davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
An Adventure at Sea.

Harrah! Vacation is here, and l am
going to cross the Atlantic ocean in
one of the largest boats of the world.
1t was built at Glasgow, so it will be
strong and comfortable. I am going
to spend the summer in the British
Isles, or the United Kingdom, as it is
sometimes called.
Such a, long voyage requires many
preparations. First our clothes requir-
ed attention. They must be of both
warm and cool material. because the
climate changes. Ne1l the money is
considered Of course, the provisions
are provided for US. Our staterooms
are very comfortable so we think we
shall enjoy our trip.
At first we are rather timid, but
soon become accustomed to the water.
Suppose som ething should happen to
the ship way out in the ocean, far
first, because we think of the THAMES
disaster,
About midnight of the second night
we are aroused by the fire alarm. 1t
seems as If our hearts stopped beat
ing. Rushing upon deck, we are con-
fFonted by a man with life belts. He
tells us to put them on.
An order to get into the iifeboats
comes next, but we want to know
what the matter is, He answers US:
THE boat is on fire."
Oil What a thought but it is
interrupted by the command:
Hurry ladiesi"
The women and children go first
as is the rule at sea, Many men are
croWding into the boats,
At last the flames leap upon the up
per deck
The first boats put down are sail
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The Black Woman and the Dove.

Once upon time there was q. king
who had a very beautiful wife. He
gave her everything she wished One
day he had to fight a battle and did
not know what to do with her. He
put her up in a tree and told her to
stay there till he cameo back. So she
did but one day there was g, black lady
who came after a pail of water
She looked up in the tree and saw
the kings wife, and said: ''Oh, why
don't [ come after water every day?"
One day she asked the queen to come
down so she did and laid in the black
Woman's lap.
Then she began to pat her head, but
she did not pat it long when she fell
asleep.
Then the black woman stuck three
pins in her head and she turned into Il
dove and flew away into the forest.
Then the black woman sat in the
three, but when the king came he ask
ed: What makes you so black?'
She said: at was the hot sum-
She came down and went to the
kings house.
The next day the dove came and sat
on the window sill.
The king said: Set a trap"
When he was about to cut off it's
head he saw the three pins and pulled
them out, and the dove turned into his
own wife, so she sent the black woman
home.
ALICE HAZEN, Age 9.
Ballouville, Conn.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The White House.

Dear Uncle Jed: [ am going to tell
the Wide Awakes why the residence
of the President of the United States
is called THE White House"
The residence of the president is
officially known as the Executive
Mansion, which means that it is the
residence of the head of the Executive
branch of the government; but it is
very seldom called, in ordinary talk,
either by those who live in it, or by
the American people in general any
thing but the white House"
This is very unpretentious title,
and it is interesting to note how the
residence of the president, in a cOun-
try which is full of white houseS
came to bear this simple name as it's
special property.
The explanation is easily found.
The first Executive Mansion at Wash
ington, was occupied in 1900. 1t was
built of freestone, and was unpaint-
ed; but in 1914 the British army oc-
cupied Washington and burned with
other public buildings, the Presidents
house leaving 1t in blackened ruin.
The house was rebuilt again on the
same site, and the same walls were
used in it's constructions; but they
painted white on the suggestion of
General Jackson, not only to improve
their appearance. but in token of de-
f1ance of British fire by the Ameri-
can Republic.
The Mansion soon became the white
House" in the mouths of the people,
and from that day to this it has been
painted white every ten years. Its
name commentaries a patriotic feel
ing, therefore, as we'll as serves to deS-
cribe the mansions appearance for
the original coat of white paint was q
sort of protest against the vandalism
of the British, and every subsequent
coat has served to perpetuate the pro-
test.
HELEN MALONE, Age 16.
Providence, r. /.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
William Penn.
Versailles

