davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
EthaI's Birthday.

Ethel was a poor little girl of ten years. Besides being poor, she had no parents to love her, and put her to bed after she had said her evening prayers as many children have.
 She lived in the slums of New York city and sold papers to keep herself from starvation. Her home was a little dark room in a house not any too clean.
 Many times in winter when it was very cold Ethel was seen walking through the streets of New York city clad in ragged clothes and her little hands numb with cold. but she was getting used to it, and most always managed to sell enough papers to buy something to eat.
 It was the evening before her birthday and as she was walking slow ly home she was thinking of her birth day.
 She thought of many children, who, on their birthday would receive many gifts while she would receive nothing. As she entered the room in which she lived there was no fire to warm her, for she was far too poor to buy wood. She ate her supper made up of bread, and then kneeled down before what she called a bed, but in reality it was only a pile of rags, and said a prayer to the Father above. She then laid down and tried to sleep, but she was too cold.
 The next morning when she awolze it was showing very hard, but this was no excuse for Ethel not having to sell papers.
 It was her birthday and she was eleven years old. She went to the post office and bought some papers and started to sell them.
 It was almost noon when a gentle man came walking down the street followed by some poorly clad children. He noticed Ethel, walked up to her and said:
 Little girl, what is your name?"
 She answered, My name is Ethel Krine''
 The man then said, Where do you live, and who are your parents?''
 Ethel answered, "Tse live in a. room, and I ain't got no mamma or papa, dey both is dead"
 "He then said: "Do you not want to come with me. I will take you to a good home and will have new clothes and good things to eat?"
 Ethel answered, Yes"
 This man was an agent of an Orphans home and was going around getting fatherless and motherless children. So Ethel for her birthday present received a good home.
 FLOSSIE MEYER, Age 12.
 Taftville.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
UNCLE ~JED's TALK TO WIDE,
 ANAGAKES.

Do not, get into. the habit, Wide Awakes, of f1ndi14grexcuses for your own negligence.
 The boy or girl who can always find an excuse for mishaps caused by heed lessness are not sca.smart as they seem.
 There are men and women who can do the same thing. and they are not considered shrewds or sharp, for not one in a thousandsAexcuses offered fits the case.
 The excuses whACh are hurriedly of fered for~mistakes -or misdeeds are the product of guilty and confused minds and will not bear close examination.
 It Is more honorable to say guilty than to invent a neason which is too flinsy to command, respect.
 A minister cIosessllis written tribute to a friend with: ''He is not dead but sleepeth," and. when he sees it in print it reads: 'He4is not dead but squeak eth" The typesetter finds an excuse: The writing xas bad" The minister thinks the printers mind was some what vacant. I shall leave it to you who was right.
 The making of excuses is second as bad habit to finding fault A person addicted to finding fault does so when there is no sense in 1t, while the first makes an excuse when no excuse cov- CTS the case.
 It is better to own right up than it is to be always making excuses.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
Hidden Treasura.

Once there was a farmer who was always looking for treasures. He poked about old ruins and even wanted to take up the church floor.
 One morning when he awoke. he told his wife that he had found a treasure After breakfast they both went to the orchard where he said the treasure was. His wife asked him what tree it was under, but he could not tell. He said the only way to get it would be to dig under every tree. So he began digging under the trees.
 One day the boys sat on the fence and threw stones at him. The next day he brought out his gun with him. When the boys threw stones at him he shot at them. He was troubled by them no more.
 After he had dug around all the trees. and found no gold, he was dis couraged. The holes were left un- covered for many weeks.
 At last he covered them up. The next spring the trees were loaded with blossoms. Then many small, green, hard things came out on them. That autumn the old trees were staggering under their weight of fine fruit
 This was because the light was let in, and it turned the soil up to the frost and sun.
 Men are ungrateful at times, but the soil is never ungrateful; it always makes a return for the care that is given it.
 ALICE MAY AVER, Age 12.
 NOrvyicb
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
My Experience Making Candy.

