davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
The Eskimos.

The Eskimos live in Greenland and
 some in Alaska.
 The Eskimos have coarse black hair
 and they are not big.
 The women dress the same as the
 men do. It is very cold there, so their clothing. is made of fur. The Eskimos
 live near the ocean because it is easier to get food. They take their tents with them when they do in search of food. In winter, when the ground is frozen and covered with snow the Es-
 kimos ride about on sleds drawn by dogs. They kill seals and fish with their spears. Some of the fishermen from the United States go there. The Eskimos trade with some of the peo- pie who come there,
 The Eszimos call their boats kayaks The boats and the sleds are made of bones, because there is little wood there.
 The Esximos keep warm because they eat fat. They burn fat in their
 lamps because 1t makes them warm
 and because they haven't any kero- sene.
 They haven't any stoves, but eat the things they catch. without cook ing. Some of the Eskimos are civilized and the other Eskin1os are learning from the civilized Bskimos. l Lots of people from Denmark go to Greenland to teach them. They teach
 them how to build houses and how to l live comfortably. ANNA BLAIIUsIAK, Age il. l West Wilmington.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
A Ride to Pine Grove, Mantle.

Dear Uncle Jed: thought I would drop a few lines to let you know my visit to Pine Grove, Niantic, last sum- mer.
 We left our home in Stafford Springs early one bright sunny Monday morn ing. We hired a double-seated auto and We started off.
 There was beautiful scenery going through Wilmington, Coventry, Willi- mantle and Norwich.
 If I had been acquainted with you I would have stopped and shaken hands with you and had fine talk.
 We passed through New London, down past the Golden Spur. and ar rived at Pine Grove, Mantle. at Il o'clock,
 This was the best ride I ever had in my life. The first thing We did was to take a swim. Then we wiped the dust off the car; then we were awful hungry, you bet, and after a delightful meal we went for a sail to see if we could get any crabs.
 We stayed at Pine Grove one whole month and had a great time digging clans and catching crabs, and after a most delightful time We returned home on the steam cars. r Our friends were glad to see us back in our old home town
 MILDRED B. WHITE, Age 13. Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
Maraarets Conscience.

Dear Uncle Jed: Many years ago the northern part of New York was one vast wilderness. Not far from the Saint Lawrence river there lived a lit tie girl who spent one long, unhappy day because she did not obey her con- science.
 Little Margaret loved her home and she loved the great river and meadows and orchards; but better than any thing else, she loved the clock that stood in the living room.
 Her father had told her if she would listen closely she would hear the clock saying: Do right, little girl! Do rightl Do right!"
 It was midsummer and the father and mother were away from home and the children were left to take care of
 themselves. They soon grew tired of
 playing with their books. The two year-old baby had fallen fast asleep, and Margaret took her station before | the old clock, but she soon got tired of watching the clock. Then she thought how she would like to touch | the swinging pendulum. She took a step, and was startled by hearing 1t say: Do right! Do right! Do righti" T haven't done anything wrong, have F" exclaimed the child Then she was sure she heard 1t say: That s righti That's right!''
 l When her father came home the children saw that the clock had stop ped, so they ran and told him. | He said to Margaret, You have done | very wrong"
 DORIS EAsTERBRooEs, Age {. | Willimantic.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
How q City Was Buried.

Once there was beautiful city near where Mount Vesuvius stands. The city was so beautiful people came from all over the world to see 1t. When they returned to their homes they told of its lovely gardens, parks and its fountains.
 At the end of every street a spark Hing fountain played, while the people sat on the marble seats and enjoyed the view of the deep blue sea Rich people were there, dressed in their gayest dresses and attended by their slaves.
 Very often tables were spread in parks and loaded with fruit and fiow- erE. Many of the houses were large and costly. Everyone had a garden where 1 rich fruits and lovely trees and fow- | CTS grew. ,.f-., :. The walls of many of the houses were adorned with pictures painted by
 the artists of the day. Very often masters of these ,fine
 houses gave feasts to their friends;
 1 but while dining the guests did not sit
 lat tables, as is our custom. They sat
 | or Iay down among soft, rich cushions
 which covered the benches and floors. | And SO these rich people went on
 from day to day. feasting, dancing and
 singing. They were. very proud of
 their homes, - txss --x s | But one day the sky, grew suddenly
 dark as if 1t was night The air was
 filed with dust, sn0ke,s and ashes. Then the frightsned, pseples sTisa to
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
A True Story About a Horse.

