davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Freie Presse fuÌˆr Texas. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1865-1945, 1915-10-07

Cine Nua am rehtei1 Tlas
fam aud sttr @roBe ueroen.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
A Composition About Cot.
ton = BY Veda Helen
Bartholomew

Dear Junior:
AS have not written to the Junior
page for quite while thought l
would write composition about cot
ton.
Cotton is raised principally in the
states of Alabama, Mississippi, South
Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and
Louisiana. Cotton is used to make
clothing and is the most valuable
crop in the United States. The south
eastern states raise the most cotton.
The stalk grows from three to -four
feet high and the pods or bolls con-
tain the cotton. Picking time begins
about July and is continued until
Christmas. After the cotton Is pick
ed it must be carried to the gin. Then
! when the seeds are all taken out the
cotton Is carried to the press where
it is compressed into bales when
weigh from four hundred to five nun
dred pounds each. The seeds are
mashed between rollers until all the
oil Is squeezed out of them. Then the
oil is used to make soap and patent
butter. The hull from which the oil
has been squeezed Is made into COT
ton seed meal and the crushed hull
from the seed is used for feeding
cattle.
The cotton region used to be In the
northern and eastern states.
Veda Helen Bartholomew, Age ~
r FD2 Keosauqua, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
To My Winged Sea-Brothers

Dear little sand-piper with your t"1'
tweet,"
balancing, running on swift-moving
feet,
winging from crag to crag, ever SO
feet,
pipe me at twilight your even song
sweet;
Twit, tweet-tweet-tweet!
Twit, tweet-tweet-tweet!
Red drops the sun the horizon to meet;
Flashes the lighthouse the n1ghtrall 10
greet;
Ceaseless the waves at the cliff-bases
beat;
Echo thy notes to thy mates "peet-a-
weet:"
Twit, tweet-tweet-tweet!
Twit, tweet-tweet-tweet!
Now comes the moonlight that knows
no defeat,
Silvery wonders again to repeat;
Breathe cool the night-breezes, DANISH
ing heat,
Waiting thy goodnight to sense re-
plete:
Twit, tweettweet-tweet!
Twit, tweettweet-tweet!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Irene Johnson's Compost
ton - The Ostrich

The ostrich lives in dry sandy places
in Africa aind Arabia, there are ostrich
farms in California also.
The ostrich is six to eight feet in
height. The cocks are Of glossy
black.
There are twenty-five feathers in
each wing and sixty feathers in the
tail.
They have two FUCKERS and when
the men 60 to pick the ostrich they put
them in pen that is not big enough
for them to turn around in.
The food that they eat Is grass, grain
and other vegetable foods.
The eggs of an ostrich have as much
meat in them as thirty hen eggs.
When it is time for the bird to hatch
the big bird presses on the egg in the
sand with her breast and that breaks
the egg so the baby bird can get out.
The eggs are speckled.
1t takes six weeks for the eggs to
hatch.
After the bird matches it takes about
three years for the bird to get good
feathers. p"
The feathers are of nice glossy
black.
The baby birds are not much bigger
than young chicken.
The use of the feathers are to put
on hats.
Irene Johnson, age Is.
Dudley, Iowa, Route L
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
A Brave Old Woman - B
Ora 10y

Dear Juniors AS I have never
written before I thought I would write
a school composition, "A Brave Old
Woman"
There lived in little village by a
river which ran into bay, woman
and her husband. He was a captain
She had gone out on the bay with him.
1t was many years after he died.
Once it was a holiday. and people
went skating on the ice. After a
while little cloud arose, she knew the
signs of the weather. She knew that
that cloud would rise to be big storm.
She wanted to save the people, so she
had a stick she put in the stove and
had it afire She threw 1t on her bed
Of straw Then she crawled out on
her hands and knees.
All the people ran to save the old
woman, but she was saved. Just as
the last one got on the shore the
storm arose But this old woman was
brave and willing to give up all she
had to save the people.
Ora 10y, Age 10.
1901 Clinton Ave, Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
A Summer Trip BY CARR
belle Perkins

