davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16

distinguishes her verse from that of
other children. Like Pet Marjorie. she
loves to have her little joke:
To do these things they have a right;
But has naughty little child
a right to drive her nursie wild?
But deeper things are always at her
call; and this same poem, written at
the age OF seven. ends with the fol-
lowing stanza:
The bird must die, the beast must die
However much they choose to cry;
And death must come to me and .you-
Then why make such great TODD?
A little later she wrote poem
called Time" which I will quote in
full:
Earth's little life goes on and on
And ploughs the fields sof right and
wrong;
The Spring bird sings his happy
The fioweret opes; then Spring is gone.
The streamlet has his merry play,
Inc Dandylion shines as sun.
The Btrdseye wrinkles as in fun,
Ihen happy Summer goes away
Then Autumn comes and turns the
trees
All brown and gold, tinted with red,
When Summers happiness has fed
And things are restless with the breeze.
And so goes on earth's little year.
Clothed in the dress the Seasons
give;
We live because we're born to live.
And fear because we're born to fear.
This, think, is an amazing produce
ton for child of eight; the ease and
certainty of touch, the art of its struc-
ture. and the depth and strength of its
arresting climax, might well be >enyied
by many a practiced hand.
Space forbids any more quotations,
and viii conclude with four lines OF
sheer inspiration. They occur in q
poem called War Between the
Clouds in which we have the account
Of a conflict between black storm
clouds and fieecy cloud which makes
for fair weather. OF the latter she
writes:
But in that snowy fleecy thing
There is a greater power.
4 power which dieth in the sword
And nveth In the fiower.
To describe the wonderful gift by
virtue of which q child of eight can
write such verses as this, there il no
other word than sinspiration."
JANET s. Adds.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
A rhank.aivina Story.

In the early times there was a fam
tly in Plymouth named Brown.
They lived in a large cabin. 1t was
built of logs and il was bigger than
any of the other Pilgrims cabins.
In the fall of 1900 the people of
Plymouth had very good harvest. so
they planned to have a Thanksgiving
day and thank God for this blessing.
They were to have 1t on the last
Thursday of November.
The Browns started to get ready one
week before for the great feast.
They had three boys and two girls.
They were John, James, George, Alice
and Mary. The boys helped Mr.. Brown
to hunt for turkeys and other wild
birds and animals. The girls helped
Mrs. Brown to do the cooking and
baking.
The day before Thanksgiving they
invited some Indian chiefs and some
white people to come to their feast.
They came about 10 o'clock in the
morning. They brought some deer
with them.
When dinner came they had turkey,
roast deer. pumpkin pie and many
other things.
After dinner the old people sat
around the fireplace and told stories.
The young people played games and
danced around the fire.
All the company went home late that
night. saying they had very good
time.
MARION DEUTscH, Age Ii.
Baltic
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
A CHILD POET

The jingle of verse is attractive to
most young children. Many of them
play at rhyming, few write verses,
but hardly any achieve poetry.
know child who. between the
ages of seven and nine, wrote some
fifty or sixty poems; and in these
poems is that rare thing in children's
verse--inspiration There is plenty of
doggerel; there is nonsense; there is,
inevitably, a certain amount Of deriva-
tive verse; in sense of form and the
use of words she rarely comes up to
Marjorie's level, but in spite of her
I, innocence, in spite of her hating
verse and rather slipshod observation,
genius shines out here and there as
dazzling and unmistakable as stars at
midnight. ;
THE Oak That Spoke to Me- is the
title of one of her earlier poems, and
the choice of title alone is, in a child
of seven, amazing:
I wandered in the lonely wood
And looked about me; as stood
I felt in a. strange quiet mood.
heard the soft wind gently sigh,
heard the OWLS faint distant cry,
heard the gay stream rattle by.
Beside me grew a stately oak
Whose branches looked like fairy folk,
Brothers to the dwarfs of smoke.
And as I gazed it spoke to me,
Telling Of the fairies wee,
And OF their land so rich and free
And as it spoke the soft wind sang,
The streamlet rippled, the church bells
rang.
And that on my thoughts win ever
hang.
Her imagery in the third stanza is
more precise than would appear to less
observant eyes; she had noticed the
short, thin spurts OF smoke blown
crooked and angular in a draught, and
their likeness to the crinlSiy little twies
and branches OF the oak she sets down
boldly with no Observation-Disclosures
tsBYothers to the dwarfs OF smoke"
And her descriptions are occasionally
as swift and vivid as her SMILES;
there IL no doubt about them. The
tuIfp is 4HandsCm tulip. brightly
lined" snowdrops are dainty" THE
farch tree showers its feathery green"
ssThe Dandysion shines as SUM-" or
in the excellent verse:
Then Autumn came n glory clothed,
And Summer took her fight;
He clothed the trees in red and gold
And turned the willows white.
But, Ike The writing Of most chif-.
dren. her epithets are mainly general
and imitated--tlere is more reflection
than exact observation. And it is the
serious quality Of her reflections that
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
q. Huntad Rabbits.

