davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
MRS. HEN PINS ESCAPE.

Good morning, Mr.. Turkey Lur'
key. I've come to call on you. | have
the saddest news to tell you,' said
Mrs. Hen Pin, tearfully.
That's too bad. Tell me the news,
Mrs. Hen Pin"
yesterday Mrs. Jones said to her
husband, while feeding us, There's a
nice fat hen (pointing to me) that you
had better take to the market to-
morrow, Obed' Mr.. Jones said all
right that he would. Now Mr.. Turkey
Turkey, I don't want to die so soon
40 I want to escape some way. Gould
you help me?" -
"Well, l declare" exclaimed fat
Mr. Turkey Turkey. "You are a queer
creature. You can't live forever, so
you might just as well die one time
as another. That's where l want TO
be taken-to the market. All the peo'
pie would say, oh, see that nice fat
turkey And everybody would admire
me-"
"You are a nice person to ask help
FROM" and Mrs. Hen Pin walked
away Indignantly with her little head
high in the air. But not before she
saw a stealthy figure stealing around
the corner of the barn and coming
directly toward her. Mrs. Hen Pin
gave one feeble attempt to escape but
alas! she was too late, the outstretch-
ed hands were upon her and before
she had strength enough to call for
help, she was borne rapidly away.
The other chickens, however, sent
up a cry and Mrs. Jones came run
ming excitedly toward the house with
the hired man at his heels, carrying
a lantern.
"A chicken thief! Hurry, run and
catch him!" Harry ran as fast as he
could and he soon overlook the
thief.
OF course the thief was brought
back and the stolen chicken returned
to Mr.. Jones.
"Well, Mrs. Hen Pin, that was a
nice way for you to escape. Why
didn't you?" Mr.. Turkey Turkey said
sarcastically to Mrs. Hen Pin soon
after. ,-
Mrs. Hen Pin said nothing.
When it was light, Mr.. Jones put
all the nice fat chickens and turkeys
into crate and started toward the
market place. Mrs. Hen Pin was one
of the unfortunate ones.
Mrs. Hen Pin almost gave up in
despair OF ever escaping, but she was
soon to escape. They were riding
along a rough road when suddenly
the crate in which Mrs. Hen Pin was,
fell off and she escaped. She fairly
few over the ground. She saw little
old cottage on one side Of the road,
and there she ran. Et.@
=
A little girl ran out of the door and
saw Mrs. Hen Pin. She picked her up
for she (the hen) was too exhausted
to resist.
What happened to Mrs. Hen Pin
can now be summed up in few
words. The little girl kept her and she
was a great favorite in the house
hold.
Vida Wahle,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
ZELDA Macs STORY.
Dear Editor

Dear EdltOr: l..-'S
Years upon years ago. prince, who
had barley escaped with his life from
the battlefield fled with one faithful
servant to hide himself from his
enemies. He was faint with hunger.
yet he dared not enter a house. At
last they came to cave in the woods
Let us hide here said the servant, per-
haps in this way we shall escape from
our enemies. And yet have hope,
said the prince, for hate will sharpen
their eyes. Do not fear my master,
said the faithful servant. God will send
his angels to watch over thee. Early
in the morning the hidden men heard
steps approaching the cave. Two men
came near, who were, indeed, seeking
for the prince. Here is a cave. cried
one. he may be hiding here! Oh. no!
cried the other. Have you no eyes :!
Do you not see that spiders web
stretched across the mouth of the
cave? It is unbroken, and tells us
that no one has entered.
The men went on their way, and the
prince was safe. For, truly, little
spider had woven it's web during the
night and stretched the gauzy curtain
across the door Of the cave. See, my
master, said the servant. the spider
was sent to deliver us out of the hands
Of our enemies.
Zelda Mae Hunt, age II.
Ottumwa, a., Route No. 6.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
Noble of Hogan's

School was out and so was Tim
Carr, and he lost no time in leaving
the scene of his unwilling labors.
Six months before Tins father had
gone, no one knew where, and Tins
uncle only looked after the boy be,
cause there was chance later Of
Tim being a wage-earner.
Unknown to his uncle's family, Tim
had a dog, neglected waif like him,
self, and for the dogs license Tim
had denied himself much.
Once or twice the dog, Mollie, had
been seen and questions asked. Tim
excused the lie he had told, as he
would probably have had to give her
I'D, and had said she belonged to .
neighbor who allowed him to take
care Of her.
Mollie was nothing but a mongrel
a little brown dog, who adored Tim
and told him so with every lick OF
her tongue and every look from her
soft eyes.
A hole in the shed just large enough
to screen the dog was Mollie's den
and for many weeks she had led 4
charmed life.
With a quickly beating heart, Tim
stole up to the roof No Mollie was in
sight, but Tim tiptoed to the hole.
There seemed to be mass of some
thing brown there. Tins blue eyes
sparkled as he went down on his
knees. "Mollie," he whispered, anG
! the brown mass squirmed. Her whole
! attention was being given to three
| little puppies, and the look she gave
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
CEcILIA's LETTER
Dear Editor and Juniors:

Dear Editor and Juniors:
will write on the letter contest.
I am eleven years old, have black
hair and blue eyes. would like to hear
from Millie Huffman through the
Junior page.
How beautiful it is out today mon
day.. The snow all over the hills.
waiting for the children to have the
merry times that they have been wait
ing for since the last snow Of last
winter The snow didn't have to wait
long for me. The first thing did this
morning was to look out Of the win
dow and to my delight the ground was
covered with snow l quickly dressed
and was out on our pasture hill with
my sled and my dog ran along after
me too. Oh, what fun I did have!
Mamma called me in when breakfast
was ready. 1t was very little ate be-
of my neighbor friends to come sleigh
riding with me. didn't 60 to school
today, but sure had fine time any
way. s. GfE
l had fine time Thanksgiving. We
had dandy dinner, but what beat all
was the large roasted goose.
l WOnQer Wnat Cne JunlOrS wait IOT
Christmas. l want doll cradle, doll
chair, some dolls and I don't want
Santa Claus to forget my ice skates.
My sister has two pet pigeons. She
calls them Bob and Crystal
Your Junior friend,
Cecilia Huffman aged IL.
! Chillicothe, Iowa, R. F. D. No. 1.
P. S. Many thanks for my Thanks
giving card. $50
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
The Piece Robert Spoke

Once there was little boy, whose
name was Robert Reece;
And every Friday afternoon he had to
speak piece.
So many pieces thus he learned that
soon he had store
OF Arecitations in his head, and still
kept learning more.
And now this is what happened: He
was called upon one week,
And totally forgot the piece he was
about to speak
His brain he cudgeled. Not a word re-
manned within his head!
And SO he spoke at random and this
is what he said: at
my Beautiful, my Beautiful, who
standest proudly by,
It was the schooner 'Hesperus'-the
breaking waves dashed high!
Why is this Forum crowded? What
means this stir in Rome?
Under a spreading chestnut there is
no place like home.
when Freedom from her mountain
" height cried, Twinkle little star,
Shoot if you must this old gray head,
King Henry Of Navarro!
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue cas-.
tied. crag of Drachenfels,
My name is Norval, on the Grampian
Hills, ring out, wild bells!
- ~
"1f you're waking, call me early, to be
or not to be,
The curfew must not ring tonight! O,
woodman, spare that tree.
Charge, Chester, charge! On, Stanley,
on! And let who will be clever!
The boy stood on the burning deck,
but / go on forever"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

but teachers out, an nobody wanted
any Grants done!"
What have you got to say about
it, ... y
"Mollie was awful hungry, you see
she'd got them kids to feed" .
The air was tense with sympathy
but the judge went on.
What kind of dog is she?'
Guess she amt nothin' special
Just dog!"
why didn't you drown the puppies
II you couldn't feed herr"
Drown Mollie's puppies!" the boy
flashed out "Thems her first puppies
Why, it nd kill her!"
Fear, respect, department were for
gotten, the boys head was up and the
blue eyes had fighting look. .'
"She loves 'em, they're her'n!'
Then the feeling of barrier in blue
and patrol wagons settled on the boy
and his lips quivered.
The Judge nodded, and Officer Healy
moved to the door. A bundle had been
put down containing three wobbly
pups and a most excited little mother
Mollie, however, scented trouble
both for herself and Tim. Why were
her puppies there in that strange place
and why did her masters face veal
that look?
! With a quick glance at the kindly
hand that rested on the table, she gave
it hasty lick, then sat up and begged
pleading with her soft eyes "extenuat
! ing circumstances"
The excited restaurant keeper mac
admitted his willingness to have Tin
work off the cost of the cream.
Later, when no one claimed the boy
the Healys' home was enlivened by
both boy and dog. The descendants
Of the latter devoted themselves to the
neighboring police, and none Of them
made claim to being anything special
but "just dog"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
THIS JUNIOR SAW HER OTHER
LETTERS.