thought I would write. The title OF
nv story is "A Summer Trip;
"Just think" said Elsie Brown TO
her big brother Bob, ito go to the great
exposition" ... LII 10
nice wish father and could go with
YOU and Bob, but we can't
The next morning Bob and Elsie
started out. 1t took them many days
to get there. When they got there they
went to a boarding house, and then
Roh said Come on Elsie let us go 10
the exposition. 81
alright, I'm ready" said Elsie. So
they started out.
The first thing they visited was the
picturesque bit Of China. which was
one of the many foreign nations at the
exposition. ~ j..
miniature facsimile surrounded the en-
closure. The gateway blaze OF RED,
yellow. blue and green paint. inside
there were grass plots, paved walks,
flowers and palaces. There were pref
Nv tea houses hung with Chinese Ian
terms.
pretty" said Elsie.
ats beautiful" said Bob.
The next place they visited, was
Japan. Elsie thought 1t was prettler
than China.
then went home. 8.
Elsie told her mother that never IN
her life had she had such a good time:
This is q story ! wrote myself ana
I have worked very hard on 1t.
Carribelle Perkins. age y.
Bonaparte, lowe
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
The Growing of Tea b
VeOla Allen of Abba

In China they grow so much tea and
am going to tell you how it grows
The tame tea plant grows four feet
high. The wild tea grows thirty feet
high. The best tea name is Souchong
and It takes three years to grow, then
they pick the leaves three times. They
take the tea to the tea merchant and
he picks out all the dead leaves, dries
it and rolls it up like we see 1t. Then
it is shipped to Europe and an over
the United States. Inc Holianuers
we're the first people to know about
tea. Tea looks like cherry blossom.
In America the people did not know
awning about tea before China sent
II over here but now We have all kinds
Of tea to drink, and that is where we
get our tea.
Weola Allen, Age 10.
Abba, Iowa..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Lillian Brooks Writes Of
Picnic at Wamatain
Beach, Mich.

Dear Juniors:-1 am going to tell
you about the annual picnic of Wawa-
tam Beach, Wednesday, August IS.
We took our. lunches and went in
our boats to McGulphins Point, and
had dinner in the woods We had
planked white fish, creamed potatoes
salads, pie, bread and butter and cot.
fee. There were one hundred or more
at the table which was built in the
woods.
After dinner we went up to place
near the light house and had some
games and a photographer came and
took our pictures. We departed for
home after having a pleasant and en-
joyable day.
Lillian Brook, Age 10.
Mackinaw City, Mich
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Ella Shondel Relates True
Events Told to Her BY
Grandfather HeckethOrn

Dear Juniors:-I have not written
for long time, so I will tell you what
my grandpa did when he was young
man.
1t was in the spring of 1862 when he
ran away from home. He went to en-
list in the army but they wouldn't take
him, so he started to California.
The creek was high and the ice was
gorged and he walked across on it. He
hired to man to drive team to the
plains. People In those days had to
travel in wagons for there were no
trains and there were lots of wild In
dians and people would go In wagons
and they called them trains.
The Indians would ride round the
wagons and give war whoops and
scare the horses till they would run
away. II 1t was a small train the In
dams would kill the people and some
times take little girl away with
them.
One time my grandpa was fishing
and he heard noise on the bank. He
looked up and there was an Indian
with his bow drawn ready to kill
grandpa. But grandpa threw up his
hands and looked toward his train. He
followed and just then his partner
came running out of the brush with a
gun. He scared the Indian but he
didn't shoot him for when the Indians
heard gun shoot they would go and
see what it was. Grandpa wouldn't
let him shoot for the other Indians
would kill him. Another time my
grandpa tried to steal white girl from
them and squaw ran and hit the girl
and took her to the wigwam.
He had lots of close calls for his life.
Well, that is all can remember
My Grandpa Heckethorn told me these
things.
Ella Shondel, Age Ii.
Selma, Ia, Route 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Elizabeth Blystone on 'Last
Thanksgiving Day"