Dear Uncle Jed: 1 thought l would
write and tell you of my adventures
after a load of wood.
First we hitched up two horses.
Then we went to place called Mill
Pasture. We got a load there. Then
we came home and unloaded it
The next time we went to a forest
of white birches. 1t was an awful
rocky road We had to go through a
ditch of mud and water. We passed
that place successfully. The road aft
err that was filled with the branches
OF white birches. After a while we
reached our destination.
1 said was going to hunt rabbits
took a birch stick about three feet
of brush to another and didn't find
any at first.
When the men / was with began to
load the team started rabbit When
1 saw him I cried. There he goesi"
L started after him. but did not get
very far when I stumbled over stump
and fell down.
The rabbit, on the other hand. ran
into a birch tree and turned two or
three somersaults.
/ picked myself up and started in
pursuit. Just then saw the rabbit
turn a corner. I thought then that
my rabbit was gone. l didn't go any
further but threw down my stick and
went to loading the team.
We then went through a place filled
with briars. 1 jumped out and cut
some birches that were IN the way
We got through there successfully.
We then put on some more birches.
After we got them loaded we came
CHARLES G. NELSON. Age Is.
North Franklin.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16

Jake was slim boy with dark hair
and brown eyes, His father was car
p@nter. He had steady work and kept
his family in comfort.
Ezra. an old farmer, called Old
Crouch by the boys, lived at the edge
Of the town. He raised fruit and vege-
tables mainly. hut raised few pota.
toes and corn for himself.
Jake liked sweet things. This was
why he liked watermelons. He knew
Old Crouch raised them. and he deter
mined to get one. Wednesday was q
day when it was Old Grcuch's custom
to 60 TO the village to get supplies.
! Jake chose this day to get water
melon.
He went about o'clock in the af-
ternoon- He reached the field about
quarter past 2. chose a large water
melon, and was on his way back when
he heard a voice. He knew 1t was
Old Crouch. and he started running.
he stumbled and fell, hitting his head
on rock. He was unconscious when
Old Crouch picked him up and took
him into the house. Jake soon regain
ed consciousness and was ashamed
tor he knew it was wrong 20 steal.
Old Crouch told him IL was a sin &c
steal. and told him that it was lucky
he did not 60 to the village.
Jake promised Old Crouch he would
not steal again and was soon on his
way home with a watermelon under
his arm which Old Crouch had giver
him.
Jake told the village boys about il
and Ezra never heard the name Ole
Crouch again applied to him.
CARL ANDERSON. Age IS.
Baltic
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
should Behave in School.

Dear Uncle Jed: The letters and
stories in last Thursdays Circle were
very interesting and 1 am glad SO
many had a pleasant Thanksgiving.
/ read that one -Wide-Awake was
not going TO waste any time at school
and / hope he or. she will fulfil their
promise.
The boy or girl who would be sue
cessful in after-life must lay the foun-
dalton OF success in youth They
should be punctual in attendance at
school. thorough in study and good in
recitations.
The student who seeks every oppor-
tunity TO idle away his time in making
sport and amusement for himself and
fellow students, will live to regret the
time he has thus wasted The happy,
joyous. laughing boy or girl shed hap
piness wherever they go, If they are
careful to control their gayety. and al
low its flow in the proper place, and
not in the schoolroom and like places.
where rules forbid this.
The boy and girl at school foretell
the future man or woman. Those who
are punctuaI, orderly and prompt. will
be so in after-iife. Those who store
the mind in youth with knowledge
that is valuable, will possess that
which can never be lost, but will be
a means Of procuring a living. Energy
and perseverance will give them rep
utation. Truthful, reliable and honest
youths will be trusted in a position
In after years.
1t requires effort to be good scho-
lar. it evinces brain power to be a
good student
The earnest. intelligent worker can
be sure of gaining victories, and ac-
complishing grander work.
We should all strive to keep the fol-
lowing rule: Strive to keep the golden
rIIc. and learn your lessons well at
school,"
JESSIE L. BREHAUT.
East Norwich, n. Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
A Thunder Storm,

