davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-11-28
WEATHER

Fair today and tomorrow; slightly
colder today: moderate west to north
west winds.
Temperature for tho past twenty
four hours-Hlghest %: lowest 81.
at 10 pm. last night.
Full report on page ..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Alice G.. Conner Likes Her
School: Describes Alice

Dear Juniors:
AS l have not written for long
time, I thought would write and tell
you about my school.
Our school started March %. I have
not missed day yet.
My teachers name is Hazel Hill
and like her very much. She was
sick Friday, Monday and Tuesday, and
her sister, HERNIA, taught.
The name of our school is Oak
Grove No. 5.
l like to go to school, We play
dare base and jump the rope.
My school mates are Ella Shondel,
Mildred Tedrow, Ora Laughlin and
Betty Scott
am in the seventh grade and think
it is easy.
ash like to read descriptions Of the
Juniors l will write one Of myself. |
am 10 years old have blue eyes and
brown hair. am about five feet tall
and weigh about eighty pounds. |
haven't been weighed for long time
and don't know my exact weight.
| have one sister. She is years
old. She has blue eyes and light
brown hair.
Alice G. Conner, Age II.
,L1bartyville. la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
The Benefit of Good Roads
- BY Oliver Shoemaker

Dear Juniors:
This is a short composition about
"The Benefit of Good Roads"
The good roads are of value in ap-
pearance and increase the value of
the property along these roads. Good
roads are of benefit to the horses and
gives them much easier work than
rough roads The good roads help
the United States mail carriers in dis
tributing the mail The good roads
are Of benefit to the children who walk
to and from school, Good roads are
Of value in pleasure riding either in a
vehicle drawn by horse or an automo.
bile Goods roads are of benefit to
the people who own vehicles or auto
mobiles which have rubber tires be,
cause good roads save them from
wearing out SO quick. When the
roads are good they help the farmer
when he brings a load of produce to
town 1t does not shake small grains
like wheat out of the wagon.
Oliver Shoemaker, Age H..
321 Weller St Ottumwa. Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Berta From Germany (
School Composition By
Lucille Armstrong

Our little friend Berta lives in MUIR
emberg in Germany. The people call
it "Toy Town" because so many toys
are made there. A good many people
make their living by making toys.
Berta will take us to store and
show us many pretty toys. Let us
buy this toy that snaps his wicked
red lips at us when We pull string.
There are many pretty painted toys
and many pretty carved things.
Now we will go and visit Berta's
home. There are not very many peo-
pie living in the country for the Ger
mans like towns better.
Most Germans live in FLATS so the
houses are very tall. We do not see
many gardens for the Germans would
rather sit in parks.
Berta's home is as neat as wax and
so are all of tho houses in Germany.
The German women are noted house
keepers. The children are taught to
be neat and useful. Berta can sew
and cook as we'll as her mother can.
Berta has a little sister named
Trudi and a little brother named Kon-
rad. Berta can show us how to play
"the fox Is out" and turn about"
The children like to play "blind cow"
Trudi will show us how to play many
kindergarten games.
Berta has blue eyes. Her hair Is
light and her skin is fair. She dresses
almost like the little American girls.
Your room at Berta's is very neat.
And the only trouble you have IS
with your comforter" 1t falls off
the bed every time you move because
Fit Is filled with down.
You must visit Berta at Christmas
time. There is large Christmas
tree loaded with presents. There is
no nation in tho world that makes SO
much of Christmas as the Germans
do. Christmas festivities last for sew
eral days The children get many
presents and sweetmeats.
We are sorry to leave Berta and
her home in old Nuremberg and we
ask her to visit us some day In our
own dear American land.
Lucille Armstrong,
r d. D. 8. Fairfield. Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Dale Broadfield Saw
Robin and Two Little
Bluebirds
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
l saw a robin and two little blue
birds the other day as I was going to
school, It was the first time that had
seen a robin this year.
The robin ond the woodpecker are
the most useful birds of all.
If it was not Tor t,e woodpecker the
bugs would kill the trees.
The robin does not get the bugs from
the trees but they catch the little In
sects that eat the crops. The sparrow,
blue Jay, crows and hawks arc thieves.
the eggs and II there are little birds in
the nest they tear them in pieces and
cat them. The blue jay and hawks
sometimes attack grown birdie. The
wren is not so pretty as the bluebird
but we like them better than the blue
bird because it does not rob nests.
Sometimes people put little houses out
for them so the sparrows can not get
to them.
One morning I saw lot Of little
birds trying to get something to eat
so they would lot starvo. The sparrows
blue Jays and crows stay with us all
winter and do not 20 south like the
robin The robin builds her nest out Of
mud and sticks and lines it with hair
wool or grass and hangs it up In a
tree. The wren makes t.c- nest out Of
little twigs and puts it in an old can
or boot There was Il wren that built
her nest in our grape arbor. in ar old
tin can.
The woodpecker digs hole in the
tree with his bill AMI then digs inside
Of the tree out for about a foot down
in the trunk and tEcn lines it with
hair or grass Then she lays the eggs.
The eggs are white and look like a
pigeon egg. I DO not like the sparrow
ami pigeon because they carry disease.
The robin and wocdneckers are my
favorite birds. AS my letter is getting
long 1 will close for this time.
Dale Broadfeld, age 10.
Ottumwa To- R. No, s.,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Ellsworth Giltner on The
Benefit of Good Roads

