davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
The Busy Bees

Dear Uncle Jed: AS I was walking
through a field one day, noticed three
large boxes on the ground. When I
approached I found them to be three
bee hives. About half a dozen bees
were stationed around the doors to
warn off intruders. Some Of the bees
flew angrily at me, but 1 stepped back
a few rods. If I hadn't retreated the
sentries would have returned and then
attacked me.
I found that the three substances
that are required in the hive are pol
len. or food for the young bees; the
wax to make the combs, and the honey
to support the whole community. I
noticed that some bees have red tufts
on their legs and others have none.
The bees with the tufts have been
gathering pollen FROM the flowers.
Some Of the bees hind legs are flat
tened and covered with hairs, which
form a sort of basket. The bee en-
ters the flower and plunges into the
pollen. Sometimes the bee cannot
complete it's load from one flower so 1t
seeks another of the same kind.
The bees that go after the honey
draw the sweet juices from the flowers
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
A Trim Up Mt. Mcclellan.

While visiting my aunt in Denver,
our party decided to take a trip up
Mt. Mcclellan. We learned there had
been a washout in the Clear Creek
Canon which our road followed, but
the trains went out anyway.
1t was not long before we were
in Golden, the first state capitol of
Colorado, which is located at the be-
ginning of the Clear Creek Canon. A
few miles from Golden, whene the
track crosses Clear Creek, a bridge
had been washed out. and we had to
wait for the wrecking crew to set it
in place again.
At intervals sand and rock covered
the track to a depth of several feet.
The great walls of this canon rise
to a height of one thousand feet The
rushing, roaring mountain torrent
winds its way through the single rail-
road track running on the narrow
bank. The clearing of the track
caused US to lose a great deal Of time.
When we arrived at the head of the
canon we had some refreshments.
The next stop was Georgetown, and
the farfamed Georgetown loop; a few
miles farther up is the mining town
of Silver Plume, where our train
changed it's engine for the vertical
cylindered mountain climber which is
very low geared. Then the mountain
became very steep. We were five and
a half hours late.
GEORGE W. CONE. Age IS.
Versa lilies
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
The Tsaeher,s Surprise.

Dear Uncle Jed; I bought some
candy for the May basket and we all
picked some flowers,
1 picked a large bouquet Of violets.
There were thirteen children in all.
We started about 7 O'Clock for the
teachers house about two miles away.
We reached the house about half past
Z o'clock.
Joseph and Bertha set the May bas
ket down and knocked, while we hid.
When the teacher came out she could
not see us at first. I did not see her
coming. She came behind the wall
where some of us were. She got hold
of my foot, but did not know who 1
was at first.
When she chased one little boy, he
ran home.
When the teacher had caught US all
she took us into the house and gave
us some candy and then she let us
see the kitten and she played the
monograph,
At twenty-five minutes of ten o'clock
we went home.
We reached home about fifteen min
utes after ten o'clock.
MARGARET KUCKLE, Age 10.
Mansfield Center.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
Mary's Veil Cascade.

Away in the most beautiful part of
America there have been discovered,
within the last few years. the most
marvellous waterfalls, mountains, and
trees Of the whole world.
1t is a wild, rough land, which has
been known only by the Indians and
wild animals throughout all time; but
now men have passed up and down
the river, have climbed and measured
the mountains, have taken the height
of the giant trees, and made pictures
of the beautiful cascades.
Mary's Veil Cascade is one Of the
most beautiful of them all. It is
a small river which comes dashing
down a precipice, in series OF
falls. more than a thousand feet. The
walls of rock are bright with many
colors It seems as if the rainbow
nues of the spray which rises from
the foaming waters had been crystal
lized upon them and become imper-
ishable.
AS you look up you catch the silvery
flash of diamond drops far away
through the deep dark green of the
pine trees. With a rush and whirl
1t appears again almost overhead;
with noise like thunder 1t comes al
most topping down upon you; then
dashes by with a hiss and swirl and
roar which would deafen you if you
had time to listen, and plunges on to
fall still further into the pool below.
MIRIAM NJ. GROVER, Age II.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
The Boats the enats Build.

