davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
MY HAPPIEST THANKSGIVING

>this time they heard of this new
country. so. they decided to come
here. They fitted out ship and
named 1t the "Mayfower." They
started with one hundred and two
people, but some did on the way.
At last, after "A long and bad voy-
age. they landed at a place called
Plymouth. The people were called
Pilgrims. The men went on land
to fix a place for the women and
children. while they stayed on board.
They had no Indians to bother with,
for they had all been driven out by
sickness.
After many hardships on land they
at last raised crop Of grain. and
stored it away in their barns. They
thought that they ought to he thank
full .or this, so the men went out
hunting and the women got ready for
day of merry making. So at last
the day came, and they called IL
Thanksgiving day" 1t was decid-
ed that every year after the grain
was put In the barns that they would
have day for giving thanks. This
Is why Thanksgiving day comes In
the colder days instead of in the nice
summer days.
This ended grandmothers story.
The next day all the family left for
their homes well pleased with their
visit.
Composed by RosELTA BENNETT.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
The Thanksgiving Dinner

Edith was going TO spend q weak
with her grandmother. who i.ved
about twenty miles in the country.
The day Edith Intended to go it was
raining. She got very angry and said:
Every time have anything to do or
go anywhere something happens .
Her mother said: You must not get
angry over that, and II 1t does not
ram tomorrow you may go. This did
not please Edith, for she wanted to go
then.
Her mother said: TT you think
that Il will not make you sick you
may go"
Edith thought moment and Their
she said: Mother, IL you do not want
me to so I will stay at home" And
SO she stayed at home, and went the
next day.
The day she went was a beautiful
day. The sun shone bright, and the
gnily colored leaves were falling
When she got to her grandmother's
she said. "Oh. grandmother, did you
look for me yesterday"
why, no." said her grandmother
The next day was Thanksgiving Day
and Edith helped her grandmother
w krt u vi thNS hnI
everything that you can think of. For
one thing she had a turkey that
weighed twenty-nine pounds and
Edith said: II have never seen turk
ey as large as that in my lfe.'
Oh, Aunt Nancy, l am going too
| fast. Out in the country were fv,
! girls. Their names were Edith, Alice
+ Emma. Bessie and Annie. Thankgiv
! ing Day came and they all ate and ate
! They all tried to be as good as the,
| could to each other, and they all iives
! hanriiy that day.
| Tire next day they went out in tn
! woods and spent the day out there
7 They had dinner out there. and the.
: called 1t Thanksgiving Dinner aga
I That night they returned home tire'
and very sleepy.
/ The next day Edith was ready Il
/ return home. II was real pretty da,
| that she went home. When she go
. home she told her mother what nic'
I time she had had. Her mother tolt
: her to go into the dining room ans
/ Edith went What do ynu think VA
/. In tAeEa-A large table full of al
kinds Of things to eat Edith said
! "Oh. mother. Is this a Thankgivin'
dinner" She thanked her mother 70
I this. and invited several of he
friends to take Thanksgiving d.nne
! with her again.
MARIAN GEOGHEGAN.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
My Happ;est Thanksgiving

One Thanksgiving Day had tive
Of my little girl friends come to spend
the day with me. In the morning
we went out in the snow. and ~
built snowmen and snowballed each
other until we got tired Then We 20
their sled (for they had brought their
sled with them for they did not llvo
far from me). and we went out ~
the hillside. There were four Of -
my sister. Katie. Mary and myself We
got on the sled and went ahying down
the hill When We got to the bot
tom, the sled gave one bump and N
Of us were thrown out in the snow.
or course. we did not mind that ~
only jumped up and brushed the snOS1
of of us and started back UP the Nm
a xain with our sled. We had Z rood
time sleighriding. When we wo0k
back to the house there was a biz tn.
key waiting for us. After we finishes
our dinner We played lots OF indo9e
games. ! hope everyone has A. goa1
time as I had that Thanksgtvt14
Day.
GRACE OWEN
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
A Thanksgiving Story