One afternoon a lady told me story which thought very nice, so will tell 1t to you and the Wide-Awakes:
 When I was a little girl we lived in the country. about a mile from little schoolhouse. Every pleasant day we walked to school. When it was stormy my father generally carried us in the morning and we stayed at school throughout the day. Our horse, Char ley, was very knowing and kind. He knew the way from our house to the school so well that he was often trust ed to go alone.
 Often towards the close of stormy afternoon my father would harness the good horse to the wagon, take him to the road and say:
 Charley. go. and get the girls" Charley would trot down the road to the schoolhouse, would himself turn the wagon so that he was headed tow ard home, and there wait till school was out, when we climbed into the wagon and drove him. There he was
 rewarded with loving words, pats and apples.
 am glad to remember that faithful horse was always treated kindly. Fa-
 ther refused all offers for him and he
 ended his days with us. HATTIE PERKINS. | Colchester,
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
Versailles
Forest Fires.

Sometimes we do not know and ap- preciate some of our very best friends until it is too late. The great forest trees are certainly our friends in many ways.
 From a great many trees we get use- full articles, including nuts, medicines, lumber and paper and many more valuable things. What are we going to do for lumber with. which to build houses when all of the fine trees are destroyed?
 There are many countries in the old world, notably China, India and Korea, where the people did not know and appreciate the full value of trees until 1t was too late.
 In our country we have the most magnificent forests in the world and yet we are treating them little better than the people of China and India and Korea treated their original for ests. Ought we not to do better? When we start to cut a fine tree do we always consider whether it is abso- lutely necessary for us to cut it? We have it in our power now to do good service to our country by planting tree and caring for it until 1t is big enough to make it's own liv- ing.
 Every year the governor of Connec- ticut appoints a day as Arbor and Bird day. On this day we always plant trees or flowers.
 CLARA ALLEN, Age fl. Versailles
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
A Faithful Servant.

A certain king was in need ofa ser- want who could be depended upon to do what he was told. So in the hope of getting the right man he hired two men.
 These he took to 8 well one morn ing and showing them a large basket bade them fill it with water. Then, after promising to return at night to see what they had done, he left them to themselves and went away.
 The men were very much in earnest when they began their work, but after pouring five or six bucketfuls of water into the basket one of them stopped and said: What is the use-o of doing this2 As fast as we pour the water into the
 basket. it runs. out. It is nothing but
 time lost.n
 That is no business of ours," replied his companion. We are paid to do
 this work and, whether or not it seems useful to us. we ought to do It," You may do as you please" said
 the first speaker, 'but as for me I shall not waste my time on any such foolish work" and, throwing down his bucket, he walked off.
 The other man confirmed at the work until about sunset, when he had nearly emptied the well. Looking into the basket, he saw something glitter ing. Stopping to look closer, he found | 1t was a ring of great value, which his bucket had scooped up from the mud at the bottom of the we'll. ''Now I know why the king wanted
 the water poured into the basket" he said to himself. Had it been poured on the ground, the ring might have
 been trampled into the mud and been lost"
 Shortly after, the king came up with some of his officers. As soon as he saw the ring he knew the man had obeyed his orders, though they seemed to be foolish.
 Here was one to be trusted, thought
 the king, so he gave the man a place in the palace and, not long after, made him master of the other servants. AGNEIIlA GAREAU, Age 12. Baltic.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
How Mary Kept House,

Dear Uncle Jed: Mary lived with her aunt, and her aunt went out to spend the day and left Mary to keep house.
 The cook was down stairs, of course, but Mary was to stay upstairs, and wait on the door, and see all those who called. The small child felt quite large.
 At first she took up book and be- gan to read, but was soon tired of that Then she thought she would clean up the rooms, so she put on a long apron, tied up her curls in a sort of mob-cap, and went to work.
 The broom was much too big for her, but she swept away as well as she could and raised quite a dust She did not put a thing out of the the vases, had a thick coat of dust on them.
 Tray, the dog, tried to help her all he could. but he did not help in the right way.
 When Mary shook the dust cloth Tray would jump for it and seize one end and pull at it with all his might.
 After she had dusted, she was quite pleased with the way the room looked and so she thought she would sweep and dust the stairs. So she took the broom and swept all the dirt that was on the stairs, while Tray was close dust cloth he would run up and down the stairs, barking and jumping, and giving such hard tugs at the dust cloth that Mary had hard work to keep hold of it.
 Once he got 1t away from her and such a chase as the two had up and downstairsI And when Aunt Wells came home, she found Mary and Tray fast asleep on the rug, with the dust cloth between them. ETTA MGRATI, Age 12. Rozrahville
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
The Story tn. Old Shoe Told.

Once an old shoe and a gingham apron met in ragman's cart.
 'Hello," said the apron to the shoe. How did you happen to come here"
 T will tell you the story of my life ii you like. then you will know how I came here," answered the shoe, and began this way:
 Once I was on the back of a COW and when the COW was killed I was dried and taken to the tannery. After being there awhile the tanner sold me into shoes. I was then put in the window of a large shoe store where I could see people passing by every day.
 T shall never forget the day a It. tie girl came into the store with her mother. She was pretty child with long golden curls, and while the sales man showed me to them kept wish ing that she would like me. I guess she did, because I saw her mother give the man some green papers and then shut met up in a box
 When again saw light there was the same little girl. She was going to school and I had to go, too. wore out at last as all shoes do. The mother threw me in an old box and one day when the ragman came along was sold and here am," fin- ished the old shoe, and he sighed. the gingham apron; but just then the ragman, who was sorting out the things, threw the shoe one way and the apron another so the gfngham apron never had chance to tell the old shoe her story.
 MARY BURRnL, Age 12. Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29

load along a muddy road. Presently he came to a spot where the wheels sank half way into the uire. The more the horses tried to pull them out, the deeper they sank.
 At last the man threw aside his whip, knelt down and loudly prayed to Hercules the Strong:
 70. Hercules, help me! I pray you, help mel" he said. But Hercules answered.:
 "Pshaw, man! Don't lie there in the mud. Get up and put your shoulder to the heel. Don't you know that the gods help them who help themselves ?'' ANNA LAROCHE, Age Il. Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29

that he would let them trade without his interference.
 Another thing that the people did at that time was to form guilds. It was thought 8 great honor to belong to @ guild.
 A guild was a company of men of the same trade. They always had a leader who made their laws. For ex- ample, if they were shoemakers, they could not sell the shoes above a cer-
 tain price. and every shoe had to be examined before sold.
 If a man did not obey the laws of
 the guild, he was not allowed to stay with it. The purpose of the guild was to have every man have the same chance to sell his goods.
 Some men who belonged to the guilds were noted citizens in their towns or cities. Some of the guild halls yet exist. One of the guilds that still exist Is the wool cornbers' guild JOSEPH T. MIRTL, Age 13. West WilIington.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
The Story of a Scarlet Cord.