Dear Juniors:-I have written to the
Courier Junior twice before and l saw
my letters in print both times. I
received two pretty postal cards on
Thanksgiving
am going to move on our farm
four miles east Of Ottumwa. will go
to the country school until reach the
ninth grade then I will go to town
school. l am in the seventh grade. I
study arithmetic, grammar, geography.
spelling, physiology. history and
music. I have to write a compost
ton on the life OF Washington next
week.
have a sister just older than my
self She Is in the ninth grade. She
will stay in Ottumwa and 60 to school.
I can hardly wait for the Courier
Junior day to come. The OttumWa
Courier is a good paper 1t has funny
pictures in 1t which I enjoy reading.
and full page once a week. We take
the daily Courier.
I live in the town of Barnes City
now. It isn't very big place. We
had store and sold it and bought the
farm.
! and she wrote to my sister Vida.
have four sisters and one brother.
Their names are Vida, Marie, Faye,
Maxim and Fieldon. Fieldon was
named after his grandpa.
For pets have twelve chickens and
cat with little kittens. One is vel
low. Her name is Butterball. The
other one black and white, her name
is Muff. When go to the barn they
| come to meet me. They are just old
enough to walk good and they are cut.
play with our neighbor's goat. Her
| name Is Mamie. They have got some
harness and little wagon. We broke
her to drive this summer and she goes
pretty we'll now. She isn't a mean
goat at all, like some goats. She likes
to be petted as all things do.
Blanche Woolums Age II.
Barnes City, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
CHRISTMAS STORIES

This year we want all the Juniors
who have passed their fourteenth
birthday to write Christmas story.
We will give a special prize for these
older Juniors.
We want all the Juniors who have
not passed their fourteenth birthday
to write on one of the following sub
jects: ....
WHY, THE CHRISTIAN WORLD
CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS.
THE MAGi.
The prize will be doll, pair of
skates, q La Valliere, book or beau.
tiful picture. .r
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
GATHERINGS TRIP TO THE
ROCKIES.

Dear Editor:
My subject this time will be "a Trip
to the Rockies" After starting our
journey the first mountain we came
to was Pixies Peak. We decided to
climb up the mountain before we left.
One morning we decided to go be-
cause it was such a nice day. Ou-
crowd assembled the mountain and
finally reached the halfway house, but
didn't go any farther because the air
was too light for one of our friends.
!. The next place we stopped we all
wanted to climb to the top of the
mountain. Early in the morning we
dressed up as warm as we could. We
put on mems heavy shoes, pants and
coats. We rode burroughs up to the
mountain, then we all got down and
followed our guide up the mountain. It
Twas very hard to climb and we kept
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

The 1912 Christmas Stocking Club


One year ago today the 1911 Christ
mas Stocking club was organized by
four members. Today, the 1912 Christ
mas Stocking club has a membership
Of thirty-seven.
On Christmas eve, 1911, the stocking
club had membership of 3S9, which
shows that 3S9 pairs of stockings were
given to 3S9 Juniors. =
This year we want the membership
to be near the 500 mark. Every extra
pair of stockings makes one more
child happy. So that the new Juniors
will know all about the Christmas
Stocking club we will give little bit
of it's history.
The Courier Junior was the first
Christmas Stocking club in Iowa, or
the nearby states and was planned
right here in this Office. December,
1906. It's purpose Is to help little chill
dren at Christmas time, whose par.
ents fail to tell Santa Claus Of their
existence. Then again if we wish to
give presents at Christmas time and
do not want our friends to know from
whom the gifts come, Santa Claus will
deliver them for us if we ask him.
You all know that Santa Claus does
not always give useful presents, such
as stockings, mittens, so the members
of the Christmas Stocking club can
supply these needs. All one has to
do to become member Of the club
is to give nice pair of we'll filled
stockings or small amount of cash.
Into one stocking put some candy
and nuts. also toy, an orange, pair
of mittens, an apple and the other
stocking. Many Of the Juniors fill
both stockings. On the card with the
donors name put the age of the child
for whom the stockings are intended.
We will publish the names of the
members of the club every day until
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

slipping and sliding all the way. Just
as we were at the top, the Ice being
SO slick. slid back down to the bot.
tom. thought l would never get
back up again. tried and tried but
my shoes were SO large fell back
every time At last I succeeded in
getting up. We had to stay with our
guides for fear OF getting lost. One
women went ahead Of her guide and
was lost in one of the ice gaps. The
guide tied many strings together and
put 1t down in ice gaps; the woman
took hold Of this and was pulled out.
We also saw the big cross on the top
Of mountain and many other beauti-
full sights.
Catherine Schwartz, age IL.
514 North Weller ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
Stories and Letters.
PREPARING FOR A THANKSGIVING
DINNER

