davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
(Honorable Mention.)
The Naughty Squirrel.

BY Lulu. Badberg, Aged Is Years,
. Cook, Neb. Blue Side.
One day at school as some of my
friends and | were walking through
the grove we saw squirrel that had
something in its mouth. We stopped
and examined and it was birds egg
which the squirrel had robbed from
nest. So we looked around for the
birds nest, but could not find it. At
last one little girl found it in a cherry
tree up in the other corner of the
school yard. The eggs looked just
like the egg the squirrel had. So we
thought we would fool the squirrel
and the boys made a little box and
cut hole in it just big enough for
the bird to get in and the squirrel
couldn't. We put the birds nest in
side Of the box, then we went away.
Afterwards we went out to see if the
bird was on its nest. 1t was setting
on the nest and nodded its head as
if to say, Thank you" Soon after
we looked out and we saw the squirrel
hopping around the box trying to get
in, but it couldn't.
A few weeks later the little eggs
hatched and there were two little
birds. The mother had to work very
hard to get enough food for them,
so every day we would take crumbs
from our dinner pals and put them
in the box for the small birds to
eat.
Not long after that we saw them
eating worms and catching insects
that would destroy our crops. The
mother soon flew away because it
soon would be cold But | think they
earned their little box, don't you? |
wonder how many Busy Bees did this
to protect them?
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
(Honorable Mention.)
The Robins Nest.

By Mary Fischer, Aged II Years,
1906 Lafayette Avenue. Red Side.
One cold rainy day in March when
we were eating breakfast papa hap
pened to look out the window. There
he saw two robins building nest on
top of birdhouse on our playhouse
roof. Papa said that he knew the
nest would not stand there because
the wind would blow it off. So when
we were through eating he went out
and built some boards around the
nest so that it could not be blown
away. We thought the robins would
be frightened away because we med
died with their nest, but they soon
came back and finished building it.
A few days later papa went out and
looked in the nest and there were
four little eggs. We all went out to
see them, but we had to hurry away,
because the mother robin wanted to
come to her nest.
After short while we discovered
there were four little baby robins.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
New Union Pacific
Head Gets on Job !
Bright and Early

Edgar h. Calvin, new president of
the Union Pacific, succeeding A. L.
Mohler, is on the job His appoint
ment to the position became effective
yesterday and he was at his desk at
headquarters building bright and
early. Mr. Calvin fits into the Office
as perfectly as if he had been born
and raised there. Having been con-
nected with the Hartman lines for
years, he is familiar with the meth
DDS employed in the business Of the
roads, so that the details of the new
position afe e'iiot all new to him.
With, his coat off, President Calvin
spent thesfag signing official docu-
ments, issuing orders and receiving
callers, witlkothe latter consuming
greater portion of his time. Like his
predecessor, he kept his door open
and any person, regardless Of rank or
standing, was at perfect liberty to
enter the inner portals of the Office
of the chief executive Of the Union
Pacific system, az s,
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Pies Are Bought by
The Real Estate Men
"PieS20l'

"Pie-$20"
Some such an item as that will be
entered upon the ledger OF the Omaha
Real Estate exchange,
No, the exchange members did not
have pie picnic or anything like
that, but they contributed $40 toward
paying for the pie and other luxuries
the Omaha crowd took to the troops
of the Omaha battalion at Lincoln a
week ago.
The thought of going to Lincoln to
visit the boys in camp came suddenly
to lot of Omaha people, So there
was no time to collect money and
buy the pies and other luxuries for
the boys. So when the crowd got
to Lincoln, Walter Jardine stood
good for the cost of the luxuries that
were given to the boys, aand now the
Commercial club is sending out let
ters to the various organizations ask
ing them to help defray this expense
for Jardine. a4t..
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02

