davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
"Thank You"

By Agnes Kane, Aged II Years. Care o. N.
Kane, Wisner, Neb.
Several winters ago a woman was coming
out from some public building when the
heavy door swung back and made the
egress somewhat difficult little street
urchin sprung to the rescue and as he held
the door open she said. Thank you" and
passed on,
Dye hear that?" said the boy to a
companion.
mo. What?'
why, that lady said thank ye, to the
likes o. me-"
Amused at the conversation which she
could not help overhearing, the lady turned
around and said TO the boy. 1T always
pays to be polite, my boy remember that"
Years passed away, and last December
when doing her Christmas shopping, this
same lady received an exceptional courtesy
from a clerk in Boston whom she thanked.
Pardon me, madam. but you gave me
my first lesson in politeness a few years
ago."
The lady looked at him in amazement,
while he related the little, forgotten Incl
dent, and told her that that simple thank
you" awakened his first ambition to be
something in the world. He went the next
morning and applied for a situation as Of
flee boy in the establishment where he was
now an honored and trusted clerk.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

and my mother (since roses are all femi-
nine) descended from that bush. When the
wind. which I can never forgive killed
my mother her soul was taken by some
human being, who placed It deep in a box
OF earth. The souls OF other roses were
tended to in the same way We were then
sent to place where they cultivate young
bushes, called nursery II a soul is care
fully tended a bush will come up, so II was
not long before the bush upon which I
grew was ready TO be sold. Many others
were ready, too and were done up In bun
dies each containing three or four bushes
1 was tiny baby bud at the time we
were taken to the store, but remember
how two or three days afterward we were
sold and planted in the garden of this
house. Day by day I grew larger and
every one who visited the garden admired
me, But alas will be admired no more!
This heat is killing me! See, my dress 10
falling apart and that is a sign of death.
Adieu, forever!' The pansies turned their
heads, since they hated to witness the
death OF their friend
Such was the beginning and end OF this
elegant American Beauty rose.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

feet. daisy had on white stockings and
slippers)
"Oh, it's a fairy!' whispered Chubby to
himself. Then his tears ceased to flow and
he ran quite close to the body of old Elmy
and looked up for several seconds. His
blue eyes grew big and round, and his tiny
bosom swelled. Surely, this was fairy he
saw in the tree-top. His mamma had told
him fairy stories very often. told them as
goodnight stories to put him to sleep.
But Chubby had never hoped to see a
fairy, never And here he was, looking
straight at one in big green tree, And
the fairy was singing to him!
Then Chubby decided to do something.
"Dood fairy" he called out in his baby
voice, "dood fairy, Please tum down an
take poor C'ubby home. Poor C'ubby' S
lost. He's been crying very hard for his
mamma"
And then it was that Daisy, golden haired
Daisy, looked down and beheld the little
round figure at the foot OF old Elmy.
Who're your? she questioned, bending
over and looking into Chubbys ball-shaped
face.
"C'ubby," the little man replied. "Pease.
fairy, come down an take C'ubby to his
home"
Daisy laughed at being called fairy. But
somehow it both flattered and pleased her.
And she decided not to tell the cute little
boy that she was an ordinary little girl for
fear he would run away. If he thought her
a fairy, he'd stay a while and play
Wait, I'll come down." cried Daisy.
And she went down the steps on the trees
trunk like squirrel And Chubbs mar
yelled at her activity. Oh, how he wished
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

flaming building. Then followed a rush
a striking together of ladders and the drag
ging OF hose. Then they Kissing OF water
and flame
Drowned by this was the frantic voice OF
a woman: Let me go, 1 say. l must get
her-Ruth. Ruth is in there. She couldn't
COME out alone and we forgot. She'll be
burned. will gol" 7ta .,.e
She felt hand touch her arm. Listen"
said voice. Tell me whore and I'll get
her. Stay here, I say, will 60"
In answer the woman pointed to a win
dow, to which a ladder was raised and
someone assembled. A mere boy. he seemed
but who other OF all those men would
enter that window from which smoke and
flames rolled in heavy showers. No one
ever knew just what went on beyond the
flames.
In her mothers arms now rested little
Ruth. But where was he, that boy? They
could not find him anywhere, for as he
handed the struggling child through the
window down, down had sunk the floor
beneath him and he had fallen in the
burning mass below.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
(Second Prize.)
A New Busy Rec
Dorothy Anderson, Aged 10 Years, 2l71
West Third Street, Grand Island,
Neb. Red Side.

