davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
POETRY.

Johnnys History Lesson. I think of all the things at school A boy has got to do. That studying history. as a rule. Is worst of all. don't you? Of dates there are an awful sight And though I study day and night, There's only one I've got just right, That's 1492. Columbus crossed the Delaware We whipped the British fair and
 square In 14s2. At Concord and at Lexington We kept the redcoats on the run While the band played Johnny Get
 Your Gun!" In 14s2. Pat Henry with his dying breath. Said, .'Give me liberty or give me
 death!'' In 14s2, And Barbara F'rietchie, so 'tis said, Cried, Shoot. if you must, this old
 gray head" But I'd rather twou1d be your own
 instead!" In 1492. The Pilgrims came to Plymouth Rock In 1492,
  Asked What are you going to do?'' And they said: We seek your harbor
 drear That our children's children's children
 dear May boast that their forefathers land
 ed here In 14s2. Miss Pocahontas saved the life. In 1492, Of John Smith and became his wife In 1892 And the Smith tribe started then and
 there And now there are John Smiths every
 where; But they didn't have any Smiths to
 spare In 1492. Kentucky was settled by Daniel Boone In 1492, And I think the cow jumped over the
 moon In 14s2. Ben Franklin flew his kite so high He drew the lightning from the sky, And Washington couldn't tell a lie In 1892
 Nixon Waterman.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
Joey Joy, A Rollicking Boy
The Old Swimming Hole

Joey Joy was down to the riverside on the morning flood of an August day and was interested in a trained seal which Bob the Gunner had and which he used to let go hunting for fish, and would whistle ashore as he would . 0O8. The seal was swimming in the river and Bob the Gunner was waiting for him to hunt his food and have his swim. This was before the day of trained seals and sea lions in circuses.
 How Bob the Gunner came to have this young seal was that he shot and killed its mother and could not leave the baby seal to wander about and perish. He brought him home taught him his name. Diver. to know his whistle, and to follow him. He kept him in an old boat filled with water in his barn. and it was a wonderful sight to see Bob's water dog follow him to the river, enjoy an hour or more of freedom and then return to his master and captivity
 It was on this day that Billy Bow and Johnny Snow. who were older boys than Joey, asked him if he did not want to go to the old swimming hole to swim. It was called "The Four Rocks" although it is not apparent what these stones had to do with the little fresh water basin four miles from the river front where boys had gone to swim for generations.
 The boys started and when we'll into the country they invaded an orchard and stocked up with green fruit. The green-apple boy never seems to get any older and seldom dies.
 Then there was a two and a half mile walk across lean pastures-pas- lures redolent with Indian tobacco an herb which most boys liked to chew and the fragrant pennyroyal. About half way a stone wall had to be cross ed at point wher a big fiat topped rock was the barrier and on top of this rock was @ strange impression which had for an age been known as a print of the devils foot, and no boy ever crossed without splitting upon it for good luck. The path was so well worn that it was not easy to miss this queer rock which called for this i'm portant ceremony
 The other three stones were the Devils pulpit. the Devils den and at the Devils basin. all of which the juvenile bathers used to think it~neces- sary to visit You see, the Puritans having come from the old worId-a world of shrines-went to the other ex- treme and named the rocks and caves of New England after his Satanic maj esty, not for the purpose of memorial izing him but to warn all oe his reali- ty auR the peril of doing wrong There
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The TraiIino ArbutusL

The Trailing Arbutus, Mayflower, or Ground Laurel. as it is variously call ed, belongs to the heath family of plants, and Is found in the woods, or upland pastures, during the month of April. Its slender stock is tough and woody-fibred and trails close to the ground under dry leaves and dead grass.
 The oval leaf Is an evergreen, also tough of fibre and rough to the touch, but usually worm eaten and rust spot ted. The flower spreads into five rounded points and varies in hue from an exquisite white to a deeply tinted rose. These blossoms are gathered in close clusters along the ends of the stalk and branches, and exhale a sweetened. spicy fragrance.
 The entire plant, with it's green and rusty leaves hugs the earth so close ly that often only the tips of the flow CT clusters show here and there among the dried leaves.
 Nature, too, keeps fast the secret of it's growth and the arbutus refuses to live in mans care for more than one or two seasons
 LILLIAN BREHAUT
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
osllCn VI B.
 Tno1laI (
LILLIAN ERE
The Linden Tree.

