davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
Ottumwa, Iowa
MATILDA DEvEREAUx
EDITOR
A GOOD ROADS CONTEST.

Dear Juniors: In place of an Eas
<er story contest this year we nave
decided to have Good Roads con
test" closing Easter Saturday, Apr
4. We want all the Juniors to ten us
the benefits of good roads every"nere re
The writer Of the best story VIII l &c,
ceiye an Easter box of candy anu =. az ~,
the other writer's beautltui Has'ei
cards. -, 1.,odnes,
The bird contest will close Wean mes
day. March 81, when the three p i,..1e
winners will be sent the cute n.ote
Courier Junior bungalow bird nou ,,,So
These little houses are Dull' Inv
bungalows with porches on the lioht
Of them. They are painted III VI n -,
co,ors some have green roofs, some
have red. All of them have little WIN
dows and nice little doors where tne
hirds NAV 20 in and out whenever
thew want to Inside there Is lots u
room for building nests where tne
fsatherv tribe may make their homes;
TO win these Courier junior olpo
houses the Juniors must write some
zeal bird stories. That is, tell us
aho,t the different birds. habits anu any
whv they are blessing to this earn
We have many excellent stories To-Day
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Oliver Shoemaker Saws
There Are 300 Species
of Woodpeckers
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
This Is composition about wood
peckers.
There are about three hundred spe-
cies of the wood pecker but North
America has but twenty-five species.
They are climbing birds with two toes
pointing backward and two toes point
ing forward. The woodpecker has
stiff tail and feathers which help it
to climb the tallest tree and cling to
the largest or smallest branch with
safety. The bill is like a chisel and
Is straight and sharp. The muscles
of the neck are SO strong that strong
woodpecker can drill hole into any
dry tree of the forest.
A woodpecker can locate insects in
a tree under the bark. either by listen
ing or inspecting. AS soon as he 10.
Gates an insect he drills away at the
bark and soon the insect is captured.
The woodpecker is bird of thrift
mess and is protected in the western
states Of the United States by laws
because. 1t keeps the insects from the
orchards.
The red-headed woodpecker, flicker
and sapsucker go south in winter. The
red-headed woodpecker of California
drills hole in pine tree and drives
an acorn in SO tightly that a jay bird
cannot get it out.
Oliver Shoemaker,
S21 North Weller st. Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Lizzie Jones, an Eldo'
Junior, Likes the
War News

Dear Editor:
We have taken The Courier for sew
en- years. I like it very we'll. like
to read the war news.
We have lived in Ottumwa nine
years the 18th day of next May Four
years ago we moved to the south side.
We moved on Saturday evening and
my brother and l started to the Agas-
siz school on the next Monday morn
ing. I was in the second grade and
my brother was in the fourth grade.
My teachers name was Miss Goodall
and my brother'steacher' name was
Miss Findly. We liked them both.
Now my brother Is in the last part
Of the eighth grade. My teachers
name is Miss Berry. I like her, too.
MY brothers teachers names are
Miss Mingus and Miss Tout.
Lizzie Jones, Age II.
mo street number) Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Randolph Says Birds
Are Useful to the Farmer

Dear Junior:
l will tell you what I know about
birds. They are very useful to the
farmer. They kill the bugs.
The robin stays near the house and
eats cherries and picks worms from
the plants. 1t builds its nest up in
the trees, something like an oriole.
The wren is also very useful bird
It builds It's nest in corners and IN
old houses.
The sparrow stays mostly about the
barn and builds it's nest there. Some
people do not like the sparrow and
drive it away or kill it.
The chickadee is the best Of all
It is very small and is very intelligent
It seems to be very happy always and
whenever anyone else is cross or III
it tries to cheer them up by flying
around and chirping. It builds its nest
somewhat like downy woodpecker,
always building in an old decayed
post or tree and seldom lets anyone
know where it Is.
Vigil Randolph, Age 13.
r. I'd. /. Milton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
What Elinor Parsons OF
D0uds-LeandO Knows
About the Birds