Dear Juniors:-As I have never
written before thought would write
a school composition about Last
Thanksgiving Day
am going to tell you about a
Thanksgiving day years ago.
Years ago at your grandmothers
you would have gone to your grand
mothers in a sleigh or some other
vehicle.
Suppose we would go there Thanks
giving eve We would have slept IN
a bed with four big posts to 1t.
At 6 o'clock in the morning you
would have eaten your breakfast of a
large rabbit and queer kind of gravy
which was very good on buckwheat
cakes and buckwheat cakes and maple
syrup and for dessert you would have
large piece Of apple pie. Next you
prepare to go skating and coastlng
while your parents go to church.
All the women are In a rush AFTER
church to get home and get Thanks
giving dinner.
You come in from your playing with
cold feet from Widening in the deep
snow. Dinner time! You go in and
set down to a hare table; the blessing
| is given (for years ago tney ulu not
cali it that Saying graceD. Inc
hired girl brought in a big turkey
Your grandfather sat at the end OF the
table; he carved the turkey and gave
YOU all one helping. There were veg:
etables and they had various kinds OF
dishes. Every person had big glass
of cider. Then comes the pumpkin
! pie (for grandmother could make bet
ter pumpkin pie than anyone else).
We then went coasting all afternoon;
About 6 o'clock we came IN ana
have our supper. Then after supper
there were lot of chestnuts put on
the fire to roast and apples were hung
in front of the fire place to bake. soon
the story telling began and at O'Clock
those that were going home that night
departed. ,,
There were now. better Thanks
givings in the world as those years
ago. ,
Well, as my letter is getting long
guess I will close.
Your new friend,
Elizabeth Blystone, Age Is.
437 N. Sheridan Ave-, OttumWa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
A Trip to the River
Kenneth Rice

One day my father and four OF his
Sunday school boys and l went camp
ing down on the river. We started
about 2 o'clock and got there at 4
o'clock. We put up our tent as soon
as we could and while papa was get
ting supper we went swimming In the
river.
After supper a man came down there
to fish with his trot line for awhile.
When he got through we asked him
If we could use it. He said we could
so we fished until about 10 o'clock that
night and caught four fine fish. Then
we went to bed, being very tired.
AS soon as we got up we went out
to look at our trot line. When we
raised 1t up it had a fish on it. We took
it I'D to the tent and when 1t was
weighed we found 1t weighed AZ
pounds. We baited up again and
waited another half hour and then
looked at it. 1t had two fish on 1T, but
when we went to get them one OF them
got away, so we had to be content with
one. We took it up to the tent and
then dressed 1t.
AS soon as we got 1t dressed We got
in the car and started to IND the
boathouse. because we wanted to bor-
row boat to row in, but we could not
find it and so we went back and fished
awhile longer, catching one more fish.
We then started for home. Each
one of the boys got two fish and papa
and l the large catfish.
AS my story is getting long, l will
quit.
Your little junior,
Kenneth Rice, age 10,
Milton Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
The Gift of Flax

The Norsemen use to say that the
white clouds in the sky were the beau
tiful robe of Frigga, the wife of Odin
When the clouds were dark, they
would say: ''Frigga Is angry. Soon
we shall feel her chill breath blowing
in the storm When it rained, it was
"Frigga is doing her washing" and
when it showed, 1t was. "Frigga is
lplucking her geese"
One of the pretty Norseland legends
Is about the discovery Of max and how
Frigga helped the earth to it.
Once upon a time, very long ago,
says the tale, there was poor man
1t was hard to feed and olothe them /;
but the man never complained, though
he often went hungry to bed 80 that
the children might eat.
Frigga, looking down from her home
in the sky, loved this good man, and
determined to help him.
So one morning the poor man saw a
wonderful reindeer, who looked at him
SO strangely that he followed 1t. and
| 1t led him to hole in the side of q
mountain and disappeared. He did not
know what to do, but could not resist
the desire to follow the beast, so he
crawled into the hole. There he came
upon sudden blaze of light and found
himself before beautiful woman, who
! told him to look about him and choose
anything he saw.
Now when the poor man looked
around he saw that the walls of the
cave were covered with jewels. Then
he looked at the beautiful woman, and
he saw that she carried a bunch OF
lovely blue flowers in her hand, and.
because he loved flowers and had
never seen that kind before, he said
20 most wonderful lady, will take
of your kindness only the dainty blue
flowers which you hold In your hand"
The woman smiled and gave the
poor man the flowers, and then there
was clap of thunder, and he found
himself on the outside of the mountain
with the flowers In his hand, but moth
! ing else to remind him of his adven-
ture.
The poor fellow looked ruefully at
the little blossoms, thinking that he
might better have had some of the
Jewels. He took the flowers home,
however, and his wife and children adj
mired them, and kept them for day,
and when they were withered they
threw them out.
A week or so afterward some pale
green shoots came up where the flow
ers had lain, and in little while there
were pretty delicate blue blossoms, like
those which had so mysteriously been
given the poor man, for they had
sown their own seed as they withered,
The poor man did not know what to
make of the new flower; but one night
Frigga came to him in dream and
showed him how to use the withered
fax stalks = how to spin them into
thread, and weave the thread into
linen and soon everybody was com
ing to the poor man for the wonderful
new cloth, and his days of poverty
were over. - Selected.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
MOTHER GOOSE RHYMES.

