davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
New York-By David Riley
a New Junior

Dear Juniors:-As | have never
written before I thought would write
one of my school compositions about
New York.
New York is situated on Manhattan
Island at the mouth of the Hudson
river. 1t is the largest city in the
western hemisphere and contains four
and one half million people. More
than a thousand trains arrive and
leave New York each day. The traf-
fic Is $50 great that 1t requires roads
bothfabove and below the ground.
They also have elevated railroads up
on which cars fly on tracks supported
on posts. The streets are very crowd
ed There are policemen stationed
everywhere, for it takes ten thousand
such men to keep order there.
New York has the largest and best
harbors of the world.
Trinity church is there. 1t is one Of
the Oldest and most interesting build
ings in the United States. 1t is built
of brown stone and surrounded by a
large church yard in which are the
tombstones of many famous American
heroes. Among them are Robert Full
ton who invented the first steam boat,
and Capt. James Lawrence who was a
hero of Chesapeake frigate, also other
my story is getting long.
Daisy Riley, Age A.
Farson, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
A Remedy That Failed-By
Verna Juanita Piatt
I will write one of my compositions

I will write one of my compositions:
A remedy that failed.
I don't see why Charlie cries so
much,' said mamma. II do said
uncle Ned, tits because Of his curls.
He looks so much like a girl that he
thinks he must act like a girl" And
Charlie listened. Soon you might
have heard patter, patter, as little
boy mounted the stairs one step at a
time and two feet on each step. Then
you might have heard scrape, scrape,
as somebody felt through mammals
big work basket. Then a big chair
was pulled up before the mirror, and
somebody with short legs pulled and
blew and struggled to mount it.
Then click, click, snip, snip, went
the shears, and the light curls dropped
one by one to the floor, leaving the
funniest little chopped head you ever
saw. s'Now" said Charlie, in salts
fed tone, "this little boy will never
cry again. But he did; can you tell
why? Because his mamma whipped
him for spelling her poor little girl
looks of Charlie.
Verna Juanita Piatt, age IA.
Moulton, Iowa, R. r. No. 3.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
Daniel Webster Pleads for
the WO0dchuck - By
Eugene Beck

On farm among the hills of New
Hampshire there once lived a boy
whose name was Daniel Webster. He
was a tiny fellow. with jet black hail
and eyes so dark that nobody who once
saw them could ever forget them. He
was not strong enough to work on the
farm, so he spent most of his time IN
playing in the woods and learning and
knowing the trees and the flowers and
the harmless creatures that lived among
them. But he did not play all the time
Long before he was old enough to go
to school, he learned to read, and he
read so well that nobody ever got tired
of listening to him. The neighbors,
when driving past, would call for Dan
iel Webster to come and read to them.
In that time they had no such books
as you have now. Daniel read all the
books he could: and read them so
much that he knew what was in them.
In this way he learned quite a bit
about the bible. He had read it time
after time He had read it so much he
could repeat verse after verse without
making a mistake.( His father was a
judge in the county court and so wished
for Daniel to be a lawyer when he was
a man. Now WOOdchuck had been
coming into Mr.. Webster's garden on
warm nights and had been eating some
plants. So Daniel and his brother
Ezekiel made up their minds to catch
the thief. But the wOodchuck had been
too cunning for them. One night they
set a trap. The next morning when the
boys looked at the trap there was the
thief. Now" said Ezekiel. Il have you
at last and / am going to kill you" But
Daniel said Let us take him to the
woods and let him CO. But Ezekiel did
not have so much of a. tender heart as
Daniel Let us take him to father
said Daniel. So they took the little thief
in the trap and showed it to Mr.. Web
ster. Mr.. Webster said II will be the
judge and you boys be the lawyers and
we will have court right here"
So Ezekiel opened the case. He told
of the mischief it had done. He said
that its skin would bring a few cents
but not enough to pay for the plants.
Mr.. Webster thought this was a good
speech. Then Daniel began to plead for
the life Of the poor animal. He said:
God made it: and gave it life and it
has as much right to life as any other
living thing. God gives us our food. He
mad the Woodchuck to live; and it has
only eaten enough to keep itself alive.
Look at the tears in his eyes. This is
the only way he can plead for himself"
b this time there were tears in the
judges eyes. He rose, wiped them and
said Ezekiel let the woodchuck co.
Eugene Beck. age 8,
Hedrick Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
A Batavia Junior, Marjorie
Burr, Moves to Beckwith