Dorothy Anderson, Aged 10 Years, 2l71k
West Third Street. Grand Island
Neb. Red Side.
This is my first Sunday in Nebraska.
My papa bought an Omaha Bee today and
took pleasure in reading the little Busy
Bees page and thought you might like to
hear from little stranger in Nebraska.
We came here from eastern Iowa and
are going 10 make this our home, so you
-Ssay hear from me often.
1 am 10 years old and have just finished
the fourth grade in school There were
twenty-five boys and girls in my class.
One day our teacher took us out to the
river for a picnic. Some of the boys took
fishhooks and lines, some base balls and
bats and they enjoyed themselves fishing
and playing ball.
We girls played games and wove baskets
Of willow and grass stems. One of the
boys killed a big water snake and fright
ened the teacher and us girls with It, A
farmer living near our picnic grounds
brought us some nice ripe apples and a
large bucket OF milk. He let some of us
ride his pony.
We went home about 4:SO o'clock in the
evening tired and dusty. but glad we had
gone with our teacher for an outing.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
The Consequence.

By Madeline Cohn, Aged 10 Years, 1902 Parl,
Avenue. Omaha Red Side.
Mrs. Wright was very good woman, or
rather some might think that of her
noticed one bad or weak point In her char
acter, which is she was fond OF her only
child, Helen, and so was the father. But
she never thought of the wrong she was
doing not only TO the father but to the
child She liked to have picnlcs, thus she
needed warm, nice weather.
The angels noticed her very much and
they were thinking what they could do
for Mr.. Wright, who worked very hard for
his family
One day 1t was warm and the blossoms
were on the trees. Mrs. Wright thought
they could go to the woods for a picnic
where there was such q delightful odor
But something occurred which prevented
1t. She then thought, II have promised It
to Helen and we will go tomorrow"
Then the fairies had their chance. "Oh,"
said one, Il know, let us send her a dream. ="
They all sat down, since they all liked her
PLAN to consider what dream TO send her
At last they agreed Ito say exactly, some
did mott to send her this dream
When Mrs. Wright closed her eyes the
ground was one mass OF ice and snow.
oh" she said in her sleep, what a day
for picnic! Jane, want you to find out
from the weather man what this means"
And after while Jane, the maid, brought
back this note:
Dear Madam: 1 am sorry to state that
Mother Nature will allow Father Time no
control OF the Earth, their child. Il is time
for spring, but Father Time has nothing
to say when Mother Nature says. 1T shall
be winter" And so you see It is winter.
Yours truly, II. b. ANDREWS"
Mrs. Wright opened her eyes and saw
her daughter turning off the alarm. cit is
good he did not stop the clock"
What did you say, motherY" she asked
And then her mother related her dream
Helen was 10 years old and understood
when her mother explained what they de-
prived Mr.. Wright OF. They did not tell
him, but they acted II.
The fairies were pleased with their sue
cess, but who knows even now II the fairies
intended II only for Mrs. Wright or for
everyone. But leave this question TIL
you answer. What would be the eonse-
quence II her dream was truer
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

he might climb a tree-or come down a
tree, rather-like the fairy did.
Once on the ground, Daisy looked Chubby
over, and Chubby locker her over. They
both seemed plueased, for Daisy smiled and
Chubby came close to her and cautiously
touched her. He feared that IL he were
rough she might disappear into thin air.
Fairies had a way Of doing that
Then Chubby made Daisy understand that
he had wandered away from the big house
on the cliff where he lived with his papa
and mamma. Daisy asked his name and he
told her in a very manly way. I'm Mas
tab C'ubby Sniff"
"And have you got your tag?" asked
Daisy, looking for a string around his
neck. Daisy always wore her tag"
/ "Yes'm," replied Chubby. And he drew
from beneath the breast Of his blue
blouse little silver tag on which was
engraved his name and his parents name
and their place OF residence. "Oh, you
live up to the Cliff House!' said Daisy
well, come along with me and I'll lead
you home. But first we must run tell my
mamma about it,"
When Daisy spoke of her mamma as a
human being Chubby was somewhat as
tonished for he supposed fairies had no
more surprised when Daisy led him up the
wide porch OF the pretty bungalow and
said 70 a lovely lady sitting there: Say,
mamma, this little boys lost. He lives up
at the Cliff House. May I take him
homer
After Daisy's mamma had kissed Chubby
three times, and called him a precious
darling" and patted his hands and head,
and told him how naughty II was for little
men to run away and get lost, she sent
Daisy to guide him to his anxious mamma
AS they walked along the road, Chubby's
fat hand in Daisy's slim, brown one.
Chubby asked for a sudden: 'Ain't you a
fairy for sure?'
Laughingly, Daisy had to confess to
him that she was just a plain little girl,
and that she would teach him how TO
climb up into old Elmy. And Chubby's
mamma was most happy to get her little
boy again for she had missed him and
was running about the grounds calling to
him. And Chubby promised her never to
go away that way again. And his mamma
said she would just love to have Daisy
come TO play with Chubby, and that she
should take him to her own home and
teach him how TO climb up into old Elmy,
And then II was that Chubby knew that
Daisy was indeed not a fairy, but lovely
golden-haired little girl with whom he
might play every day-when II was not
rAining.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

