davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
HOLY, HOLY EASTER.

Easter the season Of eggs and bum
MES for the children Is nearly at hand,
bringing with 1t a most hearty welcome.
Why we celebrate Easter day Is for
the resurrection of. our Savior who
was crucif1ed and laid in the tomb and
one the third day arose from the dead.
In ancient times the celebration lasted
eight days. But In later times 1t was
limited to three days. Daily services
were held during the whole week before
Easter and on Easter day the people
greeted each other with kiss saying
HE Is risen." Why we color eggs for
Easter. There is something especially
attractive and dainty in the different
colors Of eggs. which never fails to
please the zee and admiration of all.
The little brown bunny who acts one
Of the most popular leading parts of the
season, is source of delight to us all.
His little presence Is very important. l
am going to get up early Easter morn
ing to be sure to get to see little Bun
ny. For he Is sure to bring me lots OF
eggs of every color and description.
some pink, some blue, some yellow. On
dear hope it won't rain. For all those
beautiful colors would be sure to run
out and fade.
I do hope he will not forget to bring
his umbrella.
Bernard Taylor. age 8,
Bloomfield, Ia, r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
.WHY We COLOR EGGS FOR
EASTER"

Once upon a time beautiful
princess by the name of Thera, wan
dered away from her palace, and lost
herself In the dark woods. An old
shepherd found her, and took her to
the little village where he lived. The
people, though poor, welcomed her
kindly, and gave her little hut, in
which to live, and there she earned
her bread by raising chickens.
Easter was celebrated greatly in
the little village, for the good folk
knew of the beautiful story of Christ's
resurrection.
Now, Thera wished to thank the
people for their kindness to her, and
she knew of no other day better than
Easter. So she looked about her for
a present, but she could find nothing
but eight dozen eggs. So she thought
she would cook them, and give them
to the villagers.
Now she thought the eggs would be
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

Carrie, John and Mary had two doz-
en- eggs safe away in the hay loft. Once
their mother was gathering the eggs
while the children were playing and
she didn't call them to get the eggs in
the hay loft. The children didn't think
of her getting their eggs. She looked
there the first place and found twenty
four eggs. She said "Hurrah! will
have some Easter eggs now" She for
got about the new nest at supper. She
thought about it after she went to bed
and decided to tell about it at break.
fast. But when morning came she for
got about it again. That day was
Easter. Harry. Carry, John and Mary
Walked to their grandma's to get q
teakettle. When they came back it
was time to get the Easter eggs. They
all ran to beat the others. But where
were the eggs. The children were much
excited. 1t was sad indeed. They told
their mother about it and were very
sad indeed. Then the mother said that
she had found a new nest. Then she
said she would find them but when she
broke them they had spoiled. But they
found some good eggs and had joy
Gus Easter.
I would like to exchange postals with
any Of the Juniors. ....- ....- E..
Elsie Ethel Smith, age 8,
Mystic, Iowa, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
EASTER EGG HUNT.

am little boy years old.
I will tell you story about an
Easter egg hunt. One upon time
some of US boys and girls thought we
would go Easter egg hunting. We went
out by an old hay stack. We began to
look for eggs. At last we found some
Easter eggs which one of our neighbor
boys had hidden. There were about
fifteen Of us boys and girls. There were
five eggs in the nest on the hay stock
so there were not enough to go around.
We thought we would look for more.
We walked on till we came to an old
hollow tree. thought 1 would see if
there might be some eggs in it. looked
in it and sure enough there were ten
eggs in it. got them out and gave one
to each one Of the boys and girls. We
thought we had found enough SO we
turned homeward. AS we passed box
in our meadow one of the girls found
fifteen more. We divided them up and
were we'll pleased with our Easter egg
hunt.
Robert Rogers. age 9,
Abba, Ia, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