Dear Uncle Jed: King Charles the
Second of England owed a large sum
of money to William Penn. The king
was fond of pleasure and spent a great
deal of money on himself and his
friends
Penn heard of this; so he told his
majesty that if he would give him a
piece of wild land in America that
would be all that he would ask ~
King Charles was very glad TO set
tie the debt so easily. 1t was a large
tract of land, nearly as large as Eng
land. 1t was north of Maryland and
west of the Delaware river. The king
named it Pennsylvania, which means
PENIS woods. The land at that time
was not thought to be worth much
PENIS woods were immense mines Of
iron and coal which some day would
be worth more than all the riches of
England.
William Penn was a Quaker There
are people who ask their own hearts
what to do. They believe that you
should make no more sign of respect
to one than another At that time
they would not take off their hats
even to the king himself.
Penn wanted the land so that other
Quakers could come and settle. Later
the land which is now the state of
New Jersey was bought by Penn and
other Quakers for the same purpose.
Neither the Pilgrims nor the Catholics
had any real peace in England Still
the Qua}lers suffered more yet. Some
times they were cruelty whipped and
thrown into dark and dirty prisons.
Penn himself had been shut UP in Jail
on account of his religion. He was
now in no more danger, neither were
} his friends.
Penn sent a number of people to set
tie in America in the state of Pennsyl-
vania. In 1852 he made ready to sail
with one hundred people
HAROLD c. MAYNARD. age Il.
Lyme.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The Hohhars' Den.

There were once some robbers who
lived in a. den in the mountains. They
had plenty Of gold which they had
taken from the people who Travelled In
the stage coaches which passed that
place every fortnight. Once there was
g. French duke who was travelling
through that region so he could write
about it when he went back to France.
Suddenly one of the robbers looked out
of the den and when he saw the stage
coach coming he told the other robbers,
and they determined to hold up the
coach.
So they took their guns from their
belts and. went out to hold the coach
up, but the driver saw them and then
stopped the horses.
AS it happened. he had just twelve
pistols, besides four rides. and he gave
each of the passengers 10 the coach
one.
They got ready to fight. and when
the robbers came UP they gave them a
warm reception. which killed six and
wounded four out Of the twelve.
The rest surrendered and promised
to show them the den where the gold
was hidden,
The people got the gold and return
ed it to its owners, who gave them a
reward.
But the two robbers were set free
and gave $50 each, and they promised
to settle down and never again to rob
a house, barn. or even a dog of its
bone.
JAMES SMART, Age IL.
Baltic
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Thursday, January l
TIE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

We are going to try to find ont
what happiness is 50 that we may
know when we are truly happy: Well,
Contentment is closely related to Hap
piress; and what Is Cententment? A
distinguished scholar, said: IF tive an
gels were sent down from heavens one
TO conduct an empire and the other te
sweep a street, they would feel ne in
clination to change empleyments:"
This makes loyalty to divine authority,
being satisfied with ene's lot, the
foundation for Cententment; and Hap
piness springs not from having much,
but from being eontented with what
we have, te illustrate which attention
has been called to the fact that a tub
was enough to satisfy Diegenese, but
a world was net big enough to make
Alexander content.
Nobody who lives in seIfishness, fear
CT doubt can have A Happy New Year
never mind how earnestly we may
wish it for them. Those only can
have A Happy New Year who are con-
scious that to have 1t they must have
a mind to recognize Happiness and a
spirit attuned to everything that is
good,
We should all know that Hope is
not improved by dreaming and that
Expectation is simply the pilot of Dis
appointment, To hope too much OK to
expect too much is to Increase tbs
miserfes Of life.
We cannot be healthy or happy if
we live in violation of the laws which
makes both health and happiness pos
sible.
Then to have A Happy New Year
We all of us must think right, live
right and do right, and in this way
we may realize what our friends and
neighbors in their goodness of heart
/ are sincerely wishing for us.
Make your New Year happy by
making your hfe right day by day,
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Norwich.