Dear Editor Junior: 1t has been
quite a while since I wrote to the
Courier Junior. I like to read the
Juniors letters very WELL
I am in the fourth grade. My teach
er's name is Nellie Ogden.
My studies are reading, arithmetic,
grammar, music. writing and spelling.
We have sixteen pupils in our
school. My playmates are, Irene
Davis, Elsie Green, Cecil Green,
Luella Ogden and Florence McCor-
mick.
I have one brother. His name is
Carl Burr. | go to country school.
I would rather go to country
school than a town school. ill.,
We moved from Batavia to Beck
with. Beckwth is five miles east of
Fairfield. Well as my letter is get
ting long I will close hoping to see
my letter in print.
Marjorie Burr, age 8.
Fairfield, Ia, R. r. No. 4.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
Deeds of Kindness - BY
Madeline Sheridan

Dear Juniors:-I will write one OF
my school compositions. The name OF
it is Deeds of Kindness
One day as two little boys were
walking along the road, they overlook
woman carrying a large basket OF
apples. -...
The boys thought the woman looked
very pale and tired. so they said: Are
you going to town? If you are, we will
carry your basket
Thank you,' replied the woman,
you are very kind. You see | am
weak and ill.," Then she told them
that she was a widow, and had a lame
son to support.
She lived in a cottage three miles
away and was now going to market to
sell the apples which grew on the
only tree in her little garden. She
wanted the money to pay her rent.
eve are going the same way you
are said the boys, ''let us have the
basket and they took hold of it, one
on each side, and trudged along with
merry hearts. ~-F..-.
The poor widow looked glad, and
said that she hoped their mother would
not be angry with them.
p "Oh, no. they replied. "Our mother
has taught us to be kind to every
lady, and to be useful in any way that
we can"
She then offered to give them few
of the ripest apples for their trouble.
mo, thank you," said they. I'VE do
not want any pay for what we have
done"
When the widow got home, she told
her lame son what had happened on
the road, and they were both made
happier that day by the kindness of
the two boys. 80, .u....
Madeline Sheridan, Age II.
4O5 S. Benton St., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
Frances Trowbridge on One
Days Outing

Dear Juniors:
I though | would write a story one a
days outing.
One warm day in the summer lot
of us thought we would go out Tor
days outing. There was Mr.. and Mrs.
Durham and Inez. My mother and faith
er and my little sister and brother and
myself. Nora Reardon and Mrs. Smith
and little daughter and Yrs. Grace and
Mabel and Florence TrOWbridge. None
Of US lived very far from the river so
we thought we might as well go down
the river. So we started out about y
o'clock in the morning. We went down
the river about two miles. Then we
found a good place so we went down
and spread out some comforts. 1t was
then about 10 o'clock.
We took weinies to boil and my
father had gone away some place to
fish and we Gid not have any matches
to start fire with. Very soon we heard
a wagon coming and my mother went
and asked the man if he had any
matches. He said, no, but if there were
any children down there they could go
home with him and he would give them
some matches.
So Alice and Inez went 1t was not
very long till they came back. Then we
soon had dinner. After dinner all except
my mother and Mrs. Durham took off
our shoes and stockings and went Wad-
ing. We We're wading along the shore
when my father came for his dinner.
After he ate he came down in the water
where we were. He said the water was
not very deep and asked us If we
wanted to go across. SO we all said yes.
We all got hold Of hands and went
across We went very slow and 1T took
us quite long time to go across. After
we came back we tracked muscles. Nora
and I went off by ourselves. When we
had so many muscles we could not
carry any more. So 7 saw an old kettle.
We went over and was going to pick it
UP and we saw a snake under it. So we
went to the shore and put on our shoes
and stockings and went home. We were
all tired and glad to get home.
Frances Trowbridge, age II,
Eldon, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
The Way to be Strong