1t was the day before Thanksgiving
and the children wanted to have n
turkey killed to eat, and a cake made
and also a pumpkin pie. But mamma
was busy with the other cooking, and
did not have time, 50 Gertrude said
to the others: Cant We make cake
and cook turkey and make a pump
kin pie, too?.'
why. yes" said Jamie, Mary and
Mamie all at once. Let's try"
so, may we mamma" exclaimed
Gertrude In delight
yes" said mamma. you may
try"
I'VE will catch the turkey for you"
said Bob. Come on, Ed, you, too,
Tommy And away they went. They
caught the big gobbler and cut its
head Off. but they did not know how
to pick II. But at last they managed
to do 1t.
Mary was stirring the batter to
make "A cake, and Gertrude was beat
ing the whites of the eggs. jamie
and Mamie were pouring in milk.
-four and sugar.
As soon as the turkey was picked
Tommy came In and asked where to
put it, and IL they must get pump
kin to make pie. Yes" said Ger
trude, get a big one" and OFF went
Tommy.
Now you can get US some stove
wood and chips" said Mary, after
| Tommy had gotten the pumpkin.
Gee he said as he went out of
the door, "it makes boy as busy as
! girl when he has to help make
cake" BY the time the boys had
| the stove wood In. the girls had the
/ cake ready to bake.
PUT some in the stove, Tom" said
| jamie. Now we will begin to make
| the pie" So they got lot of eggs
| and a lot Of milk and some sugar
| and some pumpkin.
! And. oh. when the pumpkin pie was
made, And then when mamma saw It.
/ Why, indeed, she said. even she could
j not have made a better one But
the cake was Just splendid, and really
1t was nicer than the pies. The boys
wanted to eat piece right then. but
mamma told them to wait until to-
| morrow.
The next day was Thanksgiving and
the turkey was cooked, and II was
real nice.
"And. now says mamma. ''Yot
may each invite little girl or hoy
be sure you don't tell anybody who
you invfse ami don't invite brit onf
person aniece." AT that the children
were delighted
"0h, know who will Invite.
exclaimed all of the children at once
! Pretty soon seven little children came
Marjorie Jackson, Irene King. Georg4
Jackson. Lily Raymond, John Ray
rond. George RAYMOND and Mimi,
Raymond. And, now. don't you sup
pose they enjoyed it all? And all th'
children were sorry enough when /
was time for them TO GO home.
SALLfE SCOTT.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

mean a present for Miss Bianch. The
suggestion was that Jim might De
taken as Thanksgiving gift to her
That afternoon, after school. mind
full of boys club admonftfons. Joey
washed his hands and smoothed his
hair and caught Jim in his arms. Re-
| luctautly he tied his legs tcgether with
! a strip of cotton cloth. Then with
Jim under his arm. he trudged toward
Miss Rlanchs home.
| II was she herself who opened the
| front door and admitted Joey into a
sunny livingrcom where an open fire
cracked cheerfully.
"Me an my mother amt stiney,
joey asserted as. rooster In arm he
sat with difficulty on the upholstered
hhair so bring yer a rooster fr
THANKSGIVING. J.nl's fat--he ist" And
| eraveIy he offered hts pet TO Miss
Blanch.
.oh. Loey," said Miss Rlanch. She
really coslId not say more.
Joey watched her as she held Jim.
"you dasn't. unite his feet" he ex-
planned.
But Miss Blanch did. Moreover,
Jim, loose. exultantiy perched him
SELF on the hack OF a chair and. look
ing at Joey and Miss Blanch-crowed'
joey you FfdttV utH WdAit W EtNS
hir, to ire. do vos'7''
There was sometime between tears
and ,au~hter in Miss R,anch's voice ]
.ather think that II must have heen
nesrer to tesrs for her face WIS very
sweet ana sad as II met Joev's gaze.
.vou amt erwin, are vou?' he
INQUIRED anxfously. 81 thought you'd
Ike him"
Like him." echoed Miss R,ench
"Joey dear dol can't tell YOU
!, how much. hut YOU see joey. Jim Is
81 friend ~ mine as well az yours
yon wouldn't want me to kill him.
would your
Sure" maintained joey. Hes a
THANKSGIVING rooster"
In his heart he knew that he did
not want Jim eaten---no. not even by
Miss Blanch.
So they had a long talk about II
and Miss Bianch said that her turkey
was already purchased and stuffed
and ready for tomorrow. She pleaded
for Jim and finally she won.
Now she concluded, you must
help me find a place to keep him till
next Thanksgiving. Don't you want
to take care OF him for me? don't
know how to take care Of ROSTERS,
and besides that Jim would be sure
to miss you. joey"
SO together they managed to put
GIN into q basket and carry him home
ON the trolley car to the yard OF the
brown house. There Miss Bianch ex-
planned to Joey's mother and tho our
mother had Thanksgiving dinner at
Miss Blanch's house next day.
After Il was over. Miss Blanch ask
A Joey 10 tan her what Ne was most
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
It was bright day before Thanks

II was a bright day before Thanks
giving. The whole household was
m~rlS ing Apout @e.sins .Saoy fol "a
visit to grandfather's farm. where
they went to the family reunion
every year. Ellen. Ruth and May.
with father and mother, were on
to meet uncles, aunts and cousins.
They arrived at the farm late We'd
nesday evening. and out ran the chill
dren here and there over the farm to
look at the things they had not seen
for a year. and to look for the girls
who had arrived before them.
Thanksgiving day all the children
were up bright and early to help the
men feed the chickens and everything
else on the farm. Before they knew
IL it was dinner time. and such a
dinner as they had, with turkey,
chicken, cranberries, pumpkin pie
and everything good to eat.
After the sun went down they were
ALI in the room, and grandmother
was called on for nice, long. true
story. This is what she told
Many, many years ago in England
the people were not allowed to wor-
ship az they wanted to. SO part that
wanted different way Of worship,
determined to leave and 60 where
they could worship as they pleased:
They started over. but were captured
by men the king had sent after
them, and the leaders were put into
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
THANKSGIVING PAGE IS
FINE, SAYS AUNT NANCY

Nephews
It perfectly dreadful to be such ad old aunt with 90 many
Old would
be hoed the thought OF your losing your dignity
Juvene circle members for that h Just what feel IKE doing to-
will reading the other fellows stories about this holiday
i the back
for good work and Old Goose positively forods me to jump
approval and pleasure must be content with writing "a wen
today
wishes for Joyous Day every members o. the circle
MY Happiest Thankssvns the second prize Tor the
Rosetta and Hattie prize win
this all OF Will Ike
are will
wise
resembled
IN nc Goose indigestible
they
in
II will be
will goboie
Them emember
nm IL
swers.I BIO Sunday
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

end. Joey watched with delight the
finishing touches.
While that pincushion was being
finished. Miss Bianch learned some
things about Joey. aside from the fact
that he owned a beautiful, clean white
rooster whose feathers never. never
showed any black upon them under
the most unfavorabie circumstances
of railway smoke.
And somehow ii came ABOUT that
Miss Blanch promised Joey to organ
ize a boys club. II met the following
day In the same hall joey himself
walked proudlv down IN the room
from Mics Blanch's home. laden with
basket materials Of reed and rafsar
On the way. they stopped at the yard
of the brown house to look at Jim.
II was too bad that Jim couldn't go
to hcys' club too--but he was only
white rooster.
WI hat time they did havei Why,
1t put the girls club quite IN the
shade. They learned the first steps
| of basket-making. they sang songs.
they played game and. finally. Miss
Blapch told q story. The story was
Thanksgiving story about the In
dams and the white people who came
over to this country long ago and
lit told about the first Thanksgiving
! Day and what II meant.
! On the way home Joey hoasted ia
the hoys that he had a white rooster
for THANKSGIVING and pointed to jim
istrutting ahcut the yard,
/ He came In with a glowing ac-
count of club to greet his mother
who was busy over the cooking
stove. The pincushien hung upon the
! KALI Joey eyed "A with pride 81 Mss
Bianch's comm Sunday to see YOU
he announced and his mother beamed
down at him,
And SO 1t was that Miss Blanch
BEGAN fast friend OF Joey.
/ As Thanksgiving Day drew near
the pride of Joey In Jim increased
Even the little girls stopped near the
yard fence TO admire him and ask
whether he was going to be eaten Al
these times strange feeling would
possess Joey-after all. Jim was a
pet. He would not really like to eat
him. What he liked was the import.
ance OF having a Thanksgiving roos-
ter all his own. Anybody would have
been proud OF Jim!
| His mother laughed sometimes wher
she suggested that Jim was CROWNS
large and fat. She tested Joey about
killing Jim. but somehow the matte,
dropped and the day before Thanks.
giving came. With 1t came his moth.
ler's suggestion, suggestion at once
terrible and wonderful--terribie be-
cause Of what IL would mean of sac
iriflce--wonderful because 1t would
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
THANKSGIVING

went to my friends home when
lived at South Hill on Thanksgiving
last. He had bicycle, but couldn't
ride It. About six children lived across
the street. but came over, so we play
ed hide and seek until dinner time.
For dinner we had a turkey. cram
berry sauce. celery. fried and stewed
chicken, oysters, a goose, some ducks,
coffee, cocoa, tea, bread and butter,
pumpkin pie, ice cream and fruit
cake.
We played until late in the after
noon, after which / went home.
ADRIAN CARSON, JR.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
'The Old Confederate Cray :

Go take down that uniform. Polly.
Keep 1t safe from all decay,
For the color fore II faced,
Was the old Confederate Gray.
Yes. the color now In failing.
No more Is that Gray new ana
bright,
For the men who wore that color
Fought in many bloody fight.
And the men who wore that color
Knew. yea. swore that they wera
right.
And at last subdued. not conquered,
Gave way fore the power, might. d
Fall down fore the Gray and wor-
ship
Where the heroes feet have trod,
For the greatest soldier ever.
Wears that color fore his God"
Oh, We men of valor. listen,
Stuart, Jackson, Johnson, Lee,
Greatest soldiers time has given
Wore the old Confederate Gray.
Those heroes changed the tide of
battles,
Charged. commanded nobiy we'll,
And the world knows how Stonewali
Jackson
Fought the foe cen after he i-ii
II
Who can picture the vision that rose
fore his eyes
AS he ordered Hill to the front AMI
away,
Then said, Let us pass DER the river
and rest under the trees,
Rest. my tired men. wearing the
Gray.
Fate babe that color's standard
lowered
Healed the sores of yesterday,
But, breathes there a man In unf-s
verse
Who can forget Confederate Gray
Wine away that tear. old comrade.
You who have stood fore deaths
array.
For today in heaven they're wearing
Coiors of Confederate Gray.
Put aside the uniform. Polly.
Keen 1t safe from all decay
For when worlds are conquered. time
has ended,
Wen wear again the honored Gray.
I-fa-:.-e s NJ. MERRY MELTON. ssa
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

prison. This did not discourage
them. but made them more than ever
determined to leave.
At last they got away and went
to Holland. Here they lived long and
enjoyed freedom of worship. There
was one thing that made them want
to leave Holland. that was that their
children were growing up to speak
the Dutch language and were like
other Dutch boys and girls About
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
A THANKSGIVING DINNER

r is for turkey, good and sweet.
Which ts 4 pal Thanksgiving treat
n r. for Smthneld here
Which satisfies appetite when
4 Il for apple, large and red.
Which we give children without being afraid
Y II for nut which the cake good;
I.ook ont where IL stood.
X ia for kid, nice and tender
form Of Thanksgiving spendor
8 Is for alm 3 kind Of hsh,
Which d served great big dish.
G. II Tor goose. which wings
And whe " them they bounce like
i for Ice bright.
when whiried In It gives delight
y n Tor view OF Thanksgiving table,
which all like TO have II they are able
1 n for Tee cream which IL frozen by Ice
And Il by the Slice
q for eat which the table appears.
when it's surrounded by grandmae dears
{; n fOr when children have their
HATTIE INEz CAMP
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Farnvilie. Va.

FHruVfIISl n
Dear Aunt Nancy,-Hnw many v. J.
c. members do you suppose have met
since our organization? had the
pleasure last Tuesday of meeting
Clarence Raughan. who stopped here
a while on his way to Lynchburg.
Our fathers were college mates. and. If
Clarence does not advance too rap
idly, we may also attend the same
college together.
may send you few puzzles for
the Thanksgiving number. II ] can
md time to make them up. solved
Emma Slater's Word Diamond. but I
think she ought TO make her words
read both ways. Tell her how l ap-
preciate the compliment.
Your little nephew.
- LOUIS DAHL
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Runford. p. O.,

NUnIOru, r. O..
King William County, Va.
Dear Aunt Nancy guess you
think I have forgotten the circle. but
have not. got my badge and
thank you ever so much for It. think
II IL very pretty. was so glad I
got the prize. had not thought that
would get it. ] have not got II
yet. but am looking for Il. / am
going to write to Alma Kemp soon.
Goodbye.
From your little niece,
SAI4LIE r. CLAIBORNE.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
A Spelling Lesson.

A Spelling lesson.
Can YOU spell kitten. my little man -
said to Jack, FIVE years old,
And besrtrel his back Jack put bath
hands,
And he tossed his locks OF gold.
Too hard ," I asked; then his face
grew grave,
And he said 1T isn't that
BIT I'm too old for kitten. you know.
Now just you try me on cat!
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Freezing. Va.