Dear Juniors. We have ten beau.
tiful little books of the Stampkraft
Mother. Goose rhymes which will be
sent to the ten Juniors writing the
ten best stories or letters, the story
writer's selecting their own subjects.
This contest will close Tuesday, Sep
TENDER Z.
Here is a little verse which will ex-
plain how you can help make Moth
er Goose" rhyme:
"Oh. children dear, if you will look
Within the pages of this book,
On every leaf you'll find space
Where you a postage stamp should
place.
TO At the verse you must take care
And II the stamps apart you tear
And paste them In, you soon will see
A book of Mother Goose" twill be.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Summer Trip Marie
Schoenig of Russell

started on my trip from Council
Bluffs Wednesday July %. got on the
train at $40 o'clock. 1t was raining
when l left home l changed cars at
Pacific Junction. 1t was 5:15 when the
train was to get into Russell. 1t was
raining hard when we got In Lucas.
The tracks were covered with water
and the train waited there. The brake
man said we would have to stay there
all night for there was Washout
ahead.
I had little lunch left over from
dinner. l ate that and lady gave me
an orange and cookie.
I played wit hsome little girls and
then at 11:20 the train backed to Cleve'
land and took the other track.
AT 20 minutes to II we got into Rus
sell and my Uncle Nath met met.
Marie Schoening, age 10,
Russell. Iowa. Box 30. IL
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Alma Lanes Grandmother
Was Born in Boston

Dear Juniors:
I will write about my Grandma van
dello. She was born on September 49,
1914. in Boston, Mass. Her parents
names were Warmak and Thomas
Scully. Her name was Bridget Anna
Scully.
She has one sister and three brothers
dead and one sister and two brothers
living.
In 1865 she was married to Cornelius
Vandello.
Her husband died July 10, 1901.
She has five granddaughter and
seven grandsons. She has two sons
and one daughter all of whom are
married She is living with one of her
sons now.
I would like to exchange post cards
with some Of the Juniors.
Alma I2moa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
OTHER CONTESTS.

Today we have several compositions
and we are very glad to have the
Juniors respond to our last weeks
suggestions. Many good stories in
the Something Remarkable" contest
are also being published today. This
contest will close September unless
somebody wants US to continue 1t.
We want the tardy Juniors to send
The Courier Junior q story about an
cestors or a remarkable event. We
will ask the Juniors to write nice
short stories.
We want the Juniors who write In
this contest to tell us the names OF
their remarkable ancestors.
The writer's can select their prizes
from among the following: A basket,
football, box Of candy, roller skates,
book or knife.
Mer1e Dimmitt and Ella Shondel
ars awarded prizes.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Cleo Lee Writes When She
Reads Her Cousins
Letter in Junior

Dear Juniors:
| have read in The Courier the let
ter of my little cousin, Eva Elliott,
Blakesburg, Iowa.
am 10 years old. I am in the fourth
grade. am also granddaughter OF
Rev. ]. Lee. I am living with him and
Grandma here in Long Beach, Cal.
expect my papa and mama In a few
days from Galesburg, ILL., / will 80
home with them.
cannot tell the Juniors in my first
letter about California and the great
ocean and many other things that we
cannot see in Iowa.
Hoping to see my letter IN the
Courier,
Long Beach, Cal.
eve hope Cleo will tell the Juniors
all about her trip in her next letter. .
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

We send out prizes within TWO
weeks after the names OF the winners
are published.
We do wish the Juniors would ac-
knowledge their prizes
If any Junior has ever failed to re-
ceive q prize after his or her name ap-
peared in this paper, it is because the
wrong address has been given us.
When we say wrong address we espec-
Tally refer to incomplete addresses.
All city Juniors should put their street
number and all Juniors living in the
country should put their box number
or falling to have box send in their
parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
Rena Arnet Likes Her Mil
ton Home

Dear Juniors:
I have never written to the Junior
but enjoy reading the letters very
much.
I am little girl 10 years old.
We moved from Birmingham to Mil
ton last spring.
T like my new home real well.
I am taking music lessons, and
have been piecing quilt this summer
I will close, hoping to see my letter
in print.
Rena E. Arnett, age 9.
Milton, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
WANT LETTERS.