never have to warm my nose
Or keep hot soapstones near my
toes.
or wrap up warm in furry clothes
To keep myself from getting froze.
When other little children wheeze
And bust their buttons when they
sneeZe-
stand right In the biggest breeze
Just like the aborigines.
Because have healthy skin
From wearing everything that's
thin;
Ny legs are bare and tough as tin
And people look at me and grin.
But just grin straight back and say,
II bet you wish that you could play
Out in, the snow the live-long day
As though it were the month OF
May"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
A Runaway - BY Arveda
Halberg

To the Editor:-A crowd had gath
cred at the corner. Of course was
curious and down the street l ran.
an overturned wagon. l knew at once
there must have been a runaway.
A runaway sure it was, not only the
horses were running away, but the
contents of the wagon were rolling
down hill Can you guess what the
contents were? Watermelons.
The watermelon landed at the foot
of the hill, but only to remain an in
slant, for there were boys who were SO
fond of melons, could not resist the
temptation. They each took one and
were off.
| had been so interested watching
the melons and the boys that had for
gotten that there were horses and a
driver in the case. l turned quickly
around, my attention being drawn by
a loud whoa" There was the driver
hitching up the horses to the wagon.
The wagon in the meantime had been
set by willing hands.
Naturally he did not think of his
melons for he was too excited. But
"hCA oiI was III olucl, hO was ohle'HCu
to find no melons there Such a look
as he had He certainly was angry.
His anger soon was gone however,
for the boys came back and each paid
for the melons he had taken.
So the runaway was really very
good thing as no damage was done to
either horses or wagon, and the owner
was well paid for the melons and had
no trouble in selling them.
Arveda Hallberg, Age 13.
GOA Spring St.. Ottumwa, Iowa.
P. S:-This is one of my school COM
positions. .a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
The Three Pigs By
Redena Larson

Dear Juniors: AS have not writ
ten to the Courier Junior before l
thought I'would write about the Three
Pigs.
Once there we're three pigs that
lived with their mother. Their names
were White, Blackie and Brownie.
White was a dirty pig and Blackie
was a, clean pig but Brownie wanted
to eat cabbage all the time.
One day their mother was going to
leave them. She said before l leave
you want you each to have house
Then Brownie said want cab
bage house and White said want
mud house and Blackie said I want
brick house.
So the houses were built and each
had one like they had pleased and they
lived in them.
There lived fox in the woods that
caught Brownie and White and tried
to catch Blackie but he could not be-
cause he was SLY.
The fox said I'm going to the fair
tomorrow and I want you to go along
at S o'clock Blackie went at o'clock
and got back before the fox came.
Then he came to Blackie and said
| am going to pick apples at 2 O'Clock
this afternoon and want you to go to.
Blackie went at / o'clock and picked
all the apples he wanted when the
fox came.
Blackie threw an apple and it rolled
down the hill. The fox ran after it
and Blackie ran home.
The next day the fox came and went
down the chimney and was going to
catch Blackie, but he had kettle with
hot water in and he fell in and Blackie
had him for dinner. Redena Larson.
Dudley, Ia, r. R. No. I.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
A Lonely Child Made Happy
BY Marie Murphy

