davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
The Gingerbread Tree

Once upon time there was a little boy whose name was Charlie. He was the dearest little boy, just three years old. He lived in a large. old fashioned house. He was 3, good boy to mind usually. but in one thing he was espe- cially disobedient. He was very fond of nice things to eat. and mamma had to watch him carefully lest he eat too many sweets and be made i'll.
 One day Charlie went across the field to visit his Aunt Hannah. who lived alone, but was very fond Of chil- dren. When Charlie reached her door his keen little nose detected the odor of gingerbread which his aunt had just taken from the oven, and when she offered him a piece of the molaSses cake he did not have to be urged. Did you ever hear of a little boy or girl fresh gingerbread? He simply said "A big piece for a little boy and a little piece for big boy" Aunt Hannah laughed at this logic and you may b< sure he got large square of the spicy loaf Then he told her, while he ate how he had found a whole nest full o1 the dearest baby kittens in 8 big old box in the shed, then after a while hs said Good bye" and trotted homo.
 Mamma met him at the door, saying Did you have pleasant call ?n Yes me did" but did not tell about ths
 
 that perhaps mamma would not have approved.
 After supper, mamma took him t< his room and tucked him in his littl, bed and then bade him a fond good night.a
 Charlie lay awake some time watch. ing the big round moon as it b1inket and winked at him.
 All at once a moonbeam whispered and said: 'eWouldn't you like to hay, all the gingerbread you could eat 9 At this Charlie sat up in bed ant answered quickly: "Oh, yes,~1 would Then follow me-" said the nnoonbeam ''But how shall I get there sait Charlie. Wait moment and I wil show you" Then the man in the moor stepped quietly into the room and, lift ing Charlie gently. carried him safel. to the ground, away they both went on and on, until they came to a beau tiful stream and there close to tn bank was tiny boat. Get in," whis pered the moonbeam.
 A gentle kbrssae. .sstzthg .a2at-anoa
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
A Busy Boy.

Dear Uncle Jed: It has been some time since I have written to you. enjoy reading the letters in the Wide Awake circle. I have been pretty busy since school waS out.
 Iaenjoyed- the trout fishing while 1t lasted. Some time ago three Of us went fishing for bullheads. We caught 50, and such sport as we had pulling them. into the boat.
 I went on the excursion to Newport the Fourth with my papa and mamma. We ate our lunch on the boat and had ice cream and bought some pretty souvenirs in Newport.
 The water was quite rough coming home Papa saw a whale when we were off the shore of Watch Hill
 1 help my papa in thesgarden and have a little garden of my own-
 I helped grandpapa with the hay ing.
 I have ten little tiny bantams and three larger ones, besides five old ones.
 Last month my mamma was sick in bed over a week and I took care of her all day and got supper for papa and my three brothers.
 ,Rt help mamma now, but find time to r1de the bicycle and go fishing.
 I hope all the Wide-Awakes are en- toying their vacation.
 FLOYD T. BAILEY. Age II.
 Colchester.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
A Brave Woman.

Once in a. little western village lived an old man and his two daughters, Tess, 25. and Annie, 26
 One day the bully of the village Dan MacLow, came into the house The old man was sick and the girls were in the kitchen.
 Tess. happening to look into the sick room where the bully was. saw him give her father something from a bottle, and after her father went to sleep. take his watch and money
 After that the bully came out of the room into the kitchen, and Tess said to him:
 Danny, put down that watch and the money
 Of course Dan was struck by what she said. and grabbing up chair made toward her as if to strike. F Tess backed to the door leading tc the hallway, in back of which was 8 desk When she reached it. she open ed the desk and took out loaded re- volver.
 "Now. Danny" she said, put dowr the chair. Don't forget to put the watch on the table. leave the money and make yourself scarce"
 Of course he obeyed and Tess. tC enforce her remarks. fired three shots after him.
 Annie. wiio was rather timid. start cd crying and Tess, who didn't care whether she killed man or not jus said:
 Well there's one villain who won bother us any more."s And he didn't GEORGE FARRELL, Age 14. Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
UNCLE JED's TALK WITH WIDE TT AWAKEs.

