davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Germilo on the Desert
Villa Stevens

Dear Juniors:
Once there was a poor little girl
named Gemilo Her father was so poor
that they could not live in house like
we live in. SO they moved about the
desert in a tent.
Little Gemilo's mother was sick so
Gemilo had to do all the work by her
self. Her father fished and hunted most
of the time. They ate the fish and
game which he caught and they also
ate dates and drank the water from the
Oasia near by, which the governor had
built in the desert.
Gemilo had two sisters, one brother.
In the day time they all lie down on the
mats and go to sleep. Because the sun
is so hot And this kind of race of
people can not stand the heat of the
blazing sun When it gets late in the
evening they wake up just as we do
early in the morning.
When these people move they take
down the tents, load them on the
camels Then they get on the camels
and ride off. When they came to an
oasis they stop. sometimes these GASES
are three miles apart.
Villa l.. Stevens, age IL,
719 Gladstone St, Ottumwa la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
A Poor Little Boy and His
Sick Sister - Clyde Ollie

Once upon a time there lived little
boy and his sister. Their rather ana
mother were dead and they lived alone
One day the little girl was sick. The
little boy wanted to get some medicine
for the little girl, and so he was gong
to sell some oranges for a dime
The little boy Was running alons py
the depot as the train came in. He saw
a big fat man standing by the door. He
went to the man and said don't you
want to buy some oranges, and the man
said he would.
Just as the boy gave him his oranges
the train started and the man ran TO
get or the train with the boy right a1ter
him yelling, give me my money, but the
man just laughed.
The boy ran along ahold of the train
but as it was heavy loaded II couAu hoI
go very fast.
Pretty soon the boy got tired and
lust then the man took out his pocket
book to see if he had enough money 10
pay his way to where he was gong,
and was too lazy to put 1t back IN MS
pocket Just then and went to STICK MS
hand out of the window when piece
little boy saw it and ran to get 1t and
it had just lots of money in it.
The little boy did not want to 60
back on the railroad track. so he de-
cided to go through thick forest, and
as he was going along he thought OF
all the nice things he and his sister
might have to eat when he got home
He got lost while he was thinking
of all these things and it was getting
about night but he thought that ne
would try to make his way out, but ne
could not so he laid down and went to
sleep.
The next morning he woke up and
the sun was shining brightly. He rub
bed his eyes and he then saw large
dog. He was going to follow 1t but
when the dog saw him he ran 80 fast
that he could not keep in sight Of him
and when he had give up the chase NJ
saw an old man walking slowly along
He went to the man and said, Will you
show me the way out OF this forest
All right said the man, and when the
boy had got out of the forest he found
himself just block from where his
home was. When he went in the house
he showed his sister the money and she
Jumped up out of bed and was so happy
that she could not go to sleep thai
night.
Clyde Ollie, age IL,
Birmingham, Iowa
P. S-This is a school composition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
The Autobiography of
Horse - Velma Beck

Dear Juniors:
l will write a short story entitled,
1.-The Autobiography of a Horse"
The first that 1 can remember of my
early life was that l was turned out
into a large meadow with my mother.
I was allowed to remain with her about
ten days and then one day l was shut
up in the stable and my mother was
taken to the field and worked all fore
noon which seemed like an age tc me.
And then she came home and ate her
dinner and was taken to the field. and
I was shut up again. This l did not like
very well, but l could not get out and
SO had to make the best of it. After a
while I was allowed to stay out in the
pasture while my mother was worked
in the field, and this was little better.
By this time my mother and l were our
masters favorites and he would often
bring us cookies and apples. l will not
take time to tell of all my happenings
from this time until I was three years
old.
But when I was three years old
was broke to ride. This was the worst
yet for had to have horrid bride on
and bit in my mouth which hurt my
tongue, so couldn't hardly swallow at
first, and then my master would jump
on my back and take hold of the
rein. At first I tried to kick and buck
him off but he had whip in his hand
and whenever tried anything like that
ne would give me a lash with his whip
and / soon learned to do whatever my
master bid me. Next l was hitched to a
cart and broke single. Besides my
bride which l had already learned to
wear they put on me structure call
ed harness which took me a long time
to get accustomed to. After l was used
to this rig my master went to the city
and purchased a beautiful new buggy
to which l was hitched and driven to
the city. Here I became very much
frightened at a large monster which
came directly towards me, which after
wards | learned was street car, and
thousands of automobiles passed me,
but I soon became accustomed to them.
1 soon became used to things in the
city and was not afraid Of anything l
CHANGED to meet along the road, and
my master soon trusted the lady of
the house to drive me.
I have told you all of the happenings
of my life up to this time. am now 6
years old living happily and content
to do anything my master has for me
to do.
Velma Beck, age II,
OttumWa. Ia. R No. J.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24

