davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
The Wooden Bowl.

There was once an old man whose knees were so weak he could but just walk. He could see and hear but lit- tie, and he did not have any teeth
 When he sat at the table he could hardly hold his spoon in his hand and often he split soup upon the table cloth. His son and sons wife were angry with him. After a. while they made him sit behind the stove and eat out of a little earthern bowl; and what was still worse they did not give him enough. At such times the poor old man would look towards the table and his eyes would fill with tears.
 At one time his hands were so weak he could not hold his bowl and it fell to the floor and broke in pieces.
 His sons wife scolded him sharply while the old man moaned a little, but said nothing
 Then they bought him cheap wood en bowl and made him eat out of that.
 Once when the young man and his wife were sitting in their room, their little son who was about five years old brought in block of wood.
 What are you going to do with that ?" asked his father.
 Oh" said the boy. I'm going to make a little trough out of which father and mother shall eat when I grow up to be a mani"
 The boys father and mother looked at each other a moment and then cast down their eyes with shame Their father did not eat again in the cor ner. They helped him to a chair by and they found no fault if he split soup on the table cloth.
 BERTHA N. BURRILL, Age 14. Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

hold cucumber fairs where they are shown in great quantities and have been sold 40 for cent. The peasant children eat them Rs the eolored peo- pie in the south eat watermelons.
 Whole farms are devoted to grow ing cucumbers in England, where 24o,- coo little cucumhers in their season are gathered every morning; and In one English village where there was 8 pickle factory the growers brought to market 10000 bushels a week
 It is more than probable that the cucumber Is older than the pyramids of Egypt and the Queen of sheba may have used cucumber juice to make her skin fair as the ladies do today
 The cucumber is one of the worlds most important vine products. but few people seem to be aware of it.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13


 Little Boy Blue was sitting on a pest waiting for the parade to pass by. for 1t was Memorial dey. He always cap, and that was why he waG called Little Boy B1ue," although his real name was Henry.
 T wish they would let me march" he said. drumming his heels against the post. perhaps they would if had sorne flowers. So he hoped down from the post. and filled his chubby fists with laIise white daisies, and but tercups that looked as if they had just been vanished, they were so bright and shining Little Boy Blue thought they were the prettiest flowers in tho world.
 By this time he heard the music and could see the flags just coming into sight at the end Of the long street. Nearer and nearer they came, and the drums made such a delightful noise that the little fellow could hard ly keep his-feet still.
 When the parade got opposite to hnn he could keep still no longer and he l cried out:
 "oh. do let me march. my grandps was soldier"
 gro be sure, said one of the men The was our old captain" The tall sol dier took the little boy by the htnd and they marched along the street to- | gether. The flags waved, the bad played its l best, and even the drum major was not as proud and happy as Little Boy Blue.
 PAULINE sadoLowITz, Age F Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
What MT. Wind Saw On His Travels

asol up to keep off the hot sun. She dropped one of her gloves without mo- tlcing it but a few minutes later a iittIe girl picked it up and ran after the .lady, calling as loudly as she could But the lady did not hear
 By this time, the little girl was all
 out Of breath, and she gasped "Oh
 dear! If I could only run fasteri MT. Wind came up with big puff, and
 took the lady's parasol right out of her hand and blew 1t back towards the little girl.
 The lady was very much surprised and turned around quickly tossed what had happened; and then she saw len | n!e-that is the little girls nan1e--run- ming to her with the glove in her hand. And the lady said, Thank you very much If it had not been for that gust
 of wind, I shouldn't have known YOU were trying to oVertake me" Then MT. Wind saw a tired mamma sitting in window; her little boy was playing with some paper soldiers, out
 m the garden. and his mamma wanted him to go to the store. She had called
 him three times but he did not come. MT. Wind saw how tired she looked. so he went up to the little boy and
 what do you think he did? Why, the little boy had six soldiers and MT.
 Mln Mlnd ,, blew them all away except one. The little boy reached after them, but | they were fluttering of far above his head and he never saw them again. l He felt very sorry
 | A poor little boy who had nothing to l play with Hound one of the soldiers on his way to school the next morning The others were blown around in the street until they were so torn and
 muddy that no one would have rec ognized them.
 We'll, you know Mr. Wind travels so very fast that 1t would take me d long time to tell all he did that afternoon: how he set windrnilis going and how he shook some clouds until they made a pleasant shower for the thirsty earth; how he famed dropping flow : CTS and played with children's curls 1; how he waved flags on the tops of great buildings. and raised the branches of the trees.
 But the last thing he did was to go out to the big ocean and have frolic with the waves; they had merry
 time playing tag" all the waves run
 ming as fast as they could and Mr. Wind chasing them.
 But all the time MT. Wind was So busy not even one person had a glimpse of him to see how he looked Youths Companion
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
The Story the Old Tree Told.

