davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
~Bub," a School Compost
ton by Donna Manning

/ Dear Juniors: I have not written
! to the Junior page for long time so
Il thought I would write school COM
position.
! wish you could have seen Bub. He
Fbelonged to lost tribe. 1t would
make you feel sorry to look at him but
still you would want to laugh at him.
He had white shabby hair cut close
to hfs body. When he barked he
! looked like squeech owl for he
squinted up his face.
His tail looked like a rose bud it
was only one inch long. His body
Hooked like 1t had been shield in
1.-THE war He had one-half Of good
EYE. He had one eye out and 1t was a
ihard mater for Bub to look out of the
other.
Bub had three legs and two inches
!. OF the fourth leg left. His ears were
Hike fan they Topped back and forth
every time he ran.
Bub was surely curious sight. l
think this is enough to tell about Bub.
Donna Manning, age II.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Leora Mae Dawson, age G.
Valley Falls, Kansas.

uncle. won't you leSd me some, say
about one hundred dollars?' "No, in.
deed said his uncle. ''all of my money
goes for the good purpose of freeing
the Americans
80 you refuse. do YOU" said Rich
ard. Indeed, do" replied his uncle.
Then Richard turned to his cousin
Nathan, with the same question. but
he also refused him. At this Richard
grew very angry and strobe out, de-
termined upon revenge soon.
Then one day not long after this
Nathan Hale was carried into the
soldiers camp being considered unable
to fight for time.
The next day Gen. Washington and
group of his men were having talk.
Gen. Washington said that he must
have information from the British
camp but the men did not want to go
because they were afraid they would
be caught. Just then Nathan Hale
came in and told Gen. Washington that
he would CO. So he went and dis
guised himself as a schoolmaster. He
got an old. torn hat. two old books, a
pair of ragged shoes and his old suit
anu IlOulltluS d uOl sc IOOC o"oJ
He came within one-half mile of the
British camp he dismounted turned
his horse loose and started for the
British camp on foot. He passed the
British guards and entered the camp.
He began to talk to a British general
and he asked Nathan who he was. He
said. ooh am an old schoolmaster,'
and he just sauntered into the crowd
of men who had gathered at the tent
door He began to talk to them and
after a while he sauntered down to the
river to look around. Just then band
of young men rode in talking and
laughing. One Of the men in camp
said, I'VE have been having a good
time with that old school master
down by the river One of these
young men happened to be Nathan's
cousin Richard He said, that fell
low. why he is no more of school
master than am, he is my American
cousin Nathan Hale" Nathan was
then arrested and tried as a spy. He
was sentenced to be hanged at sunrise
next morning AS he stood on the
gallows he was asked If there was any.
thing he wanted to say. Then he said
81 only regret that have only one life
to give for my country This shows
what a hero Nathan Hale was.
Your Junior friend,
Gladys Myers, age II.
Mora. Mimi, Dor 1893.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Marjory Burr's Reasons for
Liking Country Best

The reason think the country bet
ter than the city is because person
has so many more privileges in the
country than in the city. In the country
YOU can have your own garden. raise
your own chickens and have cows and
pigs and horses and sheep and goats
and lots Of other things where in the
city you are renned up in little two
by four yard where you can't even as
much as have small flower bed. Per
haps some people think that for edu-
cational purposes they would rather
live in the city but we have good
country schools as far as the eighth
grade then if one wants to they can go
to some high school, In the spring
when the leaves commence to come on
the trees and the beautiful wild flow
ers are in bloom as the country chill
dren walk along thea roads gathering
flowers on their way to and from
school sees so much more Of the
beauty Of nature than the children
who live in the city. A person who lives
in the country can breath the pure
fresh air while person living in the
city has to breath the foul smoky air
Of the city. think a person living IN
the country has much to be thankful
for.
Marjory Burr, age 3.
Fairfield, Ia, r. A.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
FlOy, a True Junior Friend
Wants Everybody to Live
in the Country e