The possible age of the Linden in America has not yet been determined. In Europe it is known to have reached the age of centuries.
 In the courtyard of the Imperial Castle at Nuremberg is a Linden which tradition says was planted by the Empress Cunigunde, the wife of Henry II. of Germany. This would make the tree nearly nine hundred years old.
 The Linden is loved by bees. No matter how isolated the tree, the bees arc sure to find the fragrant nectar laden blossoms. The excellence of the honey of far-famed Hybla was due to the lime trees that covered it's sides and crowned its summit.
 Linnaeus. the great botsnist, de- rived his name from a Linden tree. His father belonged to a race of peas ants who had Christian names only, but having. by personal efforts, raised himself to the position of pastor of the village in which he lived, he followed an old Swedish custom of adopting a surname.
 A very beautiful Linden tree stood near his home and he chose Line. the Swedish for linden, and called himself Nils Lime. or Nicholas Linden
 When his famous son Carl became Professor of Botany his name was Latinized into 'Lnnaeus." JESSIE BREHAUT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
UNCLE JED'S TALK TO WIDE
 AWAkES.

This week Uncle Jed has planned a Brehaut page made up wholly of the letters in hand which have been writ ten by these sisters, who are very nearly of an age.
 They have sent to the Wide Awake department every week for nearly three years from four to six letters each week, and as our rule is to use only one each week you can imagine what big pile of letters from them Uncle Jed has on hand.
 He wishes to say their letters are so handsomely and carefully written and so well punctuated that they re- auire very little editing. The variety of subjects is simply amazing, and there is no doubt the Misses Brehaut are well informed upon a great many subjects.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
live if everything was quiet for two

live if everything was quiet for two hours.
 Georges mother rocked her little boy in her arms. everything was quiet, even the chair while 1t was rocking could not be heard. Soon the little boy fell asleep and did not awake for a long time. But when he did awake he was very happy and much better.
 His mother saw the organ man one bright, sunny morning and she asked him to play on the grass where George could see him from his window. The organ man played The Wearing of the Green.
 He had monkey with him named Jocko. Jocko saw George by the win dow and ran over to him. He climbed up the window on Georges shoulder and rubbed his head against him as he was so pleased to see that little George was well again.
 Jocko's master was pleased also; he waved his hat to George
 LILLIAN BREHAUT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Razor


 If you walk about very quietly, when the tide is out, on the stretch of wet. sandy mud which lies just above low water mark, you may often see a very curious object resting at the surface, and looking Just like a little keyhole. And if you step heavily anywhere near it, it is almost sure to squirt up q little jet of water into the air and dis appear Then you may be quite sure that you have found the burrow of a. razor shell.
 This Is a very long, narrow creature with bivalve shells. which are shaped almost exactly like the handle of a razor. It is generally about four or five inches in length and half an inch in width, and the object which looks so like a keyhole consists of its siphon tubes the tips of which rest just above the surface of the sand when it is ly- ing at the mouth of its burrow. It digs by means of it's strong feshy foot" just as the cookie does, and its burrow, which goes straight down wards just like well, is often as much as two feet deep. So it is not a very easy thing to get a razor out of it's tunnel. But if you want to do so l can tell you how to manage it. Just take a good big pinch of salt and drop it down into the hole. Now the razor does not like salt at all even though most of its life is spent at the bottom in the salt water, and it comes up to the mouth of its burrow in great hurry to get rid of it. Then If you make a very quick stroke with a spade you can dig it out again. But if you should fail to get it up at the first attempt 1t is of no use to try again, for even if you pour down a whole handful of salt the animal will never come up a second time.
 The razor is very good to eat if its tough ,leathery skin is slipped off, and on some parts of the coast it is often used for food. The fishermen use it for bait. too, and catch it by means of a slender iron rod and a barbed tip. which they thrust into it's body as it lies at the bottom of it's burrow
 JESSIE l.. BREHAUT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Sinoino Leaves.

