davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01

you think? That bird popped right in- to that water and took a bath!
 It was not long before other spar rows came, and mamma said I would have my hands full if I kept them supplied with water. But it was such fun! I forgot all about being hot, and mamma helped to carry the water; we took it from the marble basin in her room. It seemed as if the news had spread all over town, by the way the sparrows and robins flocked there to enjoy it.
 never saw a robin take a bath be- fore. and was so delighted! I could hardly keep still; but had to, for fear or soaring them away. Folks say that the sparrows drive away the robins but don't believe 1t. for they went in bathing together just as peaceably as could be. There would be two or three in at q time.
 I must tell you about the first robin that came, he was so cute. He drank all he wanted, and then he Jumped in for bath. suppose he happened to think of his mate. for he called to her. and calling; but finally, just as he had Finished his bath. she flew up. Then she took a bath. Wasn't it funny for him to know enough to call her? I did wonder if he told her about the water; but it sounded j4st like any robins call.
 There were a great many other kinds of birds came, orioles and blue- birds and wrens, besides lots that I didn't know the names of. There was one lovely bird: he had pink on his breast and mamma said 1t must be a rose breasted grosbealz He did not stay to take a bath; I wished he would. The big dragon flies came, too, and they would drink and drink, as If they were so thirsty.
 When papa came home at noon, he enjoyed the fun as much as mamma and did, for the birds kept coming, I couldn't do anything but pour out water and watch them. all the after noon, and I had been counting from the first, sLnd I was bound to get up to a hundred. Paper said wouldn't but didi And mamma said was surc of one thing that day-I had made a hundred birds happy.-Seiectad.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
ONE HUNDRED HAPPY BIRDS

It was the sixteenth of June, and a dreadfully hot day. remember the date, because it was the day after my birthday and mamma wouldn't let me go to school. had a birthday party, ard was very tired, mamma said. My head ached, and mamma said it would ache worse if I went out in the hot sun. Everybody said it seemed as if they should melt; but as If were roasting.
 sat by the front window with . there wasn't any, and kept saying I knew I should suffocate if a breeze didn't come along pretty soon. till mamma told me if I would not talk so much should be cooler.
 So looked out of the window to sec what could see. The big stone block opposite shut out the blue sky, and the sidewalkg were so giartng iu tnA sun, that I felt hotter than ever. There were two maple trees in front of the house; but the leaves looked wtfted and dusty. 1t had not raiued for 90 long.
 We lived in Hartford, and boarded on Capitol avenue. We had the front chamber and two other rooms; but I Knew lt was cooler doWn StHiFG, anu should have gone down if there had not been company in the paFior. Oh, how glad I am that I tiidn'tl
 There was a piazza in front, and the roof was right under our windows, I was just thinking that would go and get a drink, when saw a sparrow sit- ting on the edge of the roof with his mouth wide open, called to mamma to come and see If he were sick. and she said he was only hot and thirsty.
 So poured down whole pttcherful. It was q tin roof, with q gutter on the edge. so that the water stayed there; the place where it would have run off was storped up with leaves and dirt, so 1t happened ell right. Ana you ought to have seen that sparrowl Why. thought he would never stop dr1nkingi And then when | saw that the water did run away a little poured out some more, and what do
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE.
 AWAkES.
The Little Grass Sellers.

n0 6ikti6 SFdS6 S6iSFSa
 The Indians and negroes of warm countries carry heavy loads. They acquire great skill and strength in this that a white man could hardly lift. Not only do they bear them upon their backs. but even upon their heads
 People have had negroes. carry trunks on their heads for many miles. AS they practice this mode from the time they can walk. They balance almost any object upon their heads without holding it with the hands.
 The Indians. though they also carry great loads on their heads, yet pre- fer. as a rule, to carry them on their backs.
 In Mexico they take the load upon the shoulders and keep 1t in place with broad cotton or leather band around the forehead.
 South of the United States is a country called Yucatan. Going along the country roads at night, you may meet hundreds of men and women coming to market. Not only men and women, but boys and girls have to carry their share. The people who bring hay to the markets look like walking haystacks at a distance.
 With so much work to do. these boys boys and girls cannot have much time for school. They learn very little; but most of them can count, and many can read.
 At one time the people of Yucatan were the wisest in America. They built temples and palaces that now cover many acres with their ruins No one knows when they were built, but they are great and grand.
 CATHERINE NELSON. Age 12.
 Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
POETRY.

