, her
mother agreed with her that It was a very
nice one.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

shining down among the loose threads ana
he pulled out the lost ring. He crept to
his mamma and held 1t up to her and, oh,
how surprised she was! Where did Jack
get it?' she exclaimed. Then he crept
back into the corner and showed her the
hole in the carpet; but she could not think
how the ring ever got there. When his
sister, Wenonoha, came from school and
heard about it, she said, II believe Daisy
was the rogue that lost it, for yesterday
she pushed my ring off the table and rolled
1t over the floor for a long time" So
they agreed that this was the way the
mischief had been done.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

UWAA0kANlH dl every WllutWs oNdiiulhS Oh
- steps of the house adjoining
was little Emmy, Toms playmate and
neighbor.
See" said Emmy, "Ive got a penny to
buy a valentine with and the little girl
held up a copper coin for Toms inspection.
Mamma gived 1t to me. She said l might
buy myself a valentine. Won't that be
nicer"
Eyes, Emmy, it'll be awful nice to have
a valentine. But 1t would be nicer IL some
one should send It to you. wouldn't it2
You see, st. Valentines day is for boys to
send valentines to their sweethe arts. Now,
. s'posen you should let me take the penny,
and I'll go and buy the valentine and send
It TO you-just as though 1 was your sure
enough sweetheart. See?'
Emmy considered the matter a moment.
. cycling the penny wistfully.@ You see, Tom,
= I'd thought OF buying the one l like best
Of making my own pick, you know, That
would be lots of fun. Buff YOU want to
pertend at being my weetheart-which
maybe you are, for you are the incest and
best boy in the block. an the only one
mamma will let me play with-why, 1 don't
mind your buying the valentine, il youn
just allow me to pick It cut"
That's fair said Tom. eager to have
a hand in the purchase of the valentino,
You see, Emmy. 1 just want to make II
rice for you TO get a valentine brought by
the postman. Won't that be great?"
"oh-o-o! DO you mean TO put a stamp
on II, and send II by the ~postman2' cried
Emmy, jumping up and down and clapping
her hands. "Oh. wouldn't that be Just too
lovely for anything? oh. Tom. you're an
eWful good boy, and when we're growed up
you may be my s~ure-enough sweetheart
that is, if you always stay as good then as
YOU are now"
"Oh, Ill be much better when I'm
growed up declared Tom proudly. II
mean 20 be a rich man some day-maybe
own a factory like Ma and Sis work In
a pasteboard factory. But when 1 get one
IN not be mean to the people what work
for me making boxes. for III remember
how my poor Ma and Sister had TO work
so hard and have such a mean boss what
used TO grind 'em down and down till
they hardly made a living. An Til pay
my people good wages. too. an build nice
comfortable houses for 'em to live in 50
their little children won't have TO sit out
On the doorsteps-like you an me are doing
now--to get warm by the sun. No, II
mske everybody what works for me happy.
= cause they'll have plenty TO eat an wear
an nice houses with lots OF big windows
IN 'em, an yards Of green grass in front
. An then IN send lots Of valentines to poor
children. You know. Emmy. 1 never had a
valentine in my life. Sis got one last year
her observation-disclosures Peter-sent It TO her
You know Handsome Peter and Sis are
engaged. An they'll be getting married in
the spring. An Sis says she'n do lots for
Ma and me then, for Handsome Peter Is
pardner IN a rester-ant over in Block street
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
Ariel's Captivity and Freedom

By Ann Axtell, Aged . Years, 41S South
Fortieth Street, Omaha, Neb.
Blue Side.
Once, long ago, there lived on an en-
chanted island an old witch named Asair.
There were many sprites on this island,
such as sprites of water, sprites of song,
but the one 1 am going to tell about is
Ariel, a delicate little sprite Of air which
the old witch held in captivity because he
would not run on her hateful errands.
He was shut up in a pine tree and left
to moan to the winds. BY and by the old
witch Asair died, leaving Ariel shut up in
the pine tree.
But after long years a man named
Orlando was cast upon the island.
Orlando was kind of a magician, and he
soon set Ariel free.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