king was once going to fair and he asked his three daughters what presents they would like him to bring.
 The eldest daughter who was a lady tall and grand, said she wanted pearl, diamonds, and gold rings.
 The second daughter asked for silk that would stand alone, and gold comb for her head.
 Then came the turn of the youngest daughter, she said, There came a bird to my window; his music made me dream; ask thou for the Singing Leaves"
 The kings brow grew crimson. He said his two eldest daughters had spoken well, but the youngest had not and scolded her. Then he saw her dead mother in her face and said:
 Thou shall have they leaves"
 He mounted and rode three. days and nights till he came to the fair. He found it easy to buy the gems and silk, but he found no Singing Leaves there. So off into the forests he rode and asked Of every tree, but still he found none. He said:
 .1 wish I could find a little foot-page to find the Singing Leaves"
 Then suddenly Walter. the page, rode up to the king and said:
 Now promise me if I help you that you will give me the first thing you meet at your castle gate when you re- turn.
 The king stopped a moment. He thought it would only be his dog, and he decided to.
 Then Walter took small, thin packet from next his heart and gave 1t to the king for Princess Anne, "the Singing Leaves" were therein.
 The king rode in at his castle-ga and his youngest daughter. (Princess Anne) ran to meet him. He gave her "the Singing Leaves" but he said they had cost him dear.
 The first Leaf said: I'm Walter the page, and the songs I sing meath your window are only heritage"
 The second Leaf sang: Then the third Leaf sang. Be mine! Be minei" Then sweeter it sang and said. 'I am thine, thine, thinei"
 Princess Anne said the bird gave good counsel as she had her hope thrice OCT.
 She brought to the page three broad earldoms and she was made queen of the broader lands.
 LILLIAN BREHAUT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
winqed Creatures of sorneo.

In Borneo winged creatures are en- countered where one would least eX- pect them. Flying fish, the size of herrings, are found in all the waters and there is the flying fox, the well known fruit eating bat. which the Ma lays call "kruang" They may be seen almost any evening winging their steady flight often at great elevation well out of range of a shotgun.
 The flying squirrels, as evening twf- light comes, are also seen. They glide down from one lofty tree to the base of another. up which they scramble to the level they started from. Wide eX- panstons of skin between the fore and hind legs act in parachute fashion and sustain them in their glide. They are of some size, but are quite harmless.
 The flying lizard Is seen in the heat of the day in the jungle gliding down with flash in much the same sman- ner as the squirrel. But he Is much smaller and it requires a quick eye to detect him. The natives kill him with a clay ball shot from their blow pipes.
 JESSIE L. BREHAIJT
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

These letters have not been selected with a view of culling the best from the pile. but simply to show the va- riety of subjects they cover.
 As a special reward Uncle Jed will cial prizes as a recognition of thelr loyalty and ability.
 They have the honor of having won more books than any other two Wide Awakes, and have earned a library of their own.
 THE INDIAN BOATS.
 My Indian stories will be confined to events of one kind or another, true in their details as I remember them, but without reference to time or chrono- logical order.
 One of the first objects that attracted my attention the day we landed from the Mississippi river steamer and I had an opportunity to observe my surroundings was the large number of Indian boats drawn out of the water on the shore. I had never seen one be- fore, but had read about them. They were made from the trunk of trees.
 We often read that the Indians boat is made of the bark of the white birch tree. That may be true where the In- dian has to tote" his boat at times around falls or rapids. The truth is l never saw but two birch bark canoes in all my experience with the real In- dian. and that life was counted by years.
 The boats I saw were manufactured expressly for a purpose, and the In- dians told me they would not do for the heavy rivers and lake work as well as the log canoe.
 The wooden canoe is not heavy, but is very serviceable. These are made in different sizes and can be sent along very fast by the use of a paddle. When alone, the Indian sits in the bottom of the boat just back of the center. If there are both men and women in the boat, you may be sure the squaws are doing the work.
 MOTHER WIT SON
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The MusseI,