 After the death of Moses, while the children of Israel were still encamped upon the east bank of the Jordan. God told Joshua to take Moses place and rule the people and to lead them across the river and conquer the land without delay. God said to Joshua: T will be with you as was with Noses"
 So Joshua told his officers to tell the people to prepare food for journey, over the river Jordan into land which the Lord had promised them. This was not a very easy job, for at that time of the year, in the spring, the Jordan was much larger than at other times. All it's banks were overdowed, and 1t was running as a broad, deep, swift river, down to the Dead sea, a few miles to the south. Only a strong man could swim in its powerful cur rent, and the Israelites had no boats in which they could cross 1t. 7 A few miles distant, on the other side of the city, the Israelites could see the walls of the city of Jericho, stand 1 ing at the foot of the mountains. This city must be taken before the rest Of the land could be won, for it stood be- side the road leading up to the noun tain country.
 l Joshua sent two careful, brave and wise men across the river to Jericho l to find out all they could about the city, and told them to return in two days. They swam across the Jordan and went into the city, but were seen | by the king, who sent men to take them prisoners. They came to a house which stood on the wall of the city, where a woman named Rahab lived, and she hid the men. The king sent his officers after these strange men who were seen going into the woman's house. The woman hid l the men under some flax stalks on the roof and the officers did not find them,
 but thought they had. left the city;
 then Rahab went to the two men and said:
 l "Alf of us in this city know that your God Is mighty, and has given you \ this land. We have heard how your God dried up the Red sea before you
 and led you through the desert, and gave you victory over your enemies ! And now all the people in this city are
 in fear of you, for they know that youl
 God will give you this city and all this land.
 the name of the. Lord that you will
 spare my life. and the lives of my father and mother, and of my brothers
 and sisters, when you take this city The men promised that they would From one of her windows Rahab le men could slide down to the ground It happened that this rope was of { bright scarlet color. | The, two spies told Rahab to have the scarlet rope hanging, in the win dow while they were taking the city and to. bring her father, mother ,ant family into the house and keep then there during that time, and thus al would be safe when the city is taken Then the two men, at night, slit
 down the rope and found their way
 back to Joshua and told him thei I JESSIE BREHAUT. | East. Norwich, N. Y. ~
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
LETTERS To UNCLE JED.
The Crippled Girl and the Flower,

The Crippled Girl and the Flowers.
 Dear Uncle Jed: One pleasant day in June my friend and I went out walk ing. We did not go very far when we heard a f1utter of wings. We stop ped and listened and soon we saw d flock of quail. We at once hurried to the spot where they rose, hoping to find their nest, but instead, we found a magnificent bed of purple and white violets.
 We were soon busy picking them and when we were through we had a lovely bouquet. This made us look for more flowers, and going to a lit tie brook, we found on it's banks a bed of adder tongues and anemones. We soon picked more than our hands could hold and we started for home.
 On our way home I thought of a little girl who was a cripple and had to be carried on a chair around the house. She loved flowers, but could not go out to pick them. So I said to my friend: Let us visit that little girl and we will give her these flowers"
 This she agreed to do, and we de- cided to go the next day. Soon we were home and I put the flowers in a vase.
 The next day was pleasant, and in the afternoon we started for the little girls home.
 It did not take long to go there and
 
 She smiled at us, and when we gave her the flowers she was very glad tc have them.
 She called for her mother and badt her get the vase that her grandms gave her for a Christmas present. | was a pretty vase. and it just matched the flowers. She set the flowers il carefully and put them on the window sill, where she could look at them. w stayed long while, telling her storie! l and also told her the names of tn, flowers in the vase. | The time sped fast, and it was tim for us to go home. We said goodby, to the little oirl and told her We would | come more often.
 She was sorry to have us go, ant she stayed near the window and watch ed us until we were out of sight. | My friend and I were very glat to make the little girl happy. MOLL1E PALEY, Age 12. | Colchester
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
Loss of the Royal George.
Norwich.