Dear Juniors:
I have written before, but thought
I would write this time and tell you
what know about birds.
/ will tell you about the robin, which
comes with the approach Of spring and
builds his nest and sings so sweetly.
For several months he lives on cher
ries and other fruits. He destroys In
sects and is blessing to the farmer.
I love to hear them sing. l sometimes
look in their nests and see the eggs.
The blue jay is rather saucy fell
low. He steals cherries. You can not
drive them away They are not afraid
of anything. They love to rob other
nests. They build their nests Of roots,
twigs, grass, hair and mud and line it
with something soft
The red bird or cardinal is a very
beautiful bird. ! saw one Friday going
to school. Early in May she builds her
nest and raises her young. She builds
her nest Of bits of bark, twigs and lines
it with soft grass. This bird stays with
us the year around.
The wren is one Of the smallest birds
there is. 1t comes here early in the
spring. They build mostly around
buildings. We put tin can up on the
side of our smoke house and little
wren built it's nest in it.. l will try to
write more about birds some other
time.
Elinor Parsons, age II,
Douds- Leando. Ia. r. F. D. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Ruth Cremer on "Polite'
ness - Her Papa Has
Taken Courier Nine
Years

Dear Juniors:
AS father has taken the Courier Tor
about nine years and l am very iHucn
Interested in the Courier Junior I
thought I would write a short story to
my little friends on "Politeness'
Once a millionaire just coming from
Boston met at the door of the great
hotel a little dirty faced boy selling
newspapers and calling out: Morning
papers. two cents apiece. Ihe mlllloh.
aire bought g. paper and for payment
gave a FIVE cent pi zee The little fellow
was hunting for the three cents change
and the man said: Keep It and buy a
bar Of soap to wash your face
The little boy had found the three
cents and said Take this and puy a
hool, on politeness." The man was
ashamed ana walked away and the
people smiled at the little boy.
Ruth Cremer, age II,
AZ Webster ST.. Ottun1wa, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
A Soma For School

Some boys, when they come 1n1o
school
(And some girls, tooD
r rrieye to be Obliged to say
That this Is what they do:
They wiggle,
! And jiggle; ...
t They hang their heads,
I. And giggle;
/ They twitter,
And litter;
They bounce and hounce
And filter.
Whatever thoughts their minds may
fill, ,,
they've no idea of keeping still.
Some bows. when they take up their
books
(And some girls, tool
weep to be obliged to say
That this Is what they DO:
They batter them, -
They latter them,
They crumple, rumple,
Scatter them;
They scrawl them,
They maui them,
They snatch and pull
And haul them.
It makes me very sad to state
A school books is a wretched tate
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Esther Henderson's Brother
Is Her Teacher - Esther
on the Birds

Dear Juniors:
AS 1 have never written a letter TOT
would try to write one. live on q
farm near Drakesville. And 1t IS mere
that I go to school, The school house
has two rooms in 1t. am in the h1ghest
room. NV brother Loyal Henderson Is
nv teacher. My studies are reading
history, arithmetic, grammar, physiol-
ogy, geography, spelling. and II we
have time we have penmanship
At noon and recess we sirls IN the
higher room play ball. Sometimes we
play base bali but work-up is generally
the one we play. Our teacher and an
other bow in our room play with US. We
have splendid times playing ball and IT
is q good exercise. There are two
croouet grounds in the school yard
also. Our school will be out In April.
We are planning to have program az
the opera house. l was thinking that
we would have warm weather but 1t
does not look like it today, although
many spring birds are back.
I see in the Junior page many COM
positions about birds. I am sorry to say
that do not know many birds. But I
like the ways Of tho Robin the best. He
Is a, handsome fellow with red breast
of which I have heard many stories
about. Once there was a wren that built
her nest in our porch. 1t was quite
tame and If there was music In the
house it would sing and hop around on
the porch. One day as l looked into the
wee little nest there were some young
birds in it. But though they were young
they were almost as large as their par
ents.
One day when little friend OF mine,
Dorothy Putnam, was at my house
these little wrens fell out of their nest
and we had hard time catching them.
It was not many days afterwards till
they had flown away.
There are some moro birds l know
but I will not mention their names.
Esthel Henderson. age Is,
Drakesville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Opal Davis Says Blue Jay Is
Beautiful But Very
Naughty

Dear Juniors:
The blue jay is one Of our beautiful
birds but very naughty. 1t tears down
other birds nests and eats their eggs.
It says, Cant can't, can't"
I saw a blue Jay chasing red bird.
The red bird went flying to its nest.
There we're a blue jays and English
sparrow's nest in our yard and was
going to tear them down. Papa and
mamma said I better not do it but az
forwards they said l could and l did,
And they did not come back after
that. They kill little chickens and
birds.
joined the Liberty Bell Bird club
and they said for me to protect the
birds, all but the jay birds and Eng.
lish sparrows.
My papa takes The Courier and
like to read the Junior page.
All the little Juniors should send a
post card shower to that great grand
mother who is 116 years old. 1t would
make her happy to know she was not
forgotten.
Opal Davis, Age 9.
KeOsauuua Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Anastasia Logan of Melrose
Writes to Her Mother

Editor Courier Junior:
This is the second time have writ
ten to The Courier:
Dear Mamma:
l received your welcome letter yes
terday. I am glad Emily is much bet
ter. ....
I am going to tell you Of my trip
through Oregon with my cousins.
First. we went to Portland and we
saw great saw mills. We watched
them for a long time as they were
very interesting. Then we went
through the forests and there were
great large trees over twenty-five
feet thick. We were very much sur
prised to see a large tree followed out
and team passing through it. We
saw trees so large that houses were
built on them. We stayed all night
at a house built on tree. During the
night we heard strange noises which
scared us very much, but the next
morning we found that it was only
animals in the park.
From your loving daughter,
Anastasia Logan. Age -.
Melrose, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Maurine McVey Writes
What She Knows
About Birds

Dear Juniors:
will tell you what I know about
birds.
First, I will write about the robin.
The robin comes early in the spring
to build his nest. He is always hap
by. He belongs to the thrush family.
He feeds 7 on cherries, strawberries
and also destroys the bugs.
The blue jay Is a saucy bird and a
robber. He robs the farmers cherry
trees. .
The sparrow is very common bird.
They try to get into wren houses.
They are here all winter. They build
nests in caves.
The wren is very tiny bird. 1t
sings sweetly. 1t can get into the
tiniest hole. I like the wren. 1t feeds
on bugs and is very tame.
The weaver bird lives In Asia and
Africa and weaves hanging nest out
of grass. The weaver bird looks like
a sparrow.
I have never seen a whip-poor-Will
but have often heard them out at
my grandfather's farm and grandfath-
er always said, 1T Is time to plant
corn" when the whip-poor-will
whistled.
The owl is very sleepy bird in the
daytime. He hunts for food at night.
have heard owls boot out at my
grandfather's when l was in bed ana
was frightened until l knew what 1T
was.
Maurice McVey, Age 8.
729 North Ash St. Ottum"a' ID
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
A New Junior, Helen Marie
Waggoner, on Her Schools
Closing Day
Dear Courier Junior:

Dear Courier Junior:
/ thought | would write about my
school as l have never written before.
My school was out March the second.
We had a nice program and big din
ncr. There was only fourteen scholars
in our school. We mad several visitors
the last day. The women spread the
table while the men and boys played
ball. After dinner the women and
girls played Drop the handkerchief
and the men and boys played ball
again. There was only one little girl in
my class. We played together all the
time at school and The last day l was
in two dialogues, three songs and one
recitation. I had a nice time but was
very tired when l got home.
Helen Marie Waggoner, age 8.
Bloomfield, Ia, r. 5.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Fannie May Mccoy Des-
cribes May Birds and
Their Ways

The owl is a bird that sleeps in
the day time.
But at night he is wide awake.
He catches mice and eats them.
The woodpecker is a black and
white bird with a red spot on its
head.
1t eats insects.
It pecks a hole in the tree for its
nest.
The robin builds it's nest on the
ground.
1t also eats insects.
It builds it's nest out of grass.
The humming bird is littlt bird
which sucks the honey from the flow
ers. It has long, sharp bill.
It weaves it's nest on the boughs OF
the trees.
The wren is little bird which
builds its nest in the barns and sheds.
It also eats insects.
The turtle dove is shy bird which
builds it's nest on the ground
Fannie May Mccoy, Age IL.
r. 4. Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
That's What I'm
Here For

