davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Lebanon.
EmiI and the suaar.

Little Emil was very fond of sweets One day Emil was in the kitchen when the grocer's boy brought in a basket of packages. Emil saw tlis mother fill a wooden box with fine sugar and set # away in the pantry.
 Give me some sugar, please, moth err" he said.
 'No,' said his mother T am go- ing to put stop to your eating so much sweets. It is not good for you But l will give you piece of bread and butter"
 'J don't want bread and butter" said Emil, feeling very cross indeed.
 Very we'll" said his mother, going out of the kitchen.
 Emil stepped softly into the pantry and raised the lid of the sugar box How nice and white the sugar looked Tt won't hurt me to eat just a little T thought Emil. So he seized a handful of sugar and crowded it into his mouth. Just as he had finished eating it he heard his mothers step in the hall. He ran out of the pantry as she came in.
 Have you been at that sugar. Emil % she asked.
 Emil was frightened. He found he would be punisIped if he told the truth so he told a story.
 T was just looking at it,'' he said 'I didn't take a bit"
 HIS LAOIuSf Qlu not say anything. She took him by the shoulder and led him into the parlor, where there was long mirror. Emil looked in and saw that the whole front of his navy blue fian- nel waist was covered with fine sugar He began to cry.
 You see, your waist told on you said his mother You ought to he puniss1ed: but I will tell you a story instead, for I don't think you ever told me falsehood before, and I hope you never will again"
 Then she drew Emil to her knee and told him the story of George Washing ton and the cherry tree. She asked him if he would not try to be as good and truthful boy as George.
 Emil cried harder than ever then and promised that he would never tell another faIsehood, and don't think he ever did.
 EMTLLE M. THUMM, Age g.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Tha kind of parsia.

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought I would write you about The King of Persia. Once upon time a certain King of Persia went out hunting with all his court. The chase that day happened to be long, and the king became very thirsty. But no fountain, or river, could be found near the spot on the plain where they rested for a short interval.
 At last one of the courtIers spied a large garden not far off. It was ill., ed with trees bearing lemons, oranges, and grapes. His followers begged the monarch to partake of the things in the garden.
 Heaven forbid that I should eat anything thereof" said the king, flor if I permitted myself to gather but an orange from it, my officers and courtiers would not leave a single fruit in the entire garden"
 Tlle higher in life a person is, the more careful he should be, for all his faults are copied by those beneath him.
 YETTA LEVINE, Age 12.
 Colchester. -
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Ancient Marriaue cuatoms.

In ancient times the custom was to purchase the bride from her father or friends without allowing her to have a choice in the matter at all.
 In Turkey and Persia this custom still remains.
 In some places, once a year, the young marriageable women were col lected together in certain spot, and surrounded by bachelors of all classes. An auctioneer then puts up several at 3. time, usually beginning with the handsomest and most agreeable of the women. There was great competition between the wealthy bidders and a great sum of money was collected in this way. The plain looking girls were then sold with dowry, and there girls Were usually sold to people who needed money badly. This was the custom in Persia.
 Leobard, the celebrated saint of Towes, being persuaded to marry, gave his betrothed a ring, kiss and a pair of shoes. To use a vulgar but expres- sive phrase, she was tied neck and heels.''
 A second marriage was considered disgraceful and persons were made to fast thirty two weeks to do penance
 In France it was the custom to mclest a woman who married the sec. ond time by giving her a serenade of pots and kettles early every morning. This was called a "charivari"
 CATHARLNE LEE, Age IA.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Reauish prn.lAnna.