Hattie's parents lived in a large
country house. They were very rich.
Hattie was an unruly child. b er par
ents loved her very much and so spoil
ed her Her cousins, Harry and Clara
whose parents were dead, lived at Hat
ties home,
One day she was up in the garnet
alone and thought it would be great
fun to dress up as a boy in the olden
times. The first thing she did was to
cut off her long curly hair. Then she
looked in some old chests and found a
pair Of faded red knee breeches, d
pair of silver buCl1led slippers, a dark
blue military coat with ruffies at the
throat and cuffs, and three cornered
hat. These she put on.
When she went to the door she
found it was locked, so she went to
the window to call someone UP and
leaned out too far and fell plump on
the gardeners head.
Another time she was sent on an err
rand for her father. AS she was walk
ing along the brookside and thinking
very hard she walked right into the
brook A boy who was on the other
side jumped in and pulled her out.
One day Hattie was playing tennis
with her cousins when she spied her
father leading out her pony, so she ran
to him Harry and Clara then played
by themselves. Suddenly Harry saw
a large bird in the air. He threw up
his ball at it, but broke a window in
the StorehouSe.
When the children were asked about
it they said they knew nothing. SuS
picion fell on Hattie because she was
always in trouble. The thought made
her very sad, and when the truth was
found out it made her merry again:
but she never gave as much trouble as
before.
PAULINE SNIOLOWITz. Age IL.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

Mildred v. Lewis Of Norwich: I want
to thank you for the prize book you
awarded me for writing a letter to
You. I liked the book very much.
wish you D. Happy New Year.
Patrick n. Mahoney of Norwich: I
received the prize book and was glad
to see it was a very interesting one.
I thank you very much for it. I will
try again some time, I wish you a
Merry Christmas.
Doris Peckham, Old Mystic: I thank
you very much for the prize book I
was much pleased to receive it the day
before Christmas. I have read several
of Pansy's books and like them very
much.
TheIn1a Whitehouse of Mansfield: 1
thank you very much for the book you
sent me, l have read q little bit of it,
and found it very interestig. The name
of the book is Aunt Martha's Corner
Cupboard.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
A Flemish Dog and His Two Masters.

A Flemish Dog and His Two Masters.
Patrasche was a big Flemish dog.
Before he was fully grown he was
bought by a tinware peddler who
made him draw a cart full of pots and
pans and other wares.
1t was fortunate that Patrasche was
very strong. otherwise he would have
died under the heavy burdens, the Sc
we're lashings, the hunger, the thirst,
the blows with which the peddler re-
paid his hard work.
One day, after two years of agony,
the dog was YEARLY dragging his
heavy load along in the blazing sun
when for the first time in his life he
staggered foamed at the mouth and
fell His master gave him the only
medicine he ever administered to him
kicks and oaths and blows with a
club-and finally left him beside the
road to die.
After a time there came along q
little old man named Jehan. bent and
lame and very feeble. He looked at
the dog, found that he was still alive,
and carried the sufferer home. The old
man tended him with so much care
that sickness gave way to health and
PatrasChe finally stood up again on
his four stout legs, He seemed sur
prised To hear no curses and to feel no
blows from his new master.
The first day after the dog got well
and strong ne watched the old man as
he started off with his milk cans. The
touched the cart, Patrasclle walked to
1t and placed himself between the
shafts.
At length Jehan allowed the dog to
draw the cart, and never did a dog go
more ioyfully to play than this animal
went to his daily task
CLAUDE LATHERS, Age II.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Norwich,


Dear Uncle Jed: I am going to tell
you about an Indian and a white man.
The Indian was taking a walk and he
met a white man. They promised that
they would be good friends.
One day the Indian came to visit
the white man. The Indian wanted to
stay over night. but the white man
thought it would not be safe to let him
stay. Pretty soon he thought it would
be all right. They were good friends
as they had promised.
One day the Indians daughter saw
the white man and knew that he was
her fathers friend, so she brought
him to her fathers wigwam
He was glad to see his friend again.
The white man invited the Indian to
dinner. The Indian thought he had
never had such good things to eat be-
fore. And they all lived happy ever
after.
MARY GORMAN.
Versailles
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Norwich
4 Great sururise.

Frank had been thinking of Christ
mas and the time he was to have. He
had been To the woods with his father
to cheese his Christmas tres, and
there steed In the parlef, beautifully
decorated.
One night while lying in bed and
thinking of Santa Claus and his cold
Journey, an idea struck him. In the
morning when he awel1e he teld his
nurse about 1t; and 1t was decided that
on Christmas eve he would put a glass
of milk, an orange and piece of cake
near the fireplace for Santa Claus.
Christmas eve sDon came, and with
it the sand man, and so Frank went to
bed very early, after saying Good might
to ALL and after having placed his
stocking, the milk, orange and cake
near the fireplace. In the morning. to
his surprise, the milk and food were
gone, his stocking was full of toys and
his Christmas tree was loaded with
presents.
JESSIE BREHAUT,
TTca or
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
AWAkES4
A Christmas Tree.

A Christmas Tree.
There was once two children named
Gladys and Elsie. One night which
happened to be the night before Christ
mas they had a party and the children
asked II they were going to have a
Christmas tree?
Their mother said Yes"
Sc the children were happy and at
ter the party they went to bed. And
were wondering about the tree they
would have for Christmas, but their
mother had dressed the tree and ar
ranged 1t in the corner.
The children heard them downstairs
with the tree. Then the girls jumped
out of bed and went downstairs and
peeked around the corner and saw the
tree, Then they said: Where could
mother have had that tree and their
eyes shone like glass.
They hustled upstairs and found
Santa Claus looking in their bed. Not
to tell the secret. they jumped into
another bed, and in the morning
when they got up they found their tree
ready for them, and mother said:
Santa told me you peeked at the
tree last night
hey found many gifts on the tree
EVA PARTRIDGE, Age 9.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Our Trip to Ocean Beach.

Once the Sunday school went to
Ocean Beach. We went on Saturday
morning in July. We all had to take
our own lunch. We got there at %
minutes past 10.
The boys went in swimming right
away, but they did not stay nm long.
for the water was 20 cold they would
run in and then come out again,
At 535 we started to come home.
We had some fun coming home, shout
ing and singing.
! hope We will go again next year.
as l want to have some fun
]. STEWART, Age u.
Baltic
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The Books She Reads.

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought 1 would
write to you and all the Wide Awakes
and tell you some Of the good books
I read.
They are Our Little Japanese
Cousin six in a Doll House, wild
Kitty" The Spy Tales of the
Knights" and many other books; and
I found them all interesting.
Ii any of the Wide Awakes know OF
good books please let me know in
next weeks paper and l will try to
get them,
INEZ WOODWORTH
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
A Christmas Story.

One Christmas morning I got I'D and
found lots Of pretty things In my
stocking.
I went to my cousins house and
brought her a one bSg doll Bg.d lots of
other nice things. She was very glad
when I gave her the big doll and the
other things. 1 was very glad when I
saw the smile on her face. / stayed
with her all day and we played.
When I went home it was very dark
and she came with me always, and she
said: THANK you for the nice things
you gave me-
We had a good time that Christmas
day.
CHRISTINE, SEGAR, Age II.
BallouVtlle.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The Doc and the Oxen.

Once upon a time there was a. dog
that lay asleep in a manager. 1t was
a hot day: He was tired. Some oxen
came who were very hungry and tired.
They were coming along to the barn
to get SEINE hay: When they came in
the deg wouldn't let them have the
hay:
The exen said, Il am tired and hun
gryt"
''Yeu are not going to have it." said
the dog.
why not let as have it, were very
hungry
II won't! You ehant have It'll You
only run ell day and this made the
dog in the manager famous for his
selflEhness.
MARY Dixie, Age 8.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
UNCLE JED'S TALK TO VIDE
AWAkES.

This is the day of kind wishes and
the people Of many nations are wish
ing one another A Happy New Year,
just as Uncle Jed wishes you all A
Happy New Year; but wishing a hap
py New Year does not put a bit of
JOY into the new year that will stay.
Our conduct toward others and the
conduct Of others toward us make life
pleasant or mar it.
A great many ages ago a scholar
discovered that only those are happy
who think themselves so, and
this truth no one has ever denied
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

fish; A horse t1nackerel3 mackeret was
brought in one day. and they weighed
IT. # Weighed, 9TAf 800 pounds: I
went down to the wharf to see it:
saw many other things. Among
them were five submarines Cine Of
them went down under water till only
the mast could be seen, and finally
that went down:
/ went in bathing every day and had
lots 81 fun,
FLORA sR8fPLE. Age 10:
Norwich.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Five Peas in One Pod.