horses, mules or oxen. In these came
the pioneers with their children; often
with a box of chickens tied on be-
hind while few cattle and the fam
lily dog brought up the rear All the
roads leading into and across Ne
braska were white with these land
ships and soon the valleys and prairies
of the eastern half of the state were
dotted with dark spots, where they
had anchored and the men and wom-
en- in them had begun to break the
prairies and build homes.
Log Cabins, Sod Houses and Dug
outs-The houses of those days were
very different from the houses you
see in Nebraska today. The very
earliest pioneers settled along the
streams where there were trees and
built log houses. Those who came
later and settled upon the prairie had
only one material with which to build
and that was prairie sod. They cut
the tough sod and piled it into walls,
covering the top with poles, grass,
sod and clay, leaving openings for the
windows and door. There were more
| OF tlcSc SOU ilOuoCo tudii VI any OtHSi
kind and they were very comfortable,
being warm in winter and cool in
summer. They were often called
"dobies." Others made their houses
by digging into a hillside, covering
the top Of the hole with poles, grass
and earth, leaving a space in one end,
usually toward the south, open for a
door. These were called "dugouts +"
The floors were often of the bare
ground. These early settlers worked
very hard to break land and plant
seeds, build houses and dgi wells. All
they had was the good Nebraska soil.
Of it they made their houses and
barns and from it they raised all they
had to eat and sell. Very kind to
these pioneers was this good, warm,
rich Nebraska soil, for out of it BIOS
somed the splendid farms and homes
and children, and all that makes Ne
braska so fair and prosperous today.
Governor David Butler Impeached
I'm 1868 David Butler was reelected
governor and again in 1870. He was
very popular with theold-time pio-
neers, whose many hardships he him
self had shared. On the other hand.
he made some enemies by his bold
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
prize Story.)
First Visit to Omaha.
By Edna Elizabeth Green, Aged 10

By Edna Elizabeth Green, Aged 10
years.
St. Edward Neb. Red Side.
- | will tell you about my first trip
to Omaha. My grandpa and ! started
from Genoa on the ii o'clock train
and got there at o'clock a. m. We
ate our dinner in Columbus.
We were met in Omaha at the
depot by my Uncle Ben, who works in
the government service, B. A. l., who
first took us to Riverview park, where
we saw all kinds of animals, the grizz-
ly and cinnamon bears and two little
cub bears, one of which was bitten by
some wolves in a cage close by.
When its leg began to pain, the
mother bit its little leg off. 1t had
quite time trying to walk.
There are also some deer, buffalo,
birds, Belgian hares, white badgers
and little rooster and some wild
hogs. While there we went through
fourteen parks, which were very beau
tiful.
When we arrived at Uncle Bens we
found supper ready, We were glad,
as grandpa and l were both very
tired.
The next day we spent most Of our
time sightseeing We went to Flor
ence and saw the pumping station;
then to Spring park and heard the
band play; also went to see the peony
farm, the most beautiful sight of all,
twenty-five acres of them-white, red
and pink. You can smell them a
<1ong time before you get to them.
On Monday Aunt Lillian and |
went down down, where | got new
coat and hat, a present from my
grandpa.
After dinner we went down to Ar
mour's packing house. | did not like
it there. 1t made me sick, as we were
not used to the noise and the odor.
On Tuesday we crossed the Mis-
souri, river, went to Council Bluffs, in
Iowa. There we saw many more
sights.
We started for home at 4:30 on the
motor and arrived at Genoa at 8
o'clock, so tired, but happy.
| am a new Busy Bee. This is my
first story and l would like to join
the Red Side.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Especial Prize Story.)
My Experience in Gardening.

By Mildred Byrne, Aged "a Years,
$3.50 Chicago Street, Omaha Neb.
Blue Side.
The garden really wasn't mine, but
| had plenty of experience in garden
ing -.
In the first place, it was located in
clearing in the woods. My sister,
for it was hers, dug space compris-
ing about 100 square feet, planted the
seeds, got it nicely started, and took
her vacation. ...
We agreed that I could have half
the proceeds if l would care for it
while she was gone.
1t was about three-fourths of a mile
sirom the house, but, nevertheless, |
was very Jealous the first few days in
wedding and watering it, but soon my
interest began to wane and | neglect
ed it.
Then a COW became deeply inter
ested in the carrots and corn, and in
order to get to the tantalizing viands
deliberately trampled over the tomato
plants and radishes that had been
thriving up to that time.
Then a horse chose the pea and
onion beds as a wallowing ground;
the potatoes being the only vegetable
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Several Big Realty {.
Sales During Last Week

A 100000 sale of the Knickerbocker
apartments in Omaha and $55,0O0
sale of tract of l40 acres of land
southwest OF the Field club, were the
biggest real estate transactions re-
corded in Omaha during the last
week. Another $4,000 tract sold on
the South Side was the next largest.
The week has been productive of a
fair amount OF sales, however, Of
the moderate sized residences and
lots, and when one considers the time
of year and that the summer lull is
upon the real estate business. the last
week has yielded good returns.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Omaha National is
Fifty Years Old

Friday was the fiftieth anniversary
of the founding Of the Omaha Ma
tional bank.
No especial celebration was staged
to commemorate the event. Presi-
dent J. H. Millard received letter
from President Martindale of the
Chemical National bank OF New York,
with which the Omaha bank has
maintained relations since it was
founded, congratulating him and his
associates upon the high character OF
the institution they have conducted.
~ A member of the Millard family
has been president of the bank
throughout its existence. Ezra Mil
lard was; tho first president and his
brother, ]. H, Millard, was cashier.
Later J. H. Millard succeeded his
brother as prS$ident.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Stories of Nebraska History ezA E SHELDON

aggressive way of doing things. In
1871, the charge of using state money
tor his own purposes was brought
against him. He was tried before the
state senate, impeaehed and removed
from Office and in his place the sec
retary of state, William H. James,
became the governor. Governor But
Ter turned over land to the state which
more than paid what he owed it. His
trial caused great bitterness at the
time and for many years. He still re-
tanned the confidence of his friends
and years after was elected to the
legislature by the people of Pawnee
county, his home.
Railroad. Building and aRilroad Aid
There were no railroads in the
South Platte region when the capital
was moved there, and only the Union
Pacific was building north of the
Platte. In order to encourage railroad
companies to build, congress granted
half the land on either side of the
track for a number of miles to the
company building through it. The
other half was left for the settlers
but the homesteads inside of this
land grant were cut down from 16(
to 80 acres. In addition the Nebraska
legislature in 1869 gave 1000 acres
of state lands for each mile of rail.
road. Many towns and counties also
voted to give money to roads which
would build to them. There was quick
response to these liberal offers. The
Burlington crossed the Missouri river
at Plattsmouth in July, 1869. 1t was
the first railroad to reach Lincoln q
year later, and in 1872 it built its line
to junction with the Union Pacific
at Kearney. The Midland Pacific wa.
built in 1871 from Nebraska City tc
Lincoln and later built west through
Seward, York and Aurora to Centra
City. 1t now belongs to the Bur
lington. The. St. Joseph & Denver
road entered Nebraska in 1870 ant
reached Hastings in 1872. All these
lines were in the South Platte region
In the North Platte the Omaha &
Northwestern road was built to Blair
the Sioux City & Pacific road was
built from Missouri Valley to Ere,
mont and branches of the Union Pa
cific were begun.
Continued Next Sunday
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
NEBRASKA AS A STATE

Lincoln the New State Capital
The new state Nebraska had a new
capital. During the long fight be-
tween the North and South Platte
sections, the South Platte being
neare to the settled safes and farther
from the hostile Indians, had out
grown the North Platte. Thus it had
more votes in the legislature of 1866
which passed an act to remove the
j. capital from Omaha.
The new capital was named for
President Abraham Lincoln and the
name was given by its enemies. Otoe
county had led the fight for removal
of the capital frmo Omaha. Its men,
bers of the legislature had been op-
posed to President Lincoln. The
North Platte members, who wished to
keep the capital at Omaha, moved to
make the name Lincoln, thinking that
the Otoe county legislators would re-
fuse to o,vote for capital so named
But the ruse failed; their votes were
cast for the bill and Lincoln became
the name of our capital, instead oi
Douglas, as was suggested in the re-
moval bill of 1857. {
Three men, Governor David Butler
Secretary Thomas P. Kennard and
Auditor John J. Gillispie, were ap-
pointed to locate the new capital
which was to be at some point within
the counties Of Saunders, Butler, Sew
ard and Lancaster. On July %, 1867
they selected the present site between
Salt and Antelope creeks, which was
then open prairie with only two or
three log cabins.
The Great Immigration-When Ne
braska became a state, the war be.
tween the north and south was over
the hostile Indians had been defeated
along the frontier and thousands Of
immigrants poured west in search OF
Iee homes. They came in all pos.
r sible ways, some up the Missouri
river in steamboats,, some on the rail
roads across Iowa, but more came in
covered wagons, or prairie schoon.
ers," as they were called, drawn by
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
The Trip of a Nickel.
AIV 1K1P Ok u HNASN~S'
By Leona Penke, Aged Is Years, Ben
L c.

Dy LCOlld CllhS, nSSu ~ Soi D DSA
nington, Neb. Blue Side.
Most of the people call me nickel,
but | am just piece of silver copper.
I was made in California. A couple
of weeks after l was put in bank
in Oakland, Cal. l laid there for a
few weeks, when an old gray-haired
man came, and put me in his pocket
Later on l was given to grocery.
man and saw nickel just like We and
the other nickel said, Hello, hello
where did you come from" Just then
someone took me and | saw that a
little cute girl had me in her hand
playing with me and then she got
home and put me in bank.
One day | said to myself, my, how
l do shine" "Shine2' said a man. l
glanced at myself and saw that !
was dirty and rusty. wish people
would wash their hands before they
pick me up.
But later on fell off the desk
tumbled and bounced around until a
little girl picked me up and told her
sister, Lets plant this nickel" Sc
they dug a hole. There | lay, all
rusty and tarnished. They put me in
hole to see if would grow, so they
would have lots of nickels.
| wish to see my story in print and
wish to win prize.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Building in Omaha !:
Shows Gain in June

The city building department re-
ports that building operations for the
first six months Of this year were
$3,3l2,847, as against $2,4s8,430 for
the first half of last year.
This increase for the six months
period of nearly 100000 is evidence
of unusual building activity here this
year. Since January 733 permits
were issued, the bulk being for
homes.
Theo perations during June we're
$604, 900; June last year, $594,59
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
The Busy Bees - Their Own Page

~HE FOURTH OF JULY, independence Day. falls Tuesday Of
this week The words Safe and Sane have come to be almost
synonymous with the Fourth of July the
happy indeed for the Busy Bees that this
- launched
Time when the annual of this patriotic hol
day signal accident Eyes
burned
and careless handling of hrecrakers and firearms
In the last few however has been demonstrated that little boys
and girls be just patriotic and show their loyalty the flag
dangerous quite noisy a
Today Sunday for prize the
story my Experiences Gardening Many excellent
the Busy Bee Editor who finally the
Mildred Byrne of the Blue side the pzewnner.
Elizabeth Greena Buy Bee who has joined the Red
the winner for the week Maty Fischer of the Red side also
Badbeg of the Blue side honorable
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Builds Bird Houses.
By Vivian Stanley, Aged u Years
Cnnad Mah plua Cida

By Vivian Stanley, Aged IL Years,
Cozad, Neb. Blue Side.
Dear Busy Bees: hope you are all
kind to the birds and other pets.
Three days ago | made house for
the birds. It is about l2x6 inches.
The birds have not built in it yet.
nailed it on post by the tank. have
two pet chickens. Ones name is
Brownie, because it is brown, and
other one Jealous, because when |
60 to feed Brownie out OF my hand
he comes and takes it away from
Brownie. The dear little birds are
so gay, because all the day they sing
and play. Of all my pets / love the
birds and chickens best.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Little Stories by Little Folk

undisturbed. was rather discour-
aged and went down only to pick
the few remaining tomatoes, the peas
that grew on the scraggly vines, and
dig the potatoes.
| forgot to mention the lettuce, that
had been eaten and relished, before !
turned gardener.
Luckily my sister had sold quite a
bit of stuff before | became care.
taker, and had a profit of about 81
besides what we had eaten.
| am wiser gardener now, and
hope to attempt it again without 81
many mishaps.
| received rs cents and some ex.
perience.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02

little rabbits. We had them in a
box out on the lawn, but they
couldn't run around in there, so we
put them in a granary. The rats were
awful thick in there and they killed
one of the rabbits. The next morn
ing we got up and went out to the
granary, The other two were gone,
but we caught them again. Their
names were Jimmie and Pete. The
one that died was Bennie. So when
they were all alive there was Pete
Jimmie and Bennie. Well, | will
close, as my letter is getting long, l
will be on the Blue Side, as blue is
favorite color.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Kindness to Birds and Animals.

By Ilene Noonan, Aged 9 Years, Wis
ner, Neb. Red Side.
We should be kind to the birds and
animals. We should make bird houses
for the birds and throw them out
some food and put out pan of water.
God made the animals and birds as
He made us and He wanted them to
be treated kindly, just as we are.
| was promoted to the Fifth grade.
| am years old and | will be 10 in
August. will join the Red side.
This is my first story,
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02

place a box on a pole about fifteen
feet high from the ground and it
will build there. The plumage Of the
male is Of a shiny purple black. 1t
feeds on insects, and not only feeds
on insects, but the young ones the
same.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
A New Busy Bee.

By Albic Hajek, Aged II, Clarkson,
Neb. Blue Side.
This is the first time | am writing
to you. have read all the stories in
the papers so far.
! enjoyed them all very much. |
would like to join the Blue Side.
II my letter is in print ! will write
a longer story next week.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
My Experiences in Gardening.

By Helen G. Mccormick, Aged l3
Years, Silver Greek, Neb. Blue Side
My first experience in gardening
was last summer. | had a garden
about five feet by four feet. l had
lettuce, beans, peas, cabbage and
tame sunfowers. ! found gardening
a pleasure and thought | would try
it on larger scale this year. So
quite early in the spring | planned to
have large garden, My garden is
six by twenty. had papa plow il
and harrow it for me. Then | took
the garden rake and raked it twice,
so that made it in good condition for
the seeds. The ground was warm, SO
l planted my garden. l planted my
garden in short rows, so | had four
rows of lettuce, radishes, beans. peas
and tame sunhowers. Also sixteen
hills Of tomatoes, four hills of cab
bage, seven stalks of corn, which are
~ feet high. My lettuce is large
enough to eat, and my radishes are
also. My beans are in blossom, and
my peas are large enough to eat. My
sunflowers are over one-foot high,
and my tomatoes and cabbage are
growing excellent. So l am quite
proud of my garden.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
My Garden.
By Marie Mahlendorf, Aged II, Ano

FIHT IC IfafrrC11uOrfi IfBCU VT THU
ka, Neb. Red Side.
| have many kinds of flowers in
my garden. | have lilies planted all
around it. Then there are some sweet
peas planted in little patch with my
initial in it. ] have big patch OF
asters and four o'clocks. Just on the
side of them | have long row OF
fine Marys. On the side Of the house
we have some morning glories. They
climb up the window and look very
pretty when in bloom. We have some
house plants, as the carnation and
four o'clocks.
will close for this time and hope
to see my letter in print.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
The Purple Martin.

By Katherine Underwood, Aged 9
Years, Dumfries, la. Red Side.
1t looks very much like the swal-
low, but builds its nests in trees, 1t
is not wild and has learned that man
is a friend. 1t keeps sparrows from
the farm and other birds. You can
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Sees Many Birds.
By Opal Boyce, Aged II Years, Ord,

NED. bIut Slut.
| am going to write again to the
Busy Bees, because my letter was in
print. was very glad to see it. I
am going to tell you about birds.
There were lot of sparrows that
built their nests in the caves of our
house and the birds have hatched and
are learning to fly. When | fed the
chickens this morning they ate with
them. l have seen the robin, black
bird, sparrow, brown thrush, wood
pecker, wren, owl, canary, turtle dove,
mocking bird, parrot, hawk, eagle,
bluejay and snipe: ] hope Mr., Waste
Basket is out picking flowers. ] am
glad Ruth Ribble is the queen of the
Busy Bees. ,,., q
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
They looked very funny without any

They looked very funny without any
feathers.
Every night for quite a while cat
came and tried to get a baby robin.
And three of these nights he did get
one, so that there was only one left.
After three of these robins were gone
we put a pan with a little hole in 1t
over the nest so that the cat could
not get the one robin. After short
time the one robin flew out of the
nest with its mother and went to a
new home which they had built. The
one robin grew big and fat and
healthy.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Receives Prize Book.

By Florence Browitt, Kearney, Neb.
Red Side.
l received the prize book you sent
me today and want to thank you very
much for it. This prize is for the
first story have ever written to any
paper. intend to write many stor-
les for the Red side during my vaca-
ton and hope | win some more
prizes.
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Summer Music.

By Grace L. Moore, Aged l3 Years,
= Silver Creek, Neb. Blue Side.
A meadow lark's melody the sum
mer days filling with echoing notes
for you and for me, A mourning
doves call from a green ivy thicket.
the whippoorwill's cry from the wood
land, the fragrance of roses that
bloom by the wicket, the lowing of
cattle far down in the meadwo, the
meadowbrooks song in the meadow.
the notes of a skylark, the trill of a
nightingale, the "katy-did's song, and
the humming of bees. The rhythm of
music that lives through the summer.
Oh, natures glad music makes har-
mony chaming; summers unwriten
music so lasting and sweet. ''
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02
Story of Rabbits.

By Zee Hortsock, Age 10 Years,
Jamison, Neb. Blue Side.
l have been reading the stories in
the paper and like them very much.
| thought | would put some stories
in. This is one Of them Once upon
time my brother and l had three
Omaha daily bee., 1916-07-02

(By special permission Of the author, A.
f. Sheldon, The Bee will print stories from
the History of Nebraska from week to
week.l