reading fairy tales, when she heard a
soft voice saying, Would you like to visit
fairyland?"
20, yes" cried Clara; there is where
always wanted to CO."
So the fairy took Clara into a nice yell
low pumpkin carnage drawn by two snow
white rabbits, which ran over clouds and
through the air until they came in sight Of
large white palace.
They drove up to the palace and stopped
by big arch made of roses and ferns. The
fairy changed Clara into a nice little fairy
dressed in long white gown and a silver
white gown and a silver wand was placed
in Clara's hand.
Next the fairy led Clara into the ball
room where many and many fairies were
dancing. The music stopped and Clara was
seated on a little red chair. She was ready
to dance when the music began.
Pretty soon it did begin and another
fairy came to her and asked her to dance
So Clara began to dance, when she felt
something pushing her. She opened her
eyes and found Baby Bess pushing her out
OF the hammock
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
When Daisy Was a Fairy

pered form was Chubby from the summer
hotel on the cliff. And he was running
about aimlessly, and sobbing softly to
himself, and rubbing his tear-wet eyes
with his two small dirty fists. Chubby
was in some sort of trouble. But Daisy
did not know it, for she did not see him.
But pretty soon Chubby saw Daisy.
He had come quite close to the big tree
old Elmy-and had heard Daisy's song.
So he looked up. And, 10! there. among
the green tree branches, sat a golden
haired creature all in white, even to the
blue-rompered form wading through the tall
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

sharps and flats and many Jiggy places.
Then 1t stopped short.
Mamma held out her hand to Matilda
and they stole to the music room door to-
gether. No one was there. Tom, the cat
lay curled up on the sofa In a doze, not
looking at all as II he had seen a ghost
So the queer little mystery stayed undis-
covered until a day or two after. Matilda
suddenly stepped right into the middle
Of It.
She was hurrying through the hall and
she heard the piano going again in that
funny way.
"Oh, my she thought. There IL the
plano playing itself again"
But she had stopped at the door, and
there was Tommy playing a tune all him
self. Tommy! Who would have thought
it? Matilda stood and watched him. He
leaped from the piano stool to the key
board and whsked lightly back and forth
In great delight at his own music. His
soft, padded toes struck the notes gently
and made funny little scales. Matilda
could not help saying "oh!" but she had
no more than said 1t than Tommy was on
the sofa, apparently sound asleep.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

BY Madeline Cohn, Aged 10 Years, 1902 Park
Avenue, Omaha. Red Side.
One day a vase OF pansies was on the
table and one large American Beauty rose
was in with them After the family had
gone the largest pansy addressed the rose
thus:
I'VE feel very much honored, Madame
Rose, in having such a large, beautiful and
sweet-smelling flower as you are in the
same vase as we are; We whom l know
you hardly notice. We wish to ask you II
It will be any trouble for you TO tell US
the history of your royal life"
At this the rose was flattered, so she
proceeded TO tell this story:
My great grandmother was the most
beautiful rose ever known 10 exist When
she grew old she died, and her beautiful
pink dress. which had so many folds, de-
cayed and fell apart. Her soul fell deep
into the earth dt is understood that seeds
are the souls OF all plantsl, and another
bush was soon started. Ny grandmother
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
(First Prize.)
Making a Goose of Myself.

