davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
Confidential

nv little mistress, Maude. and me,
We're dressed up every day 1or eea'
We look SO sweet, you ought : TO secs see:
she has frock all frills and tnlnss'
Her hair is curled In shiny rings
And rye q 'normous yellow DOW
And underneath my chin, you Know
A silver bell.
But-don't you tell!
Although we look 80 very well'
We're miserable as we can be
NV little mistress Maud and me!
When all the comp'ny's gone from tea'
And there is no one left to see
nv little mistress Maud and me.
They take our bows and trills away
And tell us we may go and play
We are not pretty any more,
And stylish, as we were before.
have no bell;
But-don't you tell!
Although we don't look very well,
We're tust as glad as we can be
NV little mistress Maud and me!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
"HAI J HAVE DONE THIS suMmrp
10 EARN SPENDING MONEY

l nave done few things this SIM
~ tbe ~ +s Earn spending money. Some
lows: o oie as 1ol-
Wnen papa was blowing corn hal
10 walk two miles after gallon ~
pumpkin seed and bring them home
ana pant them In the corn.
also planted a large match :. ~.
zen, but it don't amount to much now
It needs rain. 'G,s1- 49, = toW =.
Papa went to town and rot a lot =,
tomato plants and cabbage .,rts and
brought them home, and ID r. sat
tnem out. That evening after the SIM
mad gone down, took the plants and
went out IN the garden and set them
out and watered them. The tomatoes
are now from one to two feet high
nave been milking three cows ar
night and four at morning all SIM.
mer. 49,,
! help mamma wash part Of the time
When don't help her, I always do all
or the house work and ret dinner
while mamma does the washing.
When the cherries got ripe helped
pick them. also helped gather the
strawberries and gooseberries.
During the month Of Nav mana
plowed a large patch for popcorn.
Then I took the hoe and the popcorn
and went out and planted all II 1t.
Ora Miller, age IA,
Batavia, Iowa. r. r. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
AN IMAGINARY TRIP TO THE
SEASIDE.

Donald, Robert and their parents.
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith. were planning
where to spend their summer vaca-
ton on a stormy evening In July. All
ut once Robert exclaimed, oh. I
thought of the place! on the seashore.
We can have a good time there"
"Yes," said Mrs. Smith, 1T VIII be a
splendid place"
WELL" sighed Mr.. Smith. That Is
q brilliant idea, and that is just where
we will spend our vacation.
go to bed now, children. and sleep
good, because we have lots to do to.
morrow to get ready to leave Sat.
urday morning" said Mrs. Smith.
The next morning the boys were up
bright and early. They helped Mamma
clean W the house. They got ready to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

Charles was rich boy, and had
everything he Misunderstanding but
pony.
Charles had always wanted a pony,
and begged his father to get him one.
But his father replied. mo my son,
you cannot have pony"
when you are II years DID, his
father continued, seeing Charles dis
appointed look, II will get you a mot
orcycle."
Charles thanked him father, but,
nevertheless he wanted pony.
Charles birthday was the 18th of
May. Then he would get his motor
cycle. ...
The next spring Charles father de-
cided to move to tho country. He
bought nice, large farm in about four
miles of the city.
The family moved to their country
home.
Charlie helped mis- father on the
farm.
On Charles next birthday his father
said, II am not feeling we'll, win you
feed the horses. Charlie?"
Charles said he would and started
for barn. When he opened the barn
door he saw pony harness and cart.
He wondered whose they were.
He went over to the cart and found
a note which read. From Mother and
Father to Charlie"
Charlie was now very happy, for he
had what he had long wished fora
pony.
Hildred Thomas, age II.
OttT1nWa Iowa r F n No
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
CURED OF cARELEssNEss.