Dear Ed1tOr:
1t was very cold the day before
Thanksgiving. My aunt was baking
pumpkin pies for big dinner the next
day. I was very cross that day and
aunt did not want to be bothered, so
went up to my little room which was
papered with dark green. 1t was my
favorite color. My room was little
dirty, so I thought I would sweep.
went down stairs to get the broom and
saw my cousin Alice driving up to
the front door, I love her so we'll. I
hurried up stairs as fast as I could
because I did not want her to see my
room untidy. I swept 1t in an awful
hurry which I am not used to doing,
for I am inclined to laziness anyway.
busted in such hurry that I had to
raise all the windows to let the dust
out that was flying everywhere.
place till I heard light tap at my
door
Come in"
Just then Alice stuck her head in
the door.
What are you doing?'
Cleaning my room a little bit"
May I come in?"
Certainly you may. Who ever got
that in your head: you could not
come into my room without permits
sion?"
ooh, nothing, only you were so busy
I thought you might have something
you did not want me to see."
Come in and help fix up. Maybe
your taste is better than mine. Oh, my,
where did you get that pretty doll
Alice? I never say one like it before 2
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

Eyes, it is a very beautiful doll, I
think. My aunt sent it to me from
France, and it will say mamma too
~ "Will it? wish my aunt was that
good"
"Oh, look, Alice, it Is showing again.
Murray for the jolly old winter"
cried Alice. I'VE will have lots OF fun
tomorrow, Ellen"
"Grandpa Is coming for dinner to-
morrow and after dinner he Is going
to take us sleigh riding. Alice
Tell me about his sleigh and his
horses. In color. mean. Ellen"
ooh, he's got some handsome grays
and bright, red sled" s..
what are his horses names?
Let me see. Oh, know, Kate and
Kelly. Don't you think they are pretty
names, Alice?' -,4
yes do. My but it is cold in here
"Landsakes, I forgot to light the oil
stove when you came in
Where are the matches, Ellen, l
will light it for your
"In the match holder beside the
dresser. And get a match to light the
lamp, for we will have to 90 to bed
right after supper. You know we have
to get up early in the morning."
We went down to supper and ate
heartily, for we we're hungry.
Lets go to bed, Alice
"All right, come on"
"My, but you undress fast, Ellen"
ooh, we'll, have to comb my hair
yet. I always have to take 1t down to
get grannys night cap on she made
me-"
WELL do to, Ellen
Good night, everybody, I am in bed.
Now let's 60 to Sleep te.s
Aunt rang the bell at half past six.
It woke me. 1 tried to wake Alice and
succeeded in few minutes.
Good morning, Alice, how do you
feel?'
Feel with my fingers" g.
"Why Of course you do. My but you
are smart child" IS
Say, do you know 1t is Thanksgiv-
ing day, sleepy head? Wake up. Aunt
will be up here after us pretty soon II
we don't hurry"
arm and we were hungry. too. The
rest Of the morning we read books I'M
til it was time to dress for dinner.
LET me comb your hair this morn
ing, Alice"
! Cali right" .,.
81 will get one Of my new Persian
ribbons so we will have ribbons alike.
I believe I will braid my hair and curl
It at the end. What dress are you 60
ing to wear, Alice?"
ooh, am going to wear my dark
red princess"
II will, too, Alice. What shoes are
you going to wear? am going to wear
my black patent leather ones"
Guess will too"
There is grandpa and his family
and Cousin Lucy. How glad am that
Lucy has come. We will have so much
fun"
For dinner we had turkey, pumpkin
pies, roasted apples, cookies, cake. and
so many things I can not think of
them all. -
Let's go sleigh riding, children"
"All right" shouted everybody.
"My, the sled is awful slanting, Ell
len. we will dump out"
Don't be afraid, Alice, Grandpa will
take care Of u.s."
BE careful, grandpa. there is q
steep place." 49,.
! Never mine, Alice, there is nc
danger"
Overheard" shouted everybody
When I opened nv eyes was in q
big snow drift We all got in again and
went home.
Helen Sayler. aged IL
OttumVA Iowa, R. F.h D. No. Z.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS CARDS.

