davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
While His Mother
Was Away
FRANCES HARMER.

Mothers going out today said Cnar-
lie Carter to Dick Burns, and we can
play in the front yard, where she
doesn't let us"
Dick was puzzled Charlie seemed
pleased that his mother was going OUT,
and he meant to play where she u'om
let him! When Dicks mother went OUT,
he felt dull. and ne never did anything
she didn't let him.
So he said,-
When she comes back, she'll be
sorry
Charlie stared at Dick This was
new thought.
YES" he said, thinking hard. SO she
will. But" he frightened up little,
"she's always sorry when she comes
back. She says, Now what have you
been up to, I wonder?' That's what she
says"
Dick put his eight year old mind hard
to the solution of this problem.
"S'pose you did something she liked.
he suggested.
Dunno what / could do replied
Charlie .she doesn't like much"
Il pick up kindlings to s'rise my
mother" volunteered Dick. sometimes
l have a great big pile"
"Then what's she say" inquired
Charlie, fascinated with the new
thought .
she says. 'Whatd / do without my
boy Dick?" was the answer. Guess
your mother'd say that, too!
Charlie may have had doubts, but ne
picked up chip. 1t was not bad fun,
especially when Dick helped him. he
picked up more and more chips, till, as
the time went on, there was not emp
living round anywhere! Only magn1h-
cent pile Of them in a corner 1t seemed
the right thing to help Dick pick up ms
chips and by the time both mothers
returned. there were two piles of chlps,
and two nice clean wards and last. put
not least. two expectant little boys.
They came rn the lane together those
two mothers. They paused at the gar
den gates, 90 close together that the
two yards seemed like on" large one.
Dicks mother spoke first.
Such nice yard" she cried land
what pile of chips for kindling! What
should do without my boy Dick.
Then she kissed him.
But Dick. for cnce, was a little unre-
sponsive He ran up to Charles moth
err.
Charlie picked up chips too he SAID
eagerly, IAN his yards TIDY. too!
Then Charles mother looked at her
yard. and from the yard she looked
down at her little son. He was staring
I'D at her with very ser,ors eyes Some
how, he reminded her Of the first year
of his life, when she hadn't been quite
so busy and so troubled as now. She
stopped down, and kissed him.
What do you suppose she said?
why, she said exactly what Dicks
mother had said! III
What should ! do if hadn't little
boy to pick ND chips!"
Now Charlie als"avs finds something
to do TO help meter, w't' she goes
; ont. 1t was good thing that Dicks
motrer went OFT that r~orning, and
that Dick PLAYED LTD Charlie.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Frances E. FOuts Picnicked
One Beautiful Easter
at Estes Park
Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:
1 will write about one beautiful Eas-
ter day.
We went to Colorado two or three
days before Easter. We got on the
noon train and went to Kansas City
We had to change cars there and at
Denver, Colo. We went from Denver on
up to Loveland on the train. From
Loveland on up to Aunt Addie Neils In
an automobile. On Easter Sunday
Aunt Adde'S folks and we all fixed up
our dinners and went to Estes park for
q picnic dinner. We started from Aunt
Adde'S place about s o'clock.
May and 1 went up on two burros and
the rest Of the folks went up in an au-
tomobile. They got there about $50.
May and got there little after nine.
When we got there we tied our bur
ros to a tree. Then we walked around
on the mountains and we saw some
pretty rocks and three old deers and
two young ones When we got tired OF
that uncle put up swing and we
swung until noon.
We had a lot Of boiled eggs. pie ice
cream, cake and chicken for dinner.
After dinner we gathered a lot Of
flowers and played hide and seek. Then
we ate our supper and went homo. IT
was about 8 o'clock when we got home.
Frances E. Fouts. age 9.
Drakesville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Eager
ToAid Marjorie
Newspaper a Day Takes
Up Battleship Cause
Over Nation

Airline Patton, Doris Tower, Edwin
William Piatt, Elmer Piatt. Verna
Piatt. Earle Derby, Kleta Derby
and two donors who do not
want their names published right
now, are the only Iowans or Mis-
sourians to enroll in Marjorie Ster-
rett's battleship fund. Thanks to Ar
line Patton, who brought in another
dime this week, the local Mar
jorie Sterret's battleship fund totals
$1.7O today. The New York Tribune,
custodian of Marjorie Sterrets battle
ship fund, sends out the following in
a recent dispatch:
One newspaper a day is the rate at
which Marjorie Sterret's idea has
spread in the last week-one news
paper and 1000 new contributors.
Those papers which have been in
the campaign for several weeks or
more have not been inactive in the
meantime. Three of them, besides
the Tribune, whose total April 16 was
$7,121.9S, have scared high above the
81 900 mark and still the dimes and
dollars continue to roll in. The Wat
erbury American holds the honor of
with a total of $1,S53.62. Third comes
the Boston Record. claiming collec-
tons of $1,551.05, and close behind
that runs the Middletown Times
Press with $1,000. 90.
So the idea of a schoolgirl who be-
lieved that Uncle Sam needed another
battleship and gave her weeks spend
ing money to help build it, spreads.
Approximately 49, 900 people In this
broad land have agreed with her to
the extent of giving what she gave
or more The total in money now
stands at $17,O2O01, still long way
from being enough to build a battle
ship, but yet mighty monument to
the patriotism of thousands of chill
dren. men and women who find this
movement a way in which they per-
sonally can help defend the country
of their birth or their adoption.
Everybody Can Help.
No class of people and no section
of the country has monopoly in this
gift, which belongs to every soul who
calls himself American. The breadth
of it's appeal is shown in three con-
tributions which have been made to
the fund--one of $500 United States
government bond that came from
Chicago with a letter signed simply
"a German Americana; one of 81
made last night before crowded
house in aAPeakskill theater by Mary
Miles Minter, the juvenile moving pic
ture star. and one of penny made
to the Wheeling Register by a little
West Virginia girl who had only a
cent to give.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
rue COURIER PRINTING CO.
Ottunwa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
THE PRIZE WINNERS.