 Dear Nuncle Jed: Onca khere was d srnalr gtr7 whose mama was Frlfde1sce. One day she went to sci1ooi fo isnrt to knit. She wanted to play win sIl~ other girl. but she eouid1sE. sc ehe stocd up and stuck her needis into a girls ear.
 Ths next day this aisl came to school with a toad. Tn scfoof 1rN l,sff it in Prudenceis mouth Prudence cried out. The teacher wffnnad fhe Dig girl and she dia not do so TesiTl,
 One day Prudence went kn TIT atnt's She went upstai41 and buifef open all the boxes. She fuufId sofile ink and an s1zds way spilled 8 on hef sisters dress. Her eiefer then had fc 60 home
 Another time Prudence weas ash. tuss She stepped on q loa and 1efi Tn. Her aunt got there just III kifns to save her. Surely her Stafns rhoUId have been Recl1iesR
 We have three calves. One of then; is my brntherss HiB mama D Hed. die.
 Will not Eome W4de- Apvs1ss srsrnas. two nanlesg One girl sI1g gssted flIcT ones before when asked. I f1ool that, she will again.
 MIIDRED GRANDY, Azs 10. Yantic.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
A Day at School.

Now that the warm spring and summer months are coming we go out nearly every afternoon. For this aft ernoon's trip we choose to visit a school.
 As it is not very far from where we live we started at one o'clock and got there little before it was time for school to open.
 We are only there a few minutes when the second bell rings and-the eE1ildren come marching up the stairs. They come in school and are ready to work
 The first thing they do is to recite poems, then they start right in to work.
 This teacher that I am talking about has three grades the sixth, seventh and eighth grades.
 Thesixth grade starts right in to recite geography and the seventh and eighth grades. The children are all busily working until half past three, then the children are dismissed.
 We then go around the rooms look ing at the papers, and the neat work that the children have done; the pen n1anship, spelling, and the drawing papers.
 We stay with the teachers and talk about the papers and the different things we see in the room.
 Then the other teachers take the trolley and go home.
 As this teacher lives in this village she does not have to go home at any special time.
 The rooms are all furnished with steam heat and the walls are all dec- orated with pictures.
 The school looked very neat indeed to me; but, as time flies quickly, we soon leave the school for our short trip home
 JAMIE LAMBERT.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Attacked By Wolves.

Dear Uncle Jed: One day thought would visit Russia. It was a very tiresofne trip. had a companion with me or should not have gone. It was very cheerless because 1t was cold. At last the day of the journey arrived.
 We had all the preparations made We had big sleigh and tucked in amid the robes, we started of. We were all dressed in furs for as have said. it was bitter cold. The aorsea were in the best of spirits and they flew along merrily. But that did not last long,.
 We reached a long, dreary plain, with dense forests on either side, and it was very dark. The sky was dull and overcast. By and by 1t began to snow and then the snow came harder and harder. It soon grew so bad we could see nothing. Then we soon got lost and what time we had
 We heard the sounds of wolves. The sound came nearer and nearer. By and by we saw a house. We asked the lady for a drink of coffee. She gladly let us stay all night. The next time we were good and warm when we started, and were braver
 FLORENCE BROWN, Age II
 Norwich Town.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25

we started on the last train to Bridge port where we arrived at 9.30 p. m. My cousins were there po meet us. Then we took the trolley cars for home. When we got to the house my cousin Hattie got lundfa for us.
 Another girl who was visiting there and retired.
 In the morning Sophie showed me the hens. When it was 11.S0 a. m, Sophie and went down to meet my Cousin Emily coming from work We In the afternoon we all went to FairviIle Beach bathing. We had a fine time. When we got home Hattie got supper. In the evening we all went to the carnival
 The next afternoon we went to Sea- side park bathing.
 Wednesday, afternoon we went down street.
 Thursday we had visitors. At night we played pit.
 The next afternoon we went visiting and Saturday afternoon my cousins and went to Savin Rock, where we saw many animals, merry-go rounds the races, old re dnills and the mov- ingpictures.
 sunday 1t rained, so we had to stay in the house.
 Monday came home think thiG was the best time I ever had, and ] hope to go again next summer.
 VERA OLIN, Age Il.
 Mansdeld Center.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
A Trlp to Moheaan Park.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am going to tell you about a trip we took to Mohegar Park with our teacher a few nights ago after school. All the children of our class went except a few of the boys
 At noon when we went home we got our lunches and baskets for flow CTS; as soon as school was out we started. It took us about half an hour to walk up there. On our way up we picked a big bunch of violets
 The teacher borrowed one of the girls baskets to put them in. Wher we got up there we see-sawed and swung in the swings. We had put ouI lunches on a bench. About five o'clock we ate our lunch. es. When we were through we wen; down to the spring and got a drink Then we started for home. On our way we got some birch saxifrage and wild honeysuek1e. We got home about a quarter o1 seven.
 In the evening my friend telephon. ed over and asked ne to come over and help her sort the vio1ets. They had put them in her basket so she had offered to take them home and sort them. I went over and we did 1t ir about half an hour. Tn the morning she brought them tc school in a basket and Mrs. Fuller put them in a bowl on the table They looked very pretty.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
THE FABLE OF THE THERMOMETER