We will send out some beautiful
Christmas cards to- the Juniors who
write either lettefs or short stories on
any subject. In case the Juniors can
not think of any subjects themselves,
write on one of the following subjects:
NY CHRISTMAS TREE.
WHY I HANG UPsMY STOCKING.
WHEN SANTA COMES.
THE WIDOWS scHRiSTM' y.
As the letter contest does not close
until Monday we will reprint the rules
again:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
SEVEN RULES, FOR THE JUNIORS

1 Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
Ink or sharp lead pencil. -,2.
4, Number your pages.
s. Do not copy stories or poetry and
send us as your own work.
6. Always state choice of a prize on
a separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
Z. Address the envelope to Editor
Courier Junior, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
sEwING.

Dear Editor:-I like to sew very
much do not take sewing at schocl
but my sister does. Miss Albert gives
it to her. sew doll clothes but 1t is
not as much fun as to sew at school. 1
There are several kinds Of sewing
as basting, back stitch, French stitch,
and overcasting. like to sew with
the sharp needles.
Faith Keller,
Eldon, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
GRACE EARLINE A NEW JUNIOR

Dear Juniors:
I have never written to the courier
Junior before and would like to be
member and receive postal cards from
the other Juniors. I go to south ward
school and l am in the sixth grade. MY
teachers name is Miss Blaise. I nave
two brothers but no sisters.
Grace Earline McNurlen. age IL,
Sigourney, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
THE COURIER JUNIOR.
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.,
OTTUMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA DEVEREAUx,
EDITOR.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHRIST
MAS STOCKING CLUB
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
Before we announce the subjects for
the Christmas contest today, we want
all of you to read about the Christmas
Stocking club. You will find a short
story about it, as we'll as the names Of
the first members of the 1912 Christ
mas Stocking club, in the middle OF
the page. We hope all the Juniors will
become members this year.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
WANT SOME SPLENDID LETTERS

I'VE want to have one big letter con-
test. We will not tell the Juniors how
to write letters for this contest, be-
cause we want the letter to bespeak
their own individuality. The prizes
will be either a large doll or a pair
of skates. Dolls are the proper things
for big girls as we'll as little girls to
own these days. ~
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
WANT SANTA CLAUS LETTERS

We will publish Santa Claus letters
beginning next week. Santa Claus
says these letters are great help to
him when making his rounds Christ
mas eve.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07
The Joke On
Ellen Ann

TN tin pail"
Cicely's voice was so astonished and
Mortified that 1t made mamma laugh.
"a nice, shiny tin pail" she
amended. Come and see your face
in it. And that isn't all there is in it,
either!" ~
There Wero sEnkled tarts and deli.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

elizabeth WILKINSON.
ROBERT JAMES POWELL.
JEAN FAUST.
HOLMAN FAUST.
DUDLEY FAUST.
Ebert FAUST.
WARREN JOSEPH GREGORY.
JUNE JACKSON.
MARY GERTRUDE LAMB.
JEAN j. MCLAUGHLIN.
ROBERT L. M'LAUGHLlN.
CHARLES NEWCOMER YouNk
IN.
T. ARTHUR RElFsNYDER.
ELVlRA CHlLDS.
ABBjE cHlLDs.
:
EDWIN A. BOLAR. 81,
CECIL CLARA BOLAR.
~,
HELEN MARIE BOLAR.
STELLA MARGARET BoLAR.
MILDRED lDELL BOLAR.
EDNA HAZEL BOLAR.
ROBERT HINSEY JOHNSON.
FRANK M'INTIRE POLLARD.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-07

Christmas. We do not want the
stockings until the week before
Christmas but we will be glad to have
the names right away of the children
and grownups, who care to belong to
the club. Juniors and grownups liv-
ing at a distance can send pair OF
stockings, also little change, and we
will fix them up.
We are so glad to have the grown.
ups interested in the club. These
gifts may seem small but they bring
untold pleasure to many needy little
children.
The stockings will be left just as
the donors bring them in, and will
be distributed Christmas eve direct
from this Office, among little children
whose parents are unable to provide
any Christmas cheer and to little
ones bereft of their parents.
The club membership up to 10 a. m.
follows:
WILLIAM WYRIck HARPER.
SIDNEY HUGHES.
HAROLD c. CHAPMAN.
WILLIAM KENNETH SWENSON.
RUSSELL LEROY SWENSON.
DORIS SLAUGHT.
CRYSTAL MARIE AREINGDAlE.
MAIZE MAY ARElNGDAlE.
WARD BELL.
MILO BELL.
MARY CONSTANCE TURNER.
DOROTHY EEOISE HARTMAN.
VERDA MAE BA0GS.