BY Mary Katherine Harrison. Age II.
Tot was little girl who lived in Duck
river bottom, but she had never ventured
farther to the river than the rail fence
On day as she sat on the stile, eating
Booseberries and listening to the quackinR
laugh of ducks and geese, as they spashed
~ the water, she exclaimed, How, / wish
y were goose"
Suddenly she found herself padding
along In the cool mud under the shady
willows and sycamores and following some
web-footed tracks There were many mud
nests filled with big eggs all along the
bank. Soon she came to a little house
where the vines grew the thickest all built
OF reeds and weeds.
Tot peeped in. No one was at home. In
she walked. table was all set. There
/Nere three chairs; one big, one middle
: sized and one small. But Tot sat only in
the small reed chair until she sat the
back out. On the table were three eggs
but Tot ate and ate only of the smallest
until she ate 1t all
Getting up she saw herself in a water
mirror. Her mouth was yellow with the
yellow of the egg. TO-" laughed Tot I've
got yellow goose bill. and bless me II
here isn't pair of wings by the fireplace.
This finished me. I'm a goose. Quacki
RuackF She was so tired, though, that she
naturally Just waddled up to a row of beds
The first was too high and hard, the sec
ond too low and soft, but the third was
Just right and she lay on it and fell fast
asleep.
Soon Mr.. and Mrs. Goose and little
Cousin Duckie came home. for this was
their house.
- "Quack!" cried a big voice; some one
Mas been here"
'Quack!" cried a softer voice. Its some
Wild thing"
"Quack!" cried little voice "She broke
my chair back and ate my little snack"
an row all three marched to the beds.
4"QuackP cried the little voice. Here $
wild goose in my feather stack"
NUp jumped Tot, really looking very wild
az the kissing, yellow bills so near her
face.
What WINGS" quacked little duckie.
This reminded Tot that she had wings
and out the window she flew back to the
stile. There her mother found her waving
her arms so frantically that she shook
her and asked, Whatever are you doing?''
o." laughed Tot, waking up, for she
had only dreamed all this, i've been
making a goose OF myself"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
The Mysterious Player.
By Eta Faier, Aged 10, 514 South II
Street, Omaha.

By Eta Faier, Aged 10, 514 South Tenth
Street, Omaha.
Matilda" mamma called softly.
Don't dear. Baby's just beginning to
get sleepy"
The sharp little patter Of trills and scales
on the piano kept on.
Matilda, stop playing at once!
Mammals voice was now a command, but
still the notes of the piano continued. She
did not dare to get up because baby was
almost asleep. At last the noise stopped.
Matilda tip-tped into the room.
Matilda" said mamma gravely didn't
you hear me tell you to stop drumming
on the piano?'
"Why, 1 never, mamma" whispered Ma
tilda surprised. IT haven't been in the
music room at ALL"
Then 1t must have been Olivia, but 1t
didn't sound like her. She really plays
little tunes"
"Oiivia is out in the hammock, mamma"
Why" mamma said. And the boys
are gone. Who could. Hark!
The sound of notes again running up
and down the keyboard. Matlda's eyes
grew large with astonishment.
It was a queer tune, with many kinds of
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30

these trees. Mothers gone and we can be
down before she gets back
IAN right" assented Walter.
They had been up in the tree about
twenty minutes when Walter exclaimed:
oh, Marie! there comes mother. Hurry
down, do"
Such a scramble to get down, but Marie
was higher up than Walter. She had taken
but one step when she slipped and fell to
the ground. Her mother saw her and ran
forward Marie broke her left arm just
above the elbow
That night after the doctor had dressed
1t and gone and everybody had gone to
bed Marie thought: THAT fall did me
more good than any scolding or whipping
could have done. I'll learn to obey what
I'm told now"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
Marie's Resolution.

By Peare Mae Warne, Aged 13 Years
Gretna, Neb. Blue Side.
One day Marie and Walter Harrison were
playing in the front yard in the shade OF
several tall ash trees
They had been playing there for about
an hour when Marie exclaimed
Say, Walter let's climb these trees
I'll climb this one and you climb the one
next to it,"
"Oh, no, don't" replied Walter. Mother
told us not to Just this morning"
walter is right" called their mother
from the parlor window, where she had
overheard what they had said. II do not
want you to climb those trees. 1 am afraid
you will fall"
No more was said about 1t until half an
hour later they saw their mother going
down to the store.
''oh, Walter" said Marie. let's do climb
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
RULES FOR YOUNG WRITERS