How a Way,Sard Little Elf Was Put Q Prison and Kept There For the 'enent of Mankind.
 Polly Ann and little Ned were look lg at the thermometer when just aen Uncle Ben came in and told bout "An Elf From FairyIand."
 Once there lived in Fairyland a ca ricious little elf named Quicksilver. his was not her real name, but was lven to her one day by the king of lries in a fit of anger at her way ardness. Quicksilver was never to counted on at all. When one ought to find her visiting the Rose airy, whose home was by the gar- sn wall, she had already left and was ashing here and there like streak lightning. She led all of the fairy llc such a dance that they decided teach her to be more reliable. But le was such a sprightly little thing ad looked so pretty in her dainty iver froclS that they hesitated to lange her.
 One day when the queen had plan Dd some work Cor 1icksilver and le had clipped awayi and could not r found me Glg'a patience was ex- LIiHaadag ana 10 called his. couEaelIors help nipa devise e punishment hey decided to build little Glasn Stse for her wfeiagut doors, through
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25

which she might attempt to escape. and to place q little ladder at the rear so that she might climb up and look out upon the scenes of her for mer naughtiness.
 They had difficulty in catching her. but at last she was placed in her new domfcile and forced to remain there forever. In the summer, when her friends, the flowers, bees and butterz flies were about Quicksilver climbed high up on her little ladder to look at her former comrades with longing eyes. In the winter, however, when these sought shelter from Jack Frost and were nowhere to be seen, she felt sad and lonely and slipped down into her little room and would not allow herself to be seen but for an occa- sional peep when the day was warm- CT. Then she climbed in the hope of seeing one of her dear ones.
 One day a wise mortal noticed Quicksilver and studied her habits. He determined to make her useful in the world by teaching them to other men. To this day we look at her as she sits in her little glass house, and when one asks mother, Shall put on my warm coat today2n she answers, aGo ana see what the thermometer IS do- ing"
 IMIImAN ar. BREHAuT.
 East Norwich, N. T.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
UNCLE JED's TALK TO WIDE
 AWAKES.

We are all asked to love and protect the birds, and Uncle Jed hopes every Wide-Awake will do all that can be done to shield the birds we have from harm.
 We are told domestic cats kill mill lions of them every year, and they doubtless kill millions of chickens, too; but we know one boy with a gun can kill more song birds in one afternoon than a domestic cat can kill in a whole season.
 It is the nature of cats, as it is of hawks and shrikes, to kill birds, and the cats are least slxilful at it. Uncle Jed does not believe his cats have av- eraged killing three birds in season for the past ten years. They get a small reward for their constant watch fitness.
 It is not surprising that the song birds are decreasing at the rate of ten In a hundred annually. In several states of the union there is no law for their protection, and robins and bobolinks are popular for birdpie in many parts of tGae south.
 It is because the birds are decreasing that insect pests are increasing, and in throwing poison to destroy insects thousands of birds are unintentionally destroyed.
 For more than a century in New England every fall there were compet- ng hunting parties in many towns who spent one day in the year killing every thing that wore fur or feathers they anne across, and the party who killed cost creatures by actual count was iven a supper at the expense of those rho lost, and the game" was usually rought Iome in an OK cart. This old ashioned sport CD in New England accounts for the disappearance of un- ounted millions of useful birds, and
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
The Old Houss.