We want the Juniors to Write some
very interesting letters, "newsy' let
ters Some Of the Juniors can write
to their parents Other Juniors might
write as though they were visiting
some city. The reward for the best
letter will be a box of letter paper
and envelopes, book or knife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
The Youngest
Knight

IAC Mig CdSllc. liz IdAlo-AocAj
tanta-raa, tanta-raa of the herald's
trumpet echoed through the mills, and
the knights came hurrying up from all
directions. They had worked and
waited for this hour for whole year
and now It had come! On nail near
the kings throne hung the prize sword
and the diamond in the hilt was so
bright that it rivalled the sun.
What a strange looking band of
knights they were! Some carried
several swords strung to their horses
and armor; some carried flags that
were torn and ragged; some had lost
an arm and some a leg. But all hur-
ried eagerly forward at the call OF
their king. This was the day when the
sword with the diamond in it's hilt
was to be put into the hands Of the
most worthy knight, the one who liv-
ed most nobly, the one whose actions
were most approved by the king.
First Sir Terrible stepped before
his king; he showed the swords he
had won.
yes" said the king, "but you took
these in the night time. The lord OF
the castle you attacked was Ill and
troubled; you took the swords in TN
| fair battle. Such swords are no
| trophies"
J Sir Terrible hung his head and
stood aside.
/ Next came Sir Bold. He held his
head high and he showed the wounds
he had received.
eyes" said the king, "hnt the fight
YOU fought was against the knight who
| had gone to help the dragon lntem'
perance. That was no battle. for
knight of mine to fight" and he NOV
ed Sir Bold aside.
Next came Sir Merry and he showed
the flags he had won.
"Yes,'' said the king, "but one was
the flag that f1oated from the good
ship Mercy: you were cruel when you
took that flag" and his eyes were
filed with tears as he waved Sir Mer-
ry away.
Next came Sir Proud with cloak
flung over his shoulder.
eyes" said the king, "but you took
the cloak from one who needed it. 1t
was the poor mans only treasure
and the king motioned this unworthy
knight away.
So he went through the lists: some
had done brave deeds, but they were
not done in the noble way the king
desired; the deeds of others were no'
good and brave at all. but only shams'
BY and by the king came TO me
Youngest knight of all, Sir Faltn1u III;
"And what trophy have you to sho"
he asked.
Nothing. O king: have nothing TO
bring" and he hung his head.
"Nothing?" echoed the king
! s'No l did not get out of sight or
f, the castle wall when I heard the ner-
AIDS call. I knew not that the time
was passing so fast"
"Ah but I understand, my falthtul
one. Today the little child Whom you
watched through the fever is playing
in the meadow. Today the old man
when YOU rescued in the highway IS
hanDy in his home. Today the mother
to whom YOU gave your purse is well
and caring for her children. me WIN,
dows of the little chapel on the MI
which YOU were to polish are as prlgn ,
az the diamond in the SWORDS nilI
lyon went there every week..
| "But these things were only my
duty, o king"
"Ah, Sir Faithful, rightly you were
named, Only your duty, little one;
Did you think asked for more! any
he placed the sword with the diamond
in the hilt in the hands that had won
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
TIE Liberty BELL

Va stiN want more Liberty Bell
stories. We hope some Of our Juniors
wfll SEQ It IN California and tell us all
aAout Il.
The writer's In the Liberty Bell con-
teet can select their prizes from
among the following: A football, box
OF candy, roller skates Or book.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
acHooL COMPOSITIONS.

Now that the school year Is almost
here we want to urge all the Juniors
t. send in their compositions each
week. The writer's can select prizes
from among the following articles:
Roller skates, book, souvenir spoon,
a beautiful doll, knife, work basket,
box Of candy, letter paper or a 1oot-
ball.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
ABORT STORIES.

The Juniors can also write short
stories on the following subjects:
How Spent My Vacation.
What Am Planning for the Com
Ing School Year.
Select prizes from among the fol.
lowing articles: China plate, box OF
candy. ball bat, roller skates, knife
book or doll.