davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
Hidden Gold.

Dear Uncle Jed: There once lived in sunny Italy a farmer who had a fine olive orchard. Here he worked early and late, and as a result of his care the trees fourished and bore abun- dantly.
 This man had three sons, but they, alas! liked ease better than work They thought it beneath them to en. gage in the humble tasks of a farmer
 Years rolled by; the farmer grew feeble, and at last saw that his end was near. Thereupon, he called his sons to him and said:
 My sons, am about to die, but for you there is gold hidden in the orch ard.''
 The sons begged to know more. but the wise old man turned deaf ear to their questions and soon thereafter he
 Eager to enjoy their fathers wealth. the sons at once made preparations to unearth it. They agreed upon a plan Of work and then they dug, and dug. and dug, until every inch of soil had been turned over, but no gold did they md. At last they gave up the search
 someone has stolen the gold" said one.
 Illness made our fathers wits wan der" said another.
 We have had. our labor for our pains" said the third
 When spring came the trees burst early into full blossom. As the season advanced every blossom turned to fruit of the finest flavor. Purchasers came, and when the sons saw the stream of gold collecting in the fam fly chest they said:
 Our father, of blessed memory, spoke the truth. Patient labor brought to light his hidden gold"
 GRAZIALIA MARTIN, Age 10.
 Plainfield.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A Wary Rat.

Dear Uncle Jed: have been work ing out on a farm all this vacation for our milkman. weeding out the garden and doing chores to help him, and t night go on the milk route
 l have been to two picnics this sea- son, one out to Gardner Lake with the Xens and to Mohegan park with OUT Sunday school, and at both I had a very good time.
 The last of July for five days I went down to camp with the Christ church choir boys.
 Now want to tell you about an edu- cated rat down in our cellar. Our cat Is very good hunter, but failed to catch him, so my mother and I set a rat trap. We had hardly been up stalrS live minutes when we heard the trap sprin~' but when we got down there the trap was back of the barrel and we thought we had him. When We came to pull up the trap there was part of his tail two inches long with a string-like cord running up to his body, but no rat. It looked as if he had pulled so hard that it had broken his toil off.
 A week or so later he gnawed a hole in the butter tub and ate about a pound of butter. My mother then poisoned some of the butter, but he would not touch that We keep a tran set all the time
 Our cat caught a good sized rat a week ago and we have seen nothing of his friend since.
 H. LLOYD RATHBUN, Age 12.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A Happy Idea,

"Oh, nurse. do let me go out todayi The sun is shining, and it Is ever so many days since I played in the gar den! Can't I go. nurseg g
 Now, Miss Maisie,'' said nurse, se- riously you know what the doctor out when the wind is in the east That's what he said. and he meant every word of it, tool"
 "Yes, nurse, do remember, but 1 am so tired of being indoors!" And Maisie gave a weary little sigh.
 That may be. Miss Maisie, but can't let you out for all that Come girl you can be. Do you know before came here was a nurse at a hos pital. in which the patients are very poor and have no kind friends to look after them and to which they are taken when they fall ill"
 Are they very, very III, nurse, some times?" asked Maisie, land do they suffer much ?'
 sYes, I'm afraid they do dear; but you see they have a nice white little bed to lie on. pretty toys to play with and scrapboolxs to look at. all these help them to bear the pain How would you like to make a scrapbook for them, Miss Maisie? You have such a lot of old Christmas cards, and you pictures in your old books and maga- zines'
 Maisie thought it a lovely idea, espe- cially as nurse promised to take her to see the hospital some day. so she could give the scrapbook to one of the little. sufferers herself, and see what a lot of pleasure one little child can by its work be to another.
 CoIcbae+er
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
The Rescue.

Dear Uncle Jed: Last evening Willie Gray, who lived in the upper part of New York, took his terrier, Spot, and went down to the Harlem river to sit on the pier and watch the boys swim in the river. There were at least a thousand people on the nearby piers In the water swimming, and on the Harlem bridge just overhead.
 Willie and his chum threw sticks out into the water and Spot brought them back until he was trembling with, fla tigue.
 Finally, seeing how tired Spot was, Willie chained him so that he could not jump any more and forbade any one near throwing sticks to- tempt him
 When Willie had his head turned somebody threw a stick right by Spots nose into the water and the dog leaper in after it, dragging his chain with him. When Willie saw the dog, loaded with the chain, he hurriedly removed his coat and went in to save him.
 Spot had reached the stick in spite of his handicap, hutfhis chain was pull ing him down When Willie got to him. grabbed him about the neck and tried to swim hack with him.
 The crowd cheered, but at first mo- body would go near the dog. and his struggling master. Then James Grady, an engineer on a tug boat saw the boy and jumped in to help.
 LOUANNE L. MARTIN, Age 12.
 PIainf7eId
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
LIttIe People of the Snow.