Jean De Long, A%insworth, Neb.
Irene Mccoy, Barnston, Neb.
Lillian Mervin, Beaver City, Neb.
Mabel Witt, Bennington. Neb.
Anna Gottsch, Bennington. Neb.
Minnie Gottsch, Bennington, Neb.
Agnes Dampke, Benson, Neb.
Marie Gallagher, Henkelman, Neb. (BcN ~.
Ida May, Central city, Neb.
Vera Cheney, Creighton. Neb.
Louis Hahn, David city, Neb.
Aleda Bennett, Elgin, Neb.
Eunice Bode, Falls City, Neb.
Ethel Reed, Fremont, Neb.
Hulda Lundburg. Fremont. Neb.
: Marion Caps, Gibson, Neb.
Marguerite Bartholomew. Gothenburg, Neb.
Anna Voss, 4G West Charles Street, Grand
Island, Neb.
Lydia Roth, COS West KoenIg street, Grand
Island, Neb.
Ella Voss. 4O7 West Charles street, Grand
Island, Neb.
Irene Costello, 115 West Eighth street,
Grand Island, Neb.
Jessie Crawford, 46 West Charles street,
Grand Island. Neb.
Pauline Schultz, ~ West Fourth street,
Marina srann Marphy Ns sss East Ninth street.
Grand Island, Neb.
Hugh Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Hester h. Rutt, Leshara, Neb.
Alice Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Ruth Temple, Lexington, Neb.
Anna Nelson, Lexington, Neb.
Edythe KreitZ, Lexington, Neb.
/. Marjorie Temple. Lexington, Neb.
Marian Hamilton, 2O29 l. St, Lincoln, Neb.
Elsie Hamilton. 2029 l. St, Lincoln, Neb.
Irene Disher, 2O30 L street, Lincoln, Neb.
Hughie Disher, 2030 l. street, Lincoln, Neb.
Charlotte Boggs, 227 South Fifteenth street.
Lincoln, Neb.
Mildred Jensen, 7B East Second street,
Fremont, Neb.
Helen johnson, 1874 South Seventeenth
street, Lincoln, Neb.
Althea Myers, pa North Sixteenth street,
Lincoln. Neb.
Louise Stiles, Lyons, Neb.
Estelle Mcdonald, Lyons, Neb.
Milton Seller, Nebraska City, Neb.
Harry Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb.
Harvey Crawford, Nebraska City, Neb.
Lucille Hazen, Norfolk, Neb.
Helen Reynolds, Norfolk, Neb.
Letha Larkin, So. Sixth St. Norfolk, Neb.
Emma Marquardt, Fifth street and Madi-
son avenue, Norfolk, Neb.
Gencvieve M. Jones, North Loup, Neb.
William Davis, 221 West Third street,
North Platte, Neb.
Louise Raabe, 2609 North Nineteenth ave-
nue., Omaha.
Frances Johnson. 9Ss North Twenty-fifth
avenue, Omaha,
fifth avenue, omaha.
Emile Brown, 1922 Boulevard, Omaha.
Helen Goodrich. 1910 Nicholas St., Omaha.
Mary Brown, 1922 Boulevard, Omaha.
Eva Hendee. A0 Dodge street, Omaha.
Lillian Writ, ass Cass street, Omaha.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
MAYS Surprise Party

BY Anna Noss, Aged u years, ~ west
Charles Street, Grand Island Neb.
Blue Side.
MIary's birthday was the next day and
she was TO be 8 years old. SO May went
to mother and asked her II she could have
u party and Mrs. Jones Mays mother)
said. no, dear; 80 and play and be a nice
girl"
May ran off TO play. So Mrs. Jones
thought she would have a surprise party
on May and have eight girls about the
age OF May, and MAJ would be the ninth
girl, as that was Nays age. So Mrs.
Jones wrote the invitations and sent them
70 the girls. When the next day came all
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

1. write plainly on enc side of the
paper only ana number the pages.
q. Use pen and ink, not pencil
2. short and pointed articles viii
be given preference. DO not use over
aBo words.
4. Original stories or letters only
Will be used.
3. Write your name, age and ad-
dress at h top Of the nrSt page.
First and second prizes Of books
win be given for b best " CON-
tributions 20 this pare each week.
Address all communications TO
CKnDGEM's DHPABTnEENT,
Omaha Bee.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

the girls were to arrive at 2;SO o'clock and
1t was now 2 O'Clock. So Mrs. Jones calleAi
May to her and told her her brother was
going to take her for a ride and May en-
joyed her ride very much, and when she
came home she found the parlor full OF
girls. They played lots of games and
lunch was served and when the girls were
going home they said they never had such
a good time as they had then. When night
came May told her mother that she was
glad that she did as her mother told her.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

bread and baked them: and, oh, how II
burnt their skin. But they did not care
when they came out so pure and white.
Just think Of It, twenty-five beautiful
ioaves.
They were then sold to many different
people to cat and the good farmer had 70
coppers.
Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-20

Chicago. He is president Of the Pullman
Car company. His name is Robert Todd
Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln was president
of the United States in tine years of 1851
to 1864. He was shot in Ford's theater
April IA, 1865, and died April Is, 1865. His
memory is kept by celebrating his birth
day, February IL.