There were once five peas in a, pod.
The whole world seemed yellow. One
day they heard crack at the pod.
They all rolled out.
The boy saw them and said he would
shoot them in his pistol.
He shot one of them. The pea was
going through the air and saying
Catch me If you can
So bird caught it and swallowed it
The other three fell into the river.
The last one fell into a crack beneath
the window. and very soon it was
grown up and there was a pretty green
vine.
SUSAN MASON. Age. II.
Baliouyille.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
The First auttercuns.

Dear Uncle Jed: There was once
a pot of gold at the end of the rain
bow, selfish man found this out.
So he soon started off with 6. bag
When he found the gold he put it in
his bag and ran off to hide it. There
was a hole in the bag and all the gold
fell out, but he didn't know it
When he missed the gold he ran
back looking for it, but no gold was
to be found. He looked all around
him but couldn't find any. A fairy
had changed it to buttercups, the first
buttercups in the world.
EDITH PURVIS, Age 3.
Norwich.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

ing away. !. The wireless is sending
messages to other Ships:
Over on the horizon, our deliyerer
as we call it, comes into view. On,
we can never forget those last few
moments. At last on reScuing ship,
we find that many are gone: This trip
will be remembered By all who were
on board.
ETHEL SHERWOOD, Age Is:
Willimantie;
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
My Trip to Block island.

Last summer when I was over on
Block Island saw many interesting
sights One of the prettiest was a
large aeet of war vessels which were
sailing round the island for nearly a
week, and I could see them plainly
through a pair of strong glasses. 1
also saw many sailboats come in to
the barber, bFinglng large catches OF
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

Little STAIRS:
5-Helen Malone of Providence,
Julia Reid:
s-Freida Retkovs<e of Norwich, Five
Little STAIRS on a Canal Boat.
MARY Dikey Of Colchester Prudy
Keeping House:
s-Ethei Sherwood of Wililnantsei
Esther Reid:
Winners OF prize books living in the
city may call fer them at The Bulletin
business office at any hour after 10
a: IN: on Thursday:
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS.

Harold {. Maynard of Lyme, The
Kings Daughter,
Claude Lathers of Norwich, The
Flying Machine Boys on Duty
Susan Mason of Ballouville, Dad
dy's Girl.
Edith PurVis of Norwich, Five
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

O'Clock in the afternoon. We stay
ed over night in New York and in
the morning we took the train and
started Tor Norwich.
When we got here my father was
waiting for US. He was very glad to
see us.
FREIDA RETKOWSKE, Age IL.
Norwich:
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

1. Write plainly Oh one side of the
pape4' uniy3 and number the pages:
z: Use pen and ink, not pencil.
9. Short and pointed articles will
be given preference. De not use ever
e59 words.
/. original stories or letters only
will be used.
6. Write your name, age and ad-
dress plainly ct the bottom of the
story.
Address all communications to I'm
Gle Jed, Bulletin Office.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01
Close of School.

\ nice little psssy cat went to teach
school
in a tree where the blackbirds stay;
And she said TO all the mothers;
u cant allow the others
tioT to bear me teach the lessons
every day, every day,
For 20 hear me teach the lessons
every day. every day.
When the nice little pussy began to
teach school
The lessons weren't easy at all;
IF you want to catch a mouse,
Chase him all around the house,
And then eat him in three mouthfuis,
tail and all. tail and all,
And then eat MIN in three mouthfuls,
tail and all. tail and all"
Then the nice little pussy who taught
in the school
Said, How many know the lesson
that is done?7
But no answer could they give her,
They could only shake and shiver,
So she ate up all the scholars, one by
one, one by one;
So she ate up all the scholars one by
one, one by one.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-01

Whatever you are-Be that!
Whatever yeh say-Be true!
Straight feFwa-tly act
Be henest-iA fact
BE nobody else but you