Look out there Orville, or you'll get
on that nest" cried Harley Brown as
he came out from behinr some bushes
with a basket almost full of different
colored Easter eggs.
"Where?" asked Orville.
"Why over there by that log; hurry
up or I'll beat you to it," shouted Har-
ley. Crville saw 1t and ran toward H.
hut Harley who was so much Digger
and older made leap and sprang upon
it, before Orville's short legs could
carry him to it.
"You should let me have those eggs
Orville said slowly. You have your
hs sket over half full and I have only
nine or ten in mine
You're too Slow" was Harley's re-
ply and without onother word he walk
ed off to hunt more eggs.
Perhaps you are all wOnc ering Wry
they were hunting thc:,e tsgs ana 1
might as we'll tell YOU that II was Eas-
'cr Sunday au,i twenty boys and gleis
hal assembled 1T the Jackscn farm
house seven or eight miles from ne
nearest town. They were going to nave
All caster egg hunt. The uEs Wer': 70
hunt eggs in the mocnin:s ar the girls
, thu evening VIII .ls the boys We're all
brsy hunting Easter eggs, larry JACK
son who was only five years old shou:-
ell L mere goes Il DilHliy, .tiA AiC A"A. ~
in the direction the rabbit was going,
but he had not gone far Wien he sud
denly came upon a nest full OF colored
Easier eggs. RE quickly put them IN
his basket and goin-, hack to the other
bows he said, See what a nice lot OF
eggs I found. 'a,5 Il bury and fol-
loved it and came upon the nest
really believe he led me to it, because
he didn't want you other boys to find
them," and as he quit talking, he began
to count The eggs. .
At noon they went to the house to
count the eggs and it was soon known
that Harley Brown had found the most.
1t was SO far from any church and
the roads were so bad that they could
rot go to church.
In the evening the girls had their
Easter egg hunt. Orville's sister Lola
found the most and as reward Harley
and Lola each got a beautiful Easter
remembrance They went in the house
and played all kinds of games. When
they got ready to go home they were
each one given an Easter trinket
Maude Skirvin, age 13,
Agency, Ia, r. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
HELEN's EASTER STORY.

There was once little girl. She had
two brothers and one sister. 1t was 4
week before Easter when she got hurt.
Her brothers and sisters felt very sorry
for her. So they thought they would do
something to make her happy. They
had some very nice geese and chick
ems. So every day they would go out
and watch for some eggs. They kept on
getting them until they had four dozen.
Their mamma kept missing them I'M
til one evening she said to them: Have
you seen anything down at the hen
house after eggs?"
They all said no, and went out to
the barn where the eggs were hidden.
They took and put them in the cor
ner of the barn where the hay was.
They thought they were hidden In a
good place. They went awav to the
house. The next morning was Easter.
They asked their mamma If they
could go and ask their cousins over to
MAY that day. She said they could. The
next morning they got ready and went.
While they were gone their papa went
up in the hay NOW to look for some
eggs for dinner. Pretty soon he came
to their bunch Of eggs. He stood, and
laughed. Then he went up to tell their
mamma. When he told her she laughed
and then told him to hide them In the
manager TOT them 10 nuHl. Anu lie ma
them in the Manager. He just got into
the house and sat down when they
come in. They took off their coats and
went out to the barn to get their eggs.
But when they got there their eggs
were gone. They were very much sur
prised But they began to hunt for them
till at last they found them. They went
to the house and told their papa and
mamma and then they laughed and
said it was the best Easter they ever
had.
Helen Hall. age IL,
1241 Hayne ST., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06

more acceptable if she colored them
or made them prettier, and having no
paints, she used carrots for yellow,
beet Juice for pink and red, and leaves
for green coloring. Then she wove
little baskets out of grass and put two
pink, two green and two yellow eggs
in each basket, and to each child,
woman and man, she humbly handed
her little Easter offering.
Just as the last basket had gone, a
prince came riding up and asked 1t
anyone had seen Princess Thera who
had disappeared q year ago. Then
Thera ran forward, and told who she
was. ..
When she got home the king, her
father, hearing of his daughters pres
ent, made it a custom, and SO we color
eggs for Easter to this day.
Lewis Eisenbeis, Age ~.
553 West Park Ave., Ottumwa, Ia.
P. S.-This is an imaginary legend.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
"RoB's EASTER EGG HUNT"