How would you like to take a flight with butterfly, Wide-Awakes? Hav- ing no wings, we shall have to make ing the habits and perils of the butter fly it will not be difncult to follow her.
 It is early of a June morning and we are sitting near an old fence when we espy Mrs. Butterfly working her wings for flight The sun is shining bright and inviting her and the odor- ous air has charms for her 1t has not for us, for the fragrance of the flower smells to her as steaming, well-sea- soned dinner does to us. In moment she springs into the air and sails away just as lightly as thistledown borne on a gentle breeze.
 Mrs. Butterfly has keen eyes and a keen scent and she is on the lookout for sweet. flower and . pleasing mate, and she is sure tc find them. She doesn't hurry-he wings her way wings and drifts where she will an6 she darts and fiirts when at play.
 Mrs. Butterfly cannot be careless fol she must dodge the birds who seek te eat her and the insects who sting and destroy her. She plays in the oper fields and hides in the tall graes.; We are with her when she meetss her mate and they kiss each other and have q fairy dance in the air. A kingbir6 sees them and darts in their direction but they see him coming, close theii wings, and drop to get out of his range and he misses them. futters confused ly, and, then flies back to his perch Mrs. Butterdy's mate has fed and sh, is hiding in the grass.
 When, she rises again she fiutter
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Stonington.
Cats.

I suppose most of the Wide Awal1es like cats I don't. They cannot agree with birds and frequently rob their nests eating their young.
 I asked d boy which he liked best,
 "birds or cats. He replied. "eats'.
 That is the way it is. All like the
 cats They do not realize birds are
 of as much value as a toad. especially
 wood-peckers
 | If you see very old tree. go up to | it, and examine the trunk and you are pretty apt to find small holes made by the bills of wood-peckers where they got worms that were destroying | the tree. | Every bird eats pests more or less; and those that don't much have bright
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03

and soon Charlie was drifting towards the opposite shore. where he alighted and gazed wide eyes upon the scene before him. Here was 8 tiny village where every wee house glowed like stars as the moonlight fell upon them Asr he looked the doors of each house opened and from out the houses came fairies led by a beautiful. queen. They proceeded along the path laughing and singing until they reached a wide spreading tree whose branches were SC heavily laden that they almost touched the ground.
 They filled their baskets from this tree, then. marched into a beautiful grove where the trees glistened with every color Of the rainbow. This was called the fairies ballroom. sweet music filled the air. then the elfs chose and when their tiny feet became tired they sat down in the beautiful grove where little sprites served them witt dainty food and lemonade while Char. lie all the while peeped wide-eyed al them: The feast at last.was over ant marched again to the little houses an6 said Good night Then Charlie sprang up the bank toward the tree he had seen at first and gazed up into it's branches: he found 1t just loaded with gingerbread boys and gingerbread
 
 gingerbread cakes frosted with pinI and white frosting. He soon filled hi. pockets. and then hastened to tn, spring for a drink of pink lemonade but here he was disappointed, as only fairy hands could dip from this magic spring.
 As Charles turned to so home tn, | moon with a laugh said Good night and Charlie was left alone. How h, ever reached home is a mystery, but h, soon found himself in his room, tired and frightened at being alone; he criet Mamma, oh mammal! Mamma, cam, l hurrying in. excla!ming Why, Charlie what is the matter? Did you have bad dream?'
 I' Then Charlie told her all his dream l also about the hot gingerbread he at, at Aunt Hannah's. Mamma looked sat at this part of the story, but Charli, promised so sweetly that he woult 1 never disobey her again, what coult l she do but forgive him? Charlie wa soon fast asleep-Emma F. Bowdoin {p. Portan9. .ExREsss.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Mansfield.
Bessie,s Dream.

It was 6: 30 and Bessie took out her books to do her home work. As she looked it over she thought she could not do it, for it looked difficult. Bes- sic threw down the book noislly, say ing the lesson was too hard.
 All at once there appeared a little fairy on the book who said to her Bessie you will have to come to fairyland and be punished for your laziness''
 The fairy took Bessie's hand. and all at once she saw herself in Fairy land All around her were fairies who gazed angrily at her. ;: =
 The queen of the fairies descended from her throne and said to one of the fairies, "Rose, take this child to the schoolhouse."
 Bessie was afraid and wanted to go home.
 Rose took her to the schoolroom and made her think out many hard ex- amples.
 Bessie was just asking Rose when she could go home when she heard mother say:
 Bessie you had better wake up and do your home work" Bessie thought the examples out and worked them. After that she al ways did them.
 LILLIAN BREHAUT. East Norwich N Y
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
The Canning, Club Picnic.