Dear Uncle Jed: am going to tell you about a house where was Sun day. was walking on the main road when saw a. path leading through the woods and followed it till I reached an oId-fashioned house with two gigantic elm trees in front, and in back of the house were a few small windows one of which climbed through. There was plenty of furni- ture, but it was old and dilapidated. There was also rude fireplace. l went up into the attic and it was full of dust and cobwebs, but when l went in the other corner there stood an old spinning wheel with a little stool beside it.
 I thought I heard someone coming so jumped out of the window, run- ming as fast as I could go till I was a long distance away.
 FRANK H. KOWATS, Age 12.
 Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
A pienio on Round Ton.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am sure you and the Wide Awakes would like to know about my picnic on what is called Little Round Top.' which Is a hill or sort of mound. It is in sight of our house and has many cedar trees upon it. It is just the right sort of place for picnic. We had the pie nic Tuesday, May g. 1916. Our friends planned it and furnished the provi- sions for all, but told us we could bring along something if we wanted to. My sister and took apples. dates and biscuits.
 We walked up to our friends house and from there walked to the hiII which was a delightful walk, the day being a cool one. We saw a kite sailing about in the sky and finally came to the boy who was flying it. We saw many May ptnks and white vio- let's in bloom. We soon reached the hill and were seated in the midst of a circle of cedar trees. We could see
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
My Pct snuinraI.

Dear Uncle Jed: There is a large tree in the back yard Of my house. In this tree is a squirrels nest The squirrel is gray and is quite large Nearly every morning when I am eating my breakfast he appears, bright and early, and scampers about the yard.
 One day as he was running through the yard the cat appeared and began to run after him. The squir- rel did not know he was coming and just escaped in time to save his life through a small hole.
 During the winter often put crack ed nuts out for him. Then I would go and hide. Soon the squirrel would come out from his nest, sit on his launches, and look all around. If he saw no one he would put the nuts into his cheek pockets ana scamper of. Then he would return and look for more.
 He has become quite tame now and when come quite near him he does not run away like he used to.
 He has become one of my best friends. Ss
 AGNES KAdENsK. Aga 1s.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Ma.nsheld Cent, u
Our Sewing Club.


 In March our agriculture teacher came around and asked us how many of us would like to belong to a sewing club
 Eight of us girls dared not say any, thing, but that same evening when we came home we asked our mothers and fathers if we could belong to the sew ing club and they said Yes
 So we went that day and set to work making holder seven by seven inches square and brought them to school The teacher looked at them and said they were very good, and so we sewed and sewed till our holders were done, and then began to do our school work When the agriculture teacher came around again he brought Miss Stella Sprag1e with him and she told us we should be very interested in the work and to be sure to keep an accurate ac- count of it in notebook.
 think it is a very interesting thing for girls, and I hope that the children of the Wide-A -AWakes will join it.
 CARRIE GELO. Iehannr
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
The chinmunk,s Eaoans.

Dear Uncle Jed; One day last fall 8 friend of mine took me hunting with him. And when my friend was load. Ing his gun I heard a cry in the tree above me. When looked up saw weasel chasing a chipmuni1. They were both at the top of the tree. Then heard another cry and saw the chip nn1ink had dropped to the lower branches and cling fast to the edge Of one Of them.
 The weasel looked embarrassed al the mysterious disappearance of his prey; and after five or six minutes the weasel began to descend to the bottom Of the tree.
 now called my friends attention to the weasel. and when told him the story he shot the weasel
 After a few minutes the ctipnnunlI got couxase ana eazne to the ground
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
My Visft to PennsyFvania,

 Dear Uncle Jed: When I was six years old my mother. my brother, and sister, and I. went to Pennsylvania. We started the 14th of July and stay- ed six weeks
 When we got off the train we went Into the depot to wait for my grand father. who was coming to meet us After while he came in the door. He stood and looked arouho, but did not know us. He was going to go out when my mother called him. Then we started to walk to his house when we met a man that my mother knew. He was driving 6 wagon. He told us to get in. so we did. I laid down on a bag of grain and went to sleep. I did not wake up until the next morning in bed.
 There were lot of big, red cher ries and I ate so many that got sick But got over it. I got sick a good many times. till got used to it. ANNA ANDERSEN, Age 10. Norwich,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Taftville

Country Life Better Than City Life
 I lived in the city only five months so can give better my opinion o1 country life.
 The children of the country sone- times wish themselves living in the city, thinking that the city child has more advantages than they, but the country child has more advantages by far than the city child.
 If you will notice the rich city peo- pie go to the country for the summer and why? Because of the fresher air better vegetables. milk, eggs and the like.
 The city child is pale and weak, while the country child is rosy-faced and healthy. The owner of facs tory wants to employ country boys to work for him, simply because they are more liable to be healthy and to do harder work than the city boy.
 People laugh at farmers and call them "hayseeds," and similar names, but who is more independent than the farmer2 The city people could not live without the farmers crop
 Suppose the farmer should be- sel-
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
RoETRY.
The PenaItk of Reputation.

IT guess I'll run away from here an
 sail across the sea, For no one any longer seems to care
 a bit for me; want to be a pirate or a. cowboy on
 the plains, Or p'raps I'll be a bandit an I'll hold
 up railway trains. I'm sick of rlnnin' errands an a-doin'
 of the chores, I'm sick of wipin' off my feet an clos
 in open doors; I'm sick of everything there is, but
 what makes me feel blue, Today I got a liclkin' for thing l
 didn't do. It's pretty tough to be a boy that's
 got an awful name For doin' tricks, coz then it seems you
 allus get the blame. Becoz I've broken windows, an becoz
 chased a cat, An becoz threw a snowban once at
 Deacon Whites plug hat, Whenever anything goes wrong they
 allus look for me; guess they think no other boy can
 climb an apple tree An steal the fruit: an so it seems most every day or two I have to take a lickin' for things
 didn't do. Inere'S SCuDOy Green, as pad as me-
 he stoned peddler's horse, An when he ran away they came an
 looked for me, of course; An when somebody put a snake in
 Grandma Perkins bed, That's one of Dicl1y Watson's tricks, ,
 was what the neighbors said. An when somebody wheeled away
 Browns baby cab an hid it, There's nothin' to it., they declared
 "but Diclzy Watson did it. It's 'Dfcly Watson" all the time, as
 though they allus knew Today I got a lickin' for a thing
 didn't do. I ain't complainin': after all, maybe
 it's just as well; I'd ruther take a lickin' than on other
 fellows tell But, just the same, I wish I'd get aw-
 ful sick some day And have to lie up there in bed an not
 get out to play. Then maybe something would be done
 an maybe they would see That there are other boys around that
 are as bad as me; Then maybe they'd be sorry, an p'raps
 they'd promise, too, That they'd never, never lick me for
 the things didn't do.
 Detroit Free Press.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25

the houses in the village and the peo- pie and automobiles looked quite small. We ali had a jolly time and hope to have more picnics on the same spot.
 Inwalking home, one Of our friends picked a -leaved clover. I had never picked any before so the next day when I was outdoors working in my flower garden. I decided to look for -one, and sure enough. found one, It is the first one I ever found. I nave pressed it in a book and am go- ing to keep it. I enjoy reading the Wide Awake Circle, especially about the flower gardens, as I love flowers.
 JESSIE BREHAUT.
 azf N0vuzi63, N
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Araha.

The Arabs live in Arabia.
 They have dark skin and black eyes, Some people live in town and some live on the desert. The people who live in a town have houses made of stone with flat mud roofs. The peo- pie who live on the desert live in tents which can be moved from place to place to get food for the cattle. The Arabs use canels to cross the desert.
 They are very fond of horses.
 They eat all kinds of fruits. They use every bit of the date-palIn
 The dates are used to eat the palms for houses, and the fiber for rope.
 They wear long gowns tied around the waist.
 In Arabia only the boys go to school and study out of one book called the Koran which they use as a bible.
 BARBARA TINKA, Age 12. West Wilmington.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-25
Norwich.
Her Pets.

Dear Uncle Jed: Do you want to hear about my animal family? I have dog, a cat, and little kitten, thir- ty-seven hens. and nice, large rooster, that almost talks.
 have twenty-nine chickens, and six more hens setting.
 I am in the second grade at school. We have a team to take us to and from school. It is dreadful cold rid ing in the winter time.
 ETHEL BARBER. Age 2. Danielson