davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Bernice Leppo, Nellie's Best
Friend

Dear Juniors: I have never written
To YOU before, but will enter the
Hollowe'en contest.
NV, best friends name Is bernico
I,eppo. She is years old, and she
has brown hair and blue eyes. She Is
in the third grade and ! am IN the
fourth. we go to the same school ana
Sunday school. -.
We both have little brother. Her
brothers name Is Harold and mine IS
Delbert.
She has dog for pet, and she has
30 many playthings I; don't see nov
she finds time to play with all OF them.
I pass Bernice's house as 90 70
school and We 90 to school togetnef
part Of the time. -
do not get to 30 to Bernices 70
play very often, because my sister ana
have to help mamma so much.
Our teachers name is Miss Etne1
Chins and we like her fine. This IS
NV third term Of school and MISS
Chins has been my teacher oil OF the
time
+ have never been absent or tardy:
well must close and I hope you VIII
print my letter.
Your friend,
Nellie Routson, age I,
Iibertyville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Donald Neither Absent Nor
Tardy in Two Years

Dear Juniors: This is my first letter
to the Courier Junior.
go to school every day. l have not
been absent or tardy the last two years
and so far this term. 80
I am in the seventh grade. My
teachers name is Miss Frances Ferrel.
:, have two sisters and one brother.
My sisters names are Laur1ne and
Nellie and my brothers name is Del
bert. He is two years old and we
think he is great boy. He is cut
ting paper now.
I 60 to the Methodist Sunday school
I haven't missed Sunday for over
two years.
i went out to my grandma's Friday
evening after school and helped her
pick apples Saturday. She lives about
miles southwest of Libertyville.
came home Saturday evening.
We are working for credits at our
school, and I find lots Of things to do
to earn credits. must close.
Donald Routson, age IL,
Libertyville, Iowa. - "
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Clytie - Catherine Boil
baugh's School Composition

Clytie was beautiful water nymph.
She was tall and slender and had
golden hair and dark eyes.
She would stand on the bank of the
lake and look at the sun-god Apollo.
She stood on the lake from morning
until night.
The sun-god Apollo loved the gentle
Clytie and wished to come down TO
her. but he had to drive his fiery
horses through the sky One day she
grew wan and thin. The sun-god
Apollo decided to change her into a
flower.
Her slender body became slender
stem and her feet became roots grow
ing fast in the ground. Her golden
hair became fringe Of the flower.
Her dark eyes became the center OF
the flower and the beautiful Clytie
became sln-flower.
This was my school cOmposltion
called "Clytie."
A Junior friend,
Kathryn Bolibaugh.
Eddyville, Mo. Age 8.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Ida's Home a Large Farm of
ATTN Acres

Dear Editor and Juniors l
have never written before I will write.
live on large farm Of 447 IL acres
OF land.
My papa has taken the Courier for
almost a year..
I like to read the Courier Junior
page. .
| 20 to Wren Hill school. like to
sc very we'll.
My studies are reading, writing.
arithmetic, language, geography, ana
spelling,
I have six sisters and one brother.
My sisters names are Elsie. Beulan'
Katy, Gail, Nell. Ruth and my broth
er's name is, Wayne.
There are only. two of them married.
and one Of them has two children. Inc
other has one. Their names are Dor
othy, Arlene and Howard.
lila Howard, Age II.
Lucas, Iowa, Route No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Russell Junior Finds Time
to WriteEAg

Dear Junior Friends: AS have not
written for some time thought l
would write few lines.
This is Sunday, Oct. 10 and my
twelfth birthday. 1t Is very stormy.
Old Mother Goose is sprinkling few
white feathers over the ground.
I am going to write you short
story. l.-. w"
"Once upon a time three little girls,
Grace, Louise and Mary took very
nice lunch and went to the timber for
an outing. ri.
After strolling around for an hour
or more gathering wild flowers and
chasing butterflies, they came to a
nice grassy spot and sat down to eat
their dinner.
While eating Mary looked up and
saw vicious COW coming toward
them OF course they were very much
frightened and began to scream and
run. Luckily Grace's father who was
working In field near by heard them
and ran to their rescue.
Louise says if they ever go to the
timber again she will take her big
brother, Fred along to protect them.
Good bye for this time,
Roma BlSkely, age IL
r. R. 8 E" Russell, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Gerald Fullmer's Picture
Story