Good roads are benefit to the
farmer. If the road gets muddy or
rough the farmer has to drag it. When
the roads are bad the farmer cannot
get his products to town. The country
children who come to town to go to
school have hard time to get there.
If there are bad roads. Many people
who have automobiles like to go out
in the country for nice ride but if
the roads are bad they do not go be-
cause 1t would jolt them and cut the
tires OF their cars. II they are bad
roads the mail carriers have a hard
time to deliver the Couriers and let
tiers which the people look for Then
people who are riding to town in mud
dy weather get all over mud. 1t saves
the farmer much money to have good
roads, and people who have automo-
biles get them all muddy If the roads
are muddy and sometimes they get
stuck.
Ellsworth Giltner, Age II.
Agency, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Hedrick Junior, Mary Miller
Tells of Her Bird Club
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
How are all Of you? am fine. I
thought I would write letter to the
some birds and our bird club. Our
teacher got up club called the Liberty
Bell Bird club (till we get another
name for IT'D Nineteen children joined
1t. Their names are: Myrtle, Emmett
and Glenn Clark, Irene. Vale and How
ard Hawthorne. john, Oliver and
George Jackson. Lester and Lawrence
Hooks, Raymond Beeler, Orvle, Goldie
and Bessie Sylvester, Thomas and
Katie Calvin and myself. We are to
meet the teacher the second Saturday
in each month until school is out. The
officers are: an adult director secre-
tary, president and vice president At
the first meeting we elect these officers.
We are to protect most all Of the
birds. Our motto is Protect our faith
full friends Each person that joins
gets badge with This motto on it.
Each time we meet at different
place.
Last summer there were many nests
there was several birds nest right close
around here. There was wren'3 nest,
bluebird's nest and I don't remember
what other kim Of :lcsts there were.
think the wren, blue bird, red bird or
cardinal, robin and the wild canary are
beautiful birds
I have never seen very many orioles
but imagine they are pretty too The
robin builds its nest Of sticks, feathers
and mud and the wren builds hers Of
sticks and feathers. AS I stand on
the porch listening at the birds sing
ing can tell the names of several
just listening to their music l love
to hear them sing and this summer I
am going to have five or six bird
houses put up around the house and I
do hope the birds will build their
nests In them. The birds are blessing
to this earth because it gives us music
to keep up happy besides destroying
all Kinds of insects that are injurious
to our crops. will write again soon.
Mary Miller, age Is,
HedrjCk In r
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
The Dove Of
Peace
Gan actual incident.) -.
BY Kate Hudson.