I can remember when I was a little green acorn and hung on the hightset branch of huge oak, looking for over the green valleys, and up into the bright sunlight.
 Every day the hot sun scorohed my green suit, and changed 1t irtC a love ly brown.
 One night a storm came up and blew the old trees branches to and fro, and very soon l went tumbling and pumping from limb to limb, land ing on the soft grass below with many other acorns.
 I lay there on the ground for a few days, then I was picked up by lit tie girl and carried away in her pocket.
 There stayed for over a week going wherever the little girl went
 While she was walking in the pas ture one day she happened to put her hand in her pocket and found me there. She took me out and threw me as far away as she could
 I dropped in the open pasture. and every time 1t rained I was washed more and more into the soft earth, and very soon sprouted.
 Every day I grew stronger and in about year I was two feet tall.
 The little girl often came to the pasture and she always came to look at me and thought what a great tree I would become some day.
 In about twenty years l was twenty six feet tall. and had large spreading branches. Children came to swing on my low, Timber branches and became more and mere loved as the years went by.
 The little girl who threw me away when I was an acorn and gave me such a lovely home and happy life Is now an old lady, but she does not know how I came to be here.
 EVELYN E. WOODWARD, Age 13.
 (tnl11r1n hia
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
Little Willy on Grand opera.

By Walter c. Doty. A fel1er come out an set on the
 stage,
 An he hollered an yelled. am
 guess he WAS sick. Then a lady come out in a turrible
 rage
 An she hollered an yelled an. then
 give him a kick; An then they both holiered and ye1l-
 ed and howled, An they waved their arms an they
 yipped an yowled- Say, mebbe you'd like it, but I dun I'd lots rather go to a pitchure show. An a boat came bunpin' along a
 strsm,
 An the banks was made of paper misshay, An a syfun let out a turrible scream, An the water-nymphs in awful
 way: An then they all hollered and yelled
 and yowled. An dog what got into the audience
 howled. Course rnebbe you'd like it. but as fer
 rnE I'd lots rather be to a circus. you
 see.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
FRUIT JARS AND ALUMINIUM
 PRESERVING KETTLES y
Bulletin Building,

cemetery. as the old soldiers went past the monument one old soldier took ais hat clear off and held it in his ha d until he got by.
 My great great grandfather brougat the top stone of the monument from Norwich with several yoke of oxen.
 l saw my name in the Bulletin where we were down to the camp ground hav- Ing 9 Sunday School picnic. We had a very pleasant time that day.
 received five year pin last Jan uary from the Sunday school where go and haven't missed once since.
 This morning Sunday thirty eight soldiers went past my home with their saddle bags. They came from Hartford and camped last night in Boil ton, they were going to Hampton to camp They had a horn and a flag. It was a very pretty sight.
 HELEN M. REYNOLDS, Age 1s.
 Eagleville.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13