Mrs. Dale sat reading one morning.
She could not read very we'll for her
little boy, Roger. was making much
noise with his drum. Suddenly he quit
beating the drum and rushed into the
room crying.
He said to his mother. I've burst my
drum"
His mother asked him how he did
it.
81 was beating it with the poker
"whv. Roger, where were your drum
sticks?'
II don't know" sobbed Roger.
Have you lost them too?" said Mrs.
Dale.
He did not answer her.
you know, Roger, what said would
happen next time you lost anything"
said Mrs. Dale.
Eyes" answered Roger. You said
must give them to some little boy who
would take care Of them"
Eyes. I see you remember" said his
mother. II shall send them all to the
children's hospital tonight"
Roger said, Mamma. how shall I
learn how to take care OF my toys. il
81 don't have any to take care of"
II shall think Of some way to teach
YOU to be careful. Go bring me all OF
your toys
when he came back his mother told
him he could dust the library every
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
FOUR ALUMINIUM CUPS.

: Mary palfreyman and Marie Kne YEA
MAJ ~ the aluminium cups. we
Ter t s four left and will give away
SUI Zach Zach week tor two weeks tor tne
h f~ letter or story. We Will con'i The
t nes lend out post cards as usual: Inc Inc
juniors can write short stories on Oh u unt
~ the following subjects II they 90 no'
vant to write letters:
Charles, q Happy BOY. .,.
o,,<anor Games In Summertime
A croquet Party
Lost In the Woods. -. c;+v
The Most Beautiful Spot In Tho e'''
or Country.
ottumWa Parks.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
STORIES and LETTERS
A JOURNEY BY RAIL.

Hurry up, Aunt Lucy, or We'll be
late for the train," the merry voices OF
group of children called as Aunt
Lucy came tripping down the steps,
bag in hand.
The Alertoris were going on trip to
the mountains and all the children
were eager to be gone. All together
the party consisted of ten persons
There were Aunt Lucy, Mamma Aler-
ton, Papa Alerton, Baby Marjory, 13-
year-old Gertrude, the twins Helen
and Elwood, and Uncle Bob, Thomas
and Henry.
They reached the station just as the
train came putting in. The people
came pouring out Of the train. Friends
met again or parted and altogether
the crowd was very noisy. Just as
the Alertons were comfortably seated,
Henry looked around wide-eyed and
exclaimed suddenly, "Oh, Uncle Bob,
you've forgotten our baggage"
Never fear, young man. I've at
tended to that" answered Uncle Bob
cheerily.
1t was toward afternoon when 1t
was noticed that the sky was sudden
~ very dark.
We're going to have quite shower
pretty soon," Uncle Bob said. And
hardly had he finished than down
came the heavy drops sounding as
though they were trying to come right
through the train. 1t was not long,
however until the sky was clear again
and the sun shining brightly. It was
exceedingly dark that night.
Toward midnight everybody was
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

yons. t
I've we next stopped at Salt Lab T..
. sasre -, we staid for one day on1v o, ~.
49,, 40 wonderful great Salt Lake. !"
wan rSe next nan. morning v. started - !,
t rsru California. Our tra,n o on TO-
through the Rio de II. ram Went
i hon' tn The next morning We MAS. can
Gag ca,, through the Yosemite v nnte 60
California. We saw thu ~. valley in
for rt ts. We came to our stopping xr ANTE
mad all summer to enjoy onznelseo. We
made a aon,ad the first week or So n Ws
AT, At the sea shore v. ,esr rosel,
swim and had the TIM earned 90 how to
no an, out out in steamer from ' t ire We
her. called ne the Golden Gate. 'ns g, har-
ns,e we saw the famou. go. While
w ,rees' We had boating p ar huge s palm
through the country aotomobiling
,r "e stafd at the seasbo,. o.
nve or six weeks. ". TOT about
70 70 go home. While on on, NM "a, an sorry
Yellow ,pp asaa. for about two weeks n0n :.
rs 49, we took guide and wen. -. Gays
. -. beautiful park. Near ~ through
a. are not srinss. We saw ~ sn'rance
. u. Of the large fountain 1.vsa s erup-
Lone STAR also the stone 's =, called
aom. and the large falls. W. f rec
started y direct for home ana ~ men
mere about two weeks befor. a,sea
commenced. We all declared - ..nool
never would forget that vac.t,a. to. we
long as we lived. e'on as
An old Junior.
,o,r Hedvig Carlson, age IA
lole Locust ST., Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
AN IMAGINARY TRIP TO the
SEASIDE.