There was once a little girl named
Grace Carter and her parents were
wealthy, but she was always unhappy
and wanted a companion. Her parents
tried to please her by getting every
hingt she wanted, but she was never
satisfied. -.. "
They took her abroad one summer
and on board was lady with little
girl about the same age as Grace who
was also looking for a companion.
These little girls became fast friends
and were always together until they
landed when they had to be separated
Grace and her parents Travelled
through foreign countries for six
months seeing many beautiful sights
and then returned home to New York,
feeling glad that they had been able to
please Grace. AS her father remarked
that he had never seen her smile only
when they were abroad and though it
must have been the little companion
while on the steamer.
Next evening when she was sitting
next to her father he said What do you
want for your birthday?" she readily
answered "A companion That night
her father and mother talked about it
Her father said they must get COM
panion for Grace but her mother did not
agree with him.
Early next morning a telegram came
telling them of the death of Mrs. Car
ters sister, who also had a little girl.
That evening her parents left for Chi
cago (the home of her aunt. arriving
there two days later. They stopped in
Chicago a week and then returned
home, bringing Grace's cousin Marion
Smith with them. Grace was very
happy at the thought Of having COM
panion and her father treated them
just the same as if they were sisters
Thus two little girls were made happy
instead of one. ....
$50. Marie Murphy
sol w .2nd ST.. Ottumwa, Iowa.
P. S.-This is one of my school COM
positions.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
A Trip Through Asia - By
Doris Gray

Dear Editor: While I was in Asia
went to a hotel for lunch. The meal
consisted Of rice with sugar, wheat
bread and tea. Some preferred coffee.
The tables were Of fir which had come
from Siberia. At some of the tables
sat women who wore silk gowns. 9th.
ers Of the women wore cotton clothing.
There was a tree which l saw in
China, Japan and other countries. l
was told this tree grew in large num-
bers in China and Japan. l was told
also that the leaves were used in feed
ing silk worms It was the mulberry
tree. ~
| of them fruit was very cheap. Among
the cheapest were dates and figs. We
crossed the Red Sea where there were
large coffee farms on the coast.
| We went to the Malay peninsula
where there were large farms Of grain
such as millet and wheat
| While in India we watched the girls
| feed silkworms. After awhile they
put some cacoon into hot water which
killed the silk worms. They would
then unwind the silk and weave it into
thread.
I purchased a bag which was made
of jute, while in India. At the hotel
| there were mats made of jute, on the
floor. There was sick man at the
hotel and the medicine given him was
made from the opium poppy.
Among the things we saw in the
East Indies were pepper, cloves, Gin
namon, nutmeg and other spices At
ter noticing the different plants, we be-
gan to watch the animals. We had
beef for dinner one day so we knew
cattle were kept there. While in north
ern Asia we saw animals which made
us think of home.
We went on north to visit the yellow
people and had several rides behind
reindeer. While we were riding one
time we saw some wild deer.
The reindeer is used by the people
of the far north as the horse is used
here. This animal is fast and can
carry heavy loads The flesh of the
reindeer is used for food.
One day while in the forest we saw
elk. We also saw many fur bearing
animals such as the beaver, otter, sable
and ermine.
We then went to the highland of
Asia and saw yak Inc SKIN or the
yak is used for clothing The flesh is
also used. The yak is of great use to
the people.
These animals were seen in the cold
er part and now I am going to tell
about some we saw in southern Asia.
On the large islands southeast of
Asia is found large ape, known as
the orang-outang.
The most useful animals of India,
IndoChina and Malay peninsula are
zebu and buffalo. The zebu is a kind
Of cattle with hump on it's shoulder.
They can travel all day at the tate of
five or six miles an hour.
The people said there were wild ele-
plants in the forests but we did not
see any We saw the tame ones in the
villages.
There is an animal which is native
Of Asia. it is called the catlike tiger.
This animal eats small animals and is
very strong.
The one horned rhinocerous belongs
in the swamps of the hot part of Asia.
These are the animals and plants
we saw on our trip through Asia.
Doris Gray, age ~.
Abba, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
Ottun1Wa, Iowa
MATILDA OEvEREAUx
EDITOR

Dear Juniors: We want all the Jun
Tors to write on the following subject:
THE best place to live, country or
CITY," and why. When the writer's
send in their stories we want them to
select three article they would like for
prizes. This contest opens today and
closes Monday, March 16.
OF course, the Juniors know that the
best short story will entitle the writer
to one prize. When we say short story
we mean one with less than 400 words
in it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
THE CHILDREN AT CROSS ROADS
SCHOOL,.