One night I thought should like to make some -nolasses candy so I ask ed my mother if I could, and she said yes T measured out the material to make it with and soon had it boiling on the stove. I boiled it half an hour then I told my younger brother to get a cup of cold water and we would try it.
 He told me it was getting pretty hard and I had better hurry and pour it out into the pan which did and set 1t out to harden.
 While it was hardening I read stories to my younger brothers. Then we went to get the candy but it was still very soft.
 My sister said she thought I had better cook it a little more, but l thought if we waited a little longer it would harden, but it didn't
 I didn't want to eat 1t with a, spoon so I cooked it again, and this time it hardened.
 took it upstairs.
 We were all very tired as it was ten o'clock and hurried to bed. We ate the candy in the morning.
 Next time I make candy I will try 1t myself.
 MARY A. BURRILL, Age 12.
 Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
How to Examine Birds, Nests.

Dear Uncle Jed: Many boys who are fond of studying the habits of birds, in their native haunts, have en- countered difficulty in the case of nests deeply placed in the trunks of trees-as for example those of the yellow hammers and woodpeckers.
 The son of a doctor recently dis covered that by using a large mi scope, the inside of the nest can easily be seen. This instrument con- sists of a small round mirror attached to a handle, and a larger round mir row with an aperture in the center.
 To examine the nest. the light is re- fected from the head mirror to the small mirror, placed with the redecting surface tilted downward.
 From the second mirror the light Is reflected to the bottom of the nest. and so Eliminates it's contests that their minutest details are plainly seen on the small mirror by the observer look ing through the hole in the large mirroW attacher to the head.
 The same instrument can be used in the cast of nests on the stumps of trees difficult of access. Use a small looking glass attached to one end of a cane or stick and titled over the nest. You can easily do this without disturbing the eggs or the young birds.
 AGNES SHEA, Age IS.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
THE DRAGON FLY BABY

There was the biggest kind of walk fng in the funny world at the bottom of the pond, for the odd people who live there had been asleep all winter and it was time for them to get up.
 First one out" croaked a big frog, hopping from his muddy bed and stretching his long legs. Here, you lazy fellows, stir yourselves. How much longer do you want to sleep?"
 Not any longer, it seemed, for the Jumps of mud began to stir. and soon there was the greatest croaking and Eplashing you can imagine.
 'Horrid, noisy creatures" said Mrs. Waterboatman, with a yaWn almost large enough to swallow herself.
 "Oh, you are awake, are you?" asked coming to call you. Shall we go to the top? Things are just humming up there. Mrs. Waterbug has gone up with all her children hanging on her legs. as usual. I certainly am glad that such a vulgar practice does not run in our family. There's Mrs. WaterSpider hard at work, bringing down bubbles of air. She says the mosquitoes have laid their eggs already. They are always in such a hurry. I would not have their bad reputation for anything
 "Ah, Mrs. Divingbeetle, good morn tng-you have been up, l see. What
 An, dreadful dreadful" panted Mrs. Divingbeetle in a sad voice Poor Mrs. Mosquito is in great trou ble. A dragon fay has just swallowed her husband. We are really never safe The dragonfiies up above and those abomtnable black bugs down here make life quite miserable"
 The black bugs, crawling sluggish1y through the mud, heard the words, and 1t was well for Mrs. Divingbeetle that they were not particularly hungry just then.
 One little fellow was feeling much too sick and tired to be hungry. He could not tell just what was the mat ter with him. He had lived in the mud at the bottom of the pond ever since he came out of his speck of an egg, months and months ago. All day long ne had done nothing except eat, eat, sat. He had never even hunted for his Sinner. He had only to stand still, and when a poor little grub came too near, out darted that black masklike hing he wore on his head and hauled It in. Sometimes he wondered what ais six legs were made for. And now, when everyone else was busy and glad, he was dreadfully sick.
 He looked through the clear water md saw the blue sky and the bright kun and all the busy people. Above III he saw the glorious dragon flies 5arting about like visions of beauty md light. He wanted to get nearer 10 them, and for the first time in his ife he wondered If he could leave his Hull home and get dnto the light and air.
 He had no mother.to advisethim. The items of the water rushes made. such Amous ladders that before he knew it ie had begun to climb the one nearest 70 him. He went slowly at first. When he was half way up, two AWhirligig- Beetles came dancing along.
 01IffD rriad 0DQ turning n somersault over him and nearly knock ng him down.
 You are very rude" he answered. If I felt well today I'd eat you up."
 But they only laughed at ~i1im and Fent spinning on.
 Such a funny fellow" they said tc Aach other. 'but, then, one meets funny people in a days walk"
 After thissthe baby, crawled on.- It
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Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
DEAFNESS CANNOT BE CURED