Dear Juniors: To-day besides the
4 otories by the winners in the Easter
%gcontest, we have two prize winning
Nstories by Wapello county boys, Don.
EAld Riley and Claude Smith. Donald
Els the winner of the first contest
Ssamong the boys of the county who pre-
q pared essays on How Good Roads
i5Beneft the Farmer. One hundred
IL Iowa boys will be given an opportun-
sElty Of attending the state fair this year
|jas result of winning these contests
(which are held in the various counties
slOf the state.
sss County Superintendent R. L. Gard
&ner, City Superintendent H. e. Black
Amar and w. c. Arnold, president OF
1.-THE Farmers institute, were judges OF
1.-THE contest in Wapello county and an
lnounce the winners as follows:
Ffrst-Donald Riley, aged Is years.
s1Chillicothe.
Il Second Claude Smith, age 15 years,
.lOttumwa r. F. D. No. Z.
The prize winners in the Easter
'lcontest are:
Il Alice Mullenix, LaIa Mildred Hull,
3Rena Ferne Hull, Frances Fouts,
4nrstna cobIer and Genevieve Miller.
Next week we will announce a new
sfeontest.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Donald Riley's Prize Essay
on ''How Good Roads
Benefit the Iowa
Farmer"

The benefit of good roads to the
Iowa farmer is very marked in regard
to transporting his surplus produce
to market, as deliveries to the city
have to a certain extent, been gov
erned by the roads.
Those farmers of Iowa who are for
tunate enough to live along a good
road may market their produce when
the prices are the best. while the less
fortunate farmer who has to contend
with bad roads must haul his pro-
duce whenever the roads permit, not
to speak of the difference in time con-
sumed in making the trip.
If we take into consideration the
time lost during the busy season
when there may be produce that must
be hauled to market, but there are
several bad mud holes in the road
by which the farmer loses consider
able time, inasmuch as he will not be
able to haul load of the same size
over bad roads as he will over good
ones, thereby having to make two
trips instead of one. -r
+. A good road is a great advertise
ment for any community and the land
in the vicinity of good roads is always
more sought after. Many farm own
ers have discovered that farm values
are not all in the soil but part of them
are centered in the conveniences by
which the farm is surrounded, mean
ing for the most part, good roads.
Good roads in community show
an enterprising spirit in the people OF
that place and it has been said that
the highest mark of civilization in
man is the roads that he builds. In
case of illness or accident in the fam
lily good roads are a positive neces-
sity as without them it may be too
late when the physician arrives, or II
a veterinarian was needed good roads
would make it possible for him to
get to the farm in time to avert any
serious loss in many cases.
Good roads also make 1t possible
for the mail to be delivered at the
farmers door, which is big improve
ment over going to town after it, but
at some seasons of the year 1t is al
most impossible for the mail carrier
to make his daily rounds on account
Of the condition of the roads and it is
because of this that the government
has been abolishing some Of the rural
mail routes.
A good road to town is one of the
greatest incentives to keep the boys
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Claude Smiths Second Prize
Essay on "How Good
5 Roads Benefit the
Iowa Farmer"

Good roads will benefit the Iowa
farmer mainly by enabling him to
market his crops more easily. BY
close observance you will notice that
the farms along the unimproved high
ways transact the largest amount OF
farm business and it Is over these
unimproved roads that the largest
amount Of farm products Is now
hauled.
During the winter and part of the
spring, these roads are almost impas.
sable and during this time the farm
ers often have great deal of hauling
to do. What we want is "all the year
around" roads-roads that can be
travelled 365 days in year. If we
had these, the farms distant from
town would be brought on an equal
ity with those nearer town and their
prices would be raised. I.......
Good roads would be saving of
not only time but of money and ami
mails. Since automobiles have come
to play an important part in the lives
Of the farmers, good roads are an
absolute necessity. With our pres
ent roads, automobiles can be used
only part of the time where with good
roads they could be used a great deal
more. ..'
1t is remarkable how much differ
ence good roads make in the appear
ance of a locality and they often have
great deal to do with the sale of a
farm The looks Of farm, no matter
how nice the buildings, is spoiled by
round, uneven, muddy road.
A good road system would greatly
better social conditions in the coun-
try and the life of farmer would be
great deal more pleasant If the
steep hills, mud holes and the thou
sand and one obstacles in traversing
his neighborhood were removed
Claude Smith, Age Is.
r. F, D. Z. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Alice Mullenix's Birthday
Falls on Easter Sunday