I think the best place to live is in
the country. My reason why is be-
cause it is a more beautiful place
Everything is so fresh and green look
ing around. In the city people are so
crowded and packed, especially in
large cities. Two or three families
may be crowded up in one little room
and no sunlight or fresh air hardly
enters. Young children. especially.
should be kept away from town. Why?
Because they are taught to use bad
language and you can't keep them
away from bad company. But in the
country you can keep children from
associating with the bad children.
There never is half so many bad child
rem in the country as in the city. When
in the cities and children are crowded
you may notice how deformed they
will get from lack of fresh air. If we
could get the people in the cities to
scatter out and few come to the
country all these contagious diseases
would be stopped. especially consump-
ton. Those children never have near
as much schooling because their par
ents are nearly always so poor they
can't dress them fine and if they would
go to school with a ragged dress on
they would be scorned and made fun
of. But in the country children's par
ents don't have to be we'll off to send
their children to school because they
don't have to be fixed up so much and
therefore get an education and turn
out to be good men and women and
make their own way in the world and
111, hnir RI cfor RI
may prove to be tolerably wealthy
people. Or be well-to-do, you might
say.
These are few of my reasons the
country is the best place to live.
will bring my letter to close.
remain to all true Junior Friend,
Floy Young, Age IA.
Route Z Charlton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Adelia's School Composition
''The Campaign Around
Philadelphia"

1--WE must capture Philadelphia, V
said Howe, and as soon as he could
he made his troops ready to march.
1T is Of no use," said the scouts
! washington has blocked the road.
I'VE will 60 by water, thenO
The British hurried to the ships and
went by the way OF Chesapeake Bav
and the Delaware river.
| But Washington heard Of this; he
said: 1--WE can change our plan, we
can meet them there as well as here"
| So he gathered his men together
and set out to meet the British.
| He took his place on Brandywine
river and waited for them.
Watch closely" was the COM
mand.
Have you seen them YETI" was
the cry.
mot one sign of them was the
answer.
Washington thought this was
funny. But soon the British let them
know they were there by firing their
guns.
The fog was so heavy that the
British had come unseen by hiding in
the shadows of the trees. Then fol-
lowed a battle.
Soon after the British officers held
a meeting at Mrs. Darrah's house, and
in bed and asleep.
But while the British officers were
still holding their meeting Mrs. OAR
rah slipped down stairs in her stock
ing feet and listened through the key
hole. The few words she could catch
were enough to let her know that
they were going to make war on the
Americans.
Mrs. Darrah slipped back to bed
and soon was sound asleep.
Soon after the meeting broke up
and one of the officers said that he
had better speak to Mrs. Darrah, so
he knocked on her door, but no
answer came. He knocked again and
again. She then answered and the
officer asked her to unbar the door
for them. She unbarred the door AMI
seemed to be very sleepy.
The next day Mrs. Darrah asked
the British officer to write her a pass
to 60 to the mill to get some flour.
The officer said Certainly" so he
wrote the pass. She set out for the
mill. While she was having the corn
ground she ran to the 'nerican camp
and told the Americans that the
British were coming, and in this way
she saved the Americans lives.
When the British came they ex-
pected to find the Americans mapping.
but they did not.
The British said some one must
have told them. Who could it have
been? One of the officers said. ut
could not have been Mrs. Darah for
had to knock three times before she
would answer. The story was not
told for a long time after.
This is a school composition
Adelia Hayes, aged II.
Hayesville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Only Four More Weeks at
kristina's School

Dear Juniors AS have not written
for a long time l thought | would
write about my school. There are IL
scholars in our school.
MY playmateS are Mildred Fred
erick, Olive Russell, and Flossie John
son.
MY sister and have over half of
mile to go to school
My studies are arithmetic, reading,
writing, spelling, first book in English.
physiology and geography
We only have four more weeks of
school then we will have the summer
vacation.
I will close now hoping to see my
letter in print.
Kristina Johnson, age 8.
Fairfield, Iowa, r. F. d. No. S.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
An Iowa Junior, Leora Daw-
son, Writes From Her New
Home in Kansas

