davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
The Mystery = BY Hazel
Willard of Bloomfield

Dear Juniors:-I thought l would
write as | haven't written for long
time. l will write one of my old
school compositions, the title is THE
Mystery
Once upon a time there was beau
tiful palace in old Charleston. In it
lived young lady by the name Of
Clara Vinson. She was an invalid
and her father and mother died and
left her great sum Of money.
There was an old man in Charles
ton who was crazy and he had found
out that Clara had this large sum of
money. He was going to see if he
could get it.
She found this out and hid this sum
of money away. Nobody knew where
this morey was but Clara. She had
an old lady staying with her and she
had a good many servants.
This went on for about five years.
Nobody knew or found this money.
One day the servant was busting the
piano and found the money inside OF
the piano. This was mystery for
several years before it was found. So
when she died she gave it to the old
lady who stayed with her. This is
what the mystery was.
Hazel Willard, Age IA.
Bloomfield, a., Box 1855
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
A Hunters Story BY
Dwight M. Bannister

AS Il was walking about the thought
Of hunting struck my mind. The next
day began practicing. 1t took me ten
years to get we'll prepared. At first
was satisfied with the land around
home. But finally wanted to go west
Already had a coon skin and many
other skins. But the thought OF the
grizzly and wildcat made me long to
go west I had many animals teeth and
skins. But that was not enough. ]
thought of the west all the time.
had made a great deal Of money
selling skins, etc. I planned to be a
famous hunter at last. I finally made
enough money to 60 west. I found that
the west was fairly good hunting
ground. I worked my way northward
But first built a portable hut. 1t took
a year to get as far as the center OF
Canada I was still working my way
northward when one spring morning
when I rose I saw the northern lights
shining very brightly.
It took me year and half to get
to Alaska where I tried mining. | soon
went back to hunting though. I got
several Of the walrus, seal and polar
bear skins. went all over North
America hunting. I have one or more
skins Of almost every North American
wild animal. have skins Of almost half
of the wild animals Of South America.
have come back home now to sell my
Sims
Dwieht Bannister. age 10,
1923 N. College ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Katheryn Healy of Missouri
Tells How Her Family
Feel About The Courier

Dear Editor:-I want to tell the
boys and girls that read The Courier
how our family enjoy it.
My grandmother took The Courier
from the time she was married until
she came to live with my mother, and
then my mother took it and has taken
1t ever since.
We all seem lost unless we have
The Courier to read.
MY mother and grandmother used to
live in Ottumwa and they lived all
their lives near the city. So they feel
as If The Courier is treasure to
them.
Not only they like it but the whole
family likes 1t.
One Christmas, that is about cou-
pie of weeks before Christmas, The
Courier had expired. Well until
Christmas we didn't know what to do
and on Christmas it came. Papa said
This is your Christmas present from
me-
Katheryn Healy, Age 10.
Koshkonong, Mo.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Story of The Burning Nest
= BY Kyle Davis

Once upon a time there was little
girl who lived in Virginia near the Po-
tomac river One sunny May morning
her father said Come, Elinor, I want
you to go with me- OF course she was
glad to go, and in few minutes she
was on her pony's back. They took the
road by the river The birds were sing
ing merrily and delicate wild flowers
timidly looked out into this great
world. AS they came near the woods.
the air was filled with smoke. and they
could see the flame creeping among the
dead leaves on the ground.
They stopped their horses and listen
ed What strange cry was that they
heard? 1t came from bird above them
flying slowly round and round. What
was the trouble? All! They could see a
tall tree trunk by the roadside. In the
topmost branches was q nest ana
around it the bird was flying. Her lit
tic brood was there. The flames were
even now running up dead vine that
chung to the trunk. Some Of the twigs
Of the nest were on fire. The bird stop
ped her cries, flew swiftly to the nest
and pulled out the burning twigs with
her beak. But she could not pull them
out fast enough. Oh, how they wished
that they could have helped her. The
little birds must burn. What would the
mother bird do? She quietly folded her
wings over her little ones and died with
them.
Kyle Davis, age 8,
Hedrick, a., r. No. 1.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Lille Mays Nice Letter
Was Found in a
pigeon Hole

Dear Editor: l thought would try
and write another short letter. | go
to the Hays school house 1t is two
miles from my home. | am in the sixth
grade. My teachers name is John
Stamps. like him fine. My school
mates are: Maurine Mccullough, Lille
Fox, Katie Bell Stevenson, James Nc
Cullogh, John Harl, Kenneth McGovern
Celia Condra, Laurence McAnelly,
Paul Phillips, Herbert Harl, Jessie
Stevenson, Grace Burkiser, Bessie
Harl, Edna Harl, Byron Condra, Chas.
Condra, Thelma Anderson. My best
school mates are Lille Fox, Katie Bell
Stevenson and Jessie Stevenson.
| live six miles from Seymour
have one cat and one little dog. My
cats name is Lucy and the dogs
name Is Cute And we also have lit
tie colt named Nellie. I have little
sister eight years old. have two
brothers one is II years old and the
other is 20 years old.
We have lived in the country about
two years and I like it fine. have
an aunt and uncle living in Ottumwa.
My uncle works at the Dain Mfg.
4 Co My aunt visited us last summer
and stayed a month. Well this is all
can think of this time.
| will close for this time.
Lille Mae Anderson
Seymour, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Carribelle Perkins Compost
ton, ''My Biography"
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
I will send you one of my school
compositions. The title 10 my Biog-
raphy."
MY name is Carribelle Perkins. l
was born May 10, 1906. am years old.
I attend the Bonaparte public school.
I am in the fifth grade. My teachers
name is Miss Jennie o. Young. MY
favorite study is spelling
read evenings and Saturdays. My
favorite amusement is reading. The
best books have ever tread are Am
Der the Adopted and THE Little
Knight of the x Bar B"
have kitten for pet His name
is SNOWFALL
One time when I was fishing with
some friends I fell off of large bank
Of rocks A man who was fishing below
caught me and if he hadn't would
have fallen into the river.
I want to get good education and in
the future I wish to BIZ q stenographer.
Carribelle Perkins, age 8,
Bonaparte, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Kristina's Composition,
"GOOd Friends"

Dear Juniors:
As have not written for some time
thought I would send in school
composition. It is entitled, Good
Friends
My horse and are very good
friends. Her name is blackbird. She
and white feet She is very gentle
horse.
l had been riding her all morning
and as she was very tired turned
her out in the orchard, but before she
would 20 she had to have some sugar.
ran to the house as fast as l could
and got the sugar, but by the time
l got back she was gone. | called my
brother Charlie and he got his horse
for me. | started after Blackbird and
found her in neighbours garden.
took her home, gave her some sugar
and put her in the pasture.
In the afternoon I drove her to
town to get the mail. Coming home
she got frightened at piece OF paper
flying about in the road.
One day Mildred and Ava came
down. We took turns riding Black.
bird She stepped on Ava's 1oot anu
Mildred fell of. One other day Mil
dred Ava and I went picnicking. OF
course I drove Blackbird. We went
to some woods near home and spent
the. day there.
When school began either drove or
rode Blackbird every day. The chill
dren all envied me, especially In PAD
weather.
Blackbird lived with us until she
was about ten years old, then we sold
her. / always had a good time with
her wherever / went. She was fright
ened by scarcely anything but paper.
When she was but colt she
would always be at the gate whenever
I was near, wanting sugar. When
papa saw her affection for me he gave
her to me to name and take care or.
7 was very sorry when papa sold her
but got $275 for her. l invested the
money in q piano.
am taking music lessons now ana
practice two hours every day.
take a lesson once a week but WISH
I had good old Blackbird back again.
would like to hear from some OF
~ Kristina Johnson. Age IL.
n n & Fairfield, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
ReuIah Parker Sends in Her
Liberty Bell' Story