1. Write plainly on one side Of the
paper only and number the pages.
2. Use pen and ink, not pencil.
3. Short and pointed articles win
be given preference. Do not use
over 260 words.
4. Original storiss or letters only
will be used.
3. Write your name, age and
address at the top Of the first page.
First and second prizes of books
VIII be given for the best two con-
tr1bution5 to this page each week.
Address all communications to
CHHDREN'S DEPARTEENT
Omaha Bee, Omaha, Nsb,
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
Honorable Mention.)
NV Doves.
BY Willie Laubsoher. Aged IL Years, Rufu

BY Willie Laubscher, Aged II Years, Rufus,
ore.
I have about thirty doves and have a
little house for them The old doves come
and feed the young ones. They catch bugs
and grasshoppers. I watch them water the
little ones-they bring a drop TO every
young one. / have six tumbler doves. 1t
is fun to watch them. They fly nearly out
OF sight in the aid and then tumble down.
] have white doves, blue. gray, and had
- black dove. but he died I have dove
that win eat out Of my hand, but she gets
Bcarey once in awhile
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30


49, But to begin with, let me in
troduce to you Daisy, dear little golden
haired grille Of s. and Chubby a dear little
chap of 6. Daisy's home was a lovely big
roomed bungalow among giant trees in
the rear and rose bushes and lilacs in the
front, and a vast green grassed lawn
stretching about for ever such a distance.
And Chubbys home was in a summer
hotel on the cliff, just about a stones
throw from where Daisy lived Chubbys
father and mother had only come there to
live, and Chubby did not know that such
a person as Daisy was in existence. Neither
did Daisy know anything about Chubby
But they got acquainted-after the funny
thing happened which l am going to tell
you about.
One lovely summer afternoon Daisy. who
was a really and truly summer girl" (for
she could climb and walk and jump and
almost SWIM decided to go up in big old
Elmy" Now big old Elmy' was a grant
tree which grew quite a way off from
Daisy's house. Daisy could easily climb
quite into the top OF old Elmy, for her
papa had nailed tiny steps about the old
trees trunk. and it was very much like
climbing a ladder Stn. II was quite a
brave thing for little golden-haired girl
TO do-to climb in the big branches OF old
Elmy.
After Daisy had gotten well into the
tree, away up among the thick branches
where song birds often hid themselves
from wicked, stone-throwing boys. she
found a very snug little seat, for her
papa had fixed one securely there for her.
Daisys papa knew how little folks love
climbing and sitting in tree tops, so he
fixed Il very safe for Daisy-so that she
could not possibly fall out even though
she tried TO do So And, of course, she
would never, never try to do such a foolish
and dangerous thing. Therefore, she was
safe.
After seating herself in the snug seat
her papa had built for her between two
great strong limbs, and surrounded by a
network OF smaller limbs, Daisy began to
sing softly 10 herself So busily engaged
in singing and watching a bird far above
her was Daisy that she did not see a little
grass towards old Elmy. This blue-Tom-
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
A Noble Deed.

BY Louis Mlaskac, Aged II Years. 1921
Arthur Street, Omaha. Red Side.
There was once a family living in Eng
land who had a maid servant who was con-
sidered very trustful.
One day she bought some poison to
poison rats and was putting 1t on the
bread when she was called out and in her
haste forgot the poison on the table.
While she was away the little boy of
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-30
How the Mortgage Was Paid.


By lone Craig, Age IL Years, Erie, N. D.
Blue Side.
Once upon a time there lived a lady
whose name was Mrs. Brown. She had six
children and they lived in a little house
which was mortgaged.
She had a son named Ted who was
the Oldest of the six children. He was II
years old.
One morning he started out for the woods
to chop down some wood for fuel.
On his way he had to cross a bridge
on which a railroad ran.
When he was just about in the middle
he saw something which chilled his blood.
1t was a large piece taken out of the track.
He got a stick, which lay near the track
and then took an old red handkerchief out
of his pocket, put 1t on the stick and
started to run down the track for there
was a train due in ten minutes. He had
just got far enough away from the danger
spot when the big engine came in sight
Then Ted waved the danger flag he had
made.
The engineer saw him and stopped. He
asked Ted the trouble and Ted told the
story to him and the people.
A collection of $175 was then given by
the passengers to Ted, who had saved
their lives.
Ted thanked them and went home He
paid the 500 mortgage and spent the SIS
His mother was very proud of him after
that.