! Dear Editor: Well here we are away
out in Kansas.
! We left Grandma Riches las
Thursday morning at 1:06 a. NJ, wen
! from Brighton to Topeka on the Rick
| Island road. Arrived at Topeka about
! noon and had to wait there until p
! M, then we took the Santa Fe up tc
| Valley Falls, arriving there about
/ p. m.
! We went to the hotel and got sup
| per then waited there for our car
which never came until Friday even
ing so We had to wait another night
before we could get moved out home
In the meantime Chas. Gosham OF
Gardes City, Kan, came to see us. he
and papa are great friends.
Well Saturday We moved out home
and are now about settled of course
there are lots of things to be done yet
to get all Strengthened up.
My how glad the horses and chick,
ems and my doggie were when they
were turned loose again.
In the country is the best place to
live of course. On how nice it is to
get out among the chickens, horses,
cows, sheep and pigs. Just think for
a moment what would be come Of the
town people if we all choose to live
there the country people surely are
doing some good for they are the ones
that keep the town supplied with
everything.
Flow nice it Is to run out into the
orchard on hot day and get some
nice fresh fruit to eat and plenty OF
shade. then again what nice dinners
we can have by going out and getting
a young chicken to fry, also we can
raise almost every thing to eat instead
of going to the store and buying some
canned goods that you never know
where it comes from
In the fall we fill our cellars with
every thing good and kill hogs so as
to have plenty of good home cured
meat.
Swinging meath the old apple tree
that sure brings a sweet memory to
the country children that have their
swing on an old apple trl out in the
orchard, also we can build little play
houses under the spreading branches
of the old apple trees.
The schools are the most incOn-
venient in the country but still look
on the bright side that recalls many
pleasant hours to all who attend there.
We get our lessons then at the noon
hour we all get to be together talking
our dinners out in the shade to eat
and perhaps run out in the timber to
gather nuts or flowers.
In the summer it is fine to go to the
pasture and wade in the running
brooks. Isn't it just fine to spend a
day or week with grandmother
who lives in the country?
Oh II there are so many, many
reasons why the country is the best
place to live that if could just have
you all here to talk to and enjoy
week of country life with me am sure
you will agree with me. but still it
wouldn't do for you all to agree either
for then there would be no town to
go to.
We are having beautiful weather
here now warm and sun shining so
bright with just little breeze.
Hoping you all may have a happy
Easter, am your little junior friend
I would like to exchange cards with
the Juniors.
Leora Mae Dawson, age 6.
Valley Falls, Kansas.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
"A School Picnic" One Of
Doris Gray's Compositions
Dear Juniors:

| ABDUL ~ NCch USlOIc wa
out the teacher told our class she hat
planned to have nicnic on the mex
to the last day.
The day of the picnic was Thursda!
and it dawned bright and clear.
We all went to school at the usua
time with large basket. At nine w
started for the nearby woods.
| When we were about half way t
| the woods the teacher looked up a
the sky and said, 81 believe we are go
ing to have fine day for the picnic
Several of the children answered, :"
hope So"
After we reached the woods the
teacher asked, Where will we put the
baskets?'
One boy said, "We might put then
in tree
."How will we get them there?' the
teacher asked.
! II will climb the tree and one of the
others can hand them up to me-" sale
one of the larger boys.
| After the baskets were put in the
tree the teacher asked If anyone hac
choice of a game to play.
| One said Hide and go to SEEK" an
other said, Drop the handkerchief
and another, Follow the leader"
! 1t was finally decided to play DROP
the handkerchief" first.
| We played while and then some OF
the boys brought water from nearby
spring and the girls went to pick flow
ers.
We were all talking at once, when
one girl spied flower. None of the
| oir1 1.r xryh uQ She
and said to her chum, Alice, Lets
ask Miss Clarke what it is" Away
| they ran and asked the teacher but she
did not know.
When the rest of us saw them talk
! ing to Miss Clarke we were all anxious
to know what was going on We went
up and they told us about the flower
that had just been found.
The boys came from where they
had been playing ball and one of them
said, ''It is about noon. Miss Clarke
why, I didn't realize how late ii
was getting" Miss Clarke answered.
The boys went down to the river
and found shady place which
would make good place to eat. They
told Miss Clarke about it and said,
"Why not eat down there where 1t is
nice and shady?"
Miss Clarke answered, well, that
| is lust what we will do
The boys carried the baskets down
to the river, then the teacher and we
girls spread the table cloth for the
| lunch.
We were just about half through
when we heard noise. The boys
were more frightened than we girls.
Before going to the woods the boys
had said eff anything comes up and
is going to do any harm we will keep
the girls from being hurt" But when
there was real danger the boys were
the first to run. We girls ran, too, but
could not run as fast as the boys. After
one of the boys had gone pretty far in
the woods he climbed tree and what
, do you suppose he saw?
Well. he came back laughing and
said, 1T was only herd of cattle.
Then we all joined in the laugh.
Miss Clarke said, well, it is about
time to be going because it looks like
+, it might rain. But we had an unex'
pected ending to our picnic
And we all agreed.
Doris Gray, Age 10.
615 A. Ave, East Abba, Iowa
p. S. This is. my school composition
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
''What My Old Shoe Told"-
School Composition By
Leila Baker