One beautiful quiet day. in early summer, Mir. Wind said, "Ha. ha, I wonder if the people think that I am not going to visit them again '~;l taken Of course. after my busy season in the Spring, I had to rest while, but now I am quite ready for work. ,
 So he shook himself well and started out on his journey about three o'clock in the afternoon.
 The first place he visited was a large city, where there was a paper-mill. pie, all working so busily that they had no time to rest and cool off.
 MT. Wind looked in and said "Oh, how hot and tired those people seem!" '"
 So he breathed a long breath of air in through the door and then hurried how good that breeze feels!''
 Next Mir Wind pAeped into a bed room window and there he saw some thing that puzzled him.
 There was an old gentleman sound asleep on a Iounge---he was snoring, too-and beside the lounge wa%a tray cling bag all packed
 Mir. Wind thought a minute, then said, "Ahat have it, he is taking a nap before starting on a journey. am afraid he will miss his train if he does not wake soon-"
 
 rattled the shutters, then saw the old gentleman jump up, all of a sudden and rub his eyes. saying, q wonder who woke me just then? am glad did not sleep any later. The train starts in 10 minutes and I shall have to hurry to catch it.
 Then Mir. Wind went into a garden and saw there two little birds looking very shy. They did not say a word but stood a little apart, as if they did not know just what to do
 Mir Wind said to himself How is this? Perhaps they don't know each other. I'll do something to help them to be friends"
 He stole up very quietly and car- riRd off one little girls hat. They both ran after it and by the time it was caugiM and put on again. they were talking and latsghing as if they had afways been acquainted
 Mir Wind then peeped into another bedroom, where there was a little boy sick in bed. He had fever and that made him feel very hot. MT Wind slipped in and famed him gently, and soon he was in dreamland.
 Next Mir. Wind saw lady walking quickly down the street with her par
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
Lnst in Tho Woods.

One day my friend and I were out in the woods. We were picking flow CTS, when all at once I saw a rabbit. I left my friend picking flowers. I chased the rabbit for mile when all at once it disappeared and I know not where he went.
 When I remembered my friend wanted to go back to her, but I saw that was lost. So sat down and soon fell asleep.
 My friend waited for me and saw that I didn't come. so she went home and told my father and mother she thought that I was lost My father and my fathers friend went out in search of me and found me sound asleep.
 They brought me home and laid me in my bed where slept some hours and woke up. I thought I was lost in the woods when found myself in my own bed.
 Later in the day said to my mother, will neH CT go in the woods again myself, or with my friends.
 TILLIE R. WOLK, Age 13.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
Our Picnic in the Moods.

Dear Uncle Jed:-I have read the Wide Awake stories so often and liked them so we'll, thought I would write about our picnic in the woods.
 At the close of school our teacher told us if we all brought ten cents we would invite the fifth grade and have a picnic. in the woods. So on the eigh- teenth of June in the morning we start ed off about quarter of ten, and we got home about half past eleven. ice cream We played all sorts of games.
 We thanked the teacher very much for having such a good time and she was glad to know we all had good time.
 I hope if some of the Wide Awakc's go to a picnic they will have as good a time as we did.
 EDNA MAY BALDWIN, Age Il.
 Taftville.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
Tame Hummino Birds,

No one would think it an easy thing to tame humming bird and yet it Mass, in one summer had four little humming birds in her house, which In some degree became tame.
 First she found two in a nest and they were nearly starved to death. The parent birds had left them. and perhaps had been killed by some bird Of prey. The nest was the prettfest and incest of nests, an inch and a half across the top, made of buff-colored down and covered with wood lichens.
 The first thing she did was to make a thick syrup of sugar and water and fed them with a small quill. She was delighted to find that they drank it eagerly and 1t suited them well. for they grew in size and strength In time they learned to sip it up them selves, out Of a little dish.
 The lady would not imprison them in cage, so she put nets over all the windows, and let them fly at large through the house. Their fa- vorite perch was a loop in the strings of window curtain Here they all ways passed the. night, and here they liked to swing in the daytime.
 The plumage on their heads and backs were green. each feather tipped with golden brown, which gave him a changeable appearance The wings and tails were black with a narrow white stripe around the tail. The throat and breast were white speckled with black. Nature does not sup ply them with their most brilliant plunage till a more mature age.
 One of them was stronger. bolder, and larger than the other, and was therefore supposed to be a male. so he was named Robbie. The other was called Jeanie. One morning poor little Robbie was missing and after a long search was made he was found in a sweeping machine. He was taken out in forlorn condition, and, though terderly Rursed. died. in few days from the injuries he had received The lady mourned for his death, and Jeanie seemed to do so also; she was restless and uneasy, and kept nearer to her mistress than usual. Jeanie, like Robbie, came to an untimely end. One morning her mistress found her huttering and nearly drowned in a lit tie water which had been left in a wash basin. In spite of her careful nursing she died after few days.
 ALICE F. BURRILL, Age Is.
 Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
THE OLIVE ORCHARD.

