davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Kenneth Rice, a New Junior,
Tells of His Life in

Dear Editor of the Courier Junior:
I am a little boy, ten years old, and
am In the sixth grade of the Milton
public school. have been very much
interested in the letters in your little
paper, and it Is the first thing look
for when papa brings it home.
Milton is little town of about 1000
Inhabitants. We do not have very
many different kinds of amusements
here. So spend a great deal Of my
time in reading and preparing my les
sons for school. We have eight grades
beside the high school. I have SIS
ter, Virginia, seven years old, In the
third grade. And I have also another
sister, Lucille, sixteen years old in the
third year Of high school.
Myself and little school mate OF
mine have been very much interested
this fall in gathering wood speci-
mems. Altogether we have forty-eight
different kinds of wood. And we spent
many an enjoyable afternoon before
school commenced gathering these
specimens.
I am very anxious to earn football.
We have junior football eleven and
l being one of the number, and as
our football is considerably worn out,
| am very anxious to earn new one
in place Of it.
| am yours truly,
Kenneth Rice, Age 10.
Milton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
LOrettO Griffin's Vacation
Trip in 1912

Dear Juniors:-I will tell you about
my vacation in 1912. We, that is my
mother, niece and left Melrose June
S, at $3.50 and arrived at Abba about
6 o'clock. We changed depots and
had to wait for some time. We went
out with some friends and had nice
time. When we went to the depot 1t
was about train time and we got ready
to leave. We got on the train that
had just come. We rode for about
three hours and half when we arriv-
ed at Grinnell. We went to hotel and
stayed all night. The next morning
about IL o'clock we started again and
arrived at our destination at about
noon. My mother and niece stayed
for few days and then returned
home But stayed there for month
or two. We had a good time We
went fishing and took our dinner about
every Sunday. We would have to go
across a long bridge over creek. We
would all be frightened lest we might
fall in. I returned home August the
eighth and certainly enjoyed my va
cation. / will close
Loretta P. Griffin, ATE H.
Melrose, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
The Wife's Birthday Gift
By Roland Fitzgerald

Once upon Il time man and his wife
lived in little cabin with their two
little children. They were very poor. 1t
was the night befor., the mans wife's
birthday and the man came home from
his work WIFE" he said, II have a
birthday surprise for you."
What is is?' asked his wife.
Wait till the morning" said the man.
That night his wife dreamed she saw
her husband digging up some gold from
under stump. The next morning she
rose early and went Downstairs with
out thinking much about the dream.
When her husband came down she told
him about the dream. II believe you
are right" he said. Yesterday when
was blowing plowej up pot Of gold.
And that was his birthday surprise to
his wife. They had money enough to
last them a lifetime and enough for
their children too. AS my story Is get
ting long will close.
Roland Fitzgerald,
F1oris. Iowa, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Most Interesting Object Gle1
Bowman Sees on Way
to School

Dear Editor-I will write and tell
Won about the most interesting OBJECT
on nv way to school,
Last fall while going to school Mr.:
Brewer took his engine over to an olo
house which stood on my way to scnool
They pulled it on a hill and 1t was IN
teresting to watch 1t. :,
T. took them long time to pall tne
house, When they first started the
chains would break. They had 10 go
on the hillside and the house would
slide back down. They crossed ditcn
by laying heavy planks across 1T. When
they got out in the road the house
would slide and for long while after
that there were little sinks in the
roads. They had to take two FENCES
down while moving 1T.
They also pulled hedge on the same
place. It would take it up by the roots
Some times the chain would slip on
and the engine would have to come
back again This was really more IN
teresting than watching them pull the
house. -,
AS my letter is getting long, ! will
close.
Glenn Bowman, age 10.
r. r. No. 2, Charlton, iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Box Ga.
What Lamar C. Rhodes Did
When He Went to
His Uncle's
Dear :JuniOrs:

Dear Juniors: o,+
to my uncle's. had a very gooo tllns
skating on the creek while l was tnere:
One day I took the dog and went o '
in the woods. The dos went down the
lana very fast. We saw man with
gun. Collie the dog ran up to MIN ana
i,,nned on him. 1t was Waiter, tne
boy that stayed there.
I said LET US go hunting" He SAID
"all right" so we went over IN tne
woods. Bang, bang, went the gun ana
T looked around and saw squirrel ran
to the ground had been down to the
creek playing in the SAND. l jumped up
and said you got him
So we went on until we came "
some mushrooms. Walter tied note TO
Collie's neck and said 60 nome anu ~
up to grandma"
orr he went and came back with a
bucket. We took it off and picked all
the mushrooms and went on. When we
came back we had seven m1nks we had
caught with a trap and four squirrels
and FIVE rabbits and all 1t cost was 20
cents for shells. The next day we Went
to get a load Of wood from the WOODS.
We were gone all fore noon and we nao
good time. While we were mere We
cut a tree that had a nest Of squirrels
in IT, The old squirrels were shot. we
took the young ones home and In the
morning two were dead and the other
two almost dead.
We went that morning for load OF
fodder. We had a good time there also.
We also had our traps set and we went
around and when we got home we had
three coons and nine minks. had
very good time while l was out there
and wish I could go again.
Lamar G. Rhodes,
12O s Ward ST. Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Unwelcome Visitor = BY
Felicia ZenOr

Charlie Brown was visiting his
Grandpa and Grandma Brown one day
in the country. Charlie was only one
year old. His grandpa had geese.
ducks and chickens.
One day when his mother and father
were picking apples in the orchard he
had a piece of bread and butter and
was going over to the orchard two
geese came kissing at him for they
wanted his bread.
He started to cry and dropped his
bread.
The geese came and ate his bread
His father and mother heard him cry
ing. They went to see what was the
matter with him. He said "the dees
is eatin' my bread
Then his mother took him in the
house and got him another piece of
bread and took him over to the or
chard with them and the old geese
didn't get his piece Of bread then. 1t
was In the summer time because the
child had no coat nor cap on. And the
geese were nibbling the grass.
This is one of my school compost
tons.
Felicia Zenor, age 10.
42O North Miner.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Helen Patterson and the
Indians - BY Marjory
Roth

There was council being held IN
the Indian camp. One Indian said
"Injun make girl heap work. No tie up
me kill If she try get away
The Indians were talking Of Helen
Patterson, whom they intended to kid
nap. They had heard her father, moth
err and brothers were going to the VII
lage to get supplies. The village was
hundred miles away, so 1t took several
days to go and come. The pext morn
ing the Indians were up before sunrise
and were on their way in short time.
Now Helen was alone and it was easy
for the Indians to capture her. Helen
was quietly spinning and was surprised
to hear footsteps. She thought her
father had forgotten something. She
went to the door but stopped with a
cry She tried to hide but it was too
late. The Indians had broken open the
door and had her bound hand and foot.
Then the Indians took her to the
camp and tied her to tree. One OF the
Indians went in tent, after ne mao
gone a squaw came out carrying a
bowl of parched corn. She gave 1t to
Helen who gladly ate it az she had had
nothing TO eat since early IN tne Haorh-
ing and was very hungry.
After several days had passed
Helen's parents and brothers returned.
They found the door wide open, and
Helen and the provisions they had left
gone.
Presently 4 young Indian came in
sight. He galloped to Mr.. Patterson and
in broken English said "Injuns take
girl, make heap work. tie up when she
no work.
THANK you very much said Mr..
Patterson. do. you think you could
capture herr
Sure" said the Irdian, me get
her" Mr.. Patterson disappeared in the
house and the Indian went away.
Helen's mother unpacked the food
and hid it where no one cound find
them.
About midnight the Indian returned
with Helen. now nearly starved. She
was put to bed right away and was
soon we'll.
This is one Of my school compost
tons.
Marjory Roth, age II,
1907 N. Wape1lo ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Edith Smith Tells of He1
Visit to Dubuque

Dear Friend:-I will tell you about
my visit at Dubuque, Iowa.
We went to see the large buildings.
There are houses built in stone; the
stone is blown out and the houses are
built, one upon top another. We Went
past one place where they were blow
ing out the stone to make house,
with dynamite. Also we passed the
old ladies' home, boys and girls
home, and the large cracker factory.
One afternoon we went down to the
river to see the steamboats,. They
were very large. At first I thought
they were houses because they were
so large and white. They were row
of windows all around the boats. We
saw three of them.
Yours truly,
Edith Smith, Age II.
Ottumwa, Iowa, Gen. Del
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
The GrOcer's Trick-SchOOl
Composition-By Arden
Cotton Taylor