Dear Uncle Jed: Twill tell you about our Canning club picnic. We had to be at the Connecticut Agricultural col lege at II o'clock Thursday morning.
 We helped Mir Brundage make the sandwiches. Then MT Brundage got some ice cream. Then We ate our lunch under a tree. After that MT. Brundage showed us how to can to- matoes MT. Brundage had four kinds of canning outfits. The names were the homemade, hot water bath outht; water seal outfit; steam pressure cook er five pounds or more. and the pres sure cooker, ten pounds or more.
 Mir. Brundage also gave:alus note books and pencils. After that we went home
 MARGARET KJCHLEs Age g.
 Mansfield Center.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
The surorise at the Camp.

It had been very dull day for the campers and as a concert was to De held in the evening at the next camp they decided to leave everything as it was, for they knew no harm would come.
 They. started late in the afternoon, for the concert was to begin in the evening.
 The campers arrived at the concert with a welcome greeting from all. They greatly enjoyed the dancing and music After the dancing was over a feast was given by the camp.
 In the meantime while they were having a. nice time two stray robbers were clearing the foodstuffs and utensils of the camp.
 It was toward midnight when they returned from the concert and it was too dark to notice the loss which had occurred -.
 Early in the morning the cook made haste to get breakfast. but to his surprise he coulh find nothing to make it with. Even the utensils were gone, They searched here and there. but not g. trace could be found of anything. As they were searching one of the campers spied some smoke in the dis tance. They soon started for the place where the smoke came rom and to their surprise found the uten- sils and food taken from their camp Luckily one of the campers had a pistol which he pointed at the men who soon fled at the sight Of the gun The campers did not try to trail the robbers, but picked up the utensils and the remainder of the food, which l they carried to their camp. | All were glad to find what they hac supposed to have been lost forever.
 SARAH KATz, Age 13. | Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Joe FairchiId's New Cap.


 When little Joe Fairehild had hia new suit. there was a larsE piece of cloth left, and Joe Fairchild's grand- ma said she would make him a cap of that.
 Can you make a real nice one asked Joe. 'I shall want it to ilooA like those in the store. I shall not want the boys. to know you made it. Grandma thought she could mako him very pretty cap. When it was done Joe said it waa "splendid,'' and he was sure the boys would think it was bought at thA store.
 But on his way to school next morn ing Joe stopped on the bridge near the falls to throw stones down ths river.
 His grandma had told him never to do it.
 He did do it almost every morning. and she had never known it. AS hn stood there, fresh gale of wind cams and took his new cap, and before h0 could catch it. his cap fell into thr riyer-and that was the last of it! ANGIE WHITE. Age Is. Stafford Springs. ------ Grasse fas 60 perfume factories, ems ploying 2s5e0 persons.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
THE WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS

Lena krauss, of New Bedford "Anderson's Fairy Tales
 Charlie Gundman, of Lisbon-"Black Rsauty.r
 EsteIla Adams, of EagIeville . Water Babies"
 Floyd Bailey, of Colchester ''rhe Young Engineers in Mexico r
 Mildred White. of Stafford Springs Rip Van Winl1le.'
 Sarah Katx. of Norwich-"swiss Family Robinson
 Dorothy Rasmussen, of Norwich The Battleship Boys in Foreign Ser vice"
 Bertha N. Burrifl, of Stafford Springs-.Pony Rider Boys in the Rockies
 Winners of books living in the city may call at the Bulletin business of flee for them at any hour after 1t a. m. on Thursday morning
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03

 colors for you to look at, or a pretty song to sing to you.
 Some people who like to hear their songs protect them from cats.
 Cats on the other hand are up to all kinds of mischief. Over 5000 cata were killed in the District of Colum- bia last year.
 One night I heard a robin cry in a tree not far off. I went to it next morning and saw some feathers strung along the ground. The cat had devoured the bird.
 I am glad to say we have no cats. An old proverb says: Protect the weakest" That means Protect the birds"
 MYRON ENGLAND, Age 14. Norwich Town.
 LCats. catch rats and mice which are rests: and if weil-fed do not kill as many birds as naughty boys do. Hawks and, men eat the birds, too! The birds should be protected and cats we'll fed. Thousands of starving catA and dogs are killed every year by huma societies I am afraid soma grown ups are wickeder than cats UNCLE JEDI
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Nv Visit to Fort Wrioht