Dear, Juniors II go to school al
+! Christian Corner school in Pleasant
! township and wrote story about the
Liberty Bell for my grammar lesson. 1t
was sent into the county institute by
my teacher and l thought that some
Of you would like to read it too.
Liberty Bell.
The Liberty Bell was made in Eng
land in l751, and was sent to Phila-
delphia in 1851 to be rung to cele-
orate the birthday of Pennsylvania.
When they rung it for the first time
it cracked and they sent it back to
England to be melted over in 1858. 1t
then weighed two thousand and eighty
pounds and is five feet across the bot
tom of the bell and is made OF bronze
and is three inches thick. 1t cost
$293.65.
1t rang for the first time in 1853 and
the last time at John Marshalls fun
eral chief justice of the United States,
on July s, 1885. On the bottom of the
bell is written Proclaim Liberty
Throughout the Land Unto All the In
i1abitants Thereof" The bell has
made eight trips, first was to Allan
town. Pa, when the British army was
marching toward Philadelphia; the
second trip was to New Orleans IN
1885 to an exposition and Jefferson
Davis ceremonial; the third trip was
to Chicago exposition in 1898; fourth
trip was to Buffalo in 1901; fifth trip
to Boston in 1903; seventh trip to st.
Louis in 1914; and the last trip to San
Francisco in July, 1915 where it re-
manned for the Panama exposition
then it will return to it's home in Phil
adelphia.
Fifteen thousand children strewed
the way with flowers from Independ-
ence hall to the depot.
Beulah Parker, Age IL.
Batavia, Iowa, Route l..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Jessie Cleota Pool Says He
and His Brothers Eat
Apples
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
| have not written for some time, but
I want to Join the apple contest.
There are many different kinds OF APP
ples We set out new orchard this
spring. We set out Ben Davis, W1nesap'
Raspberry, Delicious, Red June, Welthy
and Black Ben Davis.
I think apples are about the best
fruit there is. 1t is nice when one mas
plenty Of nice big apples like there are
this year, to put in the cellar for win
ter; to grind apples and make cider;
One can take and boil 1t down ana
cook apples In it and make fine apple
butter. Apples make fine jelly One can
let cider stand and it makes fine vim
egar While there are not so many ap-
pies in the northern part of the state
one can ship apples there and make a
good bit Of money, and there lots OF
people who live in town would be glad
to have some Of the small apples that
are sorted out and not used.
have two brothers and two sisters
and we will eat lots Of the apples this
winter. I am always glad to read the
Junior letters.
Jessie Cleola Pool, age 10,
Birmingham Ia, r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Pearl Ross Composition
"Saved BY the American
Flag"

Dear Courier Junior:
One time there was an America. nc -
who was in Turkey. He did somethi es
to offend the Turkish government; ~
then he was taken prisoner Tor loHs
time. they made up their minds TO
shoot this man at certain time; Iney
were all around in q circle ana WEI
o+her American man who saw this
prisoner So he ran into store and got
an American flag and went in the ring
and wrapped the flag around this ma.
who was perfect stranger to MIN.
He said "Who shoots this man SHOOTS
the American flag" SO they dared not
shoot this man because the Americans
would have made war.
This shows a brave deed done oy aii
American flag.
Kirkville, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Umbrellas

Umbrellas, umbrellas, way down in
the street,
Bobbing along through the rain on feet
That's how they look as they pass be-
low
Umbrellas and feet are the most that
show.
Umbrellas, umbrellas, wet pavements
and me
A-watching for mother to come home
to tea; ..
How am to know her or wave
through the pane
When every umbrellas the same IN
the rain?
Policemen, conductors, and pirates,
and kings
Are easily known by their trousers
and things.
On days like today, when the wealth.
er's 10 blame,
Beneath their umbrellas they'd all
look the same.
Melville Chatter in st. Nicholas.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
The Poor Little Boy
Grace Mahin

Once upon a time there was an
old man. He was old and could not
work and he had only fifteen dollars.
That day he sent the boy to town
with FIVE dollars. While he ras gone
The man fell asleep. A tramp came
and took the ten dollars and shot the
man.
When the boy came home he went
to the man and found him dead. He
saw where the bullet went through.
The boy started to cry. He had mo
relatives but one uncle and one aunt,
He lived in Abba and his uncle r.
Maryville AS my story is getina.
long I will close.
Grace Mahin Age 10.
Abba, Iowa, Route No 9.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
WANT LETTERS.