Mhuuh, pdpA, JO6opIAho oAA>A
ed from Cedar Rapids one morning OF
the second week Of July.
We had to change ears at chicago
There we took train bound Tor Al
bany, N. Y, and we had to cnange
cars there again. We boarded q
north bound train there and started
for Maine. We did not notice the
time passing there was so much beau
tiful scenery to look at. We were
soon to the place where we were 10
spend the summer.
The place was called Laurel Beach.
We rented a summer cottage already
furnished and settled down to have .
pleasant summer. We called our
cottage "Shell Mound"
We made many acquaintance. We
met two girls Of our own ages and we
four had much fun together.
Every morning We had q bathing
hour. We girls had much fun then.
All that liked bathing went away out
in the water, others only waded near
the edge where the water was SHAH
low and some others sat on the beach
in the sand under their awnings and
watched the bathers.
We four girls often helped the chill
dren build forts in the sand and many
other things. Then we would show
them how to make lake by scooping
out a place in the sand and then the
children would look for shells to use
for boats.
We sometimes sat on the beach and
watched the smoke of some steamers
as it came nearer and then faded from
view.
In the afternoons one Of our favorite
pastimes was to get on the golf
grounds and watch the players.
We often strolled off for long walk
back from the ocean, but although 1t
seemed to us we had walked many
miles we never walked far enough to
get out of hearing the roar Of the
waves beating against the rocks.
We sometimes rode away for miles
and miles in the cool fresh morning
air and came back ready to DO justice
to the warm breakfast awaiting Us.
In the evening we often sat on the
large veranda which overlooked the
sea and watched the mOonbeans dane
ing on the waves.
We most enjoyed the bathing hour
when we were learning because 1t
was such fun. And the bathing mas.
ter sometimes got out Of patience with
us because we did not do as we'll a.
he thought we should do, but 1t did
not take us long to learn.
We often thought of the Juniors and
wondered If they were having as pleas
ant times as we were.
We passed very pleasant summer
there and it seemed all too short. But
it was all SO pleasant and We had such
nice time that we never will forget
our first summer in Maine.
Frances Norton, Age IS.
712 First Ave-, West, Cedar Rapids.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
Belinda In The
Forenoon

There had come a sea-turn In the
early afternoon Of hot August day.
Tilly and Achsah Binns, their dish
washing done, escaped joyfully from
the kitchen, and sat down side by
side on the broad door stone at the
back Of the farm house. drawing deep
breaths of the moist, salty air as they
watched the silver sea-fog swirl and
biIlow higher and higher along the
slope Of Two-Top hill. Already Tilly's
buff.sprigged calico was limp and
clinging with dampness, and Axy's
brown hair, neatly laid in bands be-
hind her ears, was ripping and rough
ening it's decorous satin surface, and
threatening presently to break down
right into curls. Tilly had rolled her
hands. yet red and puckery from the
dish pan, loosely In her apron, and
leaned her back against the door jam
with long sigh Of comfort. Axy sat
upright, her chin in her hand, her
sharp bare elbow resting on her knee,
her eyes following absently the strong
soft pouring OF the mist through the
hollow cleft in the hilltop that held
and sheltered the farm. The mount
Ing tide had risen beyond where the
girls were sitting, but it thinned Wis
ibly a. near as the caves and chin
neys of the house, and often in its
swirling and shifting allowed the twin
round submits Of Two-Top to break
Into view, with CLEAN Of watery
blue above them.
The High farm, in it's lofty nest, was
plainly almost at the upper height OF
the fag-drift, but below 1t all the world
was lost in streaming gray.
There was heard not far away sud-
den sound Of Gathering and scramb-
ling. followed by a thud and rattle
as of falling stones.
Tilly, who was easily startled,
clutched Axy's arm. "Oh!" she cried
what was that?"
II don't know said Axy, staring
yainly down the hill, where only the
nearest bowlder and clump Of bar
berry bushes doomed dimly through
The fog, .H,e down there, some
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
"WHY ARE THE BIG JUNIORS
LAZY IN sUMMERTIME?"