1t was hot day in July. The SUM-
rays were unmerciful as they poured
down upon the little town. It had not
rained for a long time. The grass was
growing brown and flowers dropped
their pretty heads for want of rain.
Everything seemed half asleep. The
birds fitted noiselessly from tree to
tree.
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon dark
clouds were seen in the sky. Darker
and darker they grew. A muffled rum
bling and a rolling was heard in the
distance. 1t seemed as If the very
heavens would break asunder. Thor
must have been very angry, for never
before had there been such rolling
and a rumbling. Now and then a flash
of lightning lit up the darkened sky.
followed by peals of thunder.
Suddenly it started to rain. Faster
and faster came the rain until 1t SEEM
ed as if it could rain no harder. Soon
little pools of water were formed in
the streets. For one hour il poured,
and then abated. 1t soon stopped
raining.
The dark clouds soon passed away.
The birds started to twitter and the
flowers seemed glad, for they raised
their dropping heads.
A rainbow of the most beautiful
colors imaginable was seen stretching
across the sky, showing that through
all the centuries God had not forgotten
his promise to Noah; and so ended the
thunder storm.
FLOSs1E MEYER, Age IA
Taftyille
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16

The Night Express.

.3y Homer Greene.
a royal game Is The night express.
When the lamps drive out the ioneii-
And the CRATE fire CLOVIS in its deep
recess,
And the winter night creeps on.
Now comet say to my four-year-
THE hour for the game is here.
You be the fireman big and bold,
And I'll be the engineer"
With one high chair at the head
Now. all aboard! Times UP, You
ring-aelins, foot, toot!" and away we
whi &C. he furnace fire is fed.
Steam upl Speed on! for the night
In cold.
And the track ahead is clear"
A thrilling ride for the fireman bold.
And joy to the engineer.
Through farm and forest we thunder
And our light shines far ahead
Rut-Lo o deary, the bridge is
a wreck there1l be in the ghostly
And q train in the rivers bed!"
He drops the tools that he sought to
hold,
And his eyes grow wide with fear;
One leap; and he's safe, is the fire.
man bold,
In the arms OF the engineer.
It's many year since the night ex-
press
Went laundering down to the bay;
And bearded man in a soldiers dress
Is he who sprang to my quick caress
When the bridge was washed away.
Yet dream as the winter nights
grow cold,
OF the nights Of an elder year,
When my fonr-year- was the fire.
man bold,
And was the enpiueer
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
UNCLE JEpts TALK TO WIDE
AWAKEs.

Uncle Jed hopes none Of his Wide
AwalSes are finding it necessary to be
better than usual just now so as to
increase their Christmas presents, or
to make themselves seem worthy of
having courteous attention when they
are not.
It is mistake for parents to hire
children to be good, and the super
fetal goodness displayed fc<' holiday
purposes Is not praiseworthy. Being
good to get anything is bad habit
Every body should be good and oblig-
ing. first because it is the only right
thing to do. and second because it
makes life pleasanter for themselves
and others.
1t Is wrong to think these immoral
actions on the part Of little folks are
cunning or cute. and no one can tell
how many children take their first
lessons in deception from their own
parents and friends, who smile at
tricks. which in later lieA have be-
come part OF he charaS=sr Of their
children and give them pain.
Being good and doing good for goods
sake is the right principle: and it
isn't always easy, although it is al
ways best.
AAaSeCeAo VI loOhIlSF <OT d@lOt OF pres
ents for yourself alone, just see if you
haven't something you would like to
give some poor boy or girl or sick
child or aeighbor for Christmas
1t is fine to cultivate a warm and
generous heart, and those who do
kindly acts without expectation or
hope Of reward can never tell how
much joy they have found in giving.
1t is real pleasur to be able to heIn
someone feel that life is more worth
living than they thought it was.
Do not try to be specially good for
Christmas time, but strive to be good
all of the time.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
A shipwreewk.