Dear Uncle Jed: I will tell you of my visit to Fort Wright.
 We took long walk and part of it was along the shore. The high break CTS were real pretty rolling in on the
 beach. During our two mile walk
 along the beach we were looking for stones with a ring around them. We found only one and kept that for good luck.
 ! Far ahead on the beach we could see searchlight station. We walked
 up to it and looked into a small red glass window at the side. Inside was
 a very small light burning and the soldier explained to us how powerful this little light was. He told us dur ing clear nights they could see about 16 miles and in the foggy nights from three to five miles. From there we went to the fort and soldiers were very kind in showing
 us around.
 We saw many other things of in terest.
 It was getting late. so we started or our way home. On our way we ha6 good luck in meeting some friends whc l took us home in a motor boat DOROTHY RASMUSSEN, Age 10. l Noruich
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Richard Tobin Writes from Abroad.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am spending my vacation in beautiful Ireland. I am taking notes and getting all the in formation I can-about the country. so as to make my letters interesting to the de-Awale circle. as l intend to write a series of letters the coming winter about my travels abroad. Wishing you, the Wide-Awakcs and The Bulletin a pleasant summer,
 Your little nephew,
 RICHARD TOBIN. P. S.-I am writing. this letter near the birthplace of the father of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Our Huttenwooa Park Picnic.

|f Dear Uncle Jed: While visiting my cousins in Taftville they told me they wrote stories to you and received books as prizes. so I decided to try, also. We have lovely parks in New Bed ford. and we go on picnics. My teacher took the whole class of thirty pupils on picnic the day before we grad uated.
 We brought our lunches to school in the afternoon at 1.30 o'clock and put them in the closet. We could hardly wait for school to close but at last the bell rang. We marched to the closet one by one to get our lunches, then we marched out into the street. After walking for about twenty min utes we arrived at Buttonwood park. The girls put all the lunches on the table while the boys all ran to the baseball diamond. The girls played pass with extra
 baseballs and ran three-legged races. After playing for some time we took went to see the two bears. They
 caused a great deal of amusement by trying to climb a tree in their yard Next we went to see the monkeys
 which we're the funniest things you
 ever saw.
 There were two alligators, the moth CT and baby, who crawled away when | they saw us coming. Deer, peacocks
 rabbits. white mice. squirrels and birds | were all in the park and we enjoyed | watching their different tricks. | We ate our lunches, drank soda and ate the peanuts and candy the teacher gave us
 l We ended the picnic by the girls
 joining the boys in a game of base | ball
 We then started for home and every. one declared this was one of the best picnics they ever went to.
 LENA KRAUSS. Age IA. | New Bedford.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
A Fathers Awakeninq.

Among the hurryiYcg crowds passing up and down Main street was a dirty, unkempt man wearing a greasy, dirty suit of clothes and torn frayed cap pulled down over his eyes. As he staggered down the street he stared into all eating places hungrtly, and at last entered a saloon. Here he waited, occasionally getting treated to a drink, and staying until the pro- prietor put him out
 In this smapnsg- he made the rounds
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

seeing daisy she stops to rest and to take a sip of honey from her floral friend. She is disturbed by a. bee, they quarrel a bit, she springs into the air and the bee has possession Of the daisy's nectar cups.
 Mrs Butterfly fiutters in and out of the shrubbery by the brookside for a while to calm herself. and there she sees the dragon flies capturing the mos quitoes, and narrowly escaped being caught by a swift robber ny herself, do humninz birds.
 Then Mrs. Butterfly flew to the long grass and stayed a long while, but the grass snakes were out hunting game and when they came near her she rose high in the air and flew swiftly to a distant pasture. Seeing a fine thistle waving to her, she flew to that for an other sip of honey, and as she ap- preached she saw a spider come over the edge of it quickly and grab a honey bee by the head and drag him below for food
 Shocked by the tragedy, she flew tc an old fence and sat there for a while wondering where anyone could fee safe. She had no appetite so she crep, into a bunch of ferns and remained til near sundown. and then she flew to 6 cedar tree and. c1inging to the under side of a boa h. went to sleep and there spent the night.
 Seeing how much more peril there i. in a day for the butterfly than for our. selves. we return to the comfort ant safety home provides. A butterfiy's Tiff, is no life for us!
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
Ihe chiIdren Chased a Rahhit