| All We who have been so wonder
ing where, in these cataclysmal days
she might be hiding, or why she hat
, not been more faithfully fulfilling hel
mission, will rejoice to hear that the
Peace Dove has been seen living up
to her reputation, in one of our own
city homes; and this was the way Of
1t. The family were having company
for supper. Now although father, by
virtue of English forebears and BIZ
monthly hate-and-horror-filled mis-
sives from Dover, Folkestone and
, Battle, Is duly down on the Kaiser; =
although mother, CALAMITY reinforced
by loyal German-born mother of her
own, and in weekly receipt of litera.
ture and letters from all over the
Fatherland, loudly and openly sym
pathizes with Germany; although
grandmother's sister had had an Al
satan husband; although all the young
folk, particularly the brand-new
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. daugh-
ter-in-law, couldn't see anything n.y.
phenated without goose prickles-the
home-mother had heretofore always
been able to switch iniammable dis
cussions into safer channels. Now,
however, they were having company
for supper, a middle.aged English
uncle and an elderly niece with thin,
long, accentuated hyphen much in evil
dence. These guests, brooking no
restraint and needing no Interrupt
lions, skirmished their smashing way
through the evening meal until they
had reached dessert ard point where
the entire table-round was taking a
lively and capable hand in settling
the Great War. In vain did mother,
at the head Of her table and facing
the wide be-andironed-thous oh never
used fireplace, try to stem or on the
talk. The wranglers kept bravely at
1t, hammer and tongs, and so entirely
failed to catch a sliding, slithering,
scraping sound-with a soft thud at
the end of it. They didn't see what
mother saw-a lovely, beautiful and
soft blue-gray dove, which landed
plumb in the middle of the red-and-
white-tiled-chimney
'Hush-sh-sh-sh!" Mother pointed a
dramatic forefinger, and hush they
did, right in the very fiery midst of
their hot controversy. The offensive
Englishman tiptoed to the chimney
and most tenderly gathered up the
celestial visitor-for from the skies
above it it undoubtedly had comet
and set it on mothers lap; the ag-
gressive Faulein gently blew the SCOT
and mortar from it's wings and softly
smoothed its somekhat ruffled feath-
ers. All the others, from Grossmut-
ter down to the youngest laddie,
crowded round, busily wondering just
how the pretty creature had slid
down, past four other fireplaces high
er up, through the long flue-flled
apartment chimney, to land eventual
ly where it would do most good. Fur
Their war-talk was forgotten. BY the
time the tame and trustful pigeon was
fed, watered and established in its /.
man-made nest in the chimney-nook,
with all the dining room lights out so
that 1t might have a well-earned
nights rest, belligerences had changed
to "reminiscences of queer pets have
known and similar pleasanter nara.
tive, and the entire household basked
and expanded under the influence OF
that blessed Dove of Peace.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Ina Hampshire Tells Cousin
Electa" All About
Des MOineS

Dear Cousin Electa:
though probably you would like to
hear few interesting facts about our
city, Des Moines.
First will tell you of its parks. 1t
has three or four recreation parks
and one amusement park. In the recre-
alton parks they have birds Of different
species. also deer, elk, buffalo and
monkeys. They also have few artifl
cial lakes.
Next I will tell you Of our, beautiful
capitol. 1t has a gold leaf dome, and
when the sun shines on it it is very
pretty. 1t is situated in the central por
ton Of the east side. 1t is land mark
for miles around.
Des Moines has sixty-one public
schools. 1t has most magnificent high
school on the east side with an enroll
ment Of over a thousand pupils last
year.
The public library is on the west side
of the river front, across on the north
of Locust stands the Coliseum and on
the south the new post office. Across
on the east river front stands the new
municipal building. The river front is
sodded with flower beds scattered here
and there.
The tallest building is the Fleming
building which is thirteen stories high
Locust street is very pretty street
after night because 1t Is lighted with
large white arc lights. From the capitol
across the river to the west through
the business district there are two
cement bridges, one on Locust and one
on Walnut.
I must mention the Roadside Settle
ment house which is located on south
east Seventh and Scott streets. It lie
run by a board Of directors and is kept
up by donations. 1t has public laun
dry where the women Of the neighbor-
hood go to do their washings for which
they pay five cents an hour, but will
leave this building and tell you Of it in
another letter.
Ina Hampshire, age IA,
SOL N. Sheridan Ave, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Kenneth Parsons Knows All
About the Birds of
: Montana