Anna was Junior girl fifteen years
old. Two other Juniors that lived by
her were Goldie, age IA, and Marjorie
age 16.
One day Anna was waiting for the
Courier to see the Junior page. When
the mail man came she was very glad
to get the Junior page. She saw in it
big contest She said to herself.
will 60 In right now and write on this
contest. It was to close in one week. It
was hard contest to write on.
While she was studying what to
write in came Goldie and Marjorie
What are you writing" asked
Goldie.
II am going to write on the big
contest. Are your"
~Oh, 1t is so hot said Marjorie.
Lets wait and write tomorrow. It.
may be cool tomorrow"
So tho girls went to town and the
next day they were invited to a party.
The days soon went by until she
only had two moro days to write in.
"You had better hurry and write to
the Junior II you are going to, Anna"
said her mamma.
ooh, dear! Goldie and Marjorie
want me to come over to their house.
They want to go up in their pasture
and tell riddles and stories said
Anna "I will write this Afternoon
AS Annie was going to Goldie and
Marjorie's house she saw little Beat
rice, who was only nine years old. She
was sitting out on her porch writing.
Come on over to Goldie's house
with me, Beatrice" said Annie.
'Oh, no." said Beatrice. II am writ
ing to the Junior on that big contest.
So Annie went on over and the girls
had nice time In the woods. They
told stories until noon. Then they de-
cided they would eat their dinner in
the woods. They stayed in the woods
all day, and then it was too late for
Anna, Goldie and Marjorie to write.
When they read the Junior that week
they saw that Beatrice had won the
prize. They felt ashamed Of themselves
to think, that they were so lazy and
didn't write to the Junior.
I think 1 have been one Of the lazy
Juniors as I haven't been writing in
the contests. am going to write more
often on the contests after this.
From a Junior,
Elva Huffman, age IA.
Chillicothe, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

"Oh, Bob, what Is the natter? ask
ed Mrs. Alerton anxiously.
We've run into the wrong switch
The wind has blown the lights out and
so the engineer couldn't SEQ them,
answered Uncle Bob.
Suddenly groan reached their
ears. Mrs. Alerton suddered.
go and sec who 10 hurt, Bob she
pleaded.
Hand me my case" he said as he
came running back q moment later.
Its good thing that am doc
tor" he said when he came back hall
an hour afterwards, because the en-
gineer's wife was severely injured
Her arm and leg were broken. Nc
one else was hurt in this part Of the
train," he said in answer to Mrs
Alerton,'s injury.
"Oh, I'm 80 thankful cried Mrs
Alerton gratefully.
No other serious accident befell
the party during the rest of their
journey.
As the train neared one station, q
group Of small boys stood near the
tracks holding out their hand. Uncle
Bob threw them some pennies and II
was very amusing to see them scram
bic for the coins
At one station they had to wait
three hours for a train.
whats the name Of that big noun
tain over there, Uncle Bob asked
Thomas.
That's Pixies peak, my boy" an
swered Uncle Bob.
AS the train was so long in coming
Thomas grew very tired and decided
to walk to the mountain which seemed
so near, but the shrill cry of the train
whistle was then heard, SO Thomas
had to swallow his Disappointment as
best he could.
Although the mountain seemed SO
near Uncle Bob told Thomas after
ward that it really was twenty-five
miles away. so Thomas was glad that
he hadn't started out
Vida Whale, Age 10.
40 E. Court St., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

morning for two months, and II you
know you have grown careful IN one
way, that may help you in another
way.
SO Roger did his work and did IT
we'll.
And when the two months was UP Il
would be Christmas. He did NOT
know whether his presents would be
toys or useful things. When Xmas
came he had many nice toys. which
were skates, sled, violin and . drum:
A boy can be careful when no tries.
: will close for this time.
Marie Knedler, age IL.
Rlonnnfield Iowa D r n. No. I.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
HARRIS LIVES in BUXTON.

Dear Editor: This is my second at
tempt in writing the Courier. I moved
to Buxton about four weeks ago, from
Hobart. Okla. like t very we'll here.
Buxton is a mining camp. There are
five mines here. They are Nos. ~, IA,
Is and II. are the names Of the mines.
About one-half of the people here
are colored and the rest white.
The boys here 60 swimming at the
pond at No. II.
The mines here are owned by the
Consolidated Coal CO. This is all this
time. H.. .,.-r
Harris Cosgeshall, age 10.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
AN IMAGINARY TRIP TO THE
SEASIDE.