Freezing. Va
Dear Aunt Nancy.--As II has been
quite awhile since wrote for the
circle. l must get busy" ! greatly
enjoy reading the letters and other
matter In the page. VIII you let me
tell about an o'possum hunt we had
q few nights ago? Well, l imagine
your smile OF approval. SO ! win
proceed. Our dog. Frank. who, bf
the way. cmigrated from Kentucky.
more than a year ago. and is nov A
thorough Virginian. went into the nil
and began TO bark. We. my two
brothers and l. went out to him. He
had overhauled large specimen OF
the genus. Billy Postum. OF course.
the o'possum was "o'possumming."
as all o'possums do under like cir
cumstances. and was lying on the
ground. pretending 10 be dead. Frank
$ Was standing guard. We took the
o'possum to the house. hut the old
folks said that as his kind were be-
coming so scarce he should be given
his liberty. So we took him To p
nearby wood. where We left him stiil
o.passan!Hg. But next day We I'M
thesaghtesiiy told Eossse Of our TseaRfs-
hofs' boys or the catch, AMI the fol.
lowing night they 'raided" the woods
Billy Postum fell into their hands,
where he aid not fare 40 well.
Your nephew.
FITZ SEWALL. BEVERLY.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Relic Haven. Va


Dear Aunt Nancy,---P1ease find en-
closed a story for the prize contest
and also some questions in history
I am having a good time at school
VIII you send me badge. please?
NY little brother lost mine.
Yours truly,
ADRIAN L. CARSON. JR.
p. S.--Afso find a drawing enclosed.
A. l. C.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

3fod Hull street.
South Richmond, Va.
Dear Aunt Nsncy.--How are all OF
your members getting on? 1 am well
and guess you are, too. I reckon you
will let the Old Goose gobbie this
I'D because II Is written with blue ink.
but l could not help II. I left my
black Ink at school. Hoping to see
my drawing OF my turkey and my
letter in Sundays paper. am.
Your niece,
FLORENCE WALKER.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Y,chmond va.

Richmond, Va
Dear Aunt Nancy.--Whenever you
get tired OF these miserable poems
lust let me know and III stop writ
ing them. Well. hope you aren't
tired yet Hoping to see a pretty
Thanksgiving page. / remain.
Your devoted nephew.
M. MERRY MELTON.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

FTcSiA3E, va
Dear Aunt Nancy.--zI have been
thinking for some time that / would
apply for admittance to The Eirginian
Juvenile Circle. and realizing that
procrastinat;on ~ the thief OF time,
will do SO today. Now. IL you will
kindly send me badge, l shall be
pleased TO call myself an humble
member of the circle. ! have been
In school Tor some Time. ana am
studying hard. We have some very
interesting Debates. occasionally. Our
school In not large. bat I suppose that
we get along just as well.
Several tines of railroads are being
built near here. but none OF them
will pass through our Immediate
neighhorhood. We can hear the
blasting from our home ] am send
ing you drawing, which hope
to see In the page soon.
Your wouldhe member.
CEDRIC 8. BEVERLY.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

Halloween had fine time plan
ned A bunch OF us were going out.
but instead OF goinK out Halloween
found me sick in bed. Last Sunday
was the first time ] went out filled
up the time dressing dolls and maxi
ing paper flowers guess will have
to postpone my fun till st. Valentines
day.
! am getting my letter very long.
hut II has been 50 long since ] wrote
that I am trying to make up for lost
time. I got way behind at school
when was sick and don't know when
Il viii ever ratct ttp' 7 Am KofnE to
start back again Monday. am 60
ing to Chester High school now. This
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

Sebreil. Va
Dear Aunt Eancy.--I am sending
a drawing and poem. Hope to get
the prize. My cousins. Lucie and
Mary Sue Davis are with me and
we have good time. Our school
has closed on the account OF dtpthe-
Your Niece,
HATTIE CAMP.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
Interesting Letters From Circle Members

is about the longest have been abb
sent since ! started to school.
would be very glad II some of
the nieces and nephews would write
to me. should be glad TO exchange
cards with any of them. love to
write. have not tried for any of
the prizes yet. but l am sending a
story for the second prize for Thanks
giving. have no grandfather in the
country that can go TO see. so I US
ualiy spend Thanksgiving at home
/ saw some Of the nieces at the fair,
but did not see you. l looked for
you. though. did not wear my but
ton because I could not find 1t when
left. but the next day found IT, Well.
hope there will be room for this
long letter on the page. II there Is
not room for the letter. print the
story. hope neither will he food
for THE "~Ofd Gray Goose" Well, by
by. Your niece.
ROSELIA BENNETT.
~ $500 Hull street.
South Richmond. Va,
Dear Aunt Nancy arm send ng
In the drawing Of a Thanksgiving
feast. Hope to see ID in the paper
Sunday. WELL as 1t fs time fer school,
l will close. Your niece,
Oracle WALKER.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24

Dear Aunt Nancy have not left
the circle forever. as I suppose you
think. have not sent anything to
the circle since before the fair. 7
was at the fair Wednesday and stayed
from II o'clock In the morning till
after the firworks. thought they
were beautiful. There were about
twelve of us girls together. and We
had fine time. My mother went
along with us. Before We left we
rot separated into parties Of twos and