How He Saved the Fourth. Sir snile-Ups sat smiling as broad He thought he would chop him a lit- tie spare wood: On this glorious Fourth 1t is fine. don't To swing a big axe and make your self growi "1Ia! hal" cried Sir Smile Ups, these boards I shall take, For q monstrous. strong chest they
 most surely will make, 'TIs sad on the Fourth to see crack CTS around, And eyebrogs and fingers all strewn on the ground, "And mothers are wailing. What for do you buy Such foolish explosivesT and fathers Thus saying. Sir smiie-Ups quick straddled his chest. Threw out his shoulders and pulled down his vest! Then the chest flew on wings, as ] have been told, And passed through those places where crackers are sold; Not for eating. oh. no; but the kind that make noise The kind that are liked by some big men and boys. Sir Smile-U Ups sat smiling an hour or more, As boys empty-handed Came out of , each door: When next he was seen he was grim
 ming with glee, With crackers in chest, and chest in the sea!
 Wee Wisdom.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
The Village Blacksmith.

Did you ever see blacksmith? A blacksmith works with iron. He heats the iron until 1t is very hot It is soft when 1t Is red hot. He puts the iron upon an anvil and strikes it with his heavy hammer. He must be a very strong man. He can make many things of iron. He makes shoes for horses and nails them on their hoofs.
 There was a blacksmith who lived in Cambridge. MT. Longfellow used to see him at work. He liked to see him strike the hot iron, and to watch him as he made it into many things. A large tree grew very near the black smiths shop. It was chestnut tree. It had beautiful leaves and branches, Mir. Longfellow wrote poem about the blacksmith. He spoke of the chestnut tree in the poem.
 LEO POLIQUIN, Age Il.
 Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
UNCLE JED's TALK TO WIDE
 AWAkES,

Vacation days are the days when most children count upon having a good time, and if they know what a good time is they increase the joy of living.
 have known children to think they could have good time by disobeying their parents, and such children get broken bones and scars they carry for life if they do not happen be- cause of their iisobedience to get drowned.
 They used to tell me a good time was innocent amusement but must tell the Wide Awakes that a good time Is any safe, interesting or use- ful employment.
 It is as useful an employment to be adding to one's pleasures as it is to be adding to ones ability to do things or to make money.
 Pleasure need not be merely play for it may include agreeable work. For instance, the Wide Awake who makes a bookcase for his prize books not only in the work finds pleasure, but in the abiding satisHac- ton and convenience of his success.
 There is pleasure in the making of little gardens and the care of pets and B knowledge of plants and birds. Ac- tivity of the mind in service affords pleasure as we'll as the activity Of the body in games which add strength to the muscles and color to the cheeks and brightness to the eyes.
 "An work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,' and all play and no work Is liable to make of Jack lazy and useless man.
 A good time. then, is play or em- ployment which is agreeable and adds to childs healthy growth and de- velopment-that adds to it's capacity
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
The unuratsfuI Soldier.

Dear Uncle Jed:-Not quite a hun
 dred years after the time of Sir Philip
 Sidney there was a war between the
 Swedes and the Danes. One day a
 great battle was fought, and the
 Swedes were beaten, and driven from
 the field. A soldier of the Danes who had
 been slightly wounded was sitting on
 the ground. He was about to take a
 drink from a flask. All at once he heard some one say:
 % Sirl Give me a drink. for am
 dying" It was a wounded Swede who spoke. He was lying on the ground
 only little way of.
 The Dane went to him at once. He
 knelt down by the side of his fallen foe, and pressed the flask to his lips. Drink, said he; flor thy need is Hardly had he spoken these words.
 when the Swede raised himself on his elbow. pulled pistol from his pocket, and shot at the man who had befriend- ed him.
 The bullet grazed the Danes shouI- der, but did not do him much harm. "Ah, you rascal" he creid. I be- friended you, and you repay me by trying to kill me. Now I will punish you. I would have given you all the only have half" And with that he drank the half of 1t, and then gave the rest to the Swede.
 When the king of the Danes heard about this he sent for the soldiers and had them tell the story just as it was Why did you spare the life of the
 Swede after he had tried to kill you? ?" asked the king.
 Because sir" said the soldier, q could never kill a wounded enemy"
 Then you deserve to be a noble man" said the king. and he rewarded
 him by making him knight, and giv- ing him a noble title.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Rhode IsIand's Immiorants,

Within the last few years Rhode Island has had some interesting speci- mems of immigrants. Perhaps you will be surprised when I tell you that they are deer and pheasants. The former have come here for protection, because they find they may rove unmolested in our woods. They have become a ire quent sight in the northern part of our state and may be seen wandering about on moonlight nights in secluded mead owS and often in shady apple orchards.
 Our pheasant immigrants live much like the cartridges but do not seem so wild. They frequent grain fields and wallow in tall grass. One can hear them call their mates with a peculiar note, similar to that of the peacock, and yet much like the coo of a dove, at almost any time during the summer months. Most of them have a dull brown plumage, but a few of them have bright red and green feathers. They are about the size of small hen and have long, sweeping tails which almost touch the ground as they strut about.
 We Rhode Islanders are proud of these newcomers and would be glad to welcome more like them.
 ELIZABETH M. O'ROURKE.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Bru.seIs, ch.mper of Horrors,

There is one notable monument of Belgian art of whose fate we have as yet heard nothing. This is the Wiertz Gallery at Brussels. Popularly described as horrors" the Belgian's pictures are nothing of the kind, ex- cept to the populace. Most are masterpieces, descriptive of human terror and frightfulness.
 Wiertz seems to have been inspired by the Netherlands War of eighty-fve years ago, and his best scenes are of the tragedies of invasion. A mother and babe crouching in the corner of a. cottage are being shot by leering troopers. A drunken soldier, with his arm round a Belgian lady, has his brains blown out by her pistol-her expression of horror is marvellous. In "Faim, Folle, ct Crime he represents a mother, driven mad by hunger, sit ting by the kitchen fire with her baby
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Our School Fair.

Dear Uncle Jed:-Our school is only small one, but like the rest 1t had a fair. It was to show the people of our community what our school did in agriculture.
 The desk in the front of the room was covered with flowers, pickles, bread butter, biscuits, cake, and other things that were baked: other desks were covered with purnkins, potatoes, sewing novelties, corn, two kittens, a ban tam. buckwheat, seeds, sQuashes, pep pers, tomatoes, beats, beans. apples, radishes, cup-eakes, and hitched out side was a pony and outfit.
 We were awarded paper prizes. Everything was made or raised by the pupils. We had quite few visitors We hope to have stfll better fair next year.
 The prize book I had Iast time Little Prudy has been interesting to my friends as we'll as myself.
 LENA A. PALMER, Age 10.
 Eaglevile.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01

bag and carried me around from one place to another. He gave me to an- other man. went for an auto ride every day. He gave me to a grocer for some bread along, with nine other pennies. He put me in a safe some thing had happended while 1 was in this safe. It began to get very warm, then very red
 The paint crackled and down we went into a deep cellar. Then the safe began to get cool, 1t began to get dark.
 When the grocer took me to the light saw that I had been in a fire. Here I remain in this little village of Hampton, after all my trials.
 FLORA RULING. Age 12.
 Hampton.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
1hauahta.


 Dear Uncle Jed:-Ali of us have thoughts of one kind or another. Ev- erything depends upon them, because thoughts lead to words ana to actions. We should banish all evil thoughts and cherish those which are helpful and good.
 Thoughts travel faster even than the lightning! We think of some place that we have visited, and in less than a momement our power of thought has carried us there, no mat ter if it be at the other side of the world.
 Two men were sitting in a log cabin away in the backwoods of Amer ica- Presently, one Of them spoke to the other. but got no reply On re- beating his question in a louder voice, his friend started, and then said
 My thoughts have suddenly planted me down in the old home, thousands of miles from here. I could see every thing quite distinctly, and hear them talking also. and now you have quite as suddenly brought me back!"
 We sometimes speak of persons as being thoughtful in contrast with those who are thoughtless, but when we do this, it is for the purpose of distinguishing between those who are negligent and those who are careful and attentive.
 If we are disc, thoughts of the past will teach us some useful lessons. We think, for instance. of duties we have neglected; of faults we have commit ted. Let us be grateful to those who have been so kind and good to us, and strive to repay them by our con- duct.
 If any thought of the unffndness of others fingers in our memory. we should strive to banish 1t. There is an excellent motto that we should all do we'll to bear in mind:-.
 Write injuries in dust, and kind ness in marble" That is to say, try and quickly forget an injury, but all ways rember any act of kindness.
 JESSIE BREHAUT.
 East Norwich, N. Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Mansfield.
Going Fishing.

T want to go," said Beth.
 You can't" said Jim.
 Upon this, she began crying.
 You can watch me dig the worms. if you want to"
 Beth smiled, for if there was any thing she hated it was watching worms. Jim knew this.
 T won't go unless you let me catch big fish. too,'' said Beth.
 You could if mamma will let you. If she does, bring the lunch and don't fall down, as you always do," said While Beth was in the house Jim dug a tin can full of worms. When Beth came out he was ready.
 On the way to the brook she saw a snake, and myi how she screamed. This frightened it and it wrigsled away.
 When they reached the brook. Jim cut two poles, one for Beth and one for himself.
 Hook my worm" said Beth. T don't like to see the poor worm."
 Then she turned her back on him until the worm was hooked. Then she turned around and said: Show me a fishing place."
 Jim took her up the brook where e little waterfall was and said: Here's a good enough place."
 She came and sat down. Keep still" said Jim.
 He went to another place where he baited his hook. Soon the cork bobbed down. He knew he had a bite. He pulled his hook out and landed a trout. He took it off. put it in his pocket end baited the hook. He did this several times.
 Suddenly remembering Beth, he went to look for her and found her sitting in the brook. She said she would have screamed but she remembered that Jim told hes to sit still.
 He lifted her out and wrapped his coat around her and took her home.
 They had the fish that Jim had caught for supper, and how good they tasted!
 ELIZABETH PARKER.
 Mansfield Four Corners.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
IRE WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS

1-Elixabeth N. o'ReurIe of Prov idence, R. I.-The Lady of the For est.
 2-Graee HurriiI, of Stafford Springs Tom Fairfield at Sen.
 s-Ruth cresan, of wilsonville- The Lady of the Forest.
 4-LouIs Pollock, of Mansfield Dave Dashaway and His Hydroplane.
 5-Mildred Weaver, of Hampton Three Little Women at Work.
 6-Jessie Hrehaut, of East Norwich. N. "A Gay Charmer.
 7-Leona A. Palmer, of Eagleville The Maid of the Mountains.
 8-AIe2 Dueas, of Versailles-Tom Fairfield in Camp.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
"A Robber Story.

Long ago there were a great many robbers in England. One day party of people was travelling through the forest where the robbers dwelt. A con- versation was being carried on about robbers. One man who had six pounds said: T am afraid of having my money stolen. What can I do with it?"
 A woman who was more common than the rest said: Put it in your boots.'
 The man did so at once. Just then the coach door was opened and man with a mask over his face demanded money.
 The common woman said: You will find what you want in that man's boot"
 The people were angry and asked the common woman what she told where the money wes for.
 She told them all to come to her house the next day and she would tell them.
 The next day they all went to her house. When she was asked about the money she said: q had a larger amount with me than that man did, and I thought would rather lose six pounds by paying that man back, than lose all of my money"
 The people were pleased with her answer.
 RUTH CREGAN, Age 1S.
 Wilsonville.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
A vIsit to Warpsstsr.

Dear Uncle Jed:-I wish to tell you about my trip to Worcester went to my grandma's to stay little while. My aunt from Worcester came down for the day, and said I could go back with her. and pay visit to my five little cousins.
 First we went by stage to the depot. there we took the steam train for Putnam. On arriving there the train did not connect, as. we expected, 50 after waiting half an hour we took the electric car. It was a nice ride. We went through several small towns, and arrived there after a ride of nsariy i've hours.
 My cousins were very glad to see me. as well as being very much sur
 The next day being Sunday, my four cousins and myself went to walk. They took me to Elm Park and New ton Hill. We could see all around, and I thought the places were pretty. When we returned from our walk ] treated them all to ice cream.
 I also saw the jitney-bus, but did not ride in one.
 I had never been in such a large city before thft I could remember. had a nice time and was not the least bit home sick.
 MILDRED WEAVER.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01

saddle on tightly. Then wa put the crupper under tho horse'e tail.
 When this is done we put the bridla latch.
 Then we back him tHte fhe shafts and fasten the hoidhaek straps,
 Then we fasten the tFASes te the whiffle- tree and put ths feins through the rings on the bridie and faetea them.
 After this is done we put the FeiRs through the hooks on the aaddis and haimea. Then the horse is ready to start
 LEWIS POLLOCK, Age IS.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
RaIe. fer Yosna Wtitsrs.

i. Write plainly on one side of the paper only, and number the pages. 2. Use pen and ink, not pencil. 8. Short and pointed articles will be given preference. Do not useiovsr $50 words.
 A. Original stories or letters only win be used.
 s. Write your name, age and ad- dress plainly at the bottom Of the story.
 Address 0il communications to Uncle Jed, Bulletin Ofiice.
 'fThatever you are-Be thati
 Whatever you say-Be truei Il
 Straightforwardly act, E
 Ba honest-in fact.
 Be nobody else but you"
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
LErTERs or AckNowLEpcMEN7

Elizabeth M. o'Rouske, of Provi- dence: have received the prize book. Witch Winnie's Mystery" for which thank you very much.
 Mary Louiss Brush, of Bozrah Thank you very much for my prize book, Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea" I have read most of it, and like it very well.
 Carrie 4. Pratt, of Ponfret Gen. ter: Please accept my thanks for the prize book. "The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Shows" I have read it through and enjoyed 1t very much
 Frederick Kendall, of Norwich: thank you for prize book. entitled Boy Scouts for Uncle Sam" l have read 1t through and liked it very much.
 Bertha Fuller of Eaglevil1e: I re- ceived the prize book and thank you very much for it. The nano of it Is Madge. Norton, Captain of the Merry Maid, have read 1t and found 1t very interesting.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Her IittIe Kittens.

Dear Uncle Jed:-Our old cat has three little kittens. They are such pretty little things. so soft and so frowsy. One is pure white, all ex- cept a little black spot on its fore head. We call him Spotty. One is entirely black and she Is named Jet The third is striped like a tiger, and for that reason we call him Tiger.
 He is not at all fierce, in spite of his name, but plays with his brother and sister, in a very friendly manner Sometimes they play so roughly that there is danger of them being hurt.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
The Power of 9 Poet.

Signor d'Annunzio, Italy's poet-idol and political leader, comes nearest of all men to justify the dictum of Fletcher of Saltoun regarding the power of the poet as a law-maker. For d'Annunzio has "sung" Italy into war by his own ballads. In order that Fletcher may not suffer from the usu- al misquotation, his actual words may be here set down. They are taken from an Imaginary Conversations: 'T knew" he says, "a very wise man so much of Sir Christopher's senti- ment that he believed if man were permitted to make all the ballads he need not care who should make the laws of a nation."-London Chronicle.
 New York has about 100000 school rl1f4Aren
Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-01
Earmina in China.

Chinese farmers adopt many clever devices in order to get a good har- vest. If a strong wind seems likely to shake out the grains of rice by beating the stalks one against the other, they tie a few sticks together into small sheaves and by these means the ears are protected.
 Low mountains in China are often cultivated to the very top. The sides arc cut into terraces, and these are sometimes watered by streams con- veyed from below through bamboo tubes. Every weed is removed with the greatest patience, and whero there Is a corner in their fields quite unpro- ductive, they plant therein some use- ful tree, such as the mulberry.
 In some provinces, owing to the nat ural fertility of the ground, and this careful cultivation, three harvests are gathered in the year.
 MIRIAM M. GROVER.
 Norwich.