by local applications. as they cannot reach the diseased portion of the ear. There Is only one way to cure deaf ness, and that is by constitutional rem edies. Deafness is caused by an in famed condition of the mucous lining of the Eustachian Tube. When this tube Is inhamed you have a rumbling it is entirely closed deafness is the result, and unless the inflammation can be taken out and this tube restored to its normal condition, hearing will be destroyed forever; nine cases out of ten are caused by catarrh. which is the mucous surfaces.
 We will give One Hundred Dollars for any case Of deafness (caused by catarrhI that cannot be cured by Halls catarrh Cure. Send for circu- lars free.
 Sold by Druggists, 75c
 Take Halls Family Pills for consti- patton
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24

countries and had all the servants sent something of their own.
 All came out when MT. Fitzwarren called but Dick. Dick sent his cat, he didn't want to come out.
 The wind blew the ship to the coast of Barbary. One night as he packed his bundle he heard the bells say: 'sTurn againi Wilmington, Mayor of London" He obeyed the bells.
 He remembered the bells when he grew up. He was chosen mayor three times.
 He married MT. Fitzwarren's daugh- ter whose name was Mistress Alice.
 Dick was rich man, and one of the best men of England. He lived very happily ever afterwards.
 GERTRUDE HATTTN, Age il.
 Mt Hope,
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
The PIayaround Exercises.

HS Fl6JSTOdHQ E<STCiScSs
 Dear Uncle Jed:-I must tell you about the exhibition We gave for the Fairgrounds, on Saturday. June 18th. It was a beautiful sunshiny day.
 We first met at the Elks' home on Main street where Tubb's band fur nished music for us, and the Boy Scouts were there to keep back the crowd.
 We dancved folk dances there and the children from St. Mary's school gave "A Market Day Exercise, two boys sang very sweetIy, and another boy sang @ Scotch song which was very funny.
 TNan we marched to Union Square, where we went through the same ex- ercises again.
 Afterwards we were taken to the Chelsea parade in an automobile, and we had some fun going up, too. There was a large MaypoIe erected on the green and boys and young ladies were selling ice cream, candies, and flowers.
 The children from another school gave the May pole dance and little tots gave a. very pretty dance.
 We gave our dance again at the green and the exercises ended with the band playing.
 We had a fine time but I was very tired when I got home. MARGUERITE SUTTHILL, Age il.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
7 Wl.f
Picnic at Coventry Lake.

Dear Uncle Jed: I will tell the Wide Awake circle about daN at Coventry lake-June 16th
 I went with my mother and Aunty No. 1 to the Social Corner picnic.
 First We had a ride behind a pretty black horse to the station where we took the steam cars to Willimantic; from there we went by trolley to the lake, where Q guide met us and show ed us the way to the log cabin cot tage where we all met
 I spent most of my time before din- ner with the other girls on the lake in a row boat. When the call for din- ner was heard We hurried as fast as we could up the bank for our share of the goodies.
 Then mother and went with sev- eral others around the lake in the motor boat after which 1t was time to go home.
 We came all the way from the lake to Yantic by trolley, then home by auto. So I had several kind of rides during the day, and one of the best of times.
 HELEN GRACE KAHN, Age 10.
 Franklin
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
The Girls Canning Club.

The object of the Girls Garden and Canning club is to have garIs earn some money and learn how to can fruits and raise flowers and vegeta- bles.
 The reason why enrolled as a club member was to learn how to can some vegetables and fruits. There are so many things which are going to waste that I thought I would learn how to can some of them. I thought it would save buying canned goods, and that perhaps, I could make some mon ey selling some of the canned pro- ducts.
 The club meetings were held at the Connecticut Agricultural college in the summer vacation.
 I learned how to can by going to the meetings because MT. Brundage had the apparatus with which to show us I learned how to can them this summer.
 I took my exhibits to the school fair and also to the Berlin fair.
 The prize received was fifty cents.
 BERTHA FULLER
 OIayi11a
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
POETRY.
who&stoIe the Birds tNese2