Dear Juniors:
I thought I would write school
composition for the Easter contest
l go to the Irving school. My teach
er's name is Miss Kate Kline. like her
very much. am in the tenth room and
in the first part of the 9th grade. There
are thrty-two pupils in our room: we
have arithmetic, geography, music in
the morning and language, reading,
writing and drawing in the afternoon.
l love to draw.
We have recess at 1880 in the morn
ing and 2:30 in the afternoon. We go
out doors to play at recess if it is not
too cold. In the summer time we play
ball. volley ball, and play all kinds OF
games too.
We have sewing every Tuesday. Our
class is making sewing apron and the
boys go to manual training at the Stu
art school. / go two miles to school. l
have two girls out where l live to play
with.
Alice Mullenix, age II,
1922 Chester Ave, Ottumwa, la.
P. S.-My~ birthday is on the same
day Easter comes on and I will be IL
years old.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
-" ST Camille ST. OttumWa.
Lola Mildred Hall Wishes
All the Juniors a
Happy Easter 4

Dear Juniors: ....
I thought I would write a letter to
the Junior page. have never written
before. I am - years old. My birthday
is the second day of June
l have two brothers and three sisters.
Their names are ANGEL Orville, Iva
Irene and Reva r..
I attend the Hawkeye school, district
number nine. am in the seventh grade
My studies are reading, writing, arith-
metic, history grammar, physiology.
music, spelling, geography and agricul-
ture. Our teachers name Is Miss Sophia
Mortland. We liked her fine. Our school
was out the oath day of March. We
had a program the last day. Es.s
My papa takes the Daily Courier. We
like it very much. I like to read the
Junior page. AS it is about time to cele-
brate Easter wish the Juniors q
happy Easter.
Lala Mildred Hull, age II.
Douds-Leando. Ia. r. /.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Gereyievc nsii!es G., Faster
in 1875 ar. EGG Hunt
and a Nice Dinner

Dear Jrn,Crs: rr "Es@.
am going to write about one beau
tifuI Easter day.
Last Easter WIS nice day. The sun
shone bright. IT was still and very
warm. The birds san" in the trees. IL
was about 10 O'Clock in the morning
when nv aunt and cousins came over
to spend the day. We had nice time
hunting eggs. We had nine dinner OF
all kinds Of eggs. roasted chicken anu
other nice things. We ran race to
see who could eat the most eggs. After
dinner we had an egg hunt. My cousin
hid the eggs and the one that found the
most eggs got big china Easter egg.
My cousin found the most eggs so she
got the egg They stayed until about
o'clock in the evening. nope we nave
nice day this Easter.
Genevieve Miller. age II.
Broken Bow, Nebr., E-
Georgetown Star Route.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Audrey Disbrow's Great
Grandfather Was Born
v June II, 1920, in New
Jersey

Dear Juniors: ..
My great grandfather Captain l.. H.
Regur was born in New Jersey June
II, 1920 and at his death was IS years
of age The Regurs came here from
France to New Jersey sometime in the
eighteenth century. He was member
Of the fire department, being foreman
of No. / engine for some years. During
the civil war he raised a company of
100 men in Plainfield. After the war
was over they moved to Delavan, III.
and then moved to keosauqua. Iowa
and he lived there until his death a
year ago. o..
Audrey Disbrow,
1GS ~ Davis ST.. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
lore Ottumwa Juniors Send
Dimes to Battleship
Fund e
,par Editor:

Dear Editor:
m NV mamma has read about Mar
Norie Sterrett's battleship fund and we
mink it is just fine for children TO
k1ild this big ship to protect our
E$ountry If it comes to war.
Ess NY great grandfather was in the
Mexican war. My great great grand
Yather was in the war of 1872. MY
Uncle Billie is in the army stationed
at Presidio, Cal, now.
My little brother and l are senolng
dime each to the fund and l VIII
TN to get other boys and girls at
School interested in the battleshlp
klnd. e
n Kleta Derby, Age g..
Earle Derby, Age 4.
826 Church st. Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
ANCESTOR STORIES.

We want the Juniors to write about
acme Of their ancestors (Which
aineans your parents, grandparents,
great grandparents, etc. We will ask
Tie Juniors to write nice short stories
Keeling something remarkable or IN
SUSual about their ancestors.
.sSs The Courier Junior is always glad
d vshen the Juniors send in unusual
$ntories. The usual features of the an
Scestor stories is what appeals to The
Courier and prompts it to continue the
contest. The Juniors certainly send In
SSplendid ancestor stories.
The writer's can select their prizes
Eerom among the following: A box OF
candy. roller skates, book, friendship
INK, pin or knife. tE-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Why Thelma Osborne Loