davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The Birds Nest.

Dear Uncle Jed: One day last week while looking out of my bedroom win dow I saw between the branches of a tree a birds nest. In the nest were three yellow birds.
 While I was watching them a bird flew into the nest I knew she was the mother bird when I saw her feed the little birds with food that she had brought in her bill.
 The mother is a little grey and white bird. and I think she is wren. She leaves the nest very often to get food for the little ones; but she does not stay away long. She chtrps when she is returning and I love to see the baby birds put up their bills to be fed
 Every day I throw bread crumbs out of the window and then I wait to see the mother fly down and pick up the bread
 The little birds are growing strong CT every day and put their heads over the edge of the nest.
 I enjoy watching them very much and I expect in @ few weeks the mother will teach them how to fly.
 MADALYN SULLIVAN, Age g.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
Jot,nnx the Nemshox

Once upon time there lived in a small village a little boy named John my. He was poor boy and sotd pa.- pefs to earn his living. His mother was dead and his father was poor,
 His father tried to get work. but did Rot always sa1eeAed
 Johnny had 8 sister he called Nellie, Nellie was a delicate child She did the work in the house while her bEott- CT sold papers and her father worked,
 One day as John was selling papers & wealthy man tapped hi{H on the shoulder. JoaaTany tufRed around to see Wh@ it was. The wealthy man asked hisa if he could call at his office the next day.
 Johnny said he would
 The next day Johnny called at his office, He was wondering what he wanted. As Johnny stepped into the office he saw the man waiting for him. The man recognized him at once. He told Johnny he needed a boy In his office Johnny started working that afternoon He paid Johnny six dollars a week Johnny gave Up his papers
 One day there was a surprise for Johnny. The man in the office told J ohnny his wife needed little girl to wash dishes He thought of Nellie ed in the office His father boarded in a in the office. His father boardeo in a hotel. They all lived very happily after.
 MARY HUSSEY, Age Il.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS.

1-haymond Royce of Norwich, Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon, by Frank Gee Patchen.
 2-MiIdred Cass of Norwich. Wild Kitty, by Mrs. l.. T. Meade.
 3-Gertrude McGibbcn of Yantic. The School Queens. by Mrs. l.. T. Meade.
 4-Edward c. Moran of Norwich. Tom Swift Among the Diamond Mak- CTS, by Victor Appleton.
 5-Madalyn Sullivan of Norwich. A Girl from America. by Mrs. L. T. Meade.
 6-Luey A. Garter of Scotland, Sue, 8 Little Heroine. by Mrs. l.. T. Meade.
 7-FIorence A. Whyte of Willnan- tic, Polly, New Fashioned Girl by Mrs. l.. T. Meade.
 S-Robert CaIkins of Kissimmee, Fla, Pony Rider Boys in the Grand Canyon, by Frank Gee Patchen
 Winners of books living in the city may call for them at The Bulletin bus mess office at any hour after 10 a. m. Thursday,
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
Birds Nest in the Grape Vine.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am writing to tell you about all the birds that visit around our house, I guess, because we do not keep any cats.
 And one little birdie has built a nest in our grape arbor right over the kitchen door. There are four lit tie speckled eggs in the nest and some day I guess the nest will be full of little nirdies.
 I sleep with my window open every night and about three or four o'clock every morning I am awakened by the singing of the birds. I think 1t must be a robin for he says, Cheer eep! |Cheer-ee Cheer-eep! and sings much more I can't understand.
 They seem to sing early in the morn ing more than through the day guess 1t is because the days are hot and they are busy building their nests.
 EDWARD G. MORAN Age 10.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
A Live Doll Entertainment.

Here is a novel party which some girls gave, who wished to raise money for a good purpose. They decided they would have doll party, but the dolls should be real boys and girls. This is the way they did it.
 The entertainment consisted of tab ie8aIx arranged as if for doli show and representing such subjects as q dolls wedding, the queen of dolldorn. the peasant dolls of Europe, the dolls home, Japanese dolls, Indian dol1S etc. followed by some performances of the nature of vaudeville
 After the programme had been care- fully outlined came thR apportioming of the characters to suit Then each young person was requested to study out and prepare his or her costume The faces were occasionally achieved with powder and makeup for tine pacturesQae dolls, while many wore masks in this way
 were made to fit the heads of the act
 Bags of thin white cheesecloth orEs and on these faces were painted in oils The bags were held in place by some such device as collar, handkerchief worn around the neck or, in the case of historical dolls. of a neck ruff or ruche
 In the tableaux representing the Dolls at Home several of the visitors Were, of course, city dolls Sty4ist1ty dressed
 Two eotored dolls cakewa1ked witt f1flaly swazard dola steps and the fana- 1ay rag dolls raised a laugh so diiaBi- dated aald apparently spineIess were they. The rag dolls had te be support ed to keep them from Hopping over, and one. of the heads lo11ed persistent1y on Oae side.
 There was 8 French d0ff who was WStind ttD and danced, a baby doll who repeated Papa and Mama many times eEeF. ,aad 8 school boy del1 wAo reedted 'fdttle Be Peep
 Finally there was a ro11eaii Of a1l the dolls who then formed several sets for a square dance, which they performed with movements laughaKay faechasi- cal. The grand chain, which eonci4zd- ed the march, was a signal for all te proceed jeI@liiy behind t9ae sceaes.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
How Little Folks Entertain
Word G1essing.


 Haven't you something new for us, Aunt Ruth = asked Bertha
 T am afraid I am thought out,' Aunt Ruth said, laughing; though I believe something old pop into my head the othsg night
 Tt isn't much of a game" she said presently -bITG it may help out some of theEe rainy hours"
 The four drew their chairs nearer alert to hear what Aunt Ruth had to tell
 We will begin with the first five lette1E of the alphabet Alice, Bertha and Carl may ag well use their Initials, aEd Norton and l will take D and E. --A3aces you may give the definition If word whose first or last letter is A Then we wfH tzy to guess ftH "weEI, said Alice. tfny letter ends something l like in pudding and cakes
 sugart~ shouted Norton, and then joined in the laugh at his blnnd- Vanilla" guessed Car4, which was right
 Mine begins something we cannot live withOut." said Bertaaa- ~H3nead2~ wentared Alice
 No. Besides, VIC can live without that"
 '42zea4fsS42~ asked Morton.
 No. inAeeds Plenty of people don't eat bHeakfaSt@
 Bfeatk,% guessed Aunt Ruth, and then it was her fSzTn.
 1t ends a precious stone,~ said Aant Ruth.
 '-SapphiEeG~ cried Norton. Right, Now give us a D word" Something I like to eat,7 said Nor to1.
 -Datess~ guessed Carl
 -Dt11ntaanSs?@ asked Aunt Ruth. -Ne," laughed NoEtoa.
 What can if be?' wondered Alice. The ta4lAje of a bell in the hallway todd thezR it was diAneF-tiae, Lets go cut and get it!s shouted S0FSoH.
 -orh-danheFs" they cried fFEhy d56SHt we think of that beforeR'
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
Norwich.
His Garden.

Dear Uncle Jed: I want to write and tell you about my garden. had onions. brussel sprouts and some cu cumbers up when I was taken sick with the measles. When I got 'so I could go out Icou1d not see any of them as the cut worms had destroyed them all.
 I put in some more seed and now I have onions up about two inches high. I have had my cousins here from Web ster Mass, on a visit and we all had a good time.
 We went to the seashore for the day as I do not live far from Narra- gansett bay.
 One of my cousins is going to wrdte a story for the paper.
 CHARLES s. HUNT, Age Il.
 Hone R |
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The Mistaken VilIaaara.

Afar off in the distance against the white snow, the people of a little will lage of Maine saw two speclxs coming, which, as they came nearer. proved to be two men Behind them, gaining every moment. came two more specks, which the excited villagers decided were robbers.
 There was great excitement in the little group of anxious watchers. Who were the first two specks? Could they reach the village in safety A few of the men went to their aid as fast as the huge snow drifts would permit How they hurried to reach the strug- gling men! Suddenly 8 new thought came to them. There was a big brook without a bridge which was not safe to cross on the ice because of the swift current. Perhaps all four men would be lost. With this thought, they found cred on faster than ever. At last they were near enough to shout a warn ing.
 Look out for the ice. It's treacher- ous!"
 The other two then shouted: r We know about the ice. We want you to come and dig the Wilder Will Hams house out. It's buried in a big drift so you can just see the ridge pole"
 By this time the supposed robbers came panting up and said angrily:
 What ails you people? Couldn't you see we wanted to speak to you? There is going to eb a, great hunt tomorrow over the other side of the center Jed HuntIey found two calves gone and saw bear tracks leading to the Big Swamp"
 As the farmers who came to save the travellers from the robbers heard this, they forgot everything but the hunt and the "widder'' who was in need of help, and at once started back after guns and shoveis.
 The waiting people were almost dis appointed because it was such a tame piece of news the men brought back instead of thrilling story of robbers and a wonderful rescue
 HATTIE KING, Age fl.
 a7A
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
A Waek in ErankIin

Dear Uncle Jed: Last summer my aunt, my sister and myself visited my aunt in Franklin, We went one Sun day afternoon and get there about SUD- per time. After supper we gathered eggs and watched the liird man milk
 We went down to the spring every day for water. One day we took our lunch and had a picnic in the woods near the house. We could see the tFaia from the spring.
 My father came te see us one day. My cousin from Lebanon was there and we three had 8 pretty geed time together,
 h the barn we found a nest with three eggs in it.
 We used to play boat in the team.
 One day we made blueprints of ali the different kinds of leaves we could find.
 Sometimes we drove the cows up te the barn.
 RAYMOND ROYCE. Age g.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03

forest I heard .sbangl bang!', and down l went with a grean of pain.
 The next day the men skinned me and hung me up to dry. I was packed and shipped to New York with some other skins. They were the beaver, feX and wolf.
 I was sent to tailor and was made into a fur coat. He put me in the window and put card on me saying $89.75 cash.
 It was a very cold day and some poor children came to look at me.
 How l wish l had that coat, John n.y. said one of them.
 The next day man bought me and he kept me four winters. Then he gave me to the children I saw through the window. If I do not finish my tale now l shall be all worn out and the children will be as cold as ever
 JONAS BIHNENSTOCK, Age 12.
 IJncaaYiIle.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
white roses and two moss roses. These

white roses and two moss roses. These are very pretty a9 &hey are all covered with prickly moss
 We have one yellow rose, the old original root of which was taken from George Washington's grave a, good had it and she gave my mamma d root of it when she was a, little girl aoout my age. We also have the seven sisters and the American beauty. don't know all of the names.
 I have a bed of little johnny jump ups. 1 suppose you all have seen them. If you have not I will tell you about them, as they are one of my fla Vorite flowers. They are just like the pansy only they are net half SC large; but they have all celors of faces just like the pansy and they blossom early in spring and are in blossom all sum rner If you pick them off and de not let them go to seed. 1 counted eighty eight blossoms on them the day be- fore the last rain.
 I have a place all fixed up of stones and have put little dirt over the stones. and have that all set out with old hen and chickens. Did any of the Wide-Awakes ever see any? If you have not, come to my house and l will show you how they grow on the rocks. They are green and there will be one old big one in the middle and clear around will be the little ones: and they set around her just like an old hen and a lot of chicks. They. look real cute, I think-wish you could see my bed of them.
 I have also a flower bed of different kinds of seedlings: they are up and look fine but not large enough to b1os- som yet. I love to see pretty flower beds and love to take care of them beds and love to take care of them
 Hoping the Wide -Awa11es will have good time (and perhaps some of US may have a chance to meet and have good times together). this sum- mer vacation. I am as ever, one of the Wide AWakeS.
 LUCY A. CARTER. Age il.
 Scnfla1a6
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The Pinky White Paap.

Once upon a time there was a pinixy z white posv who lived in little reona down under the gfeund. It was 8 warm sort of room. no deoTs. He windows, and so very, very comfortable that thS plnkty white p6sy thought she would like te stay in it ali >hef life long, de- ing nothing bat dfea ming her sweet, pif1ky- white dreams. This was very wrong Of the Desy, Of course, fer Ha ohs 50 pretty as shs should sleep ali the time.
 What shall we do2' asked the grass roots aad the robin. Tine pihaSy- fai+a Pesy will be too lsie,'
 The spring stretched eut her as7ns very wide over the little brown room and with one hand she dEeDped eFys= tai FaiHdFaps right down iH the Besy's bed and with the ethef hand she thRav a sunbeam right iRta the Besy's faee.
 Just wait a, Raia5ase,H said tha Besy te the spring, 'Ti be HR directly
 fheRe sAe steed. the pFetfiesf hes8 CT esa the hill, and Ha aRe will knew unless yea tell thaH-hew it happened that tha RiAky=white Pesy wasn't late for May day.
 JESSIE l.. BREffABF. East Norwich. N. Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03

much for the book entitled The Meter Boat Club Off Long Island
 charles s. Hart of Hope, R. l.: re- ceiyed the book you sent me and l liked it very much. I send yeu many thanks fer 1t.
 Lillian Brehaut of East Norwich, N. Y: I received the nice prize book yeu sent me, entitled The Motor Boat Club at Nantucket. I have read part of 1t and ind 1t very interesting. I thank yeu very much fer it.
 Asa Hyman of Norwich: Thank you very much for the prize beck you gave me. I have read it through and have found it very interesting.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
rhA Snnerinfendent.

Dear Uncle Jed; I am little boy four years old and want to write a let ter, but can't, so sister is writing it for me.
 go out in the fields with papa near ly every day and watch him work. Sometimes help when l can Papa calls me the superintendent, and asks what he shall do tomorrow. I help pick berries and bring wood in.
 [ have some little chickens of my own, Papa gave me the eggs. l hetp feed and water his chickens and dog to pay for them
 I planted a few hills of corn last year and had several good long ears. This year I have some more up. My corn is for the chickens.
 WINSTON MAIN. iob
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The Oranq- Outan.

I read a story the other day about the orang- -outan.. I thought I would write and tell you about it.
 The orang- outan is called "the wild man of the woods because he looks like a man more than any other anil maj. He belongs to the ape family. He lives in Borneo and Sumatra. He is fond of eating fruit and fresh green leaves and buds. He can be quite sly and is sometimes an artfu1 thief.
 Ii happened one time that @ captain of vessel took one of these creatures on board, and pretty soon he was caught stealing sugar from the table, and candy out of the sailors pockets. He was very quiet at meals and when he had afnptied his bowl or glass would reach 1t out to be filled again. He was quite well behaved for a creature who had never sat at table before, and I think you will agree that there are some boys and girls who might leaFh table manners from hina.-Un- signed.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AANAkES.
The Riuejaz,

The Riaejay.
 The blue5ay is an early spring bird, It stays here all winter. The biuejay is about ten inches Iong. It's head is dark blue with a crest and a ring around his neck, His wings are blue and are edged with white. It's feet are short
 The b1uejay eats fr1a5t, bugs, flies and wornnR 1t builds it's nest up nigh m the tree because it ls a light coIored bird
 If is useful to use because it eats the insects which destroy our gardens and trees. The biuejay sings to us
 ANNA HUSSEY. Age 2.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

Alice German of Versailles: l re- ceiIed the prize book entitled Tom Swift in the City Of Gold you sent me, and thank you very much for it.
 Blanche Richard of Yantic: I thank you very much for the book that you sent me. I have read some of it and find it very interesting.
 Bernice l.. Greene of Willimantic: l thank you veryn much for the book. I shall enjoy reading it as l have the others
 Mildred Grardz of Ya4tic: thought the last book you sent was very nice. read as far as the seventh chapter you. l thank you ever and ever SC
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
His School Picnic.

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought I would write and tell you about our school picnic. We had it at the Drawbridge. We started about nine o'clock and ar rived at ten. We had swings and row boats and had lots of fun. l went-down te the railroad and watched a tug trying to pull a barge. We had lunch at twelve o'clock and returned about fve. We had very pleasant day and were all very tired when we arrived home.
 CLARENCE B. sPICER. Age 12.
 f9Ais1l fst a sa11ek
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The weather-wise MusLrat.

The muskrat is a wise little animal, and he can tell the weather we are go- ing to have.
 When we are goirg to have bad weather in winter he builds his nest high. working at night.
 Once a muskrat built a nest higher than usual. and an old farmer said it meant high water" In a few days afterward the people had the heaviest rainfall known in that section for half a century. The nests were washed away, but about a week afterward they built them again in a different spot.
 LILLIAN BREHAUT, Age 15.
 East Norwich N Y
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
A Rainy Day Pionio.

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought I would write and tell you about the picnic we had up to eur school last Friday TAeN were going to have it up in the weeds, but as it rained we had it in the sehaolheuse
 Each child brought something Nte eat and the teachers furnished the ice cream.
 we sang sengs and played senae games in scheai until it was tinae te eat.
 We sat daRnsfiR eus seats uFaaiie few ef the girls passed around ths
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
POETRY.
The Talking Bird.

The aiking Bird. My big sister said the other day Shes twelve years old, and awful
 wise and tall She said that fairy books were merely
 bosh,
 Bout things that couldn't ever be
 at all Witches and fairies never yet seen; There aren't dragons and no g1ant
 stalk; She s1lu that princes weren't turned
 to frogs; There never was bird or beast
 could talk That very day I went across the street With my best dOH tG visit fanny
 Meek; And there l saw an awful funny bird Green. red and yellow. with cooked beak. l looked al him and he looked at me hate to tell the rest because l know You'll think perhaps Pm telling naughty fbs- He opened that big beak and said
 Hello Well. nc. ! didn't wait for any mere, If scared me most to death, I'll have
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED
Lucy carters Flowers.

Bear Uncle Jed and the Wide Awake Cousins; I will tell you about my few ef garden and pretty roses we have, At one time AaaHaha had seventeen different kiaas af roses, but the winter killed ssFae of thefa.
 I wish all tRa Wide -A#akes whe ie7e fsses could see them wiaen they aFe iR bleena. We have five climbing raHa hieFs and CHS little baby rambler that biosseERs all sumner till the fEest lxilsss theSH We haze pink and white vaFiegaten, red, clear Eelis# and clear Risik raSsS aRa tRsA We have ths hahy
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The OPiole

The oriole is spring bird. It comes from the south. It is a cheerful bird.
 The or1oie is three or four inches long. It's breast fs yellow and it's wings are black and white: The orio1e's back is black.
 The orfole builds it's nest most of the time in the elm tree, The oricle eats bugs. flies and worms
 It is 8 useful bird because it eats the bugs that destroy cur gardens and fruit trees. The or1oie also sings te us.
 AOLL1E FELTSTTN, Age F. Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
Tha Doo TAd

Dear Uncle Jed: I have a little dog his name Is Ted He is a yellow and white dog, like to play with him. he knows many tricks, aud I will tell the Wide Awakes about them.
 He will howl if you play any kind of music, He will run after a stone if Eeu threw 1t, When my brother and l come home from school he will kiss us. He does not like to go into the water, So we throw him In. r RhRFHA EtENENST0CK, A@a 8.
 UReaaYilia.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
ssw +he Ants at Work.

Dear Uncle Jed: One day my friend and I were playing in the yard when my mother called us up on the hill back of our house to see something When we got there she said: Look at the ant.'
 It had a bundle almost as big as itself and it tumbled oll over the ground it was so heavy for it to car ry; and for minute it couldn't find it's way. We watched it climb until it got into it's home.
 Another ant was on the ground car rying long piece of straw. The ant went backwards and dropped the straw because 1t was so heavy, and 1t ran all around and we thought 1t had lost it's way but pretty soon 1t ran LID the tree to get help and we never saw it any more.
 MILDRED CASS, Age 8.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03

BYE-Lo-LAND.
 Cradle Song. Baby is going to bye-lo-I land, Going to see the sights so grand Out of the sky the wee stars peep, Watching to see her fast asleep, Swing so! Bye-loi Baby is safe in
 Bye-l lo-land. Swing so. Bye-lo !-Baby is safe in
 Bye oland! Oh, the bright dreams in Bye-lo- land, All by loving angels planned Soft little lashes downward close, Just like the petals of a rose. Swing sol Bye-lo! Prettiest eyes in
 ye-lo-land Swing sol Bye-1o! Prettiest eyes in
 Bye-lo-land! Sweet is the way to Bye-lo land. Guided by mothers gentle hand, Little lambs now are in the fold, Little birds nestle from the cold. Swing so. Bye-lo! Baby is safe in
 Bye-io- iand! Swim so! Bye-lo. Baby is safe in
 Byelo-land!
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03

sandwiches, cake. cookies, bananas, icH cream and lemonade.
 About half past two we all went home satisfied with the good time we had
 GERTRUDE M'GTBBON, Age F. Yantjc
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
How rhev ceIebrate the Fourth.

Dear Uncle Jed: How is Norwich going to celebrate on the Fourth of July?
 Our town is going to have base ball game between the fat and the lean men of Kissimmee. They expect a large number of visitors,
 There is going to be parade of the "horribles," and also an automobile parade and a "bean-feast.'
 The people down here do not use flrecra>ckers on the Fourth of July as much as on Christmas.
 They are also going to have boat races on the lake.
 ROBERT CALK1Ns. Age 10. Kissinnuaee Fla.
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
The S4erY af a Eur Scat.

fhe hFst thing I remember, was eR tiae back of a huge black beas
 0Re day while I was slrelling iR the
Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-03
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
Boys and Girls Department
Rules for -Yeuna Writere.

Rules for Young Writers.
 l. Write plainly on one side of tha paper only and number the pages. 2. Use pen and ink. not pencil. & Short and pointed articles will be given preference. Do not use over 250 words.
 4 Original stories CT letters only will be used,
 G Write your name, age and ad- dress plainly at the bottom of the story.
 Address all communications to Un- cis Jed. Bulletin Of3ce.