Who1Stole the BIro's NesrS --,A r~ro-whitI to-whit! to-wheei 7W9Il you listen to me? Who stole the four eggs l. I-1aid, ! And the, nice nest made? ! ''rSot I.~- said the COW. 'fMoo-oo9---~ Such a thing I'd never do. v,. T gave you a. wiSp Of hay, But didn't take your nest away. ,H.Not T." said the COW. "Moo-oo!t ',- Such thing I'd never do." >1-a. ,s.- ~To-whit! to-whit! to-wheeI ~~ sVVill you listen to me? Who stole four eggs l laid, ,And the, nicesnest made?" ,4Bob-o' link! bob-o'-link! Now what do,you think? Who stolela rest away From the splum tree, today" 'sNJot T." said the dog. 'Bow-wow! -- T wouldn't be so mean, anyhow! II gave hairs the nest to make, But the nest I did not take. Not l." said the dog. "Bow-wowa -v I'm not so mean, anyhow!" ...-c,-.~~cg,sl ''To-Whit! to-whtti to-whee! Will you listen to me?
 Who stole four eggs I laid, And the nice nest I made" ',Bob-o' link. bob-o' -lirk!
 Now what do you think? Who stoIeca nest away
 From the plum tree, today?' ."Coo-cooi coo-coo! coo -coo! Let me speak 8. word, too! Who stole that pretty nest From little yellow -breast?" ''Not r. said; the sheep. "Oh, noE I wouldn't treat a poor bird so. gave wool the nest to line, But tho nest was none of mine. Raai baai" said the sheep. "Oh, not [ wouldn't treat a poor bird so!' "To-whit! to-w1liti to-wtee! VIII you listen to me?
 Who stole four eggs l laid. r'1t>, s And the nice nest l made?S 'Bob-o'- link! bob-o' link!
 Now what do you think? Who stole a nest away From the plum tree, today" "Coo-coo! coo-coo! coo -coCf Let me speak a word, too Who stole that pretty nest From little yellow brea st?" "Caw! caw!" cried the cror: q should like to know
 What thief took away A birds nest. today?"
 "C1uckl clucki" said the hen; Don't ask me again.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24

Dear Uncle Jed and Wide Awalzes: My sister and I have a little white pony, new harness and a little two wheel basket carriage which we use to drive to and from High school ev- cry day.
 The pony's name is Cronie, and he is very gentle and affectionate and that makes 1t more pleasant to drive him.
 We have three miles drive to our High school, which is in Oyster Bay, and when we get there we put him in a livery stable until we come out in the afternoon again. Then he is al- ready for us to drive home. He Is yeryzfond. of sugar. Aas most horAassha.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24

the shop, and wagged his tail thank fully. He was never in such haste as to forget this duty.
 A few weeks later, when he called at the shop, he brought another dog. This one also had a bitten paw, and was crying with pain. How the good doc tor laughed to see this new cripple! But he cured him, too. Now he is expecting other dogs.
 All this took place in the great city of Paris. There is a hospital there for lost dogs and cats. They are kindly fed and cared for till they find good masters
 Perhaps the dog with the lame paw had lived at this hospital. If he had, he might have learned to know a doctor by his scent. Perhaps this was why he scratched at the doctors door.
 Not long ago Q grand ball was given in Paris to aid this dog-and-cat asy- lum.
 JAMES NELSON, Age 8.
 VerSafITaS
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24

Monday to spend the holidays with relatives here.
 Jason Kingsley and Ellis Bentley have returned from a ten days stay on Fishers Island
 Newell Holmes, a student at Trinity college is the guest of MT. and Mrs. Jabez B. Bailey.
 Deer Butts Automobile.
 Edward Foley who drives a pas- senger automobile between here and Fitchville Saturday afternoons. and Sundays, had an unusual experience Sunday afternoon while near the Clairemont. A large buck leaped over the wall and struck the front wheel of his car with enough force to turn the car half way around in the road. As MT. Foley was driving slowly he stopped the car and the deer bounded off. ..
 Blossoms and Fruit.
 A couple of local pear trees are at tracting much attention with their second blossoms appearing along side the maturing fruit, the result of the first blossoming.
 4 few choice cherry trees are screened to keep off the hungry birds.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
Cream WaInuts.