He was nothing but sort of deck.
hand on the boat, but he was en-
ployed down in the engine room. He
had learned a little about the engines
and helped when the chief would let
MIN. Sometimes the other men made
run OF him because he was a Swede
and his English wasn't very good. But
every day he read the posted instu,c-
tons, improved his power to read.
and knew just what to do il the boat
should ever be in danger.
~, flre! rang out tho cry one day.
me BOAT was near the dock, but had
TO push out into deeper water or else
set the city wharves on fire. Small
ooats lowered, passengers rescued, all
IN confusion, yet all being gotten in
order! Still the fire ragged! Boat would
be lost! Soon the engines would ex-
plode, no doubt about ttat!
But at last all was over. Lower
decks and engine rooms badly burned.
put no explosion; and the poor old
Annie Laurie limped back to dock,
still boat, but badly damaged.
After every officer was off the boat.
up from the engine room came a DOOR
looking fellow, eyes an bleared with
smoke, clothes wet, face charred and
black.
Hans" called the cnler, what did
you stay down SO long for? You might
have been killed"
Eyes sir, but I had to stay; that's
what I'm down there for"
The examiners of the fire found
that what saved the boat was one
door whose lock had broken, but
which stayed shut because one man
stood against it in the smoke while
he kept the engine valve open with
one hand that could just reach it.
And he next trip the Annie Laurie
made the assistant engineer was
named Hans, mainly because he had
said to himself, That's what I'm
down there for.'
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Rosebud Park Tells Mary
GOnterman Her Story
Was Fine
Miss Mary Gunterman,
E1dOp Iowa

Eldon, Iowa.
Dear JUNIOR just wrote letter
to my sister of Sioux Falls. and now
want to write to you. After read
ing your story about birds I have
learned something new.
Your story was fine but I was sur
prised to learn that the owl has no
gizzard. Woo-woo, told you so! |
have read about the awl that has
horns. 1t measures five feet from tip
to tip. 1t is common in most parts of
South America. 1t destroys small
wild animals. In the western part OF
the United States little burrowing
owl lives In the homes Of the prairie
dogs, often in company with rattle
snakes, and it is supposed that the
owls and snakes prey upon the young
prairie dogs. In olden times owls
were considered to be birds of i'll
omen.
I will write something about the os-
trich. The ostrich Is the largest bird
in existence. It's home Is in Africa
and Arabia. When full grown they
are high and weigh two hundred
pounds. 1t has a fiat head, stout
beak and large eyes. The neck Is
nearly bare but the body is covered
with feathers. l saw two large os-
triches at the circus. Their keeper
was feeding them seeds and fruit. The
ostrich is tim1d bird and can run
faster than a horse. Sometimes two
or three will lay the eggs in one nest
which is a nest hollow in the sand. In
the day time the sun keeps the eggs
warm and the male bird sits upon
them at night.
The black and white plumes are TAX
en- from the male bird and the brown
ones from the female. The feathers
are very expensive. Sometimes they
will cost as high as fifty dollars.
wonder how many different KINDS
of birds there are? After l get my
lessons will look through the en-
cyclopedia. had to hunt up the die
tionary to get that big word.
AS my letter is getting long won't
try to tell how many different kinds
of birds there are this time, so Will
close.
A Junior friend,
Rosebud Park,
1246 N. Elm St., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Hazel Waggoner Tells Her
Grandmother Many
Bits of News
Mrs. J. G. Waggoner,
West Grove, Iowa.

! Mrs. J. G. Waggoner,
West Grove, Iowa.
Dear Grandma: How are you? l
am fine. do not 60 to school now
because our school Is out It closed
March 2. Our teacher was Miss Cora
Sample She lived over by Belknap.
We liked her very much. She gave
! books to those who received the most
headmarks. Charlie Piper received
the prize in the B spelling class, Hell
en- in the c class and Mabel in the A
class. We had big dinner and a
nice program the last day. took
reading, arithmetic, language, physi-
ology, penmanship, geography and
spelling. I was in the fourth reader
and the B spelling class.
We are very busy since school is
out. I help bring in the wood, cobs
and coal and help milk the COWS and
feed the calves. We have eight little
calves which we feed in bucket.
They are very pretty.
We have been quilting this week:
1t is the first have quilted and l
think it is very. hard.
We have five horses now. Their
names are Topsy, Pet, Dandy, Prince
and Nell.
We take The OttumWa Tri-Weekly
Courier. l am always glad when Sat
urday comes SO can read the Cour'
Ter Junior page. There are many IN
teresting stories and letters in this
page.
I like to see Little Benny's Note.
book" "Children's Evening Story
"And tho Worst Ia Yet to Come,
Mutt and Jeff and bringing UP
Father"
We'll. will close, hoping to see you
soon.
Your loving granddaughter,
Hazel Waggoner, Age IL
p K Bloomfield, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

overturned peanut stand near by. 1t
was Giuseppe. Paups airship had
brought him straight down from the
landing to the park entrance and had
dumped him carefully In the grass, up
setting, as it did so, Giuseppe and his
peanuts. 1t lay a total wreck beside
him.
Guiseppe's storm of words pelted
him almost as unkindly as the peanuts
had. Or them all Paul could make out
but one; that one was 'Jail!'
Dizzy, but otherwise unhurt, Paul
got to his feet.
I'm so sorry" he said politely. He
tried to touch his cap as Uncle Paul did
but his cap was gone. IL was only
fying. You can't arrest man for n.y.
ing in his own airship, Giuseppe"
But Giuseppe still waved an I'M
friendly hand at his overturned stand,
his scattered peanuts.
Just how it might have ended it is
hard to tell, but at that moment along
the street came a procession OF aunts
and cousins. There was Aunt Lily
with little Lily sobbing along beside
her; Aunt Frances, the baby in her
arms; Aunt Lucy pushing the twins
in their go-cart; Aunt Emily scolding
Marcia; and Paul's own mother, white
and scared looking, holding Pauls
motor cap closely to her heart.
At the entrance to Aunt Marcia s
yard the procession of aunts and cous'
ms was met by Aunt Marcia herself,
bag and baggage, with Uncle Paul IN
his car.
Thought we'd give you all a little
surprise" cried Uncle Paul. Hello
what's up?"
ooh, uncle Paul." walled little Mar
cha. "It's-it's Paul, and he isn't up
he's down.
When they all discovered the angry
Giuseppe, the scattered peanuts, the
stranded airship, Paul, they one and
all fell upon the young aviator. Find
ing that nothing was injured about
him except his feelings they left him to
his mother. Aunt Marcia and Uncle
Paul, who were the only ones with
pocketbooks, took up collection and
paid Giuseppe twice the value OF his
peanuts. Then, leaving the wreck OF
the airship to be brought home by
Uncle Paul in his car, they all went
! slowly back up the street.
! On the porch of Aunt Lily's house
sat Sambo. He was busily engaged in
! smoothing his rumpled fur. but at the
first sight OF the procession he flew
down the steps and disappeared
! around the corner of the house. Some
thing blue trailed after him.
Maybe he thinks you want him tc
make another ascent with you, Paul,
giggled Marcia.
! "He can't go--Sambo can't go, car
he, mother?" walled Lily.
I'm not going again myself" sale
Paul. He smiled up at mother who
smiled back. THAT is, not till I'm {
big man like Uncle Paul, with a rea
,airship!"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Al ABOUT PRIZES.

wa send out prizes within ,. I've
veeks after the names OF the "1hne'S
are published. .o,,ed To re-
.aive a prize after his or her name
anneared in this paper 1t is Dec pee ,s
~ 1nps wrong address had been given US US
M we saw wrong address we es
pecially refer to incomplete addresses t%ei,
-, CITY Juniors should put ,, .hela
.tr.et number and all Juniors liv ing
y 'J th. country should put their o ooS
number or failing to have a ooA CAV
a their parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Isabel Robuck Writes Newsy
Letter to Her Grandma

Dear Grandma:
thought would write you few
lines today. I will tell you about my
school, 1t is out and will commence
the 5th of April. My studies are
reading, arithmetic, language, physi-
ology, geography and spelling. like
them very much. There are thirty
scholars. Our teacher will be Bessie
Shore.
How are you? am fine. l attend
Sunday school, My teachers name
is Mrs. Stanger. I like her very
much. The minister's name Is Rev.
George Cornford.
Well, as my letter is getting long
I will close, SO goodbye.
From your granddaughter,
Isabel Robuck, Age 9.
Russell. In
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Katherine Shanks' Grand
mother Brought Her a
New Dress
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
AS I have never written before I
thought would write. am a little girl
s years old and have little sister two
and one-half years old. Her name IS
Elizabeth Matte Shank. She is awful
sweet. Papa and mamma live just
across the road from Grandma Buch-
anan. I see her every day. My other
grandpa and grandma and Aunt Allie
were over last Sunday. Grandma
brought me new dress. I go to the
Buchanan school, but don't like school,
Katherine Shank,
Ottumwa. Ia, r. No. Z.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
.EvEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS

Use one side OF the paper only.
Write neatly and legibly' using
,rk or sharp lead pencil. ..,u
Always sign your name IN ioi'
and state your age. o.+rv
M not copy stories or poetry
80 sand ma as your own Work.
s. Number your pages. ,rivo
Always state choice of a pri ae
on separate piece OF papei
name and address IN run. co,r
Z Address envelope to Inc oou1
Ter Junior.