Dear Courier Juniors: thought per-
haps you would like to hear about the
birds Of Montana. The first bird that
gives us warning of spring Is the norm
ed lark. It's little song is cheerful.
even though the ground is white with
snow It builds it's nest on the ground.
under some shelterfng weed or TUT OF
grass. II a stranger comes near the
nest the mother bird will pretend to
be hurt or crippled, trying to lead the
intruder away from the nest. This bird
is about four inches long, and has two
tufts of feathers on it's head that re-
semble horns 1t wanders over the
fields and prairie catching grass mop
pers and bugs that harm the crops
never harm one of them. Following
these are the blue birds which builds
It's nest in fence posts, there being no
trees around here. Then comes the
meadowlark, swallow, yellow hammer,
and the curlew. This last is large
bird, which goes in flocks, except IN the
mating season 1t is always giving its
plaintive cry of cur-le-w, cur-l-e-W.
This bird is protected by law, because
Of it's help to the farmers in destroying
10 many harmful insects. In the noun
t0ins few miles west or us, are roDlns
and blue jays and different kinds OF
grouse, also eagles. The eagle used to
be caught by the Indians for it's feath-
ers. Every eagle feather meant
scalp, and the Indian that wore the
most feathers was counted as the
bravest. This is the way the Indians
caught them. They dug pit, covered
It with brush and laid piece of meat
on top. Then they got in the pit and
when the eagle, attracted by the meat,
came he was caught and killed.
The hawks of which we have several
kinds, and the maybe stay all the year
round, and are dangerous to little
chickens The maybe is about the
size of pigeon and is black and white.
Very truly yours,
A new Junior,
Kenneth r. Parsons, age 10.
Fort Maginnis, Mont
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

we send out prizes within Two
weeks after the names of the winners
are published.
IF any Junior has ever failed to re-
ceiye q prize after his or her name ap-
peared in this paper it is because the
wrong address has been given us.
When we say wrong address we espec,
tally refer to incomplete addresses. All
city Juniors should put their street
number and all Juniors living IN the
country should put their box NUMBER
or falling to have a box send In their
parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
Floyd Wayne Morrison of
Unionville, Writes Letter

Dear Juniors:-I am little boy nine
years old My school is out. went
to the Jay school this term, but we
have moved now so l wont go there
any more.
Miss Blanche Irelan was my teacher.
l study reading, writing, arithmetic,
spelling, physiology, music and lang
uage.
My teacher gave me book for get
ting head marks. The name of the
book is animal stories for little people.
l have two brothers. Their names
are Wallace and Karl.
| have a dog. His name is Towser.
| have great fun with him.
My grandma is here now. My papa
is blowing now. We haven't any
chickens but mamma has an incubator
and four hens setting.
AS my letter is getting long will
close.
Floyd Wayne Morrison,
Unionville. Ia. Route No. L
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
STRANGE ANIMAL SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME BY WHITE

James Chaplin, explorer for the
American museum of natural history,
has come forth from the heart Of
Africa, the first white man to see
the okapi alive. Scores of explorers
have hunted this strange animal, a
cross between zebra and a giraffe,
and several of them have brought out
skins of beasts killed by natives. Mr..
Chaplin, after six years in the Congo
regions, has come out with skins. He
saw one alive.
In the heart of the continent tribe
had captured a young animal and
held it prisoner. He and Herbert
Lang. leader of the expedition, saw
it and watched it and studied it
scientifically. Further, they saw the
bodies of okapi just killed by the
natives and were able to study their
anatomy and physiology, something
works have been written about the
these men no author had ever seen
more than the skin of one.
J. A. Allen thus describes the anil
NAL in bulletin of the American
museum:
I'm the character of limbs and
length of neck the akopi differs little
from the ordinary type of ruminant,
as for example a deer or an antelope.
Although 1t differs widely in external
appearance from the giraffe, which
has elongated limbs and enormously
heightened cervical vertebrae, the
structure of the skull and teeth show
it to be member of, the giraffe family.
1t has also two small frontal horns,
somewhat similar to that of the
giraffe. but less developed, differing
in this respect from ordinary rumi-
nants. The lips are not prehensible,
and it's small eyes give the head some
what the appearance of deer.
1.-THE okapi is said to live in pairs
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
The One w no
Was Brave

