davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES.
The Hippopotamus.

The hippopotemus is a rare and cu- rious animal which belongs to Africa. wallow in the mud and reeds. This is why he is. called hippopotamus or river horse.
 The hippopotamus is not so tall as the elephant, but he is as broad, and his skin is even thicker than the ele- plants skin. His legs are so short and thick that his body almost touches the ground when he walks.
 The hippopotamus can swim and dive; very often he stops under water for five or six minutes at time. He is very fierce when attacked and so strong that he can tear a boat to pieces with his teeth. If he is not in terfered with he will not offend people.
 FRANK PARDY, Age 14
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
POETRY.
The Dav Dreams of a Boy,

The Day Dreams of Boys Wouldn't it be great if you and me Was walking together one day, And a man came along In a great big
 car, With a chauffeur and swell valet, N then, wouldn't 1t be great if the
 ear would stop, And the man would ho1ler and say: Jump in, kids, I'll give you a ride, I'm goin' to the circus today" An wouldn't it be great when we got
 to the grounds, If this swell guy would say: 'AGo on in. boys, I'm standin' treat An there ain't cent to pay" An wouldn't it be great. when we An set in the front seat, If we had some peanuts and pink
 lemonade, An ice cream cones to eat? An wouldn't it be great if a clown
 come along An ast if we wanted to ride On a bare back horse an jump
 through a hoop, An sposin' we beth tried, An sposin' the horse ran back to the
 tent Where the circus people wait, An the boss would ast us to join the
 show Say, wouldn't it be great? Miriam L. Wright, in Baltimore Re-
 view
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
The Thrush,

All members of the thrush family can sing, but the most operatic of them all is the wood thrush. Many coun- try people who know his song do not know him by sight, for he is very modest
 In the early evening, or toward the close of a sultry afternoon is his fa- vorite time for singing. He has a peculiar sweetness in his song unlike any other bird.
 The veery and hermit thrushes are also good singers.
 As is usual among birds, the gayest colored members of this family are the poorest musicians. The bluebird and the robin sing less frequently than the sombre- colored thrushes While all the thrushes like berries and fruit, they are fond of animal food. They are especially partial to beetles and these make about one-fifth of their animal diet.
 Thrushes eat many other pests be- sides the beetle. They also eat certain fruits and berries of value to farm CTS. The farmers, as well as the fruit raisers, may be interested in know ing exactly what is the ordinary food of the thrushes.
 According to the scientists their diet is quite varied. Some idea of it may be obtained from the following menu: Angle worms, cutworms. spi- ders, grasshoppers, cabbage worms, ants. beetles, army worms, snails, May beetles and corn weevils.
 HATTIE PERKINS.
 Co1cboSfar Copp
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
THE SUN-BONNET CLUB GARDEN

turnip and spinach for her part of the | garden.
 Now" said Maud, q suggest we buy the seed tape. for then we would not seeds really start earlier than any | others"
 All right. Oh, won't it be fun ?' remarked all gaily.
 T just love to dig in the ground and watch things grow" said one. "So do r. returned Ruth with a smile "and we'll call ourselves Sunbonnet club" To which all at once agreed. Hopping and skipping, the merry party rushed into Jim Bumpers gen. era1 store with so much hilarity that Jim had to laugh out loud before he
 Declare for it!" he exclaimed. Seed tape? Sure I've got it. One of the very best articles out.''
 Jim hee-hawed louder than ever when the girls bought all of it he had in stock. Then he gave them a bit of them the best of luck, said he guessed he'd have to stroll over some time to see their garden. This, of course, pleased the girls very much.
 Ruth's papa got the ground ready for the various beds and soon after in rne early mornings six little sunbon- nets could be seen bobbing up and down as the little girls worked steadily until all the seed tape had been plant ed: The warm days came, some sun shine, a little rain, and twas not long before the girls were actually weed ing and hoeing. How interested they were as they watched things grow. Not long after, when everything seemed about right to gather for use, the girls decided there were far more vegetables than could ever be used in their homes, so 1t was planned some should be given away.
 "Oh, l know" said Florence, sIet's give poor. lame Mrs. Porter enough each day for her dinner.''
 Yes, and we'll each carry the same amount to someone else," said the little girls in unison.
 ance that the little Sunbonnet club hardly knew what to do. The more they gave away, the more there seemed to be, to the delight of the girls and their parents as well, who could not help but praise their efforts Almost any time some one of the Sunbonnet club could be seen hurry ing along with a fresh supply as a gift for someone from their luxuriant garden.
 Even Jim Bumpers declared: "The girls had done we'll" At the end of this happy summer spent together the little club girls sat for their pictures, which to the delight of all came out remarkably fine, sunbonnets and all.
 Then one and all agreed to plan the same another year, as their little Sun bonnet club garden had worked won ders for their health and happiness.
 B. J. w.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
A. Dolls Weddjnu.

One bright, beautiful day in June, Marion was dressing her dolls for a wedding, which was to be held at Viola's home.
 Elsie May Elizabeth Helen. The bride groom was Marions large teddy bear, Fuzzy Moses Teddy de Bear.
 Marion had the dolls dressed ex- cept Dinah and Sambo. She thought she wouldn't let them go, but they plea ded so hard that she at last let them. They nearly spoiled the whole thing by wearing red, because they declared 1t suited their comp1exions better.
 The dolls were dressed and Marion was busy packing them in the car in cakes, cookies, etc) that there wasn't room for Dinah. But she set her on a cake. which made Dinah very proud, because she was sitting up higher than the rest.
 Dinal1's pride soon had fall. Chiny. Marion's dog, came rushing down the walk, ran against the carriage and poor Dinah landed in mud puddle. Poor Dinah was having such trouble that afternoon, but her dress dried out before the wedding
 When Marion reached viola's home she found the bride and minister wait ing for her. The bride was dressed in white silk. The minister had been through the war. He had one eye, no hair, one arm, one leg and half of an other and to spoil his whole beauty the tip of his nose was gone.
 After the wedding there was a large feast. Marion was quite ashamed of her dolls, especially Dinah, they ate so much.
 After the feast, Elsie May Elizabeth Helen and Fuzzy Moses Teddy de Bear went on their honeymoon up in the attic.
 EDITH B. BAKER, Age IS.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10

"Oh. mamma exclaimed Ruth. Guess you'll have to make another sunbonnet, because Sadies just told me she had decided to join our club. and that makes six of us now"
 Whats this, some new fangled mo- tion?' asked her papa as a kindly smile stole over his face.
 No, sir; just a good plain notion" !" replied Ruth very earnestly. but you could mot join anyway, for don't you see, papa, that you would look too fun ny for anything with sunbonnet on your head"
 This caused much laughter.
 Now do stop~just a minute" cried Ruth. and let me tell papa all about it." Then she began. You know the large lot down back of the house has been used only as a playground, and I thought you would be willing for a few of us girls to make a little garden there instead"
 Throwing both arms about her papa's neck, she said coaxingly: 'WiIl you, please? And will you give me some change to buy some seeds?"
 Why, little daughter, what good idea! Did you plan it yourself? Of course, you may have the land, and welcome"
 ''Yes, I did" replied Ruth laughing, while her eyes were just sparkling N1Ln 68CilSHlCui
 There are six of us girls and we are to wear the cutest little sunbon- nets, too, just like the one on the lady in the parade the other day, don't you remember?"
 T think I do," said her papa as he tossed Ruth a handful of change. q suppose you'll need my help to get the place in condition? Oh, what great gardeners you little folks will beI''
 Guess we will; you just wait and see," said Ruth, dancing about and humming a tune.
 That afternoon the girls met at Ruth's to arrange their plans and look the ground over to see how many beds they could make. Much merriment
 Now. girls" said Ruth, seriously, what do you think will be the best kinds to buy?"
 well" replied Florence, T don't like radishes, so T. don't want them to care for"
 "Oh, I do," laughed Maud, "so I'll choose that for my part"
 Then Grace thought she'd have early peas and finally Helen's choice was bush beans, while Florence decided on lettuce.
 Now, Sadie, it's your turn.' said they. "Oh, yes, to be sure. I was just picturing it all out in my mind and I think some tomatoes and bed of onions will be needed"
 ''For goodness salse!" exclaimed Maud. "how I detest onions! Never mind, I won't have to work over them anyway.
 Ruth, who now came last, decided on
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10

The birds have all come back again and are building their nests. Last Sunday I saw bird trying to take piece of cloth away from a beanpole. A man had tied it there as a scare crow I told the person who was with me, That isn't much of a scarecrow."
 The bird tugged and tugged, but could not get the knot united. When I came back from in the woods the cloth was gone.
 The robin is careless when she builds her nest. She builds 1t in somewhere where child can easily reach.
 The crow builds her nest high up on the top of a tree, where no one dares to go. A crow is sometimes chased by sparrows. The other day was on the street near my house and heard a loud cawing and twittering There were three sparrows after a crow. The crow would do everything to try and get rid of the sparrows, but he was always caught. The crow flew very low to the ground. The sparrows would jump on the crows back and peck him. The last I saw of the poor crow was when he disappeared into the woods with the sparrows after him.
 Every day when we feed our ducks the sparrows come in the duck yard and eat the grain.
 After a rainstorm birds fly down on the lawn and eat the worms The sparrows make their nests in barns and sheds. In our roof there is a place and just about enough room for nest. Every year a sparrow makes her nest in there. This year she laid her eggs early and has some young birds up there.
 FRANK PARDY, Age IA.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
aLnakinn lndian.r

Aunt Alice dropped stick pin in the hall the other day and had hard work to find 1t. She hunted high and low, and even went down on her knees and hands and looked for 1t with a candle. but it was no use for the pin was very small and insignificant.
 Finally Aunt Alice, after last shake of the rug was about to give up the search, when her little nephew, liar old, happened to come downstairs.
 Why don't you look Indian for it ?'' he asked, when he knew what the trouble was, and before Aunt Alice quite realized what was meant, he was down on the floor, his head and body lying sidewise and just as nearly level with the carpet as possible. Tn this position his eyes quickly took in the whole floor surface.
 'tT have ito he shoutedl and, sure enough, right in the middle of the floor. and so plain a place that the wonder was that it had escaped notices was the missing stick pin.
 Harold then explained that looking Indian" meant putting the head level with the ground in order to catch sight of the smallest object between ones self and the horizon.
 "The Indians and p1ainsme11 always do it,p he said. That is why they can always tell when anyone or anything is coming. But 1t works just as well in- doors as on the plains; and when- ever we lose anything in our home we just Hook Indian and find it right off.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
The Prairie on Fire.

In some parts of our country there are immense plains that reach for miles and miles. Long waving grass grows on them. It is like wide sea of grass. These far-spreading plains are called prairies.
 Birds and animals make their home in the prarie. The wild horse gall lops about with his mane flowing in the wind. The great heavy buffalo is there. The wolves roam about in packs. There is plenty of food for them all.
 Sometimes the hunter who is out in the prairie sees red streaks shoot ing up from the line of the sky and the earth volumes of smoke keep rolling on, and there is queer crack ling noise. The noise seems to come nearer and nearer, and soon 1t rolls along with a Jour roar. On come the red leaping flames! The long, way ing grass Is on firei
 How did the prairie get on fire? Perhaps an Indian left his camp fire burning, or dropped a spark from his pipe; or the dry weather has lasted a long time, and the grass took fire from the rays of the sun. At any rate, the mischief is done. If men are near they try to save themselves by burn ing a space all around where they stand. When the fire gets to the bare place 1t finds nothing there to burn.
 MARY NELSON, Age g.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
Flowers,

The anther is really little powder box and after a while it bursts open, spilling a quantity of fine dust, sorne- times brown, but usually golden. This is pollen, and without it it we would have no flower seeds.
 The grains of pollen, when magni- fled from one to two hundred diame- ters, are seen to be exquisitely regular and dainty in form. Those shed by the stamens of the rose of sharon are little globes, covered with bristly points. Those of the lily are smooth and oval, like miniature eggs, and those of the uck-plant are gobular and adorned with a deep spiral groove
 In the very heart of the flowers we find the pistil or pistils. for there are sometimes many. That of the tulip is a sturdy affair, green at the base, yellow at the top and dividing into three heads.
 HepatiCa and anemone have many pistils, which ahe huddled together in the blossoms centre and look like lit- tie green seeds. They are in real seed cases.
 The duty of the pistil in the floral division of labor is to form. guard and in due time distribute the young seed. In its lower part, at towering time, we may find one or more, per haps many, tiny pale green bodies, destined to become seeds if all goes well.
 MARIE A. SHEA. Age 14.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
Versailles
On the Farm.

Once upon a time when I was visit ing my grandmother's farm, 1 was playing in the hay. My cousins and I were making believe it was a noun tain. It was very high and it took a long while to climb it.
 By and bv two boys came along and had some matches. They were pull ing the hay and putting it onto papers which they had for smoking.
 One boy lit 0 match and threw it into a hole which we made for a cave. By and by we smelled hay burning. We slid down the side to see what was the matter. By the time we got down to the bottom the flames were coming through the top. One girl left her handkerchief up there, but she said, My life is of more consequence than my handkerchief" So her hand kerchfef got burned up. It was dur ing the summer vacation.
 MARY ELIZABETH O'NEILL, Age 10.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
The Fairies Slippers.

Dear Uncle Jed: I wonder if any of the Wide-Awakes have found the ladies' slippers. I have found both the yellow and pink. The yellow ones are very rare, but we find many pink ladies' slippers where there are pine trees. They generally blossom in the early part of June. l am going to tell you little story about how the ladies slippers got their names.
 Once upon a time. long, long ago, there lived twelve fairies together in the heart of deep forest. Far in where they often had pfcnics and dances. These fairies lived in a cas- tie.
 Now they had one enemy, an ugly giant, whose name was Grump. While they had picnics one of the fairies had to keep guard. One fine spring morn ing in June six of the fairies dressed in yellow and the other six in pink. They were going for a picnic at their favorite nook in q wooded dell. While they were enjoying themselves inn mensely the guard suddenly cried out: Far in the distance I see our enemy approaching!"
 The frightened fairies gathered to- gether their dishes and fled. They ran so swiftly that their slippers flew off When they arrived at the castle they hid, fearful lest the giant should find their slippers and discover their hid- ing place.
 Early the next morning the twelve frightened fairies set out to find their slippers. To their astonishment they found pink and yellow flowers scat tered all over the fields and woods where they had been the night before and ever since that time the children always look for them in the spring time and call them ladies' slippers.
 MARY A. .BURRILL, Age Is.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
 BOYS ARD GIRLS DEPARTMENT

awarded me entitled The High School Rivals. It is very interesting book.
 Thomas o'ConnelI of Norwich: thank you very much for the prize. book entitled Tom Fairfield in Camp. have read 1t through and think it.is a very nice book.
 Mary 4. BurriII of Stafford Springs: l received the prize book you sent me Thursday, and thank you very, very much for it. I have read half, and 1t is very interesting. The name of it is
 Two Boy Gold Miners.
 Gladys Randall of Voluntown: re-
 ceived the prize book you sent me, and
 send many thanks to you for it. I
 think it is very nice and interesting.
 The title Is Odds and Even. My long vacation will soon come
 and I am sorry. 1 will have to be out
 of school so long. My robin has built her nest again in the same old place, and she has got little babies. 1 love to watch her get worms to feed them. Oh, I love to hear the birds in the morning when they sing so sweet. I am reading a book now that is very nice, Black Beauty. Rosina RogIer of Norwich: Received the prize book you sent me. l have read it through and found it very in- tereSllns. Indnk you very hucn 4oI 1t.
 WInifrcd Briggs. Jewett City: Many thanks for the prize book received Thursday. I have read 1t half through and like 1t very much. Miriam M. Grover, Norwich: ' thank you very much for the nice prize book received I have read 1t and found it very interesting.
 Mary Steinmeyer, Eaglevi1le: thank you very much for the prize book. It is very nice, and has very important things in 1t.
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
The BIuejay.

Who has not seen the bluejay fit ting through the woods with it's gay colored plumage. What pity that such a handsome bird should be a wild and lawless outcast to all its neighbors.
 For the bluejay is a thieving, noisy bird and often visits other birds nest, and finding eggs, within breaks them. He robs gardens and makes himself a nuisance.
 But for all his mischievous faults he is a cheery bird and often warns the other birds of the approach of in- truders. When he sights a hunter he at once flies through the woods screaming as he goes, for when the birds hear his warning notes they in- stantly flee. for they know from eX- perience that the bluejays warning is to be accepted. Aside from this he is one of the prettiest birds of Amer ica.
 ESTHER LYMAN, Age Il.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
A Bear Farm.


 Fifty years ago there was great excitement over the finding of gold in California, and thousands of peo- pie rushed to that far-of country to make their fortunes.
 The trip across the scorching plains, and over high and rugged mountains, was difficult one beset by hardships and dangers. There was no railroad to the Pacific Coast at that time, and many people made the journey of more than two thousand miles by OK teams, fighting hunger cold and heat, and hostile Indians.
 Among those who braved the terrors of the overland trip were a young man and his wife from Missouri, who settled near the Sacramento river and opened a tavern. They had very lit tie money. but plenty of pluck. For a time they prospered, and often took in from their guests a hundred dol lars in gold before breakfast. But fortune after some years turned against them. The digging of gold was less prosperous. and the hotel business suffered. Finally, the father died. leaving the mother with a family of nine children. She sold the tavern, and removed with the family to a country far north, where she bought a farm and set up a new home.
 Then occurred an outbreak of the Indians. who burned her house and barn and drove off her cattle. But the brave woman never gave up the struggle. She kept her pursuers at bay with a rifle until she reached a refuge for her family, five miles away. After that she, with a son and daughter, moved to a wild mountain ridge in the Coast range.
 The prospect before them was any thing but rosecolored. All around, as far as eye could see, were noun tains, forests and grassy hills. What chance was there to make a living here?
 The answer to this question will show what people of quick wit and courage can do when they are ener- getic and are determined to make the most of their circumstances.
 She built cabin and started to raise sheep and pigs on the grassy ranges.
 But the mountain wood about them were the home of bears There were so many bears that they ate up not only the sheep and pigs as fast as they were raised, but even the chickens.
 This seemed to be the worst plight of all that had befallen the ill-fated family. How could they make a Iiv- ing now? The mother, a tall old wo- man with white hair, was equal to the crisis. She had proved her own skill with the rifle. Her son was a SOOQ S1OI ana Knew nothing Of fear Her daughter also had learned how to handle rifle and was equally courageous.
 So the mother determined that if she could not raise sheep, pigs and chickens, she would make trouble for the bears, and compel them to pay for the damage they had done. Then the three set about killing bears, and sending their meat and skins to the market.
 Mary, the daughter, soon became a "crack shot," and the skins of the ami malls she killed went to market bear ing her name.
 In the early spring it was not hard to find the winter dens of the bears.
 Whenever a mother bear was shot. the cubs were brought home to the farm. This started a new idea-a bear farm. Why not? One of the cubs grew to be a large creature, and be- came docile pet, whom they named Pansy.
 A1IX DUGAS, Age IS.
 Versa f1Iee
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10

tering and pushing and jumping up and down, and would not mind when he was spoken to.
 Finally fairy sent the swift out and cast over him a spell and he was doomed to continual unrest, and that is why the chimney swift is always on the wing and can't even lay down at night. but has to cling to the sides of the chimney.
 Moral: It is better to always obey our elders.
 MARGUERITE sUTHTLL, Age Ii.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10
Versailles.
My Trin fn Alaska

Starting from Portland, Oregon. we went up the Wfllimette river into the Columbia. It took us about two hours to cross the bar. We took the outer passage, so we did not meet many large passenger boats, or stop at any towns until we reached Ketichi- kan, Alaska, where we stopped for a few hours, unloading freight. The captain and myself went back in the hills to stream called Fish Creek. It received it's name from having so many salmon in it. The creek is not more than two feet deep.
 We stopped at many salmon. can-
Norwich bulletin., 1915-06-10

neries. It is very interesting to see them can salmon by machinery. They hire Chinamen and Indians, mostly to do the work.
 We finally reached Juneau, the cap ital of Alaska.
 Sheen Creek is a town about three miles below Juneau. Between these tow towns is the largest stamp mill in the world. They crush rock so as to obtain the gold.
 Douglas and Tredwell, Alaska, are just across the bay from Juneau. Here the largest gold mines in the world are located.
 We stayed four weeks in Alaska. We sailed on the steamer Jefferson. We saw many whales. We saw seals and glaciers and icebergs.
 GEORGE CONE, Age 13.