Once there was a little girl named Eva, who lived with her father and mother, brother and sister in cosy little house in the country
 One day when the ground was cov- cred with snow, Eva's mother let her go out to take walk, but told her not to go any farther than the great linden tree.
 ! As she was walking along she saw a tiny maiden with long flowing hair and sweet blue eyes, who asked her to come to her cave in the woods.
 Eva went where she was led far beyond the great tree into a great cave of snow in the side hill. What den with flowers and trees all made of snow by the tiny little folks called Little People of the SHow.s
 She saw, too. a wonderful nall where hundreds of these little folks were dancing with wreatFls of snow about their heads and bells Of ice in their hands for making music. She, had been gone hours from home. At last growing weary. she lay herself down on bank to rest.
 Her father and mother came out to find her and wept very hard when they found her dead.
 When the King of the Little People of the Snow heard how Eva had been made to do wrong and led to death, he made a law that not one of them should ever speak to a boy or girl, man or woman.
 People of the Snow brought beautiful Wreaths and laid them on Esya's grave.
 HELEN MAINE.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES
Faithful Friends

Harry Greene was the son of a lighthouse keeper Harry was the only child of the family and would often be lonely if not for his good dog Max.
 Max was a beautiful black dog and steadfast friend
 One winters evening when every one was sitting around the fire Harry ran out to bring in his sled He was about to bring it in, but he thought he would take one more slide before go- ing into the house. The hill was very steep and below this hill was another hill, so he slid down both hiIle He felt very cold coming up the hill, be- cause it had begun to snow He sat down on his sled for while. When he got up he felt very stiff and could not walk, so he laid down on his sled again and soon fell asleep.
 When his father saw he was not coming, he was worried and went out to look for him. While on his search he heard Max's bark, and went in that direction. There he found Harry al : most frozen to death. He was lying on his sled with the dog at his side. The father was overjoyed with glad ness at the discovery of his boy.
 MT. Greene brought Harry and the dog home. Everyone cheered and pet ted brave old Max Ever afterward Harry and Max were the best of friends
 ELEANOR sMIGIEL, Age 1s.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
The Miniature Battleship Massachu.
 setts,

The other afternoon I went to see a wonderful piece of naval architecture, one of the most sensational construc- tions of the age. This is on exhibition in one of the large department stores.
 This remarkable little craft is L3 feet long, 24 inches wide, has a dis placement of 750 lbs. and a draft of g 1-2 inches and goes IA knots an hour. The timing device in the boat is set for any desired time, and after that no human hand touches the boat while 1t is going through it's many maneu- vers.
 Suddenly the miniature band clash es forth and one becomes spellbound as the Star Spangled Banner floats forth and the flags are hoisted, signal lights begin to fash real wireless messages are transmitted into space, miniature they were human. They climb the ladders, the 12 searchlig ghts begin to operate. Again the wireless is put into operation and could you read the code you would know that the officers on board are signalling for other boats to fall into double battle line.
 Many doors are then automatically opened and 200 bluejackets disappear behind them.
 The sirens next whistle to clear the harbor. the anchors rise. and the three propellers start. The officer on the bridge turns the rudder by means of levers, and then you see a trail of smoke coming out of the smokestacks. With her deck cleared ready for action, one of the turrets swings a little and then puff of smoke.
 Everyone jumps as the guns begin to boom. First you hear the twelve 14-inch guns. then 12 six-1nch guns. When the supposed enemy has been sunk the sailors begin to come out on deck again.
 The band plays the American Pa trol, the propellers stop, and the sail ors go back to have a rest after a hard days work.
 HELEN M. WHITTAKER.
 Providence, R. L
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
Mrs. Jingle.

Mrs. Jingle was a poor widow who lived with her three children in a poor cottage. She had no beds and of a night she would wrap her children up in some old coats
 One night it was very cold and Mrs. Jingle had nothing to eat in the house but a small oat cake Soon a-child dressed in ragged clothing rapped at the door. Mrs. Jingle came to the door and brought the child in He was very hungry so she fed him the oat cake. After he had eaten it she tucked him up in an old coat and laid him down with the. other children, Soon. she retired for her nights rest. In the morning when she arose she saw that the strange child had dis appeared and that the cottage had heen turned into a beautiful house.
 At this sight she woke the children and showed them all the different things.
 The children were much surprised and Mrs. Jingle, told them she thought the ragged boy was a real angel
 ROSE BR(1MI FEY
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A Nuttina Partx.