We want the Juniors to write some
verv interesting letters, "newsy'' let
tiers. Some Of the Juniors can write to
their parents. Other Juniors might
write as though they were visiting
some city. The re ward for the best let
er will be box of letter paper and
ENVELOPES, a book, friendship link or
knife.
Kathryn Healy is awarded the prize
his week.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
ALL ABOUT PRIZES,

We send out prizes within two
jeeks after the names Of the winners
are published.
We do wish the Juniors would &C
knowledge their prizes.
II any Junior has ever failed to re-
ceive a 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 es.
pecially 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 failing to have box send in their
parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
ANCESTOR STORIES.

We want the Juniors to Write about
some of their ancestors (Which means
your parents, grandparents. great
grandparents, etc. We will ask the
Juniors to write nice short stories tell
Ing something remarkable or unusual
about their ancestors.
We want the Juniors who write iD
contest to tell us the names Of their
remarkable ancestors.
The writer's can select their prizes
from among the following: A box OF
candy, skates, book, friendship link,
pin or knife.
Thelma Langdon is the prize winner
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
TheIma Langdon on Her
Ancestors, Who Are
Still Living
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
have not written for a long time so
thought I would write about my an
cestors. $1,000
NV fathers grandparents were born
in the state Of Ohio and are now living
in Munice, Indiana. They are at the
ages of eighty five and eighty-nlne.
There were five boys and three girls
and all of them are living but one.
Their names were Mr.. and Mrs. I. j.
Langdon.
NV mothers grandfather died when
her father was a little boy. My grand
father lives in Indiana now. He was
born in Maryland. He lives In small
country town. There were three boys
and two girls in their family. They are
all living but one.
Thelma Langdon,
2l5 N. Green St. OttumWa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
The Three Rabbits
Mildred Mahin

Once upon a time there was a moth
er Rabbit which had three rabbits. 1t
was so cold that the rabbits froze and
then the mother rabbit was very sad
because her little rabbits had died.
Then one night it was so very cold
tina, she died.
AS my letter is getting long l will
close.
Mildred Mahin, Age 8.
Abba, Iowa, Route No. T.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
THE liberty BELL.

We still want more Liberty Bell
stories. We hope some of our Juniors
will see 1t in California and tell US all
about It,
The writer's In the Liberty Bell con-
test can select their prizes from among
the following: A football, box OF
candy, skates or book.
Buelah Parker Is awarded prize.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
scnooL COMPOSITIONS.

We want more school compositions.
Remember, we are giving two friend
ship links, engraved, each week to
the two writer's of the two best COM
positions. The boys can have knife,
skates or book.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

I. Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp pencil.
3. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Do not copy stories or poetry and
send us as your own work.
s. Number your pages.
6. Always state choice of prize
on a separate piece Of paper, with
name and address In full.
T. Address envelope to The Courier
Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
SEND OUT POST CARDS.