Many years ago an English fleet lay at anchor in the roadstead at Spithead near Portsmouth. The finest ship in the fleet was the Royal George. She l was the admiraPs ship and carried & hundred guns.
 Just as everything was put on board
 and she was ready to go to sea the first 1 lieutenant discovered that the water pipes were out of order. In order to repair them it was not thought neces- | sary to put the ship into the dock, but only to heel her over till that part of | the hull where the pipes were placed
 was brought above the water.
 Keeling a; ship over is making her lean over on one side. A gang of men from the backyard were sent to help the ships carpenters. The WoFknen reached the pipes of the Royal George and made the needed
 repairs. But just as they had done so a lighter or large open boat laden
 with coal came alongside. The port ! holes on the lower side of the Royal George <were nearly even with the wa ter when the lighter came near, but when the men began to take in the | coal the boat heeled over more and
 more. The water began to rush in the portholes. -~' =
 The carpenter saw the danger and I ran and told the second lieutenant 1 that the ship ought to be lighted at l once. But the lieutenant said: | Mind your own business and I'll mind mine."
 | The carpenter went second time
 and got the same answer.
 l At last the lieutenant began to see
 that the carpenter had been right and ! the danger was very great. He ordered 1 the men to their posts. The men were scrambling down I through the hatchway to put the heavy guns back in their places. It was too
 late. The boat was sinking rapidly. Before help or rescue could be had,
 down went the Royal George, carrying with her the admiral, officers, men and
 numerous visitors who were on board,
 to the number of nearly one thousand. 1 The gallant ship was lost, with ali
 on board, because a young man was too proud to take advice. 1 FRANK PARDY, Age IA Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
STORIES WRITTEN BY '
 AWAkES.
BY VIVID
HaM We Earn Money,

How We Earn Money. My father said, How will you and brother Will earn money for the bank"
 This is'the way: Brother and are going to join the club, each having one eighth of an acre, and plant corn, potatoes. cabbage, or some other crop that Is useful. We must do all the work it needs ourselves.
 Some crops must be watered and some we must hoe. Then when the crop Is to be taken home we will dig it out and put it in bags and will carry 1t home, and soon will be selling 1t.
 I have a hen sitting on fifteen eggs and have to put her out every morn ing or night to get fresh air. I give her clean water and corn every day and not very much.
 When the baby chickens are hatch ing I must get them from under the hen in the morning or at night (be- cause I have to go to school in the day time). I must put them into a high box so they won't get out and al night cover them as much as they need In two or three days, must feed them. will give them eggs, wet meal, and wet bread. very soft. The fourth day I will get the her and let them go out and at fouI O CLOCK III the d1I0TIlOOu put t4ISI1A WAIA their mother In their little chicken house.
 | When they are old enough to be sold I will sell them to some butcher and take the money every Friday te school to put in the bank ], have also two flower pots 1T which have geranium and a hilio- trope. I water them every morning before I go to school IRENE VONASEK, Age il. West Wilmington.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
Villages, Towns and Guilds in the Middle Aqes,

Tn the middle ages the house Of a lord was called a manor. It stood on a hill. A little lower under 1t were the huts of the serfs. The serfs led a miserable life. They did not have much time to work on their own patch of land because they had to work for the lord The huts were built very badly.
 k The serfs did not have much to eat In winter. The hams they made, were usually spoiled before the end. of winr ter because they did not salt them enough.
 Every large town or city was owned by a lord at that time. He made the flaws for the people. The people want
 ed to exchange goods with the traders,
 but the lords would not allow 1t.
 When q town became strong enough
 [ 1t revolted and demanded a charter.
 This was usually granted. In the char
 ter tho lord had to promise he wouldn't maAe. them pay money only at certain times snd on certain conditaoasE and
Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-29
The Early Settlers.

Dear Uncle Jed: The oldest ceme- tery in our town is the Gallup cene- tery on Pine Hill road. The oldest stone in that cemetery is dated 1735, and is that of William Gallup, a son of John, who was also buried. there with the early settlers
 The first church in our town was built on the Pine Hill road. The first pastor was Samuel Dorrance, a young man just out of college. He was from Ireland. He was greatly beloved by his people.
 When Sterling was incorporated. Rev. James Burlingame. one of the most noted gospel preachers in New England, was born in house just east of the church.
 Sterline Hill church was built next. The next one was the line church on E1onk hill. East of Sterling Hill church the Revolutionary soldiers en- camped on the green
 The level plain east of the church was used for a racing track
 Oneco was named for an Indian chief and was a business city. Cotton and woo1en mills were manufactured. A quarry worked by 125 men made bus mess boom.
 RALPH WILCOX, Age 12.,.