davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
The First Mail in America.

The first mail on the American con- tinent started from New York for Bos- ton on New Years Day. 1873. The postnan followed Bowery Lane till it merged into the wagon road just fin- ished to the new village or Harlem.
 After a cooling drauglht he was ready to go on his way past Pelham Manor to Greenwich and Stamford and so on to New Haven, Hartford and Spring field, crossing all rivers and, arms of the sea in boats as was necessary url- til the last of the eighteenth century
 Now 1t was a stretch of newly built English wagon road that our postlnan followed, but oftener a mere bridle- path, or an ancient Indian trail; and sometimes the way had to be indi- cated by marking trees in the virgin forest.
 From Springfield eastward his path must have followed the same winding water courses of which the Boston ano Albany Railroad now takes advantage climbing near Quabaug to a thousand feet above sea level then gently de scending into the pleasant valley o1 the Charles.
 While our indefatigab1e carrier was thus earning his handsome livelihood,' a locked box stood in the secretary office in New York awaiting his return and in it from day to day the little heap of eastward letters grew. ....-
 When the postman returned with his prepaid mail he emptfed his New York bag on a broad table in the coffee house where citizens most did con gregate.
 That locked box and that coffee house table had in them the prophecy of the great postofice that now stands in City Hall Park, and indirectly of all the postofices, urban and rural, ir English speaking: America
 AUGUSTA SHERSHEVSKY. age 13.
 NOrWich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
LETTERS WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAkES.
My Pet Cotton -Botton.

One day in spring in the month of faithful friend of mine. She was go- ing to feed her rabbits and asked me to go with her. Of course, l could not refuse to go as love rabbits. She had about fifty rabbits and promised to give me one in a few days. We fed the rabbits with clover. When they ate they kept their noses moving.
 Two days later l went to visit my friend again and she showed me a yellow rabbit which she promised me. The rabbit was just shedding his fur and had little punches of cotton on him.
 My friend asked me what I would call my rabbit and I said: Cotton Bottom"
 One day I went into town to do an errand for my mother and I started from the house at eleven o'clock and came home about two as it was a long journey, and I could not return any sooner.
 My rabbits custom was to be fed at twelve o'clock, and I wasn't home and nobody fed him. When I came pack looked for my rabbit but couldn't find him. I searched for him about a week or more, and at last gave up hope and stopped looking for him. I have never found him since I have spent many hours thinking of my Cotton Botton," and at times when alone would have to cry for I had nobody to play with.
 ROSE KESSLER age Il.
 Eo1ch
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
How An Oyster Makes Pearl.

The oyster, with it's hard, rough shell and it's soft. f1abby little body, is not a beautiful creature to look at, but it gives us one of the most beautiful things in the world. From the oyster we get the pearl.
 How does the oyster get the pearl ?
 1t gets it in the strangest way.
 When the oyster is a tiny thing it floats about on the top of the sea. without any shell, just like little piece of jelly.
 But when the shell begins to grow the oyster gets too heavy to swim, and has to sink down to the bottom of the sea.
 It is quite happy there. It fastens itself to a rock or to something else, and opens it's shell and lets in the seawater which has in it the little things which the oyster eats to make it fat and big.
 But sometimes it gets more than it wishes to have. tiny speck of sand enters the shell and presses against the oysters body.
 Perhaps it may be the egg of a fish or tiny speck of a sea insect. The poor oyster cannot get it out: but, as it cannot bear to be ticl1led by what ever it is which has got into its shell, 1t sets to work to cover 1t over and make 1t smooth.
 Then something very wounderful happens.
 From the oysters body there comes a fluid which covers the sand, or what ever it may be. The fluid hardens Then there comes more and more fluid layer upon layer of it This also be- comes hard, and in time that little speck of sand is changed into lovely pearl.
 It has grown bigger and smoother as the fluid has settled on it, just as a snowban grows. This is the sort of pearl that ladies wear in rings or in bracelets. But there is another sort of pearl. This is the lining of the oyster she'll It is called mother of pearl, and is used to make ornaments and but tons and the handles of knives and forks.
 The oyster shell is very rough out side, but he must have a smooth bed on which to lie, and so he sends out his fluid to harden and to coat the in side of the shell smooth and beautiful like the lovelfest enamel, only better The best pearl oysters are found of parts of the coast of Australia. New
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12

woods He was afraid that he might meet a bear.
 That night the air was sharp. Once chestnut burr dropped at the boys feet.
 Winter will soon be here,'' said the boy to himself
 It was dark. Harry could just see the shape of the COWS. There were five of them. Now the cows were in a hurry to reach the warm barn. T think I will go by the woodpath," :" said the boy to himself. So he ran on before the cows and let down the bars into the wood path. The end of wood path was near the door of the barn. It was very still in the woods and Harry whistled as he walked. He had never been in the woods after dark before. He was glad that he was not far from home. When Harry was on the top of the hill he could see the light in the kitchen. He whistled more loudly then ever, for he knew he was near home.
 EMILY HADEN. Age Il.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS AND GIRLS DEPARTMENT

or girl: If you don't know what to do don't do it.''
 But there is no such thing in this world as doing nothing, because even then one is acquiring a bad habit. Lots of people who do nothing are making life hard for themselves.
 There is always something for every one to do. If they need not help them selves they may find joy in helping some one else.
 The person who doesn's know what to do next is confessipg that he be- longs to those who having eyes see not and having ears hear not"
 This is the way the Bible has of politely describing stupid people. In teaching goodness the Bible could not neglect po1iteness. but guess you may have noticed some folks who read their Bible have never found this out. They belong to the class who having eyes see not!
 If you do not know what to do next you cannot be a Wdde-Awake, for our the thing to do next is the first good or useful thing that needs doing.
 Keep busy. Be afraid of being idle. Don't you know some one ages ago said: Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to doj" and this has served as a warning to all mankind ever since.
 Uncle Jed thinks this was what "the Hoosier poet had in mind when he
  you don't watch out.
 No Wide-Awake will be caught say ing: 'I do not know what to do next!" There is enough to do in this world for every one in it for all time.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
Taftville.
pamane Done By Linhtninn

My brother, sister and I started to school one day last year in September, on very warm day. We went to school with a happy heart never think ing that there was going to be a storm.
 While coming home I heard rumb- ling far off. Thinking it was blasting I thought nothing of it. I just hap pened to look toward the northwest and 1 saw very bad storm coming up.
 Seeing this l hurried home. 1 just reached home in time to help my brothers get in some corn so it wouldn't get wet. And then took in the cows and calves. We went inside to wait till the storm was over. 1 just about sat down when I heard a era ok of thunder and saw flash of light ming.
 Mother cried: "The house is struck" " but looking all around the house We did not find any flames. But my sister ran into the parlor and saw that the barn was in flames. She cried ''Erc!' "The barn is on fre." We al ran and got the cows and calves out. Ali the neighbors came but they could not do anything to, save thqrrleaTn, full of hay. And now l ana always afrdidss of a storm.
 RALPH OLSEN, age B.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
THE DRAWBACKS OF YOUTH

Frances Barton. do you know what ti it is? Get right up this minute
 o'clock and you're still in bed. The
 idea! There Is no need of your being
 so terribly lazy. Get up this instant,
 and hurry about it, too! You'll be
 afraid to go in. Come hurry up. I'll
 have your breakfast ready in five min-
 utes, and you see that you're ready to
 eat it!"
 'Oh ma, say now, honest I'm so sleepy just hate to get up. Oh l
 wish it was at'dy, honest do. Why, when a feller works hard as I did
 yesterday after school, he needs a Nt-
 tie rest. and 1t don't seems if I'd been
 in bed an hour altogether. Gee! all
 my bones ache, honest ma. You ought
 to feel sorry for me stead of making
 me hurry; and besides I got a whole
 hour before school begins, and I can
 run like anything when I get started Pm the fastest and bestest runner in
 the school. Can't stay here ten min-
 utes longer, ma? Honest! I'll hurry up like anything when do get up
 make me get up this very particular
 minute. Why. ain't got my eyes open at al lyet! Seems though I can't they're so heavy like"
 "Chub's mother. she let's him stay
 in bed as long as he wants to. Why
 only last week just once he had time
 to eat his breakfast and that was one day his father was home and he made him get up. No. he ain't lazy, neither Chub is a fast enough hurrier same's I am, only he is growing like me and he needs lots of rest same's I do. The doctor could tell you I ought to have more rest. We'll, I do go to bed early don't I? Goodness, I ain't baby to have to go to bed at six o'clock. I'm big enough to stay up same's Club is, and he never goes to bed before ten. can't get to sleep if I go early. Wher get big I'm going to stay in bed til -yes!' I'm coming ma, honest. got one stocking on. Gee, can't you give feller d little time? I'll be, you laid abed just all you wanted to when you was a girl. You don't make Dorothy get up. We'll, don't I know she don't go to school? But she don't have to get up neither. Oh, I'm sc tired. Yes yes, ma! Ill be ready ir la minute. Gee, wished I could stay in bed all day the way Cnub's mother let's him. It's mighty hard on a fellel I say, to have to get up so early every morning. There, now! I'm up! But I'm awful tired! I thought you said it was eight o'clock. It lacks a. wf1olt minute of 1t, and I'm all ready IT bet Chnb ain't opened his eyes yet Sometime I'm goin' over to Cf1ub's ant stay all night SOS I can get a little sleep in the morning" vADA WILCOX.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
Dental Preparedness,
What is the most important attri bute of a soldier?
 Good

What is the most important attrt- bute of a soldier?
 Good feet?
 No. Good eyesight?
 No.
 Good brains?
 No.
 What then"
 Good teeth.
 A soldier may have good feet, good eyes!ght, and good brains but if he has bad teeth, he can't eat. If he can't eat he can't march near enough to the enemy to see him and use his brains to fight him. .rF-s.a
 How does a soldier get good teeth? By having good teeth in childhood. How do children keep good teeth?
 Through being taught by their mother how to keep their teeth clean and having their teeth looked after while they are growing. This makes good teeth for future soldiers.
 It would seem then as though the first patriotic duty of a mother was to keep her c,ufdrens teeth in good condition.
 It is.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
SOLDIERS GOT RELIEF
 FROM SORENESS
BOYS ON THE BORDER RELIEVED THEIR PAINS AND ACHES
 WITH SLOAN'S EMINENT

Once upon a time Norman Jones, serving in the National Guard at Ell Paso returned to camp after a strenuous Is mile hike foot-sore and weary. He had not been long in active service and his shoulders, back and limbs felt the after effects of marching.
 Remembering s 0 a S Linimanu Jones applied it to the sore spots and went to bed. He writes: T arose the next morning feeling fine; in fact had entirely forgotten about the hike and went out for a four-hour drill in the sun as spry as ever" Private Jones passed the experience along, and many a boy on the border
 relieved the agony of sprains, strains, bruises, insect bites, eramped muscles, rheumatic twinges, etc., by the use of Sloan's Liniment.
 Easily applied without rubbing. At all druggists, 25c, soc. and s1o0.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
The kina's Daughter.

There was once a kings daughter who had fallen in love with a poor young man and since her father would not consent to her marrying him they were married secretly. @
 When the king found it out he drove her away from the palace and the two fled into forest and lived there for many years. &
 The husband used to go hunting daily to get something to eat One day he saw on a tree a large black bird. He tried to kill it and 1mme- diately it changed into a magician with seven heads who came down and began to fight with him. It soon killed him and then disappeared. 4".s
 Now this man had a son who having heard from his mother how his father had been killed wished. if possible, to avenge <his death. He lived there till he was 20 years old without seeing the magician, and began to believe he never should see him. But one day when he was sitting under the same
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
THE ANXIOUS MOTHER.

I lent my dear Dolly, and what do you
 think? They gave her no food; they gave her
 no drink; They left her uncovered all night in
 the cold My dear little Dolly. not quite a year
 old Her color, how faded! It rained where
 she lay: She had for her pillow wisp of wet
 hay; To have her so treated, say, who would
 not scold? My own little Dolly. not quite year
 old Now, swallow it, Dolly-this little
 white pill Twill cure you, my darling, I know
 that it will: We'll no more be parted. for love or
 for gold My dear little Dolly, not quite year
 old.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12

-IMotor Maids at Sunrise Camp. 5-Erna Miner, of Hadlyme-The Motor Made by Rose, Shamrock and Thistle.
 6-Rose kessier, of Colchester-The Bobbsey Twins at Snow Lodge.
 7-Anna Blatherwiek, of Norwich The Bobbsey Twins in the Country.
 8-Loufs Scbel, of Norwicn-The boy Scouts and tie Army Airsfip.
 The winners of prize books living in the city may call at the Bulletin business office for them at any hour after 10 a. m. on Thursday.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
Speak Gently,

Please buy my penny songs!" cried feeble voice in o1Ae of the streets of our city.
 The day was bitter cold and little Katie had left her cheerless home to earn, if possible, few pennies.
 Poor Katie! Her little vo:ce was feeble because many passed her by unnoticed and she felt discouraged.
 Soon she found herself in a music store, standing beside a beautiful lady, who was sitting there selecting music She again uttered her little cry, Please buy a penny song!" But the lady, not hearing what she said turned towards her. and, with the kindest, sweetest smile, said gently, What is it. darling?" at the same time putting a piece of money in her hand.
 Katie not thinking what she did, laid her head in the lady's lap and cried as though her heart would break.
 The lady tried to soothe her and soon Katie said. 70 Lady! I cry, not because you gave me the money, but because you spoke so kindly to me-
 BESSIE FOX, age Il.
 Norwich,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
Their Pretty Cat.

One day a huntsman went into the woods for game. All of a sudden he saw fawn. Drawing his bow quick ly he shot the young deer. Just then he heard a rustling and knowing he was in the kings field he started to run.
 Two children were coming out to pick flowers and they saw their pet fawn lying on the ground Their heart began to beat faster becauss they feared it was dead.
 Sitting down beside the fawn the little girl began to cry. The fawn began to move.
 Then the children went and told their father that their fawn was hurt Eo He sent @ servant who bound up the wound and carried the fawn to the stable. With good care the deer re- covered and was able to run and jump again.
 ANNA LAROCHE.
 Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12

Guinea, Borneo, the Philippine Islands, and Ceylon. They are brought up out of the sea by brave divers.a
 Some of the divers who are able to catch an oyster with it's shell open drop little things into it to become coated with pearl.
 There are in the Natural History Museum, in South Kensington, London a collection of shells Into which the Chinese put some figures of little idols. These idols are now quite a.at- ed over with n1otl1er-o pearl. Tie outside of the shell becomes the inside. But as the outside wears away. the oyster keeps building up the mother of-pearl inside, so that the shell shall not become thinner or less safe for his home beneath the sea.
 ERMA MINER, age 12.
 To-
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
LETTERS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Anna Corcoran, of Lowell, Mass.-I thank you very much for the nice prize book you sent me entitled: "The Camp Fire Girls in the Maine Woods 1 have read it and find it very inter esting.
 Miriam Gordon, of North Franklin. received the prize book awarded me and have read it and enjoyed it very much. Thank you.
 Irene Mccarthy, of Norwich-I thank you very much for the prize book received think it is very nice. 1 hope to win another soon.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
FEEL FINE! TAKE "CASCARETS" FOR
 LIVER, BOWELS
SPEND 10 CENTS! DON'T STAY BILIOUS, SICK, HEADACHY,
 CONSTIPATED.
CAN'T HARM YOU! BEST cATHAR- TIC FOR MEN, WOMEN AND
 CHILDREN.

Enjoy lifel Your system is filled with an accumulation of bile and bowel poison which keeps you bilious, head achy, dizzy, tongue coated, breath bad and stomach sour-Why don't you get a 10-cent box of Casearets at the drug store and feel bully. Take Cascarets tonight and enjoy the incest, gentlest liver and bowel cleansing you ever ex- perienced. You'll wake up with a clear head, clean tongue, lively step, rosy skin and looking and feeling fit. Mothers can give a whole Cascaret to a sick, cross bilious, feverish child any time-they are harinless-never sripe Or sicken.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
The Fox in the We'll,

There was once a fox walking through a meadow. He fell into a well, and called for help, but nobody came for a long time, until at last a wolf passed by and hearing some one calling he went over near the well Looking in he saw the fox in the we'll
 "Oh! Who is there?', said the wolf.
 Tt is l." said the fox
 'tOh," said the wolf, "how long have you been there? You must be cold Oh! Wouldn't it be awful if you thing"
 Oh said the fox, "get me out and then pity me-
 CATHERINE Mo D. BUCKLEY,
 New London.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
He Won a Reward. .

Oh how l wish l was a hero said Bill Smith as he sat down on a slope of the hill which overlooked the little town in which he lived.
 Glancing up ne beheld a large boulder in tue road and heard the cnug -chug of an automobile coming at full speed down the hill.
 Without any hesitation he ran out in the middle of the road and shouted as hard as he could. The driver got down to see what was the matter. Then the boy told him all about II. The next morning he received d nice sum of money.
 ASA LYMAN, Age F. Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12

tree, he saw the blackbird flying through the air and soon the magician stood before him and said:
 T killed your father and now will kill you, too.
 Hardly had he said these words when a lion appeared and attacked him and quickly killed him. Then the lion changed into beautiful lady.
 She told the man that she was a fairy, and that the magician had been her greatest enemy and that 1t was only possible for her to overcome him young man was the cause of the ma gfcians coming there, she was always friendly to him afterwards, and helped him to become king of that country when the old king died.
 ROSE KILKENNY, age Ii.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
POETRY.
IT'S GOING TO RAIN.

How do I know it is going to rain When the sky is yet so fair? The way tell is by the curls In my baby's sunny hair. When they creep and cling about her
 brow,
 Like the tendrils of a vine, You may search the sky for little
 cloud:
 You may hear in the pine. And so the angels whisper to me, As we look through the window
 pane: And 1 tell baby-and baby tells me Just when it is going to rain.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
The Woodchuek,

The woodchuck is a native of swarnps, and damp meadows, where it finds plenty of worms and insects to feed on. It picks out a dry sheltering spot and builds a nest of grass and leaves. -
 The woodchucks nest is put together loosely. Then mother wQodchurch lays her yellowish- brown eggs spotted with dark brown and gray. As soon as the young ones are matched she takes them one by one and carries them in her claws and sets the little ones down on the soft, spongy ground where they can be easily fed.
 For all mothers are watchful of their little ones.
 BLANCH LUCIER.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
WiIlie's Question,

Willie was a city boy who had come to visit his grandmother. His cousin was there, too.
 One day his cousin took him all over the farm to see the animals. The first was the COW.
 What is that questioned Willie? That is a cow" said Fred. But what are those on it's head? Those are horns.
 Then when Willie and Fred had gone a little, the COW mooed about three times.
 Then Willie said, What horn did he blow?'
 Fred was so much alarmed that he ran away from his cousin Willie.
 JOHN ANDREW.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12

In the olden days there lived a French King, who was known to his subjects as King Baggot. One August as he walked in the east court of the palace gardens his heart was filled with pain as he sazed about him at the marks of decay and desolation.
 ''Ah,' he sighed, what change from the days when the land was young and my forefathers were rich and noble! Somehow 1 must redeem the fortune of the royal family, or out powers will be at an end.
 After reading many books and dreaming many dreams. journey to America was decided upon as a means of enriching the royal family; and preparations were made for the jour ney. It was hard one and many times the king was taken sick and his people thought he would die. but they reached America in safety and sent back to France for more people and so made little colony.
 IRENE MCCARTHY, age 12.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-12
A String of Beads For Every Dress.

A String of Beads For Every Dress.
 A very pretty girl passed by our cot tage every morning. She was always dressed simply. but very attractively, and we admired her greatly. We mo- ticed that she had many beads-blue beads for her blue dress. pink beads, red beads. In fact. she had a string of beads for each dress.
 One day we mentioned the beads. ''It does take a little tine," she said. But I like beads.s
 "Time!" we calculated,
 You mean money, don't you?'
 No, I mean time," she insisted. T make them myself"
 We could hardly believe it, but she finally convinced us that it was true.
 T have a good many of them, too" she said T get thirty-f1ve cents a string"
 Does it cost much? No, indeed, it doesn't cost anything. They are made of salt. four ana water. and a little coloring. Yes, that is all. This is the use two tablespoons of salt and one tablespoon of flour. This must be heated a little. and then the colored water, which has been heated to the boiling point is poured over it. The colored water consists of three table spoons of water with enough coloring in it to give the desired shade. Red ink will make all shades of pink, red and rose. Bluing will make all shades of blue. Fruit juices are good for col bring, too. Diamond dyes are good, also.
 This colored water is poured over the heated four mixture and well mixed. If you want scented beads, perfumes or oil of cloves may used.
 The beads must be moldcd in the hands, any size desired. but the mix ture must be cool.
 Sweet oil is used on the hands to prevent sticking" After they are hardened they may be strung on wa&ed thread.
 MARTHA HARGEY. age 12. UncasVille