Once there was farmer who had three sons that didn't, like to work. The farmer had a big farm. When he thought it was his time to die he called his sons to him and said:
 There Is a pot of gold in the orchard if you want it you must dig for it.
 After the farmer died they went to the orchard and began at one end digging to the other end but didn't find the pot of gold.
 They said: Some one must have stolen it.''
 The next season they had a nice or chard of olives. They sold them and got 8 nice pot of gold. Then they knew what their father meant.
 LUCY HENSHAW, Age Il.
 Colchester.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
A Surprise Party.


 Dear Uncle Jed-once there weere 2 little girls and a boy. Their names were Katie, Louise and Dicky, and they lived in the country. Not far from their house lived an old lady and she was poor.
 It was coming New Years and the children thought it would be nice to give her a surprise, because they knew she wouldn't have anything. These children had been saving their pen- nies for most two months and they had $2.oo saved. When it was time to use it they didn't know just what to give this lady.
 But Louise thought it would be nice to get her some sugar, coffee, tea, crackers, and some other dainties, and so they got those things for her.
 But Dicky didn't give his pennies to the girls, but he got one of his father $ pumpkins and cleaned the inside out and put his pennies in that, and then he put his pumpkin in his little cart and started off for the old iady's house. On the way he met his sisters and they asked him where he was going with that pumpkin and he said.
 Going to give it to the lady," nd they laughed at him.
 But when he got to hershouse he gave her the pumpkin and she opened the top. And hidden in the bottom was S1.50. and with 1t was a note saving with this money you can buy some wood from Dicky Dicks.
 MILDRED FILLER, Age 14. Norwich Town.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
How She Made Fudqe.

Dear Uncle Jed:-We have had a lot of rain here this week. It was rain- ing here the other afternoon and as l did not have much to do so I thought would make some fudge. It turned out pretty good, being the first time l had made 1t.
 I am sending a copy of the recipe l used.
 Chocolate Fudse-one cup grant, egg, ounces unsweetened chocolate l teaspoon vanilla Boil the mixture until it will make a soft ball when dropped in water. Remove from the fire; beat until thick. adding the vanilla while beating. Pour into buttered pans, mark in squares and set aside to cool. Hoping some of the Wide Awakes may try this recipe and report.
 JESSIE BREHAUT. East Norwich, N, Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
Mansfield.
The oId Fsshiened cottaae.

In a very lonely town, where the large pine trees blow in the breeze, and the beautiful silver streams, glide and ripple along in the sunshine, there dwells two kind-hearted persons, who are owners of the sunshine Inn'.
 On coming near the cottage you can see the smoke from the large red chimney ascend in the air in large white clouds. and then two happy smiling faces ready to greet you.
 Then as you are led in the house, you see a pretty little stove in the corner, shining with cleanliness, and the table with four or five chairs around it.
 You are instantly seated and given something to eat. then shown about in the other rooms.
 On the first floor in from the kitchen is shown a large fireplace and two rocking chairs with a lounge to match.
 Then there is the two bedrooms and
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
The rheuahtfuI Mother.

The most thoughtful bird mother that I know of was a goose whi -h Franklin tells us about.
 He says this goose had made her nest in the kitchen of the farmhouse and she was the only one of the fowls that came in there to nest. But after she had been sitting on her eggs few days she was seen to leave them and go out of the room and waddle slowly to the yard where the rest of the geese were
 There she went up to a younger goose and after some quaclzing she turned and walked back, the other goose coming with her. She came into the kitchen followed shyly by the other goose which had never been in the room before.
 Then the older one went up to the nest but laid on the ground beside 1t, while the younger one climbed into the nest and sat down on the egs
 In a short time the mother goose was dead, while the< other remained on the nest and brought up the brood.
 MARY RYBIC.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
POETRY.