Dear Juniors:-I have never writ
ten to you before but thought
would now. I am sending you one OF
my school compositions and | hope
that you will like it,
In little village, Harpsville by
name, there is certain grocery store
which is a particularly convenient
place for loafing. Among the men who
always loaf around there Is a man
named Smith, of mean character,
though not lazy.
The grocer, John Brown, upon clos
ing his store one night discovered that
one of his sacks of -four was missing.
AS he did not need clerk to help him
run his small store and as he could not
remember of selling any of that brand
of flour and also as there had been
none missing the night before, he had
pretty good reasons for believing 1T
to have been stolen.
WELL said he, Z" If some old duffer
haint made off with sack of my
flour. He's pretty slick but bet that
sack of flour I'm slicker."
On his way home that night he be-
gan to soliloquizing thus. "Old Smith
haint been on very good standing with
me since l made him pay that little
bill and l just bet that's who took my
-four. All! l know what I'll do. III
Just wait awhile and maybe it will
turn out to be him. l just hope 1t
does"
One day about week later Smith
(who by the way had not been IN
since the day before the grocer missed
his flour) walked into the store and
without waiting for the grocer to speak
said, "Howpdo, Brown, old top, hows
business coming now, pretty good"
"Oh, business is about like it has
been for quite while. guess" replied
Brown not so eager to talk as his GUS
toner.
81 heard you had sack of flour
stolen t'other day. Hev ye caught the
thief yet" continued the customer.
Yes replied Brown. 1--WE caught
the thief. Would you like to know
how 1 did it?"
Mr.. Smith who afelt little uneasy
about this answer said, "Why, yes, how
did you do it?''
"Well," said Brown, liking the mo-
ment very much, rye see it's this
away. When l missed that sack OF
flour didn't say nothing about it to
nobody and so of course there ha1nt
none into the secret but the thief and
me. So the way things have come
about I can't see but what you and
are those two. But if you want me to
I'll keep the secret for the price OF
the -four"
Here's the money,"~not so anxious
ly. =,
I hope that you will like this COM
position and maybe will send some
more some other time.
Arden Cotton Taylor, Age ID.
S42 Wabash Ave-, Ottumwa, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Frances Claridge Tells of :
Moonlight Ride, Supper
and the Games

One moonlight evening in Septem-
Der, about twenty-five boys and girls
of our neighborhood met together to
go for ride. One of the boys brought
team and hay rack. After they
had put hay and blankets on the wag-
on we all climbed in ready to start.
It was then eight o'clock.
We drove about mile, when we
stopped at another girls house and
waited for her to get ready to join
us. While waiting four or five of the
girls walked on ahead of the wagon.
Our last passenger soon came and
We started again, following those that
had gone on ahead We drove about
two miles farther, singing and yelling
all the time.
We then stopped at a mans house
and two of the boys went in to ask
him if we could go into his pasture
that lay along the creek. OF course
Sc said Eyes" 1t was only little
ways farther and in moment every
body was jumping from the wagon.
The boys built big fire of sticks and
1t was soon blazing high into the air.
Nothing could have been more
beautiful than were the myriads OF
bright little sparks that were rising,
seemingly, to meet the stars In the
sky overhead.
Weiners and buns had been prov1d-
ed for refreshments, SO we roasted the
weiners and ate them with the buns.
When supper was over We played
games until it was time to start home.
We went home by another road which
was longer than the way we had
come. There was long hill and the
driver had to rest the horses two or
three times in making the ascent.
Some OF the boys jumped off the
wagon and went into a cornfield and
filled their pockets with corn. This
they shelled and threw into our faces.
Sometimes they threw it so hard and
! it hurt SO much that we girls could
not resist returning their fire.
When we got back to our starting
place it was almost eleven o'clock.
f.: Then all departed for their homes.
each one declaring that nothing could
be more fun than a ride on hay rack
on a moonlight night.
Frances Clarridge, Age IA.
r r. /. Birmingham, la,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
A Trip to the Moon - BY
Dora Smith

Dear Juniors:
One day as we children were play
ing hide-and-go-to-seek at our house, II
went as following.
Soldiers wanted to come into the
city and we had a large cannon in
front Of our house.
Our soldiers had been watching
day and night and no one came and
SO the soldiers fired the cannon off.
was to hide and l hid in the can,
non. While I was in there the other
soldiers came.
The men fred off the cannon and
away I went up and up till | came 10
the moon. As it happened that Mr..
Moon Man was gaping and l Topped
right into his mouth.
In there it was so queer. There
we're people of all nations and with
queer clothes.
One man was dressed beautifully
with black costume and all trim
med with gold He looked like ser
want and as | went in he bowed be-
fore me and asked me if l wanted him
to show me the place.
OF course took the first chance |
got. On the way through the place
there were the most wonderful rooms
all in rich colors.
On my way back to the entrance
where I came in he asked me how l
got up there. Then l told MIN all
about it.
When I got back to the entrance
Mr.. Moon Man was laughing greatly,
thinking how funny it was and how
l got in there.
At night l asked Mr.. Moon Man how
I was to get home. He told me that
I would have to tell him where Nv
ed first. So l told him.
He said alright. when the Dew
falls the servant will wake you ana
you dress quickly and I will take you
to your home" In the morning
dressed and went to Mr.. Moon Man.
When he came to my house ne drop
ped me. =,
ran into the house as fast as l
could. When I told my mother she
said "The soldiers told me and !
wasn't uneasy about you. sweet girl.
I never undertook hiding in can
non again, though it was all dream
Dora Smith, Age ~.
722 Glenwood avenue, South "
tumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23

happy few minutes of Hello, Daddy"
Give our love to Mother" Eyes,
we're good boys!" Uncle Joe and
Aunt Margaret are WE'LL" etc. Each
boy had his turn.
1--WE could hear him as plain!' de-
clared Joey, dancing up and down
Eyes, sir" fairly shouted Jimmie, IN
his excitement. "Just as plain as we
hear YOU"
I'VE heard him because the cleo
trodes touch" said Arthur, didn't we,
Uncle Joe? How far away is New
York;"
about six hundred miles, said
Uncle Joe.
Then Arthur made a dash for his
unfinished toy. "Mayn't I lay it right
here. Aunt Margaret?' he asked.
"You see. I want to finish it in the
morning"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Hazel Smith Tells of Her
Visit to the State Fair

Dear Editor:-I will write and tell
YOU about my trip to the state fair.
We went the last day Of the fair. We
went in the auto. There was marina,
papa, my brother Russell and cousin
and myself.
We saw the auto race, and the air
shin race. We stayed all night; II
rained that night. We went clear to
the top OF the capitol and then went
to the historical building. BY that
time the mud had dried up enough so
we could start home.
will close.
Hazel Smith, Age 9.
- Dudley, Ia, r. R. No. l, Box "a.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Leona Dahlgren Tells of a
Large Family - Boy and
Girl Had to Work

Dear Juniors:
Once there were three children.
Their names were Robert, the boy, 10,
Lucy. the girl, 10, and Fanny, the
baby, 2.
Their father was dead and their
mother was poor She had not much
money. She hardly had enough mon
ey to keep them in clothes or hardly
enough fuel to keep them warm. The
boy and the oldest girl did not play
much, they had to work. The baby
played the most of the time.
The mother worked all week for
other people. She took in sewing
Robert worked for other people; Lucy
could get dinner for the family.
The children were not lazy. Ihev
had q cow SO they did not have to buy
butter or milk and could sell some
/ Leona Dahlgren, Age 3.
Bloomfield, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Dio Zook, Visiting in Berlin,
Writes to His Parents

Dear Parents:
l am in Berlin now and am staying
with Cousin Charles.
Berlin's main street is called Under
Den Linden, which means under the
lime trees.
Almost every other person you meet
is an officer or soldier of some kind.
The laws in Berlin are very strict
For instance, If friend comes 20 visit
a man, he must tell the police that he
Is coming.
in Berlin and many good schools
There Is one gate to the city which
only the royal visitors enter by.
There are many bands which make
good music end which play almost all
the time.
Dio Zook, age IL,
$40 Wabash Ave., Ottumwa Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Russell Smith Raised 272
Bushels of Corn on Two
and One-Half Acres

Dear Editor:-It has been long
time since wrote to you. l wrote
nv other letter and told you about
nv trip on Fourth of July, and to
thank you for the book you sent me-
will write and tell you how much
corn l raised.
only put in two and one.half acres.
raised PIP bushels of corn on IT.
got a price for corn at the farmers
institute. I have two calves. shell
corn for them night and morning. They
are getting nice and fat. l have a
nonv too. AS my letter is getting
long. I will close, thanking you again
for the book. =,
Dudley, a., r. r. No. /.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
tsWhat / Saw on the Way to
School, - BY Lucius
y A. Andrew Jr.

Dear Juniors:--I start to school at
$3.50 each morning. Some mornings
/ see several loads of coal going to
town from the Erskine mines; some
mornings see a number OF farm Wag-
ons filled with farm products and some
mornings after fresh snow, l see
lots of rabbit tracks.
After get onto the car l see lots or
little boys and girls going to the same
school go to.
Lucius A. Andrew, Jr.,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Leora Estlach, a New Abba
Junior, Likes to Read
Her Papa's Courier

Dear Courier Junior:
thought l would write letter as
have never written. Papa takes the
Ottumwa Courier and like to read the me
Junior page have two sisters. we an
went to grandpas to spend Christmas:
Our cousins were there and we all
went coasting and had fine time.
I got several presents for Christmas.
NV little sister Marjorie is 11ve years
old now. Her birthday was Dec. 70.
hone to see my letter in print, and
NAV write again sometime.
Leora Estlack, age Z.
Abba Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
Ottumwa, Iowa
MATILDA OEVEREAUx
EDITOR
PRESIDENTS CONTEST.

bear Juniors: Before many DAYS
haye passed we will honor the birth
dlys OF three former presidents OF
the United States, William Mckinley,
Abraham Lincoln and George Wash
ineton. Well, we want all the Jun
Tors to write about these three great
men. either In separate composition or
combine the three stories In one COM
position. This contest will open today.
The closing day will be announced
later. The writer's can select their
own prizes or else we will give three
surprise prizes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Fairies Muffs

Know what the fairies do with their
NUTS
When the winters spent.
And the warm, south wind WIN us
coaxing puffs
Makes the ice relent?
They 30 where the pussy-willow SUITS
In the wind, all bare, ..,
And, Just as your mother does WIN
her furs,
Hang them out to air.
Lydia A. Hasbrouk.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
ABOUT PRIZES.

We send out prizes within TWO
weeks after the names Of the winners
are published. .,, va
ceiye prize after his or her name
anrears in this paper, it is because the
wrong address has been given US.
when we say wrong addresses we
especially refer to incomplete al.
dresses. All city Juniors should put
their street number and all Juniors nv
ing In the country should put their Do1
number or failing to have a box seha
in their parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
WANT LETTERS.

We want the Juniors to write some
very interesting letters. "newsy let
tars. Some of the Juniors can write
to their parents, as If they (the par
ents) are away from home. Other
Juniors might write as though they
we're visiting some big city. the re-
ward for the best letter will be foun,
tain pen or a box of letter paper and
envelopes. ,..
Kenneth Rice is warded the letter
prize.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
aEvEn RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

/. Use one side OF the paper ohiy'
2. Write neatly and legibly' using
ink or sharp lead pencil.
8. Always sign your name IN luli
and state your age.
Do not copy stories or poetry
and send US as your wor work.
s. Number your pages.
s. Always state choice OF prize
on q separate piece of paper with name
and address in full. 49, ;,u
I. Address envelope to The Courier
Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
COMPOSITIONS WANTED.

We invite all the Juniors to send IN
school compositions each week. the
wr;ters can select prizes from among
the following articles: Ice skates, DOCK
souvenir spoon, beautiful doll, knife,
work basket, box of candy, letter paper
or string of beads.
Cotton Taylor gets the composition
prize.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23

SEND OUT POST CARDS.
Beginning next week we will SEM
out post cards to the Juniors alter
their letters or stories appear IN the
Junior.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-13
SUBURBAN

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE