davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

One morning in May when little
Daisy Ellis arose from her sleep she
dressed and went down to her break
fast. When she had finished she
jumped out Of her chair and got her
bonnet and basket with some cake
in it and ran into mammals room ana
told her she was going to hunt for
flowers In the woods back Of the house
Then she kissed her little baby sister
Nell and then started on her way.
She came to little brook and fol-
lowed it and seeing SOME blue v1olets
went up on the hill to get them.
Then she went on and saw a little
squirrel She tried to follow 1t but II
soon got out of her sight.
When she grew tired she sat under
a tree and fell asleep. When she awoke
she ate her cake and got UP to look
around. It was growing dark. She was
but six years old and soon began to
crv Then she saw two men coming
mn to her. One was Mr.. Brown. He
asked how did she get out there. She
told him and he picked her up and
carried her to his home. They called
and told Mr.. Ellis that Daisy was
there. She had her supper and was
playing with Mary when Hannah came
after her.
When she got home they kissed and
petted her, for they were glad to have
her back again.
When she went to hunt for flowers
again her mamma always asked Mary
Brown to go with her.
-. Hattie Allen, aged -.
Belknap, Iowa, r. F. D. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
GOATS ARE coRBY's PETS.

thought 1 would write as have
never written before. | will write
about my goats.
One is brown and the other Is brown
and white. Their names are, Snow.
ball and Bess. can drive Snowfall
but I haven't broke Bess.
have to make them stay In the
pasture because If they didn't they
would eat the corn off. used to have
a big white one but sold him while
back,
In the winter some boys and I
would hitch him to my sled and make
him pull us. He would just take us
a flying. remember once last winter
/ hitched him up and was going down
a hill, and he went 80 fast that he
threw us of in the snow.
But the ones have got now are not
quite a. gentle as he was. I'm go
ing to brake Bess pretty soon now and
then can drive them together.
Corby Barrons, age 9.
Richland, a., Route No. a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

Dear Editor:
AS I have never written before l
thought | would write. | Will wrlte
about my school last term.
MY studies were reading, arithmetic.
grammar, geography and spelling. l
like arithmetic the best. got through
about all my books.
I liked my teacher fine. Her name
was Beulah Mendenhall.
My playmates we're Hazel Hawkins,
Maybell Gardner, Freda Carr, Beulah
Johnson and Irma Ludwig.
We had a program the last day.
There were eighteen in roll when
school was out. But there were TWEEN
ty-two in the winter. Quite a few quit
to help with the spring work.
We had lots of fun skating and
coasting last winter. At noon we would
20 to a pond and skate. AS my letter
is getting long, I'll. close, hoping TO
see my letter In print.
Pearl Barrons, age IL.
Richland, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
MY FAVoRITE BOOKS OR NY FA
voRITE AUTHORS.

John Alfred Langford says, "The
lover Of books is the richest and hap.
piest of the children of men," and
certainly do agree with him.
| wonder how many of our Juniors
have read, Last Days of Pompeii"
If any have, they will know exactly
how felt while reading it. Each
character seemed living person; l
a nearer of their conversation and an
observer of their actions. I read the
book several years ago but read tb-.
plot Of the story not long ago in
"Best Fifty Books of the Greatest Au.
thors." That is another Of my favorite
books. There are plots and sketches
Of the works Of some graet authors
such as Homer. Byron, Shakespeare,
Hawthorne, Dante, Carlyle, Thackeray,
Cervantes, Irving, Scott, Wallace,
Hugo, Dickens and many others.
David Copperfield" Is another very
interesting book.
Doubtless many, if not all the Jun
iors, have read the Little Cousin
Series" Those little books help us to
become more acquainted with the
manners and customs of other people.
Then I am sure most all the Juniors
have read the Little Colonel Books"
and are acquainted with the Little
Colonel"
"ships That Pass in the Night" ~
another of my favorite books
I am now reading Quiet Talks on
Power" by S. D. Gordon
Among my favorite books are ben
Hur," SCOTS "Ivanhoe," Last Days
of Pompeii," "The Sign Of the Cross
Little Colonel Books" Cousin Sc.
ries," Pepper Books" Katy Books"
and Stevensons books. And of course
my favorite authors would be the an
thors of the books have mentioned.
I have been reading Homer's
"Iliad," by Pope. It is also very inter-
esting, describing scenes during the
'r;ojan war.
Among my favoritc poems is one
by NJ f. Butts, naraed Fence OF
Trust"
:.Ruild a little fance Of trust
Around today;
Fill the space with loving work
And therein stay.
Look not through the sheltering bars
Upon tomorrow;
God will help thee, bear what comes.
Of Joy or sorrow"
From your Junior,
Vida Wahle, age IA.
91s East Williams St., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
The Red Thread
of Homer

A detachment of troops was march,
ing along valley, the cliffs overhang-
ing which were crested by the enemy.
A sergeant, with eleven men, CHANGED
to become separated from the rest by
taking the wrong side Of ravine. The
officer in command signalled to the
party an order to return. They mis-
took the signal for command to
charge. The brave fellows answered
with a cheer. and charged.
At the summit of the steep noun
tain was triangular platform. This
was defended by breastwork, behind
which were seventy Of the foe.
On the English went, charging up
one of those fearful paths, eleven
against seventy The contest could
not long be doubtful with such odds
One after another they fell; six upon
the spot, the remainder hurled back
wards; but not until they had slain
nearly twice their own number.
When a great chieftain Of the hills
men falls in battle, it is their custom
to bind his wrist with thread. The
thread may be either red or green, the
red denoting the highest rank.
According to custom, the hillsmen
stripped the English and threw their
bodies over the precipice. When their
comrades came, they found their
corpses stark and gashed; but round
both wrists of every British hero was
twined the red thread! The hil.lsmen
had given their foes higher honor
than they had ever paid their own
brave dead!
Adapted from F. w. Robertson.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
A GOOD LESSON.

Fred was little boy Of IL years.
who always liked to go to the bali
game. Today two star teams were to
play and of course Fred wanted to 20.
May l go to the ball gamer" asked
Fred. ~
NO" said his mother So Fred
thought he would go any way. Fred
found enough money and went to
see the game. They played fine. the
final score which being 8 to / in favor
Of the local team.
Upon arriving home and mot finding
his parents he asked the cook where
they were.
ooh, they went to your uncle's place
IN the mountains for week and when
they were ready to go could not find
you"
Where were you anyway asked
the cook.
Fred hung his head and said: AT
the ball game"
Oh, how Fred wished he had not
disobeyed his mother, for up in the
mountains he could have fine time.
much better than at the baseball game.
This taught him lesson never to
disobey again.
Rose e. Coover, age IA,
Parnell, Ia
Dear Juniors:
How are you, one and all?
AS July 20 is my sister Annals birth.
day, wish the Juniors would send her
post cards.
Rose E. Coover,
Parnell, Ia.
P. Send cards to Miss Anna
Coover, Parnell, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
THE INDIANS

The Indians have copper colored
skin, coarse, jet black hair and nlgh
cheek bones, thick lips and small eyes.
They lived in wigwams. They made
them by tieing poles together at the
ton and putting skins around them. In
side OF this they had their fireplace
from which the smoke went through
holes In the roof. !.
They light their fires with flint
rocks.
They fought with tomahawks and
hatchets made Of stone.
They also fought with bows and ar.
rows. They made their bows out OF
hickory and deer skins They made
their arrows from wood and rocks.
The men killed bears and deer and
many other wild animals.
The Indians were made mad easily
and were terribly stout.
They would shoot a white man, take
their hunting knives and scalp their
victim and go on with the scalp hang
ing on their hunting belt.
The Indians we're first named by
Christopher Columbus. the first man
who discovered the Indians and the
new world, about 419 years ago.
Columbus named these copper col
ored men and women Indians because
India was the land they were hunting
for.
The Indian men were called braves,
and the women were called squaws,
and the babies we're papooses.
Dewey Ault, aged IL.
E'1Oris Iowa. r. F. D. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
WANTS MARY'Ss ADDRESS.

Miss Maude Skirvin, Agency, la.
Dear Friend: AS have read your
letters and stories in the Courier, /
thought | would write you letter.
go to school. am in the sixth and
seventh grade. What grade are you
In? We use to live near Ottumwa. Do
you know what Mary Horan's address
Is? want to write to her but do not
know her address. Well as my letter
is getting long, l will close, hoping to
hear from you soon.
Isel Miller, age 13,
Broken Bow, Neb.
P. 81 would like to change post
cards with other Juniors.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
MY MOTHER - lLDRA LUCILLE
REYNOLDS.

am like most children for his rea-
son, think my mother "the best OF
ALL Everything said by Forrest Weber
in the Junior of his mother applies to
my mother and to the mothers OF al.
most all children. While we love ana
appreciate our mothers, we 'oVe anu
value our papas none the less.
My mother did not enjoy the love
and care of mother but few short
years. She died when mamma was
quite young. After her death an aunt
cared for her until she and papa we're
married. We now live on farm near
Agency. Mamma, papa and Delcte, my
Oldest sister, are members OF the
Christian church in Agency. where We
have large attendance in our Sun
day school.
This is my first Letter to the Junior.
Ildra Lucille McReynolds. aged 10.
Agency. a., r. F. D. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
ELvA SAYS JUNIOR PICNIC "a
AUG. 10.

Misses Vida Whale, Mary Palfreyman,
Hazel Hatfield and Anna Coleman.
My Dear Friends: .
I thank you all very much for writ
ing me letters through the Junior. !
will answer them all in one, as it will
take up too much space in the Junior
to write them all separately.
Yes, Vida, just love to read. l
am reading very interesting book
now about Admiral Dewey. received
splendid book from the Courier
Junior as a prize The name Of it
is Japanese Fairy Tales" II you
wish to read it I'll let you as soon as
my cousin gets through with it.
No, Hazel, didn't answer your let
ter, although wrote you one and lost
it somehow.
Are you girls going to the Junior
picnic? l am I am almost sure that
you will go, wont you, Vida? hope
you other girls will CO. l will write
when it is going to be SO all the
Juniors will know, and I hope they
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
HENRY w. LoNGFELLoW.

There is an old house in the city OF
Portland Maine.
A little baby was born in that house.
He was born in February. 1907.
His name was Henry W. Longfel-
low.
He loved birds and flowers.
His heart was always kind.
He is my favorite poet.
I love to read his poems.
He has such beautiful thoughts in
his poems.
When he was a small boy he went
to school and afterwards to Bowdo1n
college.
Bowdoin college is in Maine.
He then crossed the ocean and
spent four years in other countries.
Afterwards he was a teacher IN
Bowdoin college.
He afterwards went to Cambridge,
Mass. He went there to teach IN Har-
ward college.
He was the author of Evangeline,
Hiawatha and many other poems.
Mr.. Longfellow's children were born
in Cambridge, Mass.
He had three girls and two boys.
They loved their father dearly. He
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
MABEL HELPS CARE FOR HER
BABY SISTER

Dear Editor and Juniors:
AS I have never written before l
thought would write.
I am little girl. was years old
last Saturday, July 10. My name Is
Ida Mabel Dunning.
I have four sisters and one brother.
My baby sisters name is Dorothy. She
is eight months old. She has a baby
carriage and I can ride her around
while mamma Is busy working.
For pets I have little kitty, a big
dog and pig. call my kitty Bun
n.y." the dog Rover" and the big
Buster"
I am going to school when it begins.
I live right close to Maude and
Mabel Skirvin.
Well, as my Letter is getting long I
will close.
A little Junior,
Mabel Dunning, aged 6.
Agency, Iowa, Route No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

what forms they took. He was per-
fectly honest and was never known to
tell lie. The conditions of the
country allowed him only a limited
education. But his was studious
disposition and he had decided taste
for mathematics, which led him into
geometry trigonometry and surveying
When at the age of Is he left school
he selected surveying as his profess
sion
In 1852 Washington was appointed
by Governor Dunwiddie of Virginia
tary districts to command the militia.
At this time the French and English
were involved in a dispute as to The
mastery of the continent. Governor
Dunwiddie selected Washington as a
commissioner to send message to
the French. This was perilous task
but Washington fulfilled it success
fully.
When war broke out in the fol-
lowing year he was appointed
lieutenant-colonel, and in 1855 acted as
aide-de-camp to General Braddock.
After serving for five years in the
French and Indian war he retired TO
his estate at Mount Vernon where he
lived for sixteen years as planter.
When the revolutionary war broke
out Washington was appointed COM
mander-in-chi of the American
armies. He FASTENED to Cambridge,
Mass, where he took command of the
army July 8, 1775. He continued as
commander-in-chief during the war OF
independence, and though defeats and
lack of supplies disheartened others,
he remained firm and persevering
When victory finally crowned the
American armies in 1888 he retired to
private life at Mount Vernon from
whence he was again called to take his
place at the head of his nation. He
was inaugurated April 80, 1889, and
served for eight years. Three years
afterwards while riding about on his
estate at Mount Vernon he took a
severe cold from which he died on the
14th of December, 1899, in his sixty
eighth year. He was buried at his
family vault at Mount Vernon. The
whole nation was plunged into mourn
ing. Napoleon caused the standards
Of the French army to be draped In
mourning for ten days. He was called
the Father Of his Country"
Gertrude Dunning, age IL.
Eldon Iowa Route No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

used to write them letters.
Mr.. Longfellow wrote q poem abou
them.
He called it "The Children's Hour.
Mr.. Longfellow loved all children
they loved him, too. They liked t.
talk with him.
He wrote q poem to the children
He said they were better than poems
He said the birds and sunshine
were in their hearts.
l think he had sunshine In hit
heart.
He also wrote 1.-THE Village Black
smith"
The children in Cambridge loved
Mr.. Longfellow.
What do you think they did for hif
birthday?
They carried money to their teach
or to be given to Mr.. Longfellow'f
friend to buy him present. The big
chestnut tree had fallen down. You
know he described it In poem. They
took the wood and had nice chair
made for him.
LaRue Downing, age IL.
Selma, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
"rHE WAY MY SCHOOL BEGAN IN
THE MORNING."

Dear Editor:
Our school is taken up at o'clock
and first we have opening exercises.
They are singing and the Lords
prayer, which we all repeat, Then we
get our lessons. We first have read
ing and then physiology and then it
is half past ten, time for recess. At
fifteen minutes till eleven our school
starts again and we have arithmetic.
Then It is noon and we play one hour
and then school starts and we have
geography and then grammar and then
it is last recess and at fifteen minutes
till three we take up and have history
and spelling and then school is out
and we all go home.
I will close
Teresa Engle.
Ottumwa, Ia, r. r. 6, Box 90.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

walnut grove out on the other side Of
our house. We had a picnic the
Fourth. Where did you spend the
Fourth? stayed home. II you see
Elva, tell her to answer my letter, will
you please?
When will your school begin? Ours
begins IN September. live the next
house from Pauline Beghtol. She is a
nice little girl. She can talk well for
her size. How is Linise, your little
brother? Well Jeanette. / will close as
my letter is getting long
Jennie Brown, age IA,
r. No. 1, Box SO, Ottumwa. Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
pAPHEN,s TRIP TO MISSOURI.

Dear Editor and Juniors:
will now write to the Junior page.
As some of the Juniors have written
about their journeys, Will write ABOUT
my trip to Missouri. was 1lve years
old
went with my mamma and grand
ma. We went to my uncle's. They
lived in Mason county, Mo. had a
fine time with my cousins while was
there. There names are Ave, Noah,
Willie and Max. went to school with
them all the time. I stayed a week.
Daphen Wilson,
Route 2, Batavia, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27

win all go. It viii be August 10, 1912,
ut Ottumwa, Iowa, in Caldwell park,
and all juniors try and be there at 10
10. m. and bring their luncheons with
them. It would be so nice II the
editor could go. hope so. All are
invited.
Say, Mary, will you please tell
Bernice Beatty to write to me. It
seems like long while since heard
from her, and do you know II Beatrice
Hickey got my letter or not?
Iwrote Maude and Mabel Skirven
letter through the Junior but haven't
received an answer yet.
The letter Jeanette M. Coyne wrote
to mo was nice. Will write soon.
Yes, Anna, our school is out. It vas
out June IS. We had q picnic and q
program.
What did you girls do the Fourth
Of July? had a fine time.
received nice card from the
Courier Junior and wish them to &C.
cept my utmost thanks. have re-
ceived quite few beautiful cards
from the Courier.
I owe q few answers to some OF the
Juniors and other friends. VIII
answer them as soon as hnd Time.
It has kept me pretty busy sending
out invitations about our Junior
picnic.
Leona Vest, Ottumwa, Ia, Route No.
6, is president and organizer Of our
Courier Junior Society club. Henri
eta Plaster, 211 South Market street,
Oskaloosa, Ia, Is secretary and
treasurer, and I am chairman OF COM
mittee.
Hoping to hear from you girls soon,
and see all the Juniors and the editor
at the picnic.
Miss Elva M. Huffman, age IS.
Route No. /. Chillicothe, iowa.
Chairman of committee Of G. J. S.
P. ST. will answer Lois Griffin,
Inez Grimes and Ruth Byrum's cards
eOOn
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
oRPHA LIKES "MUTT AND JEFF"

Dear Junior Friends:
AS have not written to you before,
will write and ask to be permitted
to enter your happy band.
My uncle takes the Courier and
like to read the Junior letters and
about Mutt and Jeff also.
live in the country two miles south
west of Moulton, Iowa.
I have one brother, Joe, who goes to
school with me at small country
school,
Our school closed June IA. We had
fine dinner, after which we spelled
and ciphered.
l will close as my letter is getting
lengthy. -,
II see my letter in print will
write again.
would like to hear from all the
Juniors and will answer ALL
Orpha E. Mourer, aged IA.
Moulton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
MINTA's MOST IMPORTANT
EVENT.

am going to write about the most
event of our school last
term. All the schools in the township
sent in drawings and penmanship to
he exhibit at Fairfield last fall. Four
II us girls sent set Of drawings Of
the,ear, eye and nose. ! got the first
prize. My prize was q box OF water
.olors. I like them fine.
1 go to the County Line school. I
lave three-quarters Of a mile to go.
Minta Mckee, age Is.
Eldon, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
! would try to write about

would try to write about MY
Mother"
My mother is about five feet five
inches tall and has blue eyes and dark
hair and she has worn glasses q good
many years. She was thirty.nine her
last birthday.
think I have one of the pest
mothers that ever lived.
My mother, my older sister and my
self visited in Ottumwa two years ago
this month and we had fine time.
We rode on all the electric car lines
in Ottumwa.
This is my first letter to a news
paper so I guess I better close for
this time, hoping I may see this IN
print.
was eight years old the sixth OF
April.
four friend,
Angela Bergthold,
West Point, Iowa, R No 8, Box 10.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-27
and road;
Whats that?" The glimmering thread
once more!
George Macdonald.
The Baker
Boys and
the Bees

Many, many years ago the people
of Germany lived in little towns with
high walls around them. They built
walls around their towns because they
had quarrels with other towns. The
walls protected them against their
enemies.
Sometimes people kept beehives on
the high walls. The bees could fly
away into the fields outside and gath
er honey. There were not many flow
'ers inside the city to get honey from
One morning two baker boys were
hungry. They had to get up very early
Some fine rolls had just been taken
from the oven. The boys thought Il
would be fine to have some rolls and
honey.
Lets go up on the walls and gel
some honey out Of one of the hives,
said John.
But the bees will sting u.s. an
swered James. Beside, the watchman
on the walls might see us. Then we
would be in trouble of another kind. .
John, however, persuaded James to
go. The two boys stole out of the shoI
and ran across the street.
In a few minutes they were creep
ing up the stair that led to the top OF
the wall
There was no Waterman to be
seen He had gotten sleepy, probably
and had gone somewhere to sleep
But there was a noise coming from
somewhere.
The boys listened, but all was quiet
again They made their way quietly
oIo ho All the
hives.
Then they covered their faces and
got ready to rob the bees Of their
treasure John was just lifting the top
from one of the hives, when he heard
another strange noise, He dropped the
hive hurriedly.
The noise seemed to come from the
outside of the wall. 1t was the people
Of Linz, who had come to attack the
town.
Both boys we're terribly frightened
at first They saw, however, that
must be done to save the
town
James," said John, you run quick
ly and ring the bell. will tumble the
beehives down on their heads.
James did as he was told. John
pushed a hive over the wall. 1t fell
on the leaders head and went to
pieces. The bees were angry at being
disturbed in this way, and flew at the
men and stung their hands and faces
SO that they were glad to run away.
Another beehive came tumbling
down, and then another. The angry
bees put the whole army to flight.
By this time the bell had called the
people out to defend the town. But
the army had already departed. The
two boys and the bees had saved the
town.
The boys were not punished. In
stead, the people praised them for
their wise acts. 1t was decided to erect
a monument in their honor.
One Of the boys afterwards became
mayor of the city The other was long
known as the most famous baker Of
his time.