Dear UncA Jed: Not long ago I made some cream walnuts, and as had good results, I will tell you and the Wide Awa5es how to make them. First take two cups of sugar and two thirds of a cup of water. Boil without stirring until it will spin a thread: flavor with extract of vanilla. Set into dish with cold water in it; when at blood heat stir briskly until white and creamy, then knead and work with the hand for several min utes. Have walnuts shelled.
 Make cream into small, round cakes with your fingers; press half walnut on either side, and drop into sifted granulated sugar. For cream dates, take fresh dates, remove stones, and fill center of dates with this same cream. Drop into sugar.
 Colchester.
 A
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
Eagleville.
My Fishing Trip,

One day my brother and I went fishing. We woke up early. but we had to do some work at home first. After @ while we started. It was about seven o'clock and We had to go a long ways. It seemed as if we would never get there. but at last we saw an old boat with some thin boards in it. We got in and went over to the other side
 We only caught one fish and then for a long time we didn't get a bite. All at once we saw some fish jumping up out of the water, so We went there, but it was toe deep. We had peter luck after that. We caught fifty-one and then my brother said, Let's go home"
 FRANK H. KOWATS, Age II.
 Stafford SDringS
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
What Tommy Saw.

Tommy, did you ever see a hole in your hand?" asked Uncle Jim.
 There isn't any hole in my hand," said Tommy, positively.
 The children were never quite sure when Uncle Jim was joking, for he always looked quite serious, although there was sometimes 2, twinkle in his eyes.
 Now, Tommy" said Uncle Jim, take a large-sized magazine, or any piece Of stiff paper. about eighteen inches long.
 Roll it up into a small tube: now, hold up your left hand. with the palm toward you, and place the tube against the inside of your hand. Look through the tube with your right eye, and keep your left open. What do you see 2"
 "Oh, how funny!' shouted Tommy.
 'It looks as if some one had cut a little round hole out of the palm of my hand!" Tommy laid down the tube, and had to look twice to make sure his plump left palm was just as sound and whole as the other.
 Tommy, how many fingers have you ?' asked Uncle Jam.
 Ten said Tommy looking as if he thought the question rather a foolish one.
 You never saw an eleventh finger, did your"
 ''Why. no," said Tommy. But he did not speak quite so positively this time.
 Hold your hands before you, with the forefingers almost. but not quite touching," said his Uncle, Now look!" Not at your forefngers, but at the floor just beyond them"
 "Oh Uncle Jim!" cried Tommy in great excitement. T see, right be- tween my forefingers, another stubby finger. so short and fat,
 What funny things you are show ing me today!"
 You see, Tommy" said his uncle laughing, mo matter how good your eyes might be, there are times when you cannot believe all that they tell you"
 ALIX DUGAS, Age 13.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
A Bird Mith an Umbrella.

One. day Uncle George told us about the umbrella bird. This is what he said about it.
 We.were out hunting on the BranCo River. That is a stream in Brazil, a country in South America. As we were coming home. I shot strange looking bird. It was black, and large CT than your pet crow.
 The man who was with me said it was called the numbrella bird, and that5it always lived on islands in the rivers, and never on the mainland.
 GEORGE NELSON, Age '. Versailles
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-24
Versailles,
Flies

Flies,
 The foot of the fly is made up of two fiat hollow pads. covered with fine short hairs. with pair of curved hooks above them Each pad has a tiny nipple behind which lies tiny bag filled with clear liquid gum; the hairs also being hollow, are filled with the same sticky fluid. As the fly glides nimbly along over the smooth surface of the ceiling, or window, every step he takes presses on the nipple, and forces out a supply of gum strong enough to give him a sure foot ing on his Journey, or to sustain him in safety if he halts. So strong is the cement that one out of six feet is quite enough to bear the weight of his whole body.
 One only danger is there in the mat ter of halting, that the gum is apt to dry up and harden very quickly. and so securely fasten the travellers foot to the pavement as to make a sudden step snap the leg itself.
 Now and then, but very rarely we find some poor truant of a dead fly glued fast to the wall or window, the result, possibly of too long a halt, and the sudden hardening of the gum un- der all the pads. Still more rarely may be found the fragments of a leg stuck fast in the fatal glue.
 When it is remembered that each pad (they are twelve in number) is furnished with at least 8 thousand hairs or tubes of cement, the only wonder is not that one out of the mighty host of flies is injured but that millions fly away unharmed
 Instead of one brain or nerve cen ter the fly has three; instead of two legs he has. six; four thousand eyes instead of one pair; two claws and a thousand stubed hairs on each pad of his foot: Q mouth that no dentist could rival or initiate or repair.
 Examined, under a. yn1icroscope,-ev separate portion of the f1y's frame work shows.a clear trace of the same divine hand that fashioned the eye, the brain and gave to man a soul to understand, to know and to magnify God.
 FRANK PARDY, Age 14.