Mussels are almost, if not quite. as plentiful as cookies. If you walk down underneath a pier when the tide is out, you will often find that the pillars which support it are covered with great clusters of these creatures, and very often the rocks which are left dry at low water are covered with them in just the same way.
 At the town of Biddeford in Dev- onshire there is a bridge which is only kept standing by means of mussels. This bridge, which Is a very long one, with twenty -four arches, runs> across the Torrige river close to the place where it joins the Taw: and the tide runs so rapidly that if mortar is used to repair the bridge 1t Is very soon washed away. So boatloads of mus sels are brought to the bridge very often. and these anchor themselves down so firmly by means of their byssus threads that they actually hold the stone work.
 LILLIAN BREHAUT
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
Cattle Ranohec and Packing House,

Cattle Ranchec and Packing Houses.
 Once the American farmer raised hogs, sheep and cattle for his own table use and to supply the town or city nearby.
 In the large cities, just before and after the war, "pork-packing estab- lishments" were set up- But not until the new west" began to raise sheep and cattle by countless thousands did the present method of handling meat begin.
 On the prairies and plateaus, from Montana and Dakota to the plains of Texas, immense herds of cattle and sheep are pastured. When ready for the market these herds are driven to the shipping station and sent by rail to the stockyards of some great city, like Chicago. Kansas City, or Omaha, where large packing house slaugh- ters and ships the meat to dealers in various parts of the coutry.
 Even the village butcher often re- ceives his beef and mutton from some city packing house instead of from the farmers of his neighborhood
 LILLIAN BREHAUT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
Be Honest.

Many people think themselves hon. est. till the test comes. A girl who was taking the country teachers examina- ton was very anxious to pass. It was important that she should secure a position.
 The girl who sat next her, seeing that she was perplexed over certain problems, worked out the correct so- lutions on a small piece of paper, and let 1t drop on the floor beside her.
 The other girl looked hard at the paper and tried to think. She needed that position. Failure to pass would not only be humi1iating, but would en- tail hardship on her father and moth er But on the other hand. if she cheated now, 1t would be for the first time in her life as a schoolgirl
 That paper lay on the floor till near the end of the hour given to the alge- bra examination, and then the girl who had dropped 1t, picked 1t up herself, and tore It into scraps. And the oth- CT giA working on stuhhornly. and yet doubtful of the outoome, had one thought to comfort her. Her honesty had been weighed and not found wanting. It had stood the teGt.
 JESSIE A. HRHHApT.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
JESSIE L. BRMzAUr.
The Famins h India.

A few years ago in a certain place in India there was e famine
 Thousands of people died of staxva- ton There was plenty of food in other parts of India but as this had to be sent over chiefly in OK carts. only a little could b< carried at once, and it took long time to reach the famine striken place. If there had been rail- roads connecting this place with the other places where there was plenty o< food. the starving people would have been relieved
 At present there are in India about 27 900 miles of-railroad.
 LILLIAN M. BREHACT
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Suneet Shell.