One day in September we girls went a-nutting. It was a very nice day and very hot. We started at 10 o'clock and expected to stay all day, so we took our lunch. We went where there lunch
 We got our baskets full of nuts and thought we would play. We had been playing a little while when we saw the grass move. We went over to see what it was and saw that it was a snake that had little bird. We got the bird away from the snake and drove the snake away.
 We. began playing when one of the girls looked up at the sky and saw that it was getting dark She told us, so we took our baskets and started for home, and we got home just in time to escape getting wet.
 MILDRED ". MORLEY.
 EagIeviIle
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
Roya, sperts in Japan.

Children Of the world are very much alike The Japanese boys are not much different from the American boys except the American boys do not have little tufts on the top of their heads. They also do not wear wood en shoes or flowing robes like the Japanese boys.
 The Japanese boys are as fond of games as American boys. They walk on stilts; they fly Ckid) kites in the shape of horse, or a man. and as birds they pelt sRowballs at each other; they run and jump: they hide from each other and call out in soft voices to tell the boy ready.
 But some games are very rough. There is a game called the war game, which is now forbidden. Many play CTS were injured and did not want to play any more A village or city of boys would be divided into parties. Each boy had a bamboo cane for the war On the head of each boy there was a plate set. on a little pad. Each boy of the parties had red or white flag. The side that had the fewest plates broken had won the war
 ETHEL MURDOCH, Age 12.
 TaftyiIle
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05

 had a storm here. It rained all day quite < hard and lasted till Saturday noon The rain kept a great many home from school, but it did not keep me. 1 have been regular in attend ance since September Sth, when started. We have new typewriters at our high school besides the old. ma.k- ing 12 altogether.
 1 had 94 per cent in my shorthand test last Thursday. We have test every month
 Next Sunaay will be Rally day and I think we are going to have some little exercise or entertainment at our Sunday school.
 My puppy has grown since I've had him an dhe has become quite a good little house dog. He likes to play with my little gray kitten hope the Wide- -Awakes are enjoying school, as am.
 LILLIAN BREHAUT.
 East Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
What Harold Likes.

Dear Uncle Jed: I live in Scotland and go to school nearly every day. have been to school a little more than a year and like to go very much. have a pair of black and white steers a year and a month old. Their names are Jack and Jerry. I draw wood and corn-fodder with them hitched to a little cart, and sometimes my two brothers and little sister ride too. We have great fun.
 We have nice bulldog named Terry and a gray cat named Tom.
 I think I shall be a farmer some time, because I like to help papa do farm work now.
 I wonder if any of the little Wide Awake boys or girls like to speak temperance pieces and hear stories read from The Young Crusader I do.
 HAROLD E, KIMBALL, Age 8.
 HamDtOn
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
The pet Bird.

Dear Uncle Jed: am going to tell you about a strange bird.
 Once upon a time there was a Ger man family who lived in Germany They had four children. The father was on a visit to the Canary Islands for two months.
 He was taking his morning walk one morning when he saw a little yellow ball up in the tree. As he grew near CT he saw it was a canary bird. He was about 20 feet away when it flew away.
 He walked on and soon found a nest of them He caught one. He made a cage for it and sent it to his children in Germany
 The bird got there two weeks be- fore NIT. Glench. When MT. Glench got home the bird was tame and it was chirping on the youngest child's finger They gave it plenty to eat and drink and named it Dick.
 It did not live very long, for one morning when the children ran to the cage all they four q was a few feath- CTS. The cat had eaten the bird and that was the end of it.
 DELLA SHEA, Age g.
 Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
Norwich.
My First Friend and Why We Parted

My Firet Friend and Why We Parted
 Helen was my first friend. We had never quarreled with each other dur ing the five years we were friends. We always wore a little blue bow pinned to our jackets, which showed we would always be true.
 We were driving slowly along a dus- cart Along the road grew great quan- titles of bright red berries, which are usually found along dusty roadsides. { Helen thought these berries were very pretty. When she said this, I told her they were as large as her own freckles and the color of her hair. Of course only meant this as a joke; but Helen, who usually laughed at n1y remarks, grew very angry. I wished | had never said this. It certainly was true. Helen did have bright red hair an dlarge freck1es, but I need not have reminded her of it.
 She snatched her blue bow from her jacket and threw it into the bushes. Then she stopped the cart and bade me get out. I slowly descended from the cart and stood on the roadside a wretched picture of sadness. Helen was now red with anger and was white with sadness. She only whip ped up the pony and drove away with all the proudness of a queen and I was left alone.
 In a minute Helen and the cart were out of my sight. I set to wqkk to look for Helen's blue bow. Ina. moment I found it, for it was hanging upon a tWig of a berry bush which had caused all the trouble. I put the bow into my pocket and then started for home.
 For weeks the little blue bow re- mained in my pocket, and for weeks l felt friendless. Then one afternoon went down to the village post office for the daily mail The postmaster handed me a bunch of mail and from the letters which he gave me a tiny envelope fell to the floor I picked it up and glanced at the address. It was addressed to me. I opened it, for I was inquisitive to see whatever there could be in such a wee envelope DowT. in one corner was my little blue bow. That was all. I looked at my jacket. My bow was not there. had not missed it. Then the thought came to me that is must have fallen from my jacket while I was out driving with Helen, and she had found it, driving home.
 Tn a minute the little blue bow that had lain in my pocket for weeks was sealed in an envelope and on it's way to. its owner My own was pinned back upon my jacket.
 HARRIET GRAHAM, Age, ,13.
 Taftville.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A HeIpina Hand.

Dear Uncle Jed: We have a pie ture of A, Helping Hand, so thought would write about it.
 This picture was painted by Emile Renouf, who lived in France.
 Even when small boy he loved the water and loved to draw.
 One morning he awoke and told his mother he was going out to paint a picture.
 He spent several days on the picture when the studio in which he was paint ing was burned and his picture was destroyed.
 He had almost finished it the sec ond time when servant spilled some acid on the picture.
 He was very much discouraged, but the third time he tried he was success full
 We can remember Renouf by this beautiful picture.
 ALICE KINGSLEY, Age IA.
 Scotland.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
cRUMRLETowN

Folks who live in Grum'bletown Show scowl and wear a frowns Never deign to give smile Humble. grumble all the while Winds are always hot or cold, Making Grumble people scold; Fretting, fuming, they complain If it shine or if it rain. All their tempers are awry, Cannot please 'em if you try; Nothing right, and all things wrong That's the burden of their song. If you live there, don't you stay! Pack yyour goods and move away; Look around-on every hand Shines the happy Laughter Land!
 Willis Warren Kent
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A Tree That Sheds It's Bark Every
 Year.


 Dear Uncle Jed: Wide Awakes often read of travellers stories of foreign lands and wonder at these We are told about the trees of Australia which shed their bark annually, and most people wonder how such a thing can liable to forget. or overlook, our native occurrences which are equal to any botanical events in theswor1d.
 Wide Awalkes will remember our buttonwood tree a tree which wood choppers don't like to dull their axes on, the wood being hard to cut.
 The buttonwood sheds it's bark an nually in fall, and just now is going through the process. The old bark of the tree is dropping from the tree in irregular pieces, some large, some small. You will notice the old bark is slate color, and when this falls off it exposes new bark, green and ten der As time goes on 1t turns from the pea green to white, and meanwhile is getting thicker and stronger. In about two months, or more, the once white bark is brown, so by spring the natural slate color has been restored
 If Wide Awakes wish to see a bark : shedding tree, take notice of the but tonwood, or the tree sometimes called plane
 If you do not know what one is. look for a tree that is at present brown, partly, and in places what appears to be white; but if you will go to the tree and examine it closely you can see it is a light pea green color. hope some Wide Awakes will take notice of the buttonwood tree and no- tice the toughness of the wood
 We can find real pleasure in study ing our own country's botany and nat ural wonders.
 MYRON J. ENGLAND, Age 14. Norwich Town.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
A Visit to Phoenix Park, Dublin.

When we arrived in Dublin we look ed around for hotel which would give us the best opportunity of seeing the city. After looking around we decided on the Douglas hotel, which Is on the corner of Eden quay and Sackville street and right next to O'ConnelIs bridge and OAConnell's monument. From our room. which was on the sec ond floor, we could look across the River Liffey to the east side of the city.
 North Wall and Tara street and a few minutes walk from Trinity college and the house of parliament. My father and got up early in the morning and after Breakfast we made inquiries of
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
AEatherIu Rooster.

Dear Uncle Jed: I spent my last vacation at Block Island. The lady next door kept hens. One morning I went out to give them some bread. One old hen had a little baby chicken. A few days after, when I went out to see it. the mother hen was dead. was sorry for the little chicken, but it soon had someone to take care of it. The rooster scratched up worms for it, and took care of it just as well as the old hen had.
 We laughed to see the little chicken following the rooster all day. When we were ready to go home it had grown quite big.
 LILLIAN MURPHY, Age g.
 NorWich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-05
Maraery's Garden.

Dear Uncle Jed: Once there was a little girl named Margery. She had always lived in the city. They lived at~the top of big apartment house and poor Margery couldn't see any thing but clothes lines when she look ed out of the windows
 Margery didn't know very .much about trees and flowers but she loved them dearly. Pleasant Sundays she used to go to the park with her father and mother to look at the lovely flow CTS there.
 One day when Margery's fathers work changed they moved to the coun- try. The first thing she asked her father was "Oh may have gar den?'
 ANNA GAYBSKI, Age 10.