Dear Editor:
! have never written before, SO l
thought l would write.
I go to school at Cross Roads. My
teachers name is Xeia Swinney. l like
her fine. There are nine pupils in my
school. The girls names are Beulah
Ware Emma Patterson, Pauline Mar
tin and the boys are Bryan Foster, Dale
Martin, Dwight Bryan and my two
brothers, Leo and Vernon Simmons and
7. / have one little brother too small to
go to school. His name is Roscoe Sim
mons. He is only three years of age.
I love to read the Junior page. This
il all for this time. .....
Alta Faye Simmons,
Belknap, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

/. Use one side of the paper only
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil.
g. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Number your pages.
S. Do not copy stories or poetry and
send us as your own work.
g. Always state choice of a prize on
separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
T. Address the envelope to Editor
Courier Junior. ..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
ABOUT PRIZES.

II 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, 1914-03-07
GRETA'S BIRTHDAY MARCH 10.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
Lam a little girl 10 years old. My
birthday is the 18th of March. l go to
school every day. My teacher is Miss
Bess Else. l like her fine. There are
seventeen pupils in my school. One of
my friends is Fern Reed. We have a fine
time together. l have one brother. His
name is Allie. He is II years old. l like
to read the Courier Junior page,
Gretta Long, age 10,
PittSburg, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
HAROLD WRITES AGAIN.
| Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
AS I haven't written to the Courier
Junior for a long time / will write now
l go to school every day and my teach =
er's name is Hazel Kendrick. have
two brothers and one sister. My broth
ers' names are Orville and James and
my sisters name is Dorothy. My cousin
Effie Hale is here now. She Is going to
stay three or four days. There are
eleven pupils in my school. 1t will be
out in two weeks. &c..
Harold Hancock,
Floris, Ia. r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
SCHOOL COMPOSITIONS.

Arveda Hallberg is awarded the
composition prize this week.
We want more Juniors to send in
some of their school compositions.
We will give a beautiful doll, knife,
book, roller, skates for the best COM
position.
We hope that many moe of the
Juniors will write letters. We will Of
fer surprize prize for the best letter
and all the Juniors can work for it.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
LEONA LIKES SCHOOL.
Dear Juniors:

Dear juniors:
am a girl zen years old I go to
the Watson school. My teachers name
is Mrs. Nina Newman.
I am in the fourth reader. There are
but seven scholars in my school. l will
name my playmates: Edna Derby, Ellen
Sleeth. my sister. Helen Derby Lou
Piper, Dorothy McMellon and Warren
McMellon. like my teacher fine. She is
the best teacher ever had.
Leona Sleeth, age 10,
Abba Iowa, r. No. Z.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
HAS TWO SISTERS AND EIGHT
.. COUSINS. ...

Dear Juniors:
am Z years old.
I have two sisters and eight cousins
like to go to school,
Ny teachers name is Celia Ferry.
Edna Claver, age Z. Abba. Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
WILL SEND POST 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
Ushed. $751;.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-01-30
ORRIE STATUE UNWILLING
IS POSTPONED

Jacksonville, Jan. 30-C. Adrian
illars, the Jacksonville sculptor,
Fho is making the statue of DR..
ohm Gorrie, the Florida man who
|hvented the method for artificial re-
figeration, is in Washington, and
hates that the statue, while almost
|cmpleted, cannot be made ready for
[he unveiling on Feb. 4, as was an
ounced from the capital one week
leo. There remains to be done the
Epal chiseling of Tie expression
lines on the face to bring out the
lrtist's conception of the character
Ind expression of the great Apala-
sAicola genius, and in addition the
facing together of the pedestal for
|he statue. The date of the unveil-
hg will be announced later, it be-
|ng impossible now to say when it
(ill be. Mr.. Pillars is pleased
Eith the work so far, and critics who
have seen the work pronounce it far
Elperior to many Of the statues now
b the Hall of Fame, and declare
hat the natrralness of the pose and
General contour of the figure are
nost excellent.