ooh, Dick!', Bob exclaimed, as he
looked up from the magazine he had
been reading, "let's have an Easter
egg hunt like in this story. You
haven't read this story, have your
Dick shook his head. Then I'll
take care he don't read it," Bob
thought, and he smiled mischievously.
So the egg hunt was planned, and
Dick and Bob both worked hard boil
ing and coloring eggs, and arranging
nests in the garden. But during all
the work, Bob kept smiling knowingly
to himself
The evening before Easter Dicks
mother sent him to the hen house to
gather EGGS Not finding any, he
thought perhaps the hens had layed in
stray places. So he CROPPED in various
holes, when suddenly his fingers en-
countered myriads of hard oval balls.
He held them up to the light, only to
seed red, blue, green and purple Easter
eggs! Dick stood and thought awhile.
"Oh, know" he finally exclaimed
aloud. Some ones carried these
eggs here for fun, so I'll have to put
them all back in the nests" But 10,
there were big cards in the nests,
bearing the words, april Fool!'
Dick laughed long and loud. This
is some Of Bob's work, but he's too late
with his April fool Tomorrow is
April T." So he replaced the eggs,
and tore up the cards.
Easter morn at 5 o'clock, the invit-
ed boys and girls began the egg hunt.
Bob was laughing to himself, for
were not the boys and girls going to
he fooled? But when cries of joy and
"oh's" and "ahs'' reached his ears, he
was afraid his plan had failed. And
he was sure of it in few minutes, for
he found nest containing five eggs.
When the children assembled again
with basket-laden eggs, Dick stepped
forward and placed a huge placard in
Bob's hands and everyon laughed over
the words written upon it, april fool
is past, and you're the biggest fool at
last"
Lewis Eisenbeis, Age IL.
$50 West Park Ave-, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

One Easter mamma told me I could
invite eight of my little girl friends to
come and spend the day with me.
So sent out eight invitations and
were answered saying they would come
If 1t did not rain.
We went to the woods and took our
dinners. Then in the afternoon we were
going to the meadow and hide eggs and
see who could find the most eggs. All
Of US got up very disappointed for it
was raining very hard. But before noon
the sun was shining very bright, so
they came after all.
Grace Smith found the most eggs,
finding twenty.
They all departed for home at s
o'clock saying they had had fine
time.
Pearl Cobler, age II,
, Blakesburg, Ia, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

Mamma" said little Gertrude, a
little girl 8 years of age, may I have
an Easter egg hunt
I'm busy now, Gertrude, but we
will see this afternoon"
Gertrude waited impatiently for at
ternoon and at last it came.
When Mrs. Mason went into the sit
ting room after dinner there sat Ger.
trude ready to begin.
They spent quite while inviting
people and fixing things and at last
Gertrude went away satisfied.
The next afternoon about o'clock
the guests commenced to arrive. There
were Marie Rhodes, Clara Smith, Mary
Howard, Louis Law and Helen Law
were all the girls invited. The boys
invited were John Norman, Henry Mil
Ter, Thomas Banks, William Law and
Joe Smith. When Mrs. Mason came
in she held large piece Of white
cardboard and some paper eggs.
After she had nailed 1t upon the wall
and given five eggs to each of the
children she said, "You are to take
these paper eggs that give to you
and one by one 60 up and blind fold
ed and try to stick the eggs on the
nest where they belong.
The children thought this great fun
and Thomas Banks was the only one
who got all his eggs right. After
that Mrs Mason served ice cream and
cake and the ice cream was nodded
out in the form Of a chicken. Then
the hunt for Easter eggs began. First
each had basket to put the Easter
eggs in and the one finding the most
got prize. Helen Law found TWEEN.
ty and got the prize which was box
Of candy.
They played other games and then
went home each telling Gertrude they
had had a very nice time.
Herbert King, Jr., Age 9.
Bloomfield, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
WHAT THE BIRDS SAY.

DO you ask what the birds say?
The sparrow, the dove,
The linnet, and thrush say,
II love-" and Il love!'
In the winter. they're silent,
The wind ia so strong.
What is says, don't know,
But it sings a loud song.
But 1t sings a loud song.
And sunny, warm weather,
And singing and loving
All come back together.
And the lark is SO brimful
OF gladness and love,
The green fields beneath him,
The blue sky above, ..,
That he sings, and he sings,
And forever sings he,
II love my love,
And my love loves mel" .sr.
Samuel T. Coleridge.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
THE BROWNS.