Did you ever hear about the Won
derful boats the gnats build? They
lay their eggs in the water, and the
eggs float until it is time for them to
hatch. You can see these little egg
RATS on almost any pool in summer.
The eggs are so heavy that one alone
would sink. The cunning mother
fastens them all together until they
form a hollow boat. 1t will not upset
if it is filed with wateri The upper
end of these eggs are pointed and
look very much like a powder flask.
One egg is glued to another, point
ed end up, until the boat is finished,
and how many eggs do you think it
takes? From two hundred and fifty to
three hundred. When the young are
Matched, they always come from the
under side, leaving the empty boats
af1oat.
These eggs are very, very small.
First they are white, then green, then
a dark gray They swim just like
little fishes and hatch in two days.
Then they change again to kind of
sheath. called chrysalis. In another
week this sheath bursts open and let's
out a winged mosquito. 1t is all ready
for work.
There are so many of them born
in a summer, that were it not for
birds and larger insects, we should be
'~'F" ~ RosiNA RoGIER, Age II.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
ran4 ca4erniIIar

II the United States wants to go to
war, let it come to Connecticut and
fight the tent caterpillars. These
caterpillars are invading Connecticut
by the thousands. This caterpillar is
called the tent caterpillar because it
spins a web which looks like a tent.
These worms are found mostly on
cherry and apple trees, but the 9TH
er day I looked on a crimson rambler
and that was covered with the tent
caterpillars.
These worms make their tents in a
tree and then eat the leaves off the
tree and then go to another and do the
same.
Many people burn the tent caterpil-
lars, but in burning the tent you
burn the tree. One person 1 know
mixed up a bucket full of poison and
went with a stick and knocked the
worms in the bucket. The worms die
quickly when you put them in the
poison.
Another person know has a wild
cherry tree near her house and she
burned the nests that were in the
tree. The next day the worms were
crawling all over the sidewalk. The
caterpillars were so crowded in the
nest that only a few had been burned
think the first way / named Is the
best. AS it is cleanup week, the
people should make war on the cater
pillars and destroy all they can. II
they are left much longer we shall
not have a decent tree in Norwich.
Many small wild cherry trees have
lost all their buds and leaves because
the people will not kill the tent cat
erpillars.
FRANK PARDY, Age IL.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
How He Helped Others.

Long ago there lived in Ohio a
farmer who had worked hard for many
years, but now he was old, bent and
unable to do much more work. He had
a kind heart and wanted to do some
thing to help others; but he had little
he could do until he noticed how many
people loved apples. So he determined
to make apple trees grow.
He saved the cores of all the apples
he could get, and when the days were
pleasant he would go out and look for
the soft, rich mold in good places to
plant the seeds. With his cane he
core, press the soft earth firmly about
1t and leave the seeds to grow. He
went through the forests, along the
edges of the streams and in the cor
ners of fields, planting as he went
Indians were plentiful in those days
and they often laughed at the old
man, saying: "Appleseed John will be
dead many, many moons before those
seeds will bear fruit
The old man needed them not, for he
was planting not for himself but for
those who would live after he was
gone. He was happy in doing some
thing to help others, even though it
seemed so small thing to do
Years after, the rich earth, the rains
sprout and grow into fine apple trees
filling the country with the beauty and
fragrance Of their blossoms and yield
ing luscious fruit for eating
Then the people began to talk about
how wise and kind the old man was
to start these trees, and they say this
is one way Ohio became famous for
ESTHER HYMAN, Age 10.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
Australia.

Dear Uncle Jed: The continent of
Australia is topsy- turvy. The trees
shed their bark instead of their
leaves. The leaves grow straight and
tall. The branches of our trees grow
gracefully and theirs droop. Leaves
here sway in the breeze.
The cherries are peculiar, too. The
cherry stones grow en- the outside and
the food inside. When 1t is day here
1t is night there. and when it Is win
ter here it is summer there. So you
see Australia is topsy-turvy. But the
people in Australia think we are as
They have but one perfect river,
the Murray river. The Darling river
is lost In the Quicksands.
The eucalyptus tree Is a miracle.
Whenever you are near that tree YOU
are cured from all sickness.
The animals have large feet and
have pouches in which to carry their
young
The birds have beautiful plumage,
but their song Is deafening to hear.
Some parts of Australia are unex-
plered. People cannot discover new
land because there isn't any water in
the UNEMPLOYED regions.
White people discovered Australia
| many years ago.
Melbourne is the chief port of Aus
| tralia and Sydney Is the chief port
| of New South Wales.
Victoria and New South Wales are
the leading states of Australia
in the world. Dalgety is the capitol
| of Australia.
SARAH HYMAsI, Age IL.
Norwich.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
Our School.