senior and postgraduate course. To-
day, under my instruction, you will
contend for a scholarship"
Such a merry hour and a half they
had. But to Dora it was at once
play and work-play (because of the
ease with which her practised fingers
worker) and work (because she want
ed that scholarship. For, if she won
it, she could with a clear conscience
stay at home next year, instead OF
finding NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
might, perhaps perforce take her away
from her loved ones.
"a committee of my friends will
pronounce Judgment declared Miss
Mason.
The next day dawned so cloudless
SO blue, so beautiful that Dora felt
her heart lighter than she had thought
possible. Her mother and Dicky were
debating as to the ACCESSIBILITY of at
tending the exercises. when the mat
ter was settled by the arrival of Miss
Mason's little electric-to take them
The large hall was packed with PEG
pie; the graduates and younger
scholars filled the platform.
AS the exercises went on. Dora
schooled herself to rejoice for he1
Enthusiastically for Glare, whose
look at her made her feel how true
and loyal heart was loving her-as
they took their prizes.
OF course, you know what is com
ing? No, not quite.
"A friend to domesticity," an
nounced Miss Mason, has promised
a sixth prize from now on-for do
nestle SCIENCE! She wishes, however
to give one this year to the winner Of
the D. S. scholarship-Dora Carter
whose cake yesterday was pronounced
to distance all competitors"
So Dora, quite Unexpectedly, left her
seat and went forward to receive a
large and handsome book. She was
not the only graduate without a
prize" after ALL
For that is another surprise l have
kept for you. She did graduate. When
Miss Mason advised her staying al
home for the last two weeks, she had
discovered that pass-marks were sure
oh" said Dora, as, with Dicky on
her lap. she whirled home by hel
mothers side in the little electric
suppose l had sulked-as I wanted
to-and not gone yesterday"
ANY one whose efforts are. in the
main, to do right is often kept from
falling" said her mother, gently
"And l am so glad that your home
duties. so well done. have received q
reward, and that the reward was
public. and an honor, tool"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
oTTuMwA, WAPELLo COUNTY, IOWA
The Life of Columbus :
School Composition BY
Pearl Rose

Columbus was born in 1446 in Genoa
Italy. In his early life he was a wool
comber. He loved to go down by the
shore and watch the ships come in. He
wanted to sail too. He wanted to prove
the earth was round. He told them that
the earth was round and they called
him silly fellow.
He went to the king and queen OF
Spain. The king called him foolish
fellow but the queen finally sold her
jewels and gave him money to get ships
because she thought he might discover
rich lands.
Columbus had hard time getting
sailors because they were afraid OF the
ocean and thought there were monsters
in it and that it was boiling hot.
When Columbus started on his jour-
ney there were ninety men on the
shore to see him off. The sailors
thought they would never come back
but they did. The names of their ships
were the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria
They sailed many months but finally
one night in October 1892 they saw a
light, and also some land birds flying
around the ships. When he landed ne
thought he was on the coast OF Asia
The first people he saw were the Ind
ians They brought many things to the
new corners. The Spaniards then took
possession of Cuba, Haiti and Porto
Rica
When Columbus returned to Spain
the king and queen received him gladly
and were glad that they had let him go
to sea.
Columbus never knew he discovered
America. He was trying to find a short
err route to Asia.
He died May 20, 1906.
Pearl Ross, age II,
Kirkville, Iowa.
P. S.-This is my school composition
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Hazel Willard and He1
Cousin Ride the Ponies