Dear Editor: I see in the Junior
page of last Thursday two of our little
Junior friends, and their mama just as
country.
They went to a field about mile
away where there were several hun
dred sheep grazing on the hillside.
George said let us hunt some pretty
flowers in the grass. Just then he
saw something that made him stop.
Oh Willie do you see that pretty little
cow?
She is looking at us.
Willie looked UP and laughed. Oh,
George he said THAT is not cow, it
is Sheep"
But George said, it looks like little
COW.
have heard of sheep but have never
seen one.
Willie said, There are more than a
hundred sheep" on that hillside. oh
see said George, look at the baby sheep
jumping in the grass.
Willie said we do not call them
baby sheep we call them lambs.
This was quite an interesting trip for
our little city friends, SO they sat down
by the roadside to watch the little
lambs skip and play in the grass.
After they had sat there while
George looked up and said: "Oh Willie
we almost forgot this was Thursday.
Let us hurry home and see who won
the prize in the Courier Junior"
Gerald Fulmer, age II,
Chillicothe, Iowa, r. r. No. l..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
THE COURIER JUNIOR
$500. Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO..
oTruMWA, IOWA.
MATILDA pEvEREAUx,
EDITOR.
INTERESTING HALLOWEEN
STORIES.

Dear Juniors: We are receiving
many interesting stories on tne
Halloween subjects. AS the contest
does not close until Tuesday, Oct. 49,
wa wfll reprint the rules again:
We must have some, Hailo"e gu
stories. Well, the prize for the pest
story on one of the following subjects
win entitle the winner to Halloween
The CHILDREN OF NY NEIGH
BoRHOoD. On
A JUNIORS PARTY LIKE A So
GETTY REPORTER WRITES a
PARTY. s
AZ HALLOWEEN PARTY.
nv BEST FRIEND.
NV STATES GREAT MEN.
cHlLDREN's PLAY GROUNDS.
The Halloween box will contain pc
sides some Halloween trinkets, canoy'
fruit, nuts, ETC. .... $780,. 49,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Laurene Writes Of Her
Teacher and Friend

Dear Juniors: have never written
to you before, but thought would
write.
Twill write about my BEST friend"
Her name is Bernioe HOFFMAN. and she
IL 10 years old. She n IN my classes.
We study reading; spelling. arithmetic.
grammar, physiology and geography.
Our teachers name 10 Miss Frances
iFerrel. We are In the nth grade.
Bernice hss blue eyes And brown hair.
She has four sisters ana ono brother.
Her sisters names ara Elsie. Anna,
Edna and Marguerite and her brothers
name III Forest.
She goes to. tho Psesby tsrian Sunday
school, and I 60 TO the Methodist Sum
day school
We have good TIME l1yfng a. recess
but we both 30 homo foa>Qur dinners,
80 there ID not much timsNo play ut
noon.
have two brothers and one sister.
My brotherT names are Donald and
Delbert and my sisters name 10 NeAhe.
!. hope to sse this letter IN print.
Your friend,
Laurine Routson, ago I, va
Libertyville, Iowa. MI.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
In Pursuit of
Columbus

The Foster twins were hard callers
to entertain. Esther gave Brother
John piercing glance which meant
that it was his turn to say something.
He took Off his spectacles, while ne
was thinking, and polished them on
the sleeve of his blouse. 3D..
Perhaps" he proposed in his sug.
airy drawl, "they would like to see
Great-aunt Cornelia's china dogs?
Huh" commented the Foster boy,
haven't you got anything that's alive
We've got three cats, two dogs, a
goat and a pig" boosted his sister.
"You haven't ra-," began John RASH
Nv. but the toe of Esther's red slipper
gave him a sharp reminder to stop
talking.
Haven't what?" both Fosters de-
manded with eyes as big and round
as saucers. The Fosters had sharp
noses for secrets. When they spied
Esther shake her head ever so slightly
at John, they hoped up and down on
css foot, squealing "Please tell us!
please tell u.s." until Esther was
ashamed to refuse any longer, and
John went flying out of the room like
q greyhound. In a minute he was
back with large white rat In cage.
His name is Columbus" he said,
with impressive dignity, "and he's half
Esther's and half mine"
"Hes a perfect beauty" conceded
the girl twin. Her brother leaned
over the cage as if to inquire into Co.
lumbus's merits more closely, and sly
ly pulled the door of the cage ajar.
Naturally Columbus was always on
>he lookout for adventure. Before the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Charles DOmmer Likes Rev
Ed Hastings