Elton Tilton is just the bravest boy
you ever saw, MOTHER" said Winfred.
Zone day big dog came along with
tongue hanging out, and we thought
1t was mad, and scrambled over the
fence, but Elton walked right along
~ calm as ever. He says he isn't
afraid of bears or tramps or anything.
I wish / was as brave as Elton, but I'm
afraid never will be-"
Il heard story about two boys the
otter day." said his mother, "and
thought one of them was very brave.
They went to school together, and one
day they thought it would be great
fun to hide frog in the teacner's
desk; but the frog tipped over the ink
bottle. and spoiled number of exam
ination papers and other things, and
the teacher was very angry. He asked
the guilty boy to own his fault ike a
man and take the punishment he de-
served. He put him upon his honor,
you see. Well, the older boy, who
found the frog and first thought of the
joke, sat still in his seat without a
blush; but the little boy, though he
trembled with fear, went to the desk
before the whole school and owned his
fault. And he sat for an hour on the
ounces stool, a target for fifty pairs
of eyes,"
20 mother" cried Winfred, II was
so ashamed! I'll never do anything so
mean again as long as live. How
did you known"
II heard two boys talking about 1t as
l rode in the car. l was proud Of my
boy, Winfred; and I pitied Elton Til
tons mother, for said to myself, My
boy was brave, but her boy was
coward
"Why, I never thought that was be-
ing brave" said Winfred.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
\ Book Review BY al
Ottumwa Junior,
Hazel Bell
Reasons for title:

Reasons for title:
This story was called Legend of
Sleepy Hollow" because it was leg
end of place called Sleepy Hollow"
2-Author:
The author of this story is Washing
ton Irving He is an American. He
was born in Nork York in 1888. When
he was sixteen he entered law Of
fee. His favorite authors were Chau-
Ger and Spencer. In 1916 he visited
England where he was introduced to
Walter Scott. In 1912 he was appoint
cd United States minister to Spain.
He is known by the stories, Legend of
sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Wrinkle. He
died in his own sleepy hollow near
Tarrytown, where he was living with
his nieces in 1853.
3.-Setting Of story:
The setting of this story is In Sleepy
Hollow.
Time of the story is around the time
of the Revolutionary war.
4.-Theme:
The purpose of this story is to show
how very superstitious the old Dutch
colonists were at that time.
5.-Plot:
Ichabod Crane was the country
school master and was in love with
KATRINA Van Tassel, rich farmers
daughter. Brom Bones, a dare devil is
also in love with her.
One day as Ichabod Is teaching a
rider comes to the door and gives 1cha-
bod an invitation to little party
which is to be held at Van Tassel's
that night. After Ichabod gets there
tAey have a social time then dancing.
Ichabod dances with Kathrina while
Brom Bones sits back in corner and
scowls at him. After the dancing
Ichabod goes out onto the porch where
the old gentlemen are telling old leg
ends and superstitious tales OF the
surrounding country.
Ichabod fingers after the rest OF the
party 20 home to make love to Katrina
and a hint is given that he is rejected.
AS he rides to a desolate part of the
road he thinks Of the story of the head
less rider which inhabits that part of
the road at nights. There he Is chas-
ed bv a rider who was disguised and
has no head. Ichabod thinks he sees
the riders head on saddle and 1t
was hurled at him, but really 1t was a
large pumpkin, and he was hurled in
the dust. ;,
The next morning they found the
horse, pumpkin and hat OF 1chabod,
but no Ichabod. He had disappeared.
Brom Bones married Katrina and
has a knowing look when the headless
rider and the disappearance OF 1cha-
bod are mentioned.
6.-Climax is the place where 1cha-
bod was dancing with Katrina and
Brom Bones was scowling at them.
characters:
Ichabod Cranie was very supersti-
tious, shrewd, full of simple credulity,
literary, musical and (contented?)
who're ever he was.
Katrina was pure, lovable, hot tenn
pcred. liberal and easily persuaded.
Van Tassel was liberal, supersti-
tious. home-loving peaceful and given
over to a submissive nature and also
good tempered man.
8,-Personal opinion:
This is a good story because it
brings out the superstitions of the
Dutch colonists.
Hazel Bell
G15 East Fourth ST.,
Ottumwa, Ia. Adams school, grade 8.
Extra credit)
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17

Long ago, salt was very scare and
valuable, and, as favor to their sol
diery, the old Romans used to give
them part of their pay in salt, the Lat
in word from which it comes being sal.
Later, salt became more common, and
the entire amount OF wages was paid
in money, that part which had former
ly been paid in salt being called the
salarium, from the Latin word meaning
salt money Thus, finally, our word
salary came into uaA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-17
COMPOSITIONS AND BOOK
REVIEWS,

We invite all the Juniors to SEND III
school compositions and book reviews
Zach week. The writer's can select
nrixes from among the following ar
ticles: 10 packages OF flower or garuen
seeds, roller skate, BOOK souvenir III
spoon, a beautiful doll, knlfe' worn
basket, box of candy, letter paper
marbles or string of beads.