Dear Editor:
I thought I would write story. One
morning l got up. Mamma had break
fast all ready and so ate my break
fast. Mamma said, you wash up the
dishes and clean UP your room and
then YOU come to me and will tell you
something.
I washed up my dishes in big hurry
and went upstairs to clean up my
room just got my bed made when l
heard a rap at the door Mamma was
not in so l had to go to the door. And
you can't guess who was there? 1t was
my cousin Hazel Irene Stone. I told her
TO come in and take off her wraps and
sit down. I said 1 would have to clean
up my room before I could play Come
on up with me. I went and swept in
such hurry that l am sure mamma
thought 1 didn't sweep at all. Then |
went to mamma and asked her what
she wanted to tell me. She said, If you
girls will be good and help me you can
ride your ponies over to Mrs. Johnson
and get the butter. So in the afternoon
Mary Smith and Iris Mccormick came
over and brought their ponies and we
went way out in the country about four
miles and came back. We got back
about o'clock and the girls had to go
home. So we put up our ponies went
in to help mamma get supper. We ate
supper ana WASHED the ulSIeS anu ~etlt
to bed and remembered the trip to
fJohnson's after the butter. We got up
about seven O'Clock, ate breakfast and
mamma said, l will wash the dishes,
you girls go get ready. We ran upstairs
and Hazel said to me, what dress are
you going to wear. am going to wear
my riding dress, so will l too.
So we got on our ponies and started
About half way there my pony stopped
and had to get off and walk the rest
sof the way. When we got there l got on
and rode back, but 1 had a good time
anyway if ! did have to walk about a
mile.
Hazel Willard, age 70,
Bloomfield, Ia. Box $685.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
MY Visit to the Country
By Mildred Shaw

Last Saturday mamma and went to
the country We had written them that
we were coming 50 when we got there
they were waiting for us with a morse
and buggy. My uncle lives about II
mile from the station and it didn't take
Us long to get there. My aunt has two
children my age About an hour after
we had been there my aunt told US to
go catch some chickens. After dinner
nv other cousin came over and stayed
ali afternoon. In the evening we hunt
ed eggs and got about four dozen
About six o'clock we had supper. My
cousin took mamma and l to Batavia
about 41h miles away. We stayed at
Batavia all night from where we went
home the next morning
I would like very much to win prize
or exchange post cards with some OF
the Juniors.
This is my school composition.
Mildred Shaw,
300 North Sheridan Ave-, OttumWa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
How Arthur Tudor Spent
His 1913 Halloween

Dear Juniors:
I am going to tell you how spent
last Halloween. There was a crowd OF
boys and girls my size at our house
and we had pumpkin heads and we
were trying to scare our Hammas
when one Of them said they could
scare u.s. We only laughed. We were
sitting on the back porch telling each
other how brave we were when around
the corner came a great big thing with
eyes like fire and long white garments
moving up and down. Then we all gave
a yell and made for the door. Papa
was just peeping out. We pushed him
over and all fell on him. And in an
other door came that awful thing. The
white garments fell off and there stood
mamma With light pumpkin head on
her head. We did not brag about our
bravery any more around mamma.
Arthur Tuder, age IL.
1917 z. Main ST., OttumwA -
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Irline Writes Letter Again
Silent a Long Time

Dear Courier Juniors:
received card from your quite
while back, but as / did not have time
did not write to tell you that l got it.
was glad that the editor remembered
me.
have not written to the Junior
page for year or over, and | thought
that they would have forgotten me
before this. AS we have not been TAX
ing the paper till the last month, did
not write but will try and write once
more and hope to see my letter in print:
am going to school now. My school
started the 7th of September.
Ny teachers name is Miss Orpha
Siddles from Jerome. I like her fine
There are twenty-one pupils in my
class. Ny studies are civil government
physiology, arithmetic, history, gram
mar, geography and spelling.
am in the eighth grade. Ny best
chums at school are Elsie Adamson
and Ruth Phillips. The names of all
the schools are Elsie Adamson, Ruth
Phillips, Margaret Phillips, Robert
Phillips, Ersel Adamson, Vida Barger
Nelson Barger.. Lucille Barger, Cyrus
Barger, Myra Barger, Clark Anderson
Everett Bales, Edith Schwartzenbach
Paul Condra, Vica Condra, Effie Con-
dra, Dorothy King, Willie King and
myself.
/ am taking music lessons too or
Saturdays, but the last three weeks
have not gone to take my lessons for il
has been so rainy and the folks were
using the horses.
l don't know very much to write as
have not written for a long time,
always read the Junior page but have
not seen any ones name who wrote tc
to Junior when I did. But last week
I,1ffr1 a
names in the paper but some was
writing to them I believe.
Irline Treanor, age II,
Numa Iowa. R No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
RHYMES to Remember

When the fays send baby from Fairy
land
They tuck three things in his tight
shut hand;
I can't see them, neither can you,
But Nursey says it is perfectly true; :
There's box of Patience, bottle OF
Tears,
And a nice mixed package of Hopes
and Fears.
The bottle of Tears very soon runs
.iFor Won don't need Tears when you've
grown up high.
OF course, there's lot OF Hopes ana
Fears.
For they've got to last good many
years.
But there's most Of the Patience, Tar
and away,
xFor You've got to use Patience every
day. ~
Little Folks.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24

thing!" She pictured the often-re-
hearsed graduation day-the music,
the addresses, the giving OF the
diplomas and prizes; and it seemed
very unjust that she, who had work.
ed whenever she could, must sit
among the undistinguished many, and
not among the distinguished few.
"The others who get no prizes have
had a good time going along" she
said to herself. 1--WE had neither.
Then a thought came to her. She
need not go to commencement at all
She did not view this in the light of a
temptation. It seemed merely an
escape from a disagreeable position
She went to sleep rather relieved.
But when she told her mother the
next day of her determination, she
saw her sweet face sadden.
ooh, my dear" said Mrs. Carter, 81
am so sorry. did not know it meant
as much to you as that"
i've no prize-not even a diploma
urged Dora, passionately. 81 should
feel so disgraced, mother want tc
keep out Of it ALL"
II won't ask you to do thing you
don't wish to-when my illness and
Lucy's babies and Dicky's arm have
kept you from your just reward" re
Piled her mother; "but I am sorry
not only for your loss, but that II
seems so hard to you
Then Dora understood that her way
of escape was temptation-a temp
tation to indulge in bitterness, to give
way to repming. She was not able
to speak for a few minutes, but she
put away the breakfast things ano
made Dicky clean and tidy for the day
Then she heard the clock strike nine
with start. If she made herself &C
to the commencement festivities, she
must also go to Miss Mason this morn
ing. and not telephone her wish tC
stay at home. So she hurriedly slip
ped on her coat and hat and ran tc
her mother, compelling herself to
speak brightly:
I'm going, mother. dear. 1t would
be a shame to miss Clare's commence
ment, and the other girls, just because
mine isn't all want it.
She was rewarded by the smile in
her mothers eyes.
"Why, what is all this?"
The words burst from her astonish
ed lips. She was shown into a large
room, sometimes used for extra
classes, but now newly furnished with
six gas stoves. six tables with cup
boards and six sets of pots and pans
ut MEANS explained Miss Mason
chat am installing a domestic
science department. 1t will be a
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Ethel Brooks Writes to Her
Papa and Mamma Who
Are in Colorado =
Dear Father and oMther.


How are you? I am all right. How
are the folks in Colorado? When are
you coming home? I am going to
school. l am in the eighth grade.
We have a little black caH since,v,or,
left home. It has been raining for two
weeks. When are you coming home? II
1t Is not too cold am going to buy me
a pair OF rubber boots. We are gotns to
have a Halloween party at our schooI
house. We will haye apples swimming
In water and catch them with our
teeth. ! expect we will have some soro
teeth by morning. We are going to have
jack Lanterns and black cats. for
tune tells and ghosts.
l am going to take dinner at Colo
Children's Sunday. He got ono OF his
hounds killed Saturday night. They
We're out fox hunting. Well an get
ting tired and sleepy,
With love and best regards - N
Your loving dausht@,
Ethel Brooks, ago Il,
E2don, Ia. R 2, Boz ~.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
Mabel Marie Carson Writes
to Her Cousin Grace

Dear couuiv, cr~a~. ~
We received the letter and photo
graph Of your baby sister, F1orence
which your papa sent us feW days
ago. I would love TO- SEQ her, sho ID 30
sweet. When are you coming down!
wish you could all como down and
spend Christmas with uA
How are you getting alpng 1nBe41ool
and what grade are you I'm? am in
the fifth grade which h the highest
grade down stairs. We h31e Two teach
ers, Miss Ethel HaxWood ID my teacher.
Harry Chrtsty Is tho pG3ne1pal Both
teachers live here, and hgo t1ngAkshaGe
before.
know you have heard Of % great
Christmas ship that Is going 10 carry
presents to the poor Htt3e c3d1dren in
Europe, whose fathers and h9u<hsE1saTe
! fighting in the great W4r, and great
many have been killed. Do not know
what it will be yet but It VIA Be sons-
thing useful.
Grandpa and Grandma Cnsm w.t.
| ed US few days ago.
We received letter nnn Aunt Jen-
ME and Grandma Ferris today. They
are well.
We attended the Flor1u ChEAk3aa
home coming here ast Sunday. They
served dinner in the church yard We
| were invited to eat dinner which We
We have been having very mach rain
| and the roads arc very muddy.
We do not live in the same hnRDo w
did when you visited US several years
| ago, but have moved further doWn
town. We live beside the bank and tho
Heady garage.
| October IA was Grandma KeKtB'
birthday. sent her post card
There are seven girls and thee boys
in my Sunday school class. Mn Frank
Stevens is our teacher. She g1Ve Us q
picnic trip this summer. We took of
our shoes and stockings and went in
wadirg in Soap Creek and had . good
time if it did rain on us before w got
| home. I'll
Every pretty day at school ~ ra1ue
the flag and salute it. I had the honor
of holding the flag tho first morning
this term.
can play few duets WITH usaznma
| on the piano now.
We are going down TO Aunt Msdge's
soon for an over Sunday visit
| There will be lecture at tho B3p-
! fist church tonight for the benedt Of
| the school,
I am going to close now and 30 to
play with little neighbor girl. Cory
Dearborn is her name.
I would. be glad to hear hom -
soon.
Your cousin.
Mabel Marie Carson, age ,,
F1oEis Iowa.
To Miss Grace Ferris,
Des Moines, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
sEvEN RULES FOR TIE JUNIORS

4. Use one side OF the paper onis
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
he or sharp lead pencil.
q. Always sign your name III iuii
and state your age.
d. Do not copy stories or poetry ana
send us as your own work
5. Number your pages.
6 Always state choice of afprlze on
a separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
Z. Address envelope to The Courier
Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
THE BIG LETTER CONTEST

We will continue the big letter con
test for some time. The rules loil NOV,
We want the Juniors to write so 1nt
very interesting letters, "newsy i 80
Tors. Some of the Juniors can wiz. WIZ.
to their parents, as if they (the o par
ents) are away from home, o thev
Juniors might write as though theS
were visiting some big city u;1oe
The writer's can select their Prizes ,.
from the following articles: box OF re,
ter paper; box of school supphes ha lTi
lar skates. football. knife, DOLL DOOM
box of candy, souvenir spoon.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
ABCUT PRIZES.

If the Courier Juniors have ever lal an,
cd to receive prizes when the nllnhe1 =,
names were published we want 10 "
told about it. right away. we ga al51
want all of our prizes acknowleoseu'
We send out prizes within two weeks
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
TWO PRIZE WINNERS.

near Juniors: Today we nave
,hrea nrize winners, Mabel Marie gar.
~ and pearl Rose. The former gets
-ha bio letter prize and the latter the
composition. We nave oe p,v Nah
nice letter from Broken DIV, sisn
Junior, but the writer 1orso. ~ ahla
any name. We are sorry no. " NC ~
to award this Junior prize
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
WANT lsHoRT STORIES TOO.

We hope that many Of the Juniors
will write short stories, selecting 1nsil
own subjects. We have ten oeautilui
paper dolls which we will give 10 lei,
I1niors sending in short stories, ana
choosing their own subjects.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
SCHOOL WORK.

Now that school is opened once
,are we want TO invite all the Juniors
- send in school compositions each
week. The writers can seieo. t
from among the following alio.ee
Roller skates, book souvenir spooI ~ -
beautiful doll. knife. WORK oashst o of
of candy, letter paper or s'iiNe'
heads
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24

Hazel Willard, age -,
Bloomfield, Ia. Box $50.