Dear Uncle jed: Our school is in
Bozrah, Connecticut. There are nine
teen scholars. There are seven girls
and twelve boys. School begins at
quarter of nine. We have forty five
minutes incoming and school is out at
three o'clock.
The teachers name is Miss Duerr.
She is a very good teacher. We get
stars for perfect lessons. I have six
hundred and fifty. I am in the sixth
grade. There are only two in my
grade now.
My sister and I are the only ones
who go from our house. Her name is
Ethel Brown. She is in the third
grade.
The children who go to our school
are not very old. I am one of the
oldest girls. There is one boy older
than I. and one girl who is nearly
as old as l.
School closes the first part of June.
In a week or two We are going to have
our examinations. I hope I pass, so
1 can go into the seventh grade.
AGNES BROWN, Age IS.
Lebanon.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
UNCLE JEE'S TALK TO WIDE
AWAKES.

All of our Wide-Awakes should
know that robin redbreast Is the red
breasted thrush and was called robin
by the first English settlers Of New
England because though larger the
home, the birds love of human asso-
citation is similar.
This red-breasted thrush which lays
such pretty blue eggs has variety of
American names, the prettiest of which
is opechee, given him by the Chippe-
way Indians, derived more than likely
from his call.
Because of his scoIding habits he
was called by the Omaha Indians the
Pawnee bird-pa thing wa zhinga-
which we should find difficult to pro-
nounce as the Indians did.
The red-breasted thrush is useful
bird, for he eats earthworms cutworms
and small insects that run opon the
ground, various caterpillars which eat
the foliage of shade trees, and grass
hoppers, which are pest in the gar
den. He eats wild and cultivated small
fruits and by his foraging in the
strawberry beds and from the grape
vines prompts selfish people to
kill him and say evil things of him.
To Uncle Jed his merry song night
and morning pays for all his foraging
in the garden. AS he seldom complete
ly eats a strawberry or grape, it is
possible he pecks the fruit to get there
from a bug or grub which he likes
better.
You should remember it takes the
mother robin from eight to twelve days
to build the nest; that she lays one
pretty blue egg each morning until the
clutch is completes: that she sits upon
the eggs two weeks to hatch them, and
is fed by the father bird; that the
young are first fed on earthworms
brought by the father bird. The sec
ond week it takes eight trips an hour
all day long to feed them; that on the
18th or 14th day they leave the nest,
and for four days while taking lessons
In fight and food hunting are in great
peril of being caught by boys or being
eaten by cats or birds that prey upon
them.
There are only millions of robins
now where there used to be billions in
this country, and the growing scarcity
Of them accounts for the increasing
number of cutworms in all our gar
denS.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

ing delighted him more than to be
where guns were fired. and he would
dance and bark gleefully if he could
get where there was a bright bonfire.
One day the people where Shep lived
had a celebration. A cannon was
brought out in honor of the occasion.
Shep was on hand, prancing and giving
short yelps of joy. He would go quite
up to the cannon, and watch for the
sparks as they flew from it's mouth !;
but finally Shep went too close, so
piece when 1t was fred.
The loud report stunned him and
made him entirely deaf. He knew
something had happened to him. and
he crept silently away and went home,
No one saw him again till supper time.
His master called him loudly and look
ed for him everywhere, but he did not
find him.
Shep crawled down into the cellar,
and there he stayed for a number of
days; when he got very hungry he
would creep out looking very sheepish
and sorrowful, to get his meals; but
then he would go back as soon as he
could. His master tried to coax him
out, but he would not come unless he
was very hungry.
By and by Shep began to get better,
SO that he could understand some
was quite a long time before he was
really well. Then he seemed to be
very happy; but since then he has kept
as far away as possible from any
noise.
The lesson was pretty severe, but
will never be forgotten.
UNSIGNED.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
NV Walk,