This is a very common shell indeed up hundreds in a few minutes, while In other places it is never found at all. The best place in which to look for 1t is part of the beSch where sand and mud are mingled together, and there you will be almost sure to find 1t.
 The name of sunset" shell has Been given to 1t because of the beautiful way in which the inside surface is colored
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
Jocko and Georoe e

Little George was very sick with pneumonia. The doctor came very of ten to see him. One day he was worse, His mother sent for sthe doctor. When he came he thought George would not live long. He injected some medicine into Georges body with a needle to keep his heart beating. He told Georges mother that her child might
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18

and beautiful porcelain dishas. sunh as cups, saucers and pilates. They a1.e raise immense quantities of tea Theg are very ekillful in cArving ivory. They leave the doors of their houDoS open nearly all the time.
 The Chinese women bind their feoe with, cloth to make them small Their finger nails are left to grow till they are several inches long. then they put silver cases on them % as they will not get broken They scarcely Sver wear hats
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Dorothy Rasmussen of Norwich: thank you very much for the prize book. It is very interesting and I am so pleased with it.
 Grace Mahoney of Colchester: I thank you very much for the prize book you sent me. l read it through and thought 1t very nice
 Ruth Kingsley of Scotland: I thank you very much for the prize book you sent me. I read it all through the night that I got it. It was very nice
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Boy in His Fathers House.

When Jesus was about three years old he was taken to Nazareth; there he grew up as a boy and a young man, and there he lived until he was 30 years of age.
 His boyhood. As Joseph was a work ingman, it is likely that he lived in a house with only one room, with no floor except the earth, no window except a hole in the wall no pictures upon the walls, and neither bedstead, nor chair. nor looking glass.
 They sat upon the floor, or upon cushions, they slept upon rolls of mat ting and their meals were taken from a low table, not much larger than a stool
 Jesus may have learned to read at the village school, called the syna- gogue.
 Jesus never had a Bible of His own.
 JESSIE l.. BREHAUT
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Chinese.

The people of China have Sianting eyes, coarse black hair flat faces and short skulls.
 Several hundred years ago the Chinese invented printing and gum powder. One fourth of all the people in the world live in China, yet that country has eRiy few miles Of rail- road. The Chinese know very little about machinery for weaving cloth or for making iron and steel goods. They have not yet learned the value of coal, though there are ceal beds in their country.
 Some of the largest cities iH- the world are in China. The Chinese be- long to a very old nation. They could spin and weave fine silks long before
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
A Blind Iady.

It was d beautiful June day in Sweden. People were busy preparing for midsummer's day, as they were to have a great feast. The streets were crowded. Several of the Swedish peo- pie gazed%a a tall man who wore a rough coat of many colors and a large black felt hat. He walked very fast.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
RuIes for Youno Writers.

T. Write alainly on one side Of the paper cnly, and number the pages.
 q Use pen and ink, not pencil
 k Short and pointed articles wiii be given preferences Do not use oVei 25e words.
 | Original stories or letters only will be used.
 k Write your name, age and ad- dr>ss plainly ot the bottom of the story.
 Address all communications D Un- cle Jed. Bulletin O6ce.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18

"Whatever you are-Be thati Whatever you say-Be true! Straightforwardly act Be honest-in fact,
 Be nobody else but you.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
JuaaIed StatA

This is a nice pencil and paper game The children are given sheets of paper on which are colums of non- sense words. the letters of each word being mixed up. Each set of letters a state. however, and the child who guesses the most states and writes the names opposite the puzzle words within a prescribed time limit wins the game.
 This is a list of juggled states and
Norwich bulletin., 1914-06-18
The Eir.t AutumohiI..

Perhaps the Wide-Awakes would like to know who invented the auto mobile. The first one was built by . French man. Cugnot, in TITO. Like all the early types, it was propelled by steam and used wood or coal for fuel It reached a speed of 2h miles sn iour. Then for more than a hundred years hardly any progress was made ' In 1884 a German named Gottltee Daimler built the first succesxful gas- oline engine that was light enough for automobile use. Since thai time the development of the automobile has been rapid
 In 1910 there were over 40o, ,ooS Ia use in the United States alone.
 JESSIE L. BHUF1AUT.