One day there was good family OF
people called Browns. They mad out
two little children and one day near
Easter they invited all the little folks
to an Easter egg hunt and a very nice
lunch. They Children all hunted and
the one who found the most eggs re-
ceived a prize which was an Easter
egg box full of candy Easter eggs.
The second prize, was a book full OF
nice stories. d.
And a third prize was a package OF
Easter post cards. After the children
hunted eggs they were treated to a hne
lunch consisting Of oranges, CANDY,
cake, salads and pies. After this the
children all departed wishing that
Faster day was every day.
Viola Coover, age y,
Parnell, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
EARL AND VEARL LIKE JUNIOR
STORIES.

Dear Juniors:
AS we have been reading the Junior
page we think the stories are fine. We
thought we would write our first letter
to the Courier Junior on the subject Of
Easter. Why we celebrate easter is be-
cause Christ was risen on that day
and they always celebrate that day by
hunting, cooking and coloring eggs in
memory Of the resurrection Of Christ.
We thought we would write this let
ter together as we are twin boys 10
years old. Our papa takes the Daily
Courier and we are Junior readers.
Earl and Vearl Barngrover,
Packwood. Ia, r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06

was nine eggs in it, and we found
another nest in the old orchard be-
side an old apple tree. There were
four eggs in it. And my friend Olie
found nest by the old straw stack.
1t had eight eggs in it. BY this time IT
was noon and Ruth's mamma called US
to dinner We started to the house
and we found a nest by the garden
fence with four eggs in it. We went TO
the house and Ruth's and ONES man
mas had dinner ready. After dinner
we went to get all the eggs we had
found, and We found another nest IN
the hay. 1t had ten eggs in 1t. we
took all the eggs to the house. we
counted them and We had Al eggs, and
in the afternoon we colored them TOT
Easter.
Minnie Huffman, age IL,
Floris, Iowa, R. r. No. 8.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
Why the Robin
Has a Red =
Breast
Part /.


Among the Indians there was a
strange custom. When a son grew
old enough TO become a man, he was
compelled to fast twelve long days.
The Indians believed that the great
Manitou would come and give him
strength and courage, and make him a
great warrior. ..
Once a great chief had son who
was kind and gentle. He did not be-
lieve in war. He wished to be help
full to men, and to make them happy.
At last the time came for him to
fast. He begged his father, however,
to spare him the long trial. It was not
because he was afraid. Indeed, he was
very brave; but he did not wish to
become bold and warlike.
His father, however, would not
listen to his prayer. SO the Two set
out for lonely lodge on the far side
OF the forest There the gentle youth
was to spend the twelve days alone.
Every morning the chief came to
see his son. Each time he spoke words
Of cheer to him. The gentle boy, how.
ever, still sought to be allowed to re-
turn to his people lie wished to help
tsem to be kid and gentle.
It was useless His father wished
him to be great warrior. Eleven
days passed. The boy, at last, prayed
to the Manitou to make him useful
to men.
sob. i AXE me not cruel" he cried.
Fill my heart with love and useful
ness. that may be blessing to all
men,"
The great Manitou heard his pray.
er. When the chief returned to the
lodge the next morning, his son was
nowhere to be found. In his stead
there was little brown bird, such as
he had never seen before.
In his surprise and anger, the chief
drew an arrow to slay the bird. But
the bird spoke to him with human
voice.
DO not shoot" it said. IT am your
son. The great Manitou changed me
into bird that l might help mankind.
shall never be great warrior, but l
shall be ever near my people. My
hillsides, and shall be helpful to men
in getting it. Go, my father; 60 and
teach thy people to be more loving,
more gentle"
Slowly and sorrowfully the old chief
returned to his wigwam. All the way
he kept hearing the words, BE more
loving, be more gentle"
Part II.
Days passed. The great chief did
not wall among his warriors &C he
used to do. He remained In his wig
wan silent and thoughtful.
Every morning he heard the chirr
Of the little brown bird outside. II
seemed always to be speaking to him
BE more loving, be more gentle,
It said. Zone can be brave without
being warrior. Be brave and gen
tie and loving"
"Our great chief" the people said
'.is grieving for his son. Soon he will
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
LELA's EASTER EGG HUNT.