Dear Juniors:
l will write about Rev. Ed Hastings.
He is Christian preacher.
He preached at Pleasant Hill church.
He is six feet and six inches tall.
He preached at Pleasant Hill four
years and then quit.
1t has been two years since he quit.
He used to tell US boys he drove oven
in Dakota. He would say Gee, haw
Buck"
Rev. Ed Hastings lives on his farm
down by Floris now.
liked Rev. Ed Hastings fine a
Rev. Ed Hastings used to live In
Bloomfield. He has one son. His name
is Roswell Hastings.
Roswell graduated at Bloomfield.
I wish Rev. Ed Hastings would come
back and preach. Everybody liked him
SO well
Rev. Ed Hastings made a speech at
the Fourth Of July celebration at
CLOSER Grove one summer
He could play the bass drum as good
as anybody. 800 4 yE
Charlie Dommer, age 10, +.
Unionv1lle, Iowa, r, No. I.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Elmer Anderson, Oliver
CarlsOn's Friend

Dear Editor: ~
I thought would write story about
my friend. His name is Elmer Ander-
son. a..l.E
He is about II years old.
He Is q very nice boy. One day when
7 went out there he and Iplayed foot
ball. We had very nice time.
The next day went over to the
neighbors and they had a muskmelon
patch and q watermelon patch. When
I went there it was in the summer.
He has sister. Her name is Hildon.
When we were coming home we had
about a mile to walk.
When we got to Andersons they had
all gone to bed. SO we went to bed too.
We were all very tired. The next morn
ing we played foot ball. After dinner
we went out and made us coaster OF
some old wheels and two old boards
and two cross pieces and nailed them
together. There was hill near the
house and we went there to coast. The
next day I went home.
I will close hoping to soon see my
letter in print. RI =
Oliver l.. Carlson, age H.,
Fairfield, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Ellen Freer Writes of 4
Boy, Jean

Dear Editor: Once there was 4 m.
tie boy, his name was Jean. MS Ysth-
er and mother were dead, 90 he lived
with his aunt 1t has been 30 LONG ago
that everybody has forgotten tho date
and her name was 90 hard to pro.
nounce that nobody could remember
IT,,
Little Jean didn't have vury GOOD
clothes and he had thin stockinxs .anA
wooden shoes.
His aunt didn't want to send him d
the poor school which she would haya
had to do but the schoolmastsr on
the next corner agreed to teach him
Tor almost nothing.
He didn't like Jean very we'll for
everything that would go wrong no
would blame him for it 30 on the night
before Christmas there was koing to
be program at the church and tho
schOolmaster said he would take ali
his boys. So all the boys went to the
church. All the boys were dressed
warmly, but little Jean. They all
marched into the church two bv two
but little Jean.
singing was stopped the. boys were
Se"AAAn6 dUOut WA0t Iu0y W9f0 ROlNH 10
get that night for Christmas, but Jean
didn't say anything.
When they came out OF tho church
they came out just as they went in,
two by two and Jean behind. He saw
a little child barefooted. Little Jean
felt sorry for the poor, sleeping child.
He took of one Of his wooden shoes
and laid 1t by the sleeping child and
he went home and his aunt struck him
upon the cheek. She sent him to bed
without any supper. Now she said you
a nice young gentleman to give his
shoes to beggarB.
The next morning when she not up
a wonderful sight met her eyes at the
door. She gave cry and Jean ran
down to see what was the matter and
a]i around the fireplace was wonderful
presents for Jean. They both knelt
down together and thanked God for
what he had given him and even the
heart OF the wicked aunt was softened.
Ellen F1e9r,
Chillicothe, Iowa. Route No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
~When I Grow Up" by
Viola Graham