It was pouring rain, and as the
children could not go out doors to
play, they stood by window, looking
into the street.
Grandfather. who was resting in his
easy chair, heard little Maurice say:
When I am man. intend to be a
sailor'
"a sailor" repeated grandfather. 81
hope not my child, hope not It is a
very. very hard life. I know some
thing about it, for went to sea, many
years ago."
"A story. a story!" cried the chill
dren, and they ran across the room,
and gathered around the old man.
when l was young" grandfather
began, Il had to go to England on
business for my father. and as there
were not many steamers in those days,
l went in a sailing vessel.
I'VE were at sea about a week when
a storm arose. The sky became dark,
the wind blew. and the waves were
higher than the sides of the vessel. II
was awful to see nothing but sky and
water, and no ship in sight and no
one near to help us.
For hours the storm kept on. and.
at last when the masts were gone and
the ship was filed with water, we got
into the small boats, and rowed off.
For three days we sailed about on
the lonely sea. not knowing whether
we would ever see land or home again
but, at last we We're picked up by a
vessel and carried into port.
Change your mind, my son." said
grandfather. as he patted Maurice on
the head Change your mind, and
choose some other life than a sailors
life. .
LORETTA H. PICHE. Age IL.
n
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
oibhie's First Day Out.

Gibbie was a street waif without
home. His home was the whole city.
Every street had been to him as an
other hall in his own house, every
lane as a passage from one room to
the other. He never thought of ever
leaving the city. One day he decided
to leave the city and go to the country.
He told no one of his leaving the city.
for he had no friends to tell his
troubles to.
Soon after he left the city. He left
the city running all the way. For
the first time in his life the father
less, motheFless, brotherless, sister
less waif Of the city. felt himself
alone.
The country people did not look
friendly as they were in his town. He
was getting uncomfortable and when
re saw anyone he would hide. His feet
were getting tired from his fast trot.
his hardened feet, soon knew the riff
ference Of the roads, in the city and
country.
All day the spring weather continu-
ed. The sun would shine for a few
minutes and then would go behind the
clouds. Snow fell which melted in
a moment.
Gibbie was never afraid of the dark
ness but this night he feared some
thing. But before II got darker, he
at last found a place to stay over
night. He climbed over a gate. the
nearest nuildlng Delng an open Sned,
not far from that was a dog house,
but the dog was absent. This house
was covered with straw. Gabbie crept
in, got as much straw on him as ne
could. and soon fell asleep.
In few minutes he was awakened
by the dogs conversation with boy.
He chained the dog and left. Gabbie.
thinking taht the dog would bite, start
ed to bark and they made friends
with each other. Gabbie fell to pat
ting and kissing and hugging the dog
as II he had been human, glad OF
any company or companion
They both were tired and fell
asleep. Gabbie with his head on the
dogs back and the dog every now
and then turning his head to lick
Cables face.
The dogs supper was brought and
the $s,oth had eaten Il together. Next
morning Gabbie was up early and was
leaving while the dog was wagging his
tail and looking wistfully up in Gabbie's
face, Cable understood him and I'M
did his collar The dog rushed off.
he cleared the gate at bound and
securing medly across the field. van
ished from sight; and Cable. too, set
out TO continue his journey.
FLORENCE GAYESKI.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16

gestions for Christmas gifts are not
too late and that some of the Wide
Awakes will make one of these PIN
cushions.
The little Japanese heads are cute
and a pretty cushion can quickly be
made in this way.
Secure a little japanese doll, one
half yard of Dresden ribbon four in
ches wide, one-haIf yard of baby rib
bon and a little cotton batting, bran
or rice. Join the ribbon after cutting
off a two and one-half inch piece.
Cover a pasteboard circle with the
piece cut off. Gather each edge of the
ribbon. Then draw up one side of
the ribbon and sew it to the circle.
After stuffing this draw up the other
side and tie ar1und the dolls neck aft
er which tie the narrow ribbon. maxi
ing a bow in the back.
All kinds of doll heads are used
for these cushions. including Bill
kins. Kewpies, and even Charlie
Chaplin.
Pretty flower pincushions such as
roses and daisies can be made of rib
bon loops Pincushions can be made
to represent vegetables. or they may
be made of velvet in animal shapes
Other pincushions are made in heart
and slipper shapes. All are easily
made and are suitable for Christmas
gifts.
ALICE GoR8fAN, Age IL.
UorSofIlaS
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
A Lettar from catherine.

: Dear Uncle Jed: 1 have been to
school all this year and the second
grade are going to have new reading
book this week.
am in the second grade. 1 like to
go to school
Ny baby sisters birthday is next
week. She was born two years ago
on Thanksgiving day. Her name is
Helena. She will not be three for
long time
My brother Henry is in the third
grade at school. 80.
CATHERINE A. HOLDEN. Age Z.
South Windham.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16

Two hunters, wearing saow-s shoes
ana carrying guns, were on a moose
trail in the Canadian woods when q
sudden noise startled them. This
noise, like moaning, came from the
thicket nearby and IL 1t was a moose
they should take heed not to brighten
1t off. One Of them threw a stick
but it had no effect upon the occu-
pant Of the thiclxet so they decided to
get ready their guns for fear IT was a
Wild cat, and then they bravely push
ed their way through. When they
came to where the noise was COM
ing from, they found themselves star
ing upon a sight calculated to amaze
them. for there. half lying In the snow
was o child, q sturdy looking little
chap not over five years of age pos
sibiy. and uttering sounds that thu
hunters now realized wore pitiful
means.
Apparently the little fellow had
actually tried to light IRE, for there
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
Fluffy White.

When 1 was seven years old want
ed kitten very much and one day a
little gray kitten came to our house.
and as as nc one seemed to own it /
thought I would keep it, so 1 named
it Fluffy.
When it came to my house it was
tired and sleepy, so 1 gave it some
warm milk, but it was sick and soon
died. 1 missed my kitty very much,
so my brother got me a pure white
kitten, so I named her Fluffy White.
Fluffy does many things. She will sit
up like a rabbit and play with a ball
or a string. She will sit on the car
pet sweeper and have a long ride
when mamma uses 1t.
Fluffy sleeps on a little pillow in
the cellar by the furnace.
CAROLINE 1. BRITTIN. Age g..
Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
SeNvino Aches.


Dear Uncle Jed: There was once
a little girl named Jessie Brown. She
had been sewing a few minutes up
on a pillow case for her dolls bed
when she pointed her finger along the
seam and said:
Am I to do all this, mother?"
Her mother said. THAT is not much
for a little girl, who has such pref
ty work basket Of her own"
After taking a few more stitches
Jessie said, MY thumb is sore" A
little while afterwards she said. ooh,
my hand is so tired"
A few more stitches and this time the
complaint was, "Oh! Ia have a pain in
my side"
Very soon there was something
wrong with her foot; and then her
head began to ache.
AS soon as the sewing was finished
she asked. Now may l go out to
play"
Her voice was so cheerful that one
would hardly believe it came from the
same person who had just been
troubled with so many ills.
shall / not first send for the doc
tor - asked her mother.
what Have the doctor come to
see met" said Jessie. with no little
surprise.
girl who has a sore thumb. trouble
with her foot, a pain in her side. and
the headache, must be sick. and the
sooner we have the doctor the better. "
"wny. mother, they were only sew
ing aches. am well enough now. ]
am not tired. or sick"
Do YOU know of any little girl who
has so many pains and aches when
some work is given her to do?
VERA MacINNESS, Age IL.
Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
The First Fall of Snow.

One morning last week, as / started
for school it began showing. As /
was walking along I met some of my
school companions who told me they
were very glad that II was showing.
The snow fell faster and thicker and
by the time we reached the school
the ground was almost covered with
snow.
When recess came it was still snow
ing and we were delighted. We ran
around throwing snowbalIs at one an
other until the bell rang.
In the afternoon there was no school
and though it had stopped showing
most of us were thinking of going
sliding
did not care to slide, so 1 did
my home work and then read a book.
had just. finished It when a friend
OF mine asked me to 60 skating. I
consented so we went and stayed till
s o'clock, when we came home.
GLADYS IaOULE, Age -. /.
Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
The Story About a cola.

Dear Uncle Jed. When 1 first be-
gan to come to school some of the boys
were on the woodpile. As Mr.. Bar
ber's colt came up, one of the boys
passed him out a piece of cake.
went to run to the schoolhouse.
stubbed my toe and fell down. The
colt began to run and he stepped on
my head
Ny brother and another boy picked
me up and carried me into the school
house. The colt did not have any
shoes on so it didn't hurt me very
much My head swelled up quite bad
~.
The teacher told Mr.. Barber not TO
let the colt come on the school grounds
any more
CLIFFORD CoNGDoN. Age 70.
MoOsup
Norwich bulletin., 1915-12-16
Rslaa for Yoann Mriters.

l. Write plainly on one side Of the
paper only. and number the pages.
2. Use pen and ink, not pencil.
ESQ words.
4. originaa stories or letters only
will be used.
s. Write your name. age and adj
dress plainly at the bottom o. the
story.
Jed. Bulletin Office.
Whatever yen Rre-Be that!
Whatever you say--Be truck
Straightforwardly act,
Be hor;est-in fact,
Be nobody else but YOU"