Dear Editor:
/ will write a story about "An Easter
Egg Hunt"
We are all anxious for Easter day to
come as we have always enjoyed 1t.
On the day before Easter we make five
nests out of sticks and put straw IN
them. We shut up the dogs SO they will
not get the rabbit which brings the
eggs to put in the nest. The next morn
ing we get up early and we always
find lot of different colored eggs, red,
blue, green and many others. Then
papa gets the gun and says he will
shott the rabbit. as 1t cannot be very
far away But we try to get him not to
do that as we would not want him t,
kill the rabbit that brings our Easter
eggs. ......
Leila Osterfoss, age 10,
Hedrick, Ia, r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
vEsTA ANNlE's STORY.

Dear JuniorS: '-. ...... .
thought I would write a story about
an Easter egg hunt.
One Saturday night before Easter
Sunday l made nest for rabbit. The
next morning my cousin called me and
said that the rabbit had layed in my
nest. ran in the dining room where
I had my nest made behind the door. 1
found a nest of eggs. all kinds Of col
ors. One Of them had my name on 1t.
did not see any rabbit.
Easter is the time when our Savior
rose from the grave.
I suppose to color Easter eggs Is to
make them look pretty.
Vesta Annie Winkler, age 8,
=.-. Ottumwa, Ia, r. No. g..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06

children. When they got. there they
saw a rabbit under tree doing some-
thing. Maybe he was coloring eggs,
they said, and don't scare him away.
Then they started to the eggs.
They did not have to hunt long. The
color of the eggs were red, blue, yellow.
oarnge, green, brown. There were
twelve In each nest and besides the
eggs there was a little rabbit with an
eggs in his hands. Then the children
went back where their lunch was and
saw whole lot more eggs and rabbits
with eggs in their hands. They they
ate and played a little while and then
went home.
Irene Traul, age Z, t..
North ST., Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
WHY WE CELEBRATE EASTER.

The festival Of the resurrection Of
Christ probably derives its Teutonic
name from the festival of the Goddess
Astara in Anglo-Saxon, Eastre which
the Saxons of old were wont to cele-
brate about the same season at which
the Christian festival of Easter occurs.
In the second century dispute arose
as to the proper time for celebrating
Easter between the eastern and west
ern churches. The great mass of east
ern churches celebrated Easter on the
18th day OF the month or moon, con-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

Nellie. Bessie, Helen, Grace and Mae
asked if the next day they could go to
the woods. Their mamma said yes.
So they baked little cakes and cookies
to take. They put them in a basket with
many other things. The mother called
to them and told them there were
Easter eggs hidden in the woods and
for them to hunt them. So OF went the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
The End.
MYRTLE A NEW JUNIOR

Dear Juniors:
have neved written to the Junior, 80
will write few lines.
10 go to the Washington school, like
to go to school. am in the fourth
grade. For my studies have reading,
arithmetic, grammar, history and
spelling. like history best of all.
Myrtle Locker. age IA,
Drakesville, La, r. No. I.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
OTTUMWA. IOWA
MATILDA OEvEREAUx,
EDITOR.
LOIS GRIFFIN WINS PRIZE.

Dear Juniors:
We have many pretty Easter stories
today, but the judges have DECIDED
that Lois Griffin is entitled to the first
nrize and Maude Skirvin the second
nrize. All of the other writer's will re-
ceive a remembrance.
We hope all the Juniors will nave
q happy Easter.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER HUNT.

One day I went over to my friends
to hunt Easter eggs. 1t was the day
before Easter. We had a good time
hunting eggs. We found several new
nests full of eggs. We found one
nest in the barn in the hay, with six
eggs in it. And my friend Ruth found
a nest in the corner of the barn lot.
There was tall grass around it. There
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
LETTER PRIZE WINNERS.

Leila Osterfoss, Evelyn Bequeath,
Hazel Kitterman, Catherine Swartz,
Hattie Irene Valley, Hildred Dornel,
Osa Redshaw, Opal Lock, Mary Aline
Bates, Elizabeth Bell West.
We want all the prize winners to
send us their correct addresses.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
AN EASTER EGG HUNT.

Once upon time there was a little
boy who lived on farm and he was
always hiding his mammals eggs for
Easter. So one Easter when he was
about seven years old he thought he
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-06
NEW CONTEST NEXT WEEK.

Next week we will announce an
other big contest.