Dear Juniors: ,.u
about what / will do when grow up.
When gro y. up up tf think that viii
teach the second and third grades II we
tive in town..
i 70 to the Irving school:
NV teachers name Is MISS freeman. !
IKE her fiue have written once be-
fore and I thought I would write
I received a beautiful post card from
THE Courier and thank you very mucn
and would like to get g. pretty caro-
again. : ,,,.h
some Of the Juniors.
Viola Graham, age IL,
3o7 Hamilton ST., Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Ruth's Friend is Little
Esther Hughes

b +. % - g..
Dear Junior: have not written for q
long time Twill tell you about little
friend of mine.
Her name is Esther Hughs.
She is Z years old and has bobed
hair.
She has sister IL years old, and her
name is Nellie.
She is in my mammals class at Sun.
day school. She passes the papers and
the Sunday school times.
Esther is In the third room and sec
ond grade. She has brother and his
name is Clarence. He Is in the third
room and third grade. and is very
coed drawer and so is Esther.
. AS my letter is getting long will
close.
Ruth Holland, age 8,
EldOn, Iowa. =,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Gold Fish

Why don't the fishes drown mamma:
And, if they're really gold
How can they swim, why don't they
sink?
Poor things!H They must be cold!
WHY can't take them out, mamma,
An hold them in my hand?
Why can't they swim as we'll IN air!
why can't they walk or stand?
They must be tired Of swimming round
Why can't they fly or sail?
Oh! let me take one out, mamma,
I will not pull his tail!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Blanche Marie and Her
5. Friend Fern

Dear Juniors: I would
write about Fern McBeth, one Of my
best friends. .--%a
She goes to the same school do,
and has for about six years. We have
always got along we'll together.
She is 16 years old and has dark hair
brown eyes and Is large, heavy set
and strong girl.
She is in the eighth grade and gets
along fine in her studies. She took
the final eighth grade examination.
Fern has three sisters and three
brothers. ,r a..-
She lives about mile and half
north of us. sometimes 60 to see
Ter and always have good time.
Whenever she goes any place and
she thinks am there she always
hunts for me because she says, We
can have such good time together"
Well as my letter is getting long l
will close.
Blanche Marie Wheaton,
Ottumwa, Ia, Route l, Box 46.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Batavia Junior Writes to
Oklahoma Cousin

Miss Ora Nelson,
Chandler Okla. '
Dear Cousin: I thought I would
write to you through the Courier
Junior.
How are you? We are all we'll.
How much cotton have you picked?
I never saw any cotton growing.
How is Aunt Kate? What is Uncle
Alec doing? @
l go to school every day. I study
fourth reader, writing, arithmetic,
physiology, language, geography, music
and spelling.
My teachers name is Miss Ruth
Whitmore. like her fine.
Do you like to go to school? |
haven't missed a day Of school yet
Papa went to Ottumwa today with a
load Of hogs for one of our neighbors.
He has been to Ottumwa three times
lately with hogs. .-..-
We are milking five cows. :
milk one every night.
Well I think I've written enough for
this time Answer me when you can.
Your cousin,
Letha Ornduff, age 8,
Batavia, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Ruby's Uncle Ed and Aunt
Elma Live in California

Dear Junior: =,
/ thought I would write about my
Uncle Ed and Aunt Elma. They live in
California. They have little boy. His
r.a1ne is Melvin. He sleeps out Of doors
in his 60 cart while we have snow here.
We got one letter from them while
there was snow OH the ground here
and they were talking about making
garden They said that the grass was
green out there. 0.~"
My aunt has brown hair and brown
eyes. ~
Uncle Ed has dark hair and dark
eyes. .
likeeto go to see them, but / haven't
got to go to see them since they moved
to California.
As my letter is getting long / will
close. .
Ruby e. Warner, age 8,
Pulaski, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
TEDDY WRITES AGAIN.

Dear Editor:
1 thought ] would write TO the Cour-
Ter Junior again.
am a little by eight wars old. I
go TO school every day. I am In the first
reader.
MY playmates are Willie Fart and
Dick Pence. have a good time at re-
cess and noon A. school.
Ny Aunt Rosa and three cousins
Johnnie. Helen and Hazel are visiting
at our house now. They came down
from Ottumwa Saturday noon.
We are certainly having good time
paying together. H,t they are going
home Monday.
Teddy Couny, age s.
Asency. n. = M. !
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Louise Likes to Live Here
So She Can Coast

Dear Editors'
have been reading the letters IN the
Courier every Thursday. I thought ]
would write 4 short letter.
have always lived ID Chicago until
about two years ago, whom we moved
to Ottumwa. I like to live here because
I can have so much fun coasting down
the hills In the winter.
I will tell you about my little dog
Bob. When I was in the country last
summer there were i've little puppies.
When came home brought ono with
me- When I had kept him 4 while he
did so much mischief we had to send
him away. Once he ran into q lady's
yard and tore her curtains that were
hanging on the line. And he bit little
boy on the foot. @
Louise Wright. ago II,
sol Center Ave-, Ottumwa, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS

1 Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or a sharp lead pencil. :,
3. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Number your pages.
<. 10 not copy stories or poetry and
send us as your own work.
6. Always state choice OF a prize on
separate piece Of paper, with name
and address in full.
7. Address the envelope to Editor
Courier Junior, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
lila is in Fifth Grade; Buelah
Her Seatmate

Dear Editor: AS have not written
for long time thought would write.
am nine years old, and l go to
school, I am is the fifth grade.
NV teachers name is Miss Cane. l
like her very much.
Ny playmates are Annie Smith,
Jessie Hart and Burnice and Beulah
Parker. My seat mate is Beu' ah
Parker.
lila Brown,
Batavia. Iowa, r. r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
MARY HAS THREE SISTERS.

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written to you before
+ will write now. -
am q girl about IL years old.
My papa takes the Daily Courier and
I like to read the Junior page.
go to school every day. | go to
Cedar Center school district No. S. My
teachers name is Anna Lewis. I like
her fine. s,..
have one brother and three sisters.
Their names are John, Katie, Loretta
and Blanch.
Mary Morrissey,
Lovilia, Ia, r. No. 3.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Bertha Elizabeth's Aunt
Emma Has Black Hair

Dear Editor:
I thought would write about my
Aunt Emma.
She lives in Selma. Iowa. I like to go
and visit her very much.
She used to be music teacher and
has lovely piano.
Nv great grandmother lives with my
Aunt Emma She keeps some nice
chickens and q COW.
I will close.
Bertha Elizabeth Gardner,
Agency. Ia, Box 1885,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
cARL's SISTER ETHEL.

Dear Juniors:
I will write about my sister Ethel.
She has light hair and light brown
eyes.
She lives at Foster. She is married.
She has three little boys and one little
girl stE
We have fine time when they come
to visit u.s.
Wen as my letter is getting long I
Carl Brown, age 10.
Bear Creek, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
Leora Has a Barrel Of But
ternuts

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written before will
do SO now.
will write about my nut hunt I
went down In the creek and picked up
the most butter nuts.
We went by all the trees and did not
find any nuts until we went down INTO
the creek. fs
we have about barrel full Of butter
nuts and walnuts.
do not like to hull the nuts but like
to eat them.
AS my letter Is getting long I viii
close. a
Leora Ruth Miller, age 9,
Eddyville, Iowa, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
MERL LIKES TEACHER.

Dear Editor: ~
ASH have never written to the Cour-
Ter Junior l thought I would write.
am years old.
go to the Orange school. am in the
sec ond reader. t.
For pets have white rabbits and
Scotch Collie. His name is Gotch.
Well as my letter is getting long
will close.
Moulton, Ia, r. No. I.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25

patted his fat little chest comfortably.
Didn't it. feel just as If you had a
biz stone there?" asked Aunt Eliza
beth, with rare insight ....
MN" agreed Esther and John.
"And you don't want to live with
me?" she went on. 3
do you want us?' almost shouted
Esther and John.
Aunt Elizabeth held out her arms.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
WANT INTERESTING LETTERS.

we hope that many more OF the
1nnicrs will write letters. We Will
offer another surprise prize. for the
best sletter and all the Juniors can
work for it, H.,
We want more Juniors to .seno IN
some of their school compositions: we
will award surprise prizes for the pest
ones from time to time.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
GERALD GETS PRIZE.

The nrize in the picture contest clos
ng.ftMonday Oct. 20, Is AWARDED "
Gerald Fulmer who wrote ABOUT IVY
little, boys and their mother. Geralu >
story appears today.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
ABOUT PRIZES.

II the Courier Junior has ever fall
cd TO send out prizes when the wins
ner's names were published we w:nt
TO be told about it right away we
also want all of our prizes acknowl-
edged. -, : ISL
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25
will SEND POST CARDS.

Whenever the Juniors write short
stories or nice letters they Will receive
post cards. the latter being sent OUT
when the letters and stories are pup
lished.