Will tell about my trip to New York
City to spend the summer.
We live at Drakeville, and it being
a small place. the fast train does not
stop, so had to take the local pas
senger. As 1t stops at all towns, was
some time getting to Chicago, where
I had an aunt living and who wanted
me to visit her few days and see the
sights.
We went to Marshall Fields store
and had our dinner. 1t cost me $3.50.
We did not get very much to eat,
either, but wanted to have tho name
of eating there. A..
I saw some buildings twenty stories
high. We took the elevator to go to
the top. I could not begin to tell you
all saw. II did, my letter would be
too long.
went to one of the garages and
bought me an automobile. thought
the train went too slow.
We stopped at several other large
places, but will not tell about them.
We did not stop long because we
wanted to get to New York before
the summer was over.
L dTTlF0O Ill NO" AOA dI uOOu,
went to the hotel and got my dinner,
then went down to the shore and
went in bathing.
I think 1t is pleasant to be along the
seashore 50 you can watch the big
waves and the tide coming In and
going out. You have to be very careful
or you will drown. There are only GER
tain times you can wade In.
would enjoy living by the water all
the time.
Alice Davidson, age IL.
r. r No. I. Drakeyille Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
IAN IMAGINARY TRIP TO THE
SEASIDE"

After many days Of patient waiting
the trunks etc., were packed and our
home in Chicago was ready to be
closed for the summer. Papa and ma
ma had told US that we were going
to spend our vacation at the seashore
this summer Just about one month be-
fore we were to start. OF course we
suspected something because mamma
had a dressmaker at the house most
OF the time and my sister, Mary, and me
were getting all sorts of new clothes.
We started from Chicago about the
middle of June so that we would have
plenty Of time to stop at interesting
places for a week or two.
We crossed the wide Mississippi and
passed through the beautiful farming
country Of the middle west. Then we
came to the pretty mountains. The
mountain scenes were great. Just
imagine the high peaks against the red
and yellow Of setting sun Our first
stopping place was at Denver, Colo
RADIO. We expected to stay here two
weeks. We were all tired from our
tourney on the train 50 we just rested
the first two days Of our stay.
On the third day we started early s,
the morning to go up Pixies Peak. We
took the train as far up as the third
station where we got refreshments
and then papa and walked up a lit
tie farther while mamma and Mary
waited till we came back. My! but
It was fine to look from the mountain
all over the country. We took the
train down and joined the rest Of our
party at the third station. We got to
the foot Of the mountain little after
dinner
In the afternoon we visited the Gar
den OF the Gods and saw the Mime
haha falls and other natural wonders.
On the following day we went up a
trail in the mountains on burrows.
The remaining days we visited the
Weber, Boulder, and Eagle river cam
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
e-vEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS

Use one side Of the paper only !.
. write neatly and legloy' usine
ink or q sharp lead pencil. :, 9u1,
8. Always sign your nanl0 ~
and state your age.
4. Number your pages. ,oo+rv
5; DO Do not no a copy Tou s.G Swn work.
6. Always state choioe u n,;,h
on a separate piece OF paper A
name and address IN fuli. ra,.o-
Z. Address the envelope 10 Ho''oA
courier Junior, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05

Dear Editor and Courier juniors:
will write a letter, as have never
written before.
I am II years old.
NV birthday is the 5th day of De-
cember.
l would like to exchange postcards
with the Juniors.
60 to Blackaby school. I have
two miles to go. My teachers name
is Mrs. Rosalie Hendricks. I like her
fine.
] have four brothers and one sister.
Their names are Harry, Johnny, Les
ter. Lawrence and Myree.
Papa takes the Daily Courier
Well as my 1etter is getting long I
will close. f..
Virgie Meade, age II.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-05
soME BEAUTIFUL POST eAno

while the Juniors are wa ;ah thew r
,,nthar biz contest we visa -, ' the
s.o1tld write some short stories stories on IN re- re-.
so y subjects and receive IN rd To-
t,,rn some of our beautiful posi- '"
COMO TO THE WELL.
THEY ALL LOVE JACK.
ITlE BOY BLUE.
a cAREFUL SHEPhEHO"
DOWN THE Lane:
TSE MEADOW STREAM
~ THE CAT SHOW.