"Here goes" said small boy as he
picked up an old shoe to toss it into a
box of rubbish.
mot so fast, not so fast" he heard
some one say softly.
1--WE have been companions SO long
Do let me tell my story before l am
buried out of sight forever The puz-
zled boy turned quickly. No one was
in sight. Again he heard a voice, this
time it was close to his ear, Yes, we
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
The Child In the Glass

The child who lives in the looking
glass
Is always waiting to see me pass
She never seems to run and play,
But watches there for me all day;
For every time go and see,
il find her peeping round at me.
] One day when I was cross and cried
She stretched her mouth so very wide
Il had to laugh!-then she did, too;
She Mixes to do just what do.
-Children's Companion
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.
Ottun1Wa, Iowa
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
EDITOR
NO JUNIOR FAVORED CITY.
Dear Juniors

Dear Juniors:
We believe that all the Juniors want
to live in the country Our reason for
this belief is due to the fact that not
one Junior working in the recent con-
test favored the city as place of resi-
dence. We would like some one to
write about the good points of the city,
too. However, the contest has been a
very interesting one, and Velna Rob-
ertson Is awarded the prize.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS

1. Use one side of the paper only.
g. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil.
3. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
L. Do not copy stories or poetry and
send us as your own work.
6. Always state choice of prize on
a separate piece Of paper, with name
and address in full.
Z. Address the envelope to Editor
Courier Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
"Nathan Hale" - Gladys
Myers School Composition

Dear Editor: have not written to
you for some time so I will now send
you one of my school compositions.
about Nathan Hale.
Nathan Hale was talking to his
father Richard Hale one day when his
cousin Richard came in. Il am in
sore need'of money! he said to his
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
An EASTER CONTEST.

Easter Sunday is only one week
from Sunday, April 5. We want all
tho Juniors to write nice Easter
stories, selecting their own subjects.
The contest will close Tuesday, April
Z. Zhe writer's can select their prizes
from the following list: Beads, book
doll, roller skates. souvenir spoon
music roll, box of letter paper, etc, or
. box Of Easter candy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
ABOUT PRIZES.

n the Courier Juniors have ever
failed to receive prizes when the win
ner's names were published we want
to be told about it right away. We
also want all Of our prizes acknow-
lodged. We send out prizes within two
weeks after the winners names are
announced.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
9caool COMPOSITIONS AND
LETTERS.

W. hope that many more of the
juniors vii write letters. We will offer
. surprise prize for the best letter and
III the Juniors can work for it.
We want moro Juniors to send in
ooms Of their school compositions.
va viii give beautiful doll, knife,
book skates (roller), letter paper or
bGad1 for tho best composition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
have travelled together long time II

have Travelled rOgetHer Io11s t1IHe- IT.
said.
sHow well remember the first trip
we took together 1t was to the river
We went fishing. You were going to
pull 8. fish out. you slipped and fell in
You went under but stuck myself out
of the water so that they knew where
you were.
Another time when yen were going
to bed YOU dropped a match on the
stairs and I jumped down to put it
out You were angry because you
said, 4 did it on purpose Now you
want to throw me away said the shoe
No I won't throw you away.
Lelah Baker,
912 N. Ash st.
This is my school composition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
WILL SEND POET CARDS.