The other morning L thought [ would
like to go for walk. 1t was a pleas
ant morning for a. stroll and 1 started
up back of our house through the
orchard toward the pond. TIL ap-
pie trees were in full bloom. The
blossoms were pink and white. AS ]
walked along noticed the robins hop
ping about among the branches pick
ing worms. They were singing and
I think one robin was building in an
apple tree where there was a nest last
year.
I walked along the path, listening to
the song of the birds and looking for
flowers. L bent down to pick up a
flower and when I looked up I saw a
thrush hop across the patch. 1t was
singing, too.
When I reached the pond I saw
some lockwood. I wanted to pick some,
but the blossoms were beyond my
reach. 1t was rather cold by the pond
again.
I picked buttercups, columbines, pur-
pie daisies and sweet fern.
[ looked for the birds that sang
SO sweetly but I couldn't see many of
them.
At the top of the hill I stopped to
look down and to notice how fresh
and green and beautiful everything
looked. I could see the apple trees
everywhere white with blossoms.
When I reached home I put my
flowers in a glass.
Next time I go for a walk I guess
there Kill be more new flowers.
My flower seeds | planted in a box
are just coming up.
MARY A. BURRILL, Age z.
Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
.ETTERs OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Frank Pardy of Norwich: 1 thank
Tou very much for the prize book you
rave me. It is very interesting
book.
Mary A. BurriII of Stafford Springs:
Thank you very much for the nice
Irize book 1 received a week ago I
you'd have written my letter of thanks
Iefore, but I was sick.
Francis O'ConnelI of Norwich: /
hank you very much for my prize
took entitled The Iron Boys in the
lines. 1 have read it through and
Ind it very good.
Catherine Nelson of Versailles: I
hank you very much for the prize
Iook you sent me entitled The Camp
Hre Girls at Sunrise Hill. l have read
/ and found it very interesting
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
Goinq into Business.

Dear Uncle Jed: If a boy leaving
school goes into some trade he will
start with very low wages. He may
be employed to go on errands, to wrap
up goods, or deliver parcels. He will
soon show whether he has any of the
elements Of success. If he shirks
work, INDUCES in too much talk,
watches the clock for closing time and
wastes what money he receives, he
will either be 'out of his job" or be
left in the lowest kind of a place. But
If he works his best, exerts himself
to be helpful in everything, is always
a gentleman, and takes an interest
in improving his work, he will soon
begin to work his way up.
If he saves money, shows himself q
good manager. earns a reputation for
absolute truth and has a circle of GUS
toners who know they can always
rely upon him, he will probably sue
ceed in business for himself.
ANTHONY SKRABA, Age IL.
Versailles
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
A Loqqinq Accident.

There was a lunberman's camp in
the Green mountains of Vermont on
the Winoski river. The men cut the
logs and f1oated them down the river
to Winoski.
Among the men were Pete Harris,
Joe Miller, Dick Randall and James
Moran, a boy about IA years of age.
One day, about p. m. the logs
formed a jam. The men were afraid it
would do great damage. At last Pete
volunteered to break it up. Joe went
with him.
At last it was broken up. Pete had
hurt his leg and Joe was nearly ex-
hausted. Dick got them to the shanty,
then proceeded to bind Pete's leg.
Someone must go for the doctor He
lived at Winosh. IT miles away.
It was dark and gloomy in the woods
and most of the road was through the
wood. The owls hooted. Animals
prowled around. A huge bear had been
seen there only a few days before.
Joe had beautiful black thorough
bred horse named Black Star. He
never used him in the wood, for fear
he would get hurt.
Pete needed the doctor as soon as
possible. Who would go for the doc
tor? At last little James Moran said
he would go. Joe told him to saddle
sib1e.
James started off and in about four
hours reached DR.. Falls home. He
was in. Soon he saddled his horse
and rode up to the camp.
Black Star was so tired he could not
go back. DR.. Falls stable boy put him
in the barn and gave him rubbing.
James Cor Jimmie, as he was called)
went into the house. Mrs. Fails gave
him some hot chicken soup and put
him to bed.
The next morning Jimmie was very
anxious to get back into camp.
When he got there he found Pete
some better. He had broken his
ankle.
The men were so pleased with Jim
mics bravery that many gave him
presents.
Joe gave him the beautiful horse,
Black Star
Dick gave him a solid gold watch,
but best Of all, Pete sent him to college
when he was older.
After he finished college he got a
position in a hotel in Burlington.
Pete was made superintendent of the
mill. Joe is taking life easy in Bur
lington. Dick was killed in a wreck
on the railroad.
Often the friends meet and talk of
old times. Jimmie never forgets the
men who were so kind to him, or his
midnight ride.
WINIF'RED L. COPELAND, Age IA.
HAMPTON,
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27