We are sending our post cards again
all the Juniors after their letters or
tories are published.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13

better"
The time came when Mr.. Barker
also could say proudly, 81 can trust
nv boys word!"-C. E. Thonger, in
ChatterbOX.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
I received my friendship link and am
very proud Of it. My friendship bracelet
is silver and gold links and the INK
YOU sent me completes my bracelet. l
hope you will excuse me for not writ
ing sooner but have been so pussy
Thanking YOU for the link, / remain.
Your Junior friend,
Luella Wood,
Moulton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Three More Juniors Pleased
With Their Prizes

Dear Editor:
Received the friendship link and
think It is very pretty. could hardly
wait to open it and am very ESoud OF
it thanking you again remain as
ever.
Helen Campbell, age 49,
Charlton, Iowa, r. NO. 3.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13

Dear Editor:
I received my box or HalioWe en-
c,ndy al, q K. Many thanks for same.
Lille Cottrell,
Hynes, Iowa.
Arizona republican., 1915-06-06

With a view to remedying this, he placed the reclamation service under a commission form of government consisting of five commissioners, each one having his own special line to look after. but who. acting collec
 lively, should. and do. constitute the administrative body of the service. While I am a member of the legal profession and the chief counsel for the reclamation service, yet, as one of the commissioners, I also have the double duty of being one of the administrative officers as well. Nrr. ODonneH is in charge of irrigation, and as supervisor of irrigation is re- quired to travel about looking after special matters throughout the vari- ous projects; he is at the same time one of the five administrative mem- bers of the commission, along with the chief engineer. chief counsel, the comptroller, and the newly appointed chief constructionist. By this method the secretary has adopted a much better and more effective method of handling the business end of the work, and at the same time get into touch with the people who are vitally interested in the work. For example, Mir. O'DOnnell, as supervi
 sor of irrigation, is going about from one project to the other, hears the complaints. and thereby becomes ia miliar with the weak points of the government work in any particular locality, especially as affects the ad
 ministTative end of the work, and seeks a remedy, and while on the ground, learns where and how to ap
 ply the remedy. For example, day before yesterday morning at our meeting at Newell, South Dakota,
 man arose and asked why he could not get his headgate fixed so there would be no waste of water. MT. O'Donnell immediately directed the project manager, who was in the audience, to fix that headgate.' When he asked if there were any others who needed headgates fixed or re-
 paired. someone whispered in the au- dience, though it didn't get around very far, that some of them needed their heads fixed instead of head gates, but, as 1 say. that remark didn't get around very far.
 Thus, as stated. the secretary, through his new system, has sue ceeded in getting in touch with the people. We are not flattering our selves, however. that we have solved all the problems along this line We recognize that there are more to fol- low Within the next few years it may be decided to go much farther
Arizona republican., 1915-06-06
What Is Being Done
 In Reclamation Work

Extracts from the following ad-
 dress, delivered by Chief Counsel
 Will R. King of the United States
 reclamation service before the Cham
 bor of Commerce at Billings, Mont,
 will be of interest to water users
 under all government projects.
 The speech was delivered last
 March, but the extracts from it fur
 nished by Claude R. Burson of the
 reclamation service will be as in
 teresting now to the water users
 under all projects as they were then to the hearers of Judge King at Billings.
 "I realize that you expect ne to talk about irrigation and kindred topics, rather than that I should give you my experiences l have been in reclamation work as chief counsel of the reclamation service for about eighteen months. During that time a great many changes and advance ments have taken place, but when I say that the reclamation service has very materially progressed in its work, it does not necessarily reflect upon those who have gone before, for, as all know, reclamation work in this country has merely passed through the experimental stage. That is, it is passing through the experimental stage. In a great un- dertaking like this. it requires years to reach the point where the ma chnery may move along more easily and smoothly. Remember our first What difficulties they had in climbing ordinary hills; but now we find them even climbing pre- cipitous mountains and are begin ming to be attached to flying ma chimes, all in only a short period of about fifteen years has this been brought about. Reclamation work is now beginning to move along with about the same rapidity. largely due to the present eminent secretarys progressive ideas; progressive, not only over the political route. but in 9 public business way as well. After calling together representatives from all arid states, who were and are in terested in the reclamation service, and hearing their criticisms of the service. he discovered that one of the Weaknesses of the service was the fact that it was too remote from the people, who are obligated to pay the bills: that there was not enough If the human element being injected into the service; that the people had too much difficulty in communicat ing with the people in charge. and that some new and more effective method of dealing with them was necessary.