Whenever the Juniors write short
stories or nice letters they will receive
post cards, the latter being sent out
when the letters and stories are pub
lRhOd.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Dovie Eakins. age IA,
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. s.

Dear Juniors:
Will you admit stranger? l am
twelve years of age. have dark hair
and blue eyes. l go to the North Star
school. My teachers name is Anna
Thorne. There are seventeen pupils at
our school. We had a program and
dinner the last day Of school.
! have six brothers and three sisters;
two brothers are at home.
Allie Ealins, age r..
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. s.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04

Dear juniors:
I will write you a letter This is the
first time | have a1itten.
| go to country school. My teachers
name is Miss Gertrude Miller like hel
very much. There are fifteen children
that go to my school. l have a little
sister years old. Her name is Mar
garet. She weighs sixty pounds. weigh
95. My sister goes to school.
I live on the Cedar Valley stock
farm. ] will close.
Ethel Pangburn. age 10,
Tracy. Iowa, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Eight New Juniors Write
Eight Interesting Letters

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written to the Cour-
Ter Junior thought I would write 8
few lines. go to the North Star school
| have five sisters and three brothers
My school was out the 9th OF Marcn
There were seventeen scholars at my
school. NV teachers name was Anna
Thorne. The youngest in our school Is
five years old
| live in the country IA miles from
Ottumwa. | have three sisters living IN
Ottumwa and two brothsr working IN
Ottumwa. | nave one brother and one
sister at home.
Dorothy Cook. age u,
.... Belknap, Ia, r. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04

Dear Juniors:
| have written to the Junior petore,
and thought | would write again.
have three sisters married. ! have six
nephews and four nieces. My school
was out March 81.
| have three brothers. | have five SIS
ters. We live in the country. We have
several horses. COWS and pigs.
My teachers name is Anna Thorne.
She is a good teacher.
[ have three sisters living in Ottum-
wa. Iowa and two brothers in OttumWa
working.
Bessie Cook, age IA.
PelknaD Ia r. |.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
bessie Cook, age IA.
Belknap, Ia. K. l..

Dear Juniors:
l thought I would write few INES
to the Courier Junior. l go to the
North Star school. My teachers name
is Anna Thorne Our school was out on
March 81. We had a program.
| have one sister and two brothers.
My sisters name is Gladys. She is .
years old. My older brother is 20. his
name is Ross. The youngest brother IS
{ years old. His name is Ralph.
| am II years old. My birthday is
June 9Th.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04

Dear Juniors:
Will you admit a stranger? I am IA
years Of age, have dark hair and eyes.
l go to the North Star school. My
teachers name is Anna Thorne. There
are seventeen pupils in our school. Our
school was out March 81 At noon we
had big dinner and in the afternoon
a program.
I have three brothers and one sister.
My oldest brother, Chester. is ten
years old One of my brothers, Harold,
is eight and my youngest brother Yer
nice is five years old. My sister Ethel
is three years old
AS my letter is getting long I will
close.
Dovie Eakins. age IA,
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. s.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Bertha Black, age IL,
Blakesburg, Iowa, r. l.

Dear Juniors:
I like to go to school My teachers
name is Anna Thorne. We had pro-
gram the last day. | have thirteen
schoolmates We have a mile and a
half to go to school. l go to North
Star school. | am in the fourth reader.
take five studies. have two brothers
and one sister. Ny younger brothers
name is Ralph. He is years old. My
e'der brothers name is Ross. He is 20
years old. My sisters name is Bertha.
She is II years of age. / will close now.
Gladys Black, age 9.
Blakesburg, Iowa, R. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04

Dear Juniors:
This is my first letter to the Cour-
Ter. I have a little pet cat and dog and
a horse. My horses name is Coaly and
my dogs name is buster, and my cats
name is Puss. go to school and my
teachers name is Anna Thorne. l am
in the third reader l am seven years
Of age. have one brother Ross and
two sisters Bertha and Gladys.
Ralph Black, age Z,
Blakesburg, Iowa, r. l.