By Ethel Hallett Porter. If I were a wee, black kitten, And you were a big red ball, How we'd ron1p our way Through the long. bright day, With never a care at all How we'd gaInbol and play In a careless way Through attic. and chamber, and. hall :, If you were playful puppy, And I were a baby shoe, How we'd scamper and skip. Helter- skelter, flop, flip,- In a game of our own, duite new; With a bob and a dip, And a hop and a skip. In rollicking game for two!
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
WhIstIIns Develops Lunaa

A doctor has discovered that whis- ting is good for the health. It fills the lungs with invigorating oxygen, and this reviviies tagging spirits and naboy muscles. Boys are prone to be broader chested than girls, and better constructed for deep muscular tones because of the lung exercise which accompanies whistling, and one Of the first things they try to do when they've passed babyhood is to whistle.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
The Boys and the Apples.

One day Dick and Ben went for a walk. At the end Of the long, green lane they came to an orchard in which there grew some apple trees. The apples looked good and ripe and Ben said he wished he had some.
 "So do l." said Dick.
 We will get some,' said Ben.
 No, they are not ours," answered Dick.
 But they will be when we get them ; laughed Ben.
 NO, for first we must steal the ap- pies from the man who owns the or chard so they cannot be ours.'
 No one will See us and if you are afraid to come with me, I will climb over the hedge and get the apples. You can stand there; and if the man comes
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
THE WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS

Mary Rybic, of Mansheld-Unele Tom. the Burglar
 2--Alice F. BurriI, of Stafford Springs-Black Beauty.
 3-Bertha BurriII, of Stafford Springs-Andersen's FairH Tales.
 4-EveIyn E. Woodward, of Column bia-Aunt Martha's Corner Cupboard
 5-HeIen M. Reynolds, of Eagleville -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
 6--Arthur s. Merrifield, of Baltic Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants.
 7-MiIdred Filler, of Norwich Town The Little Lame Prince.
 S-PauIine SmoIowitz, of Norwich Rip Van Wrinkle.
 Winners of prize books may can at the business office of The Bulletin for them at any hour after 10 a. m. on Thursday.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
LETTERS WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES.
Lost in the Woods.

Lost in the Woods.
 Here's a path, guess we'll try this. There must be a way out.''
 %, Frank, I can't go another step, I'm so tired!''
 Poor Johnnie!" said the elder brother. Well sit down for a little while. Here's grand seat.''
 Johnnie leaned. his head against Franks shoulder. too tired to speak. Frank feared they were really lost, but he did not wish to alarm John nie. Now as he sat with his arm around Johnnie he noticed that night was coming on. They would certain ly have to remain in the woods all night unless he could find his way home soon.
 Come Johnnie, nother'll be won defing where we are We must hurry home now.'
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13

said Johnnie.
 "suppose I can't find the shortest way. what thenr r' II can't walk all night anyway, answered Johnnie.
 70, ne. we'll camp out. Johnnie.s 1T shouldn't dare to, Franki'
 There's nothing in the woods to hurt us,n said Frank.
 He was still puzzled. Every path went deeper and deeper into the for. est. He couldn't find one familiar spot. At last he said 1t was useless to try any longer. He might go fur- ther from home. Still cheerful, he said: "Here'il be a good place to camp in.n
 Why, Frank, can't you find any way homer said Johnnie in alarm. arrn afraid not tonight" Frank said. Suddenly they were startled by loud shouts. But as the sound came near CT, Frank recognized his fathers voice and answered the call back
 In a few minutes both boys were ciinging to their fathers hands.
 FRANK PARDY, Age Ia. Narvvtah
Norwich bulletin., 1914-08-13
My Sister Laura's Birthday.

Monday was my little sisters birth day She was two years old.
 Mamma gave her a new dress. give her some candy. She had a happy day.
 We have some kitties, a big kitty and three little ktties. They are very nice. Their names are, the white one Snowfall, because he is white like snow. The other two are black like a nigger. Blaclzy and Lily. I like cats very much.
 We also have four rabbits.
 The cats ate twenty-five rabbits It was very bad, the cat ate them.
 IRENE M. MATHIEU, Age 13.
 Columbia