The Children Chased a Rabbit.
 Dear Uncle Jed: One day some of my friends and I went out in the woods to have little party. We went further than we e-usually go.
 We were eating lunch when a little boy said he was thirsty. I went and got pail and started for a spring. While I was gone for the water the children played games.
 There were some small children who were playing in a. group when they saw a rabbit and started chasing it. The rabbit, who lived in the thtckest part of the woods. started for its home and the children, who followed it, got lost
 When. I. returned with the water I was told about the children and start ed to look for them at once. I didn't know the place very well myself. Af- ter looking a while I heard someone crying "Lewisl"
 ran over to where the cry came from and found the children and brought them home You may be sure their mothers thanked me LEWIS SEARS, Age g.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
A Smart Little Fisherman.

Dear Uncle Jed: Just a few lines to
 let you know I find most pleasure in
 fishing. The other day I went fishing
 early in the morning. I went. down
 to the pond back of our house, called
 the Lisbon pond I had taken with
 me two drop lines and a pole. I start
 ed to bait my drop lines. I tossed
 one in the water and started to bait
 the other. Before I had finished bait
 ing the other line was pulled out. I
 ran for it and gave it more line and then pulled in with excitement To my surprise I saw I had a large eel. was kind of afraid at first. but cut the line and how it did wiggle to get away. I took line and all and carried it home.
 It was so large. I thought I would weigh it. Why. Uncle Jed, you'd have been surprised! It's weight was just three pounds. I put it in a tub of water and went back fishing. Then l fshed till five that evening and for
 my days outing had caught just eight bullheads, three cells and a large mud turtle and was quite satisfied. Dear Uncle Jed, don't you think l am quite a little fisherman.
 CHARLES GUNDMAN, Age 8. | |. Lisbon.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
A Wonderfui Petunia,

A Wonderfui Petunia. Dear Uncle Jed: I thought would write the Wide Awakes about my flower garden.
 I got some seeds from our agricul ture teacher and planted them. The chickens scratched some of them up, but those that were left came up.
 There are pinks, verbenas, phlox, mignonette, sweet peas, centaurea, pansies, sunhowers, nasturtfums, and petunias.
 One petunia plant is four feet in diameter and one foot. eight inches
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
East Norwich, N. :!
The Phoebe,


 The phoebe is the first of the fly catcher family to come north in the spring; coming when snow squalls. are in the air or snow may again cover the ground They arrive before the insects. on which they feed in summer have matched. or come out of winter quarters.
 Why do they come so early They have a purpose. and that is to feast on the female canker-worm moth as she crawls up the tree-trunks during the warm days of early spring, to lay her eggs. Thus at one blow the phoebe kills not only the moth. but from sixty to one hundred worms 1T the eggs that would soon have matched They are useful birds; so boys, if a phoebe builds her nest in ar accessible place on bridge. cliff ol under a shed. do not molest it, but protect her nest and the young:
 JESSIE BREHACT. East Norwich NAY.
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
THOUGHT SHE
 COULD NOT LIVE
Restored to Health by Lydiy
 E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound.
Unionville, Mo.-"I suffered from a female trouble and got so weak that

could hardly W ak across the floor with, out holding g on to something. I had nervous spells and my fingers W ould
 cramp and my face
 would draw, and !
 could not speak, nor sleep to do any good,
 had no appetite, and everyone thought I would not. live
Norwich bulletin., 1914-09-03
NORWICH BULLETIN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1eTa

up. followed the dog, and found the horse all tangled up in the wire fence. Just before this happened my father wanted to sell the dog. Then he said: If it. hadn't been for my dog my horse would have been dead" Bessie is her name.
 ANNA LA ROCHE. Age IL Versailles.