day. She kissed me and said
Good by" and went away with the
sunbeams.
The next day it rained and was
washed in the dirt farther and I was
covered with thick dirt, where it was
very dark and disagreeajble. In the
morning two little sunbeams came to
comfort me and they stayed until late
and then went away with the moon
beams. 1t made me feel so good to
think that somebody thought of me
that I sprouted in the dark. earth
about me.
Each day the sunbeams and fairies
came to see me and brought rain sun
food, and good news. This made me
feel so happy that I grew fast, large
and strong; and soon I reached the
top of the ground.
I saw large white and blue violets
bloodroots and white clover about me
all blossomed by the pretty little
spring.
When I saw I had SO much COM
pany I was so pleased almost was
out of my head, when the first thing
I knew had two tremendous yellow
blossoms.
A large fairy came to see what a
wanderous plant I was.
I used to see little birds come every
day to wash in the spring and four
of them made nests close to me in the
time day after day.
One day fifteen children came walk
ing by this little spring and trampled
on my neighbors and shot at the
birds and frightened us ALL
was never so happy after that
told the little fairy all about my
troubles, and she said she was sorry
but she said it was Arbor day.
told her I was glad that Arbor day
didn't come but once a year.
The little fairy brought a beautiful
little book with her in wL<ch she
wrote the history of my life with q
gold pen. Then the little fairy pull
ed me up by the roots with my lovely
nineteen blossoms and took me tt
heaven with her, where I had the best
of care until I was three years old
then was thrown away in the fairy
river.
MARJORIE WILLIAMS, Age is.
Lebanon.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
Norwicl
A Boat Ride on the Connecticut River

Dear Uncle Jed: II is some time
since you had letter from Springfield,
SO / think 1 will tell you about a sur
prise 1 had a week ago today. 1t was
a beautiful day and after dinner papa
and mamma and 1 started for a walk.
We went across the long bridge over
the Connecticut river and as we were
going across l saw a nice motor boat
coming uD the river to land at a club
house near the end of the bridge.
w cleaned over the rail of the bridge
to watch the boat and as it came
to the landing, the gentleman running
the boat looked UP and saw us and
shouted to papa. 1t was a friend of
papa's and his wife friend of NAM
mas, and when they saw us they
asked US if we would not like to take
ride. and you can bet we said yes,
and went down to the landing, got
in, and they took US away up the river
nearly to Helyeke and back, and oh,
how 1 did enjoy it.
stood up in the bow Of the boat
with the man who was steering, and
the spray from the water would fly
in my face. and we had a fine time.
JUNE JOHNSON, Age 10.
Chieopee.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
A Floral Surprise,

Dear Uncle Jed: have hung one
May basket this year.
1 hung 1t to three children who live
near US. Henry, Frances and Joseph
were their names.
The basket was pink and white
I put in some May flowers, violets
and other flowers. / bought some can
dy to put in the May basket. My moth
er made some candy for me to put in
with the other candy.
We knew they were not at home. so
we waited in some bushes until they
came home. My brother did not know
when l hung it. So when he heard
someone he thought it was I. He was
not hidden very we'll. They went
after me so quickly that 1 didn't have
a good chance TO hide. They found
us in a few minutes
We got home about s o'clock.
1 have had two May baskets this
year.
ADFREDA K. WALKER, Age 10.
Mansfield Center.
Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-05-27
THE WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS.

1-Winifred L. Copeland of Hampton
Outdoor Chums on the Lake.
Esther Hynnan of Norwich, Out
door Chums on the Gulf,
3-Marjorie Williams of Lebanon
Madge Morton's Secret.
4-Franois O'conneII of Norwich
Madge Morton's Victory.
5-Rosina Rogler of Norwich, A Reg
Mar Tomboy.
8obbsey Twins at School
Anthony Skraba of Versailles
Tom Swift and His Giant Cannon.
s-June johnson of Chicopee, Mass.
Madge Morton's Trust
Winners of prize books living in the
:ity may call at The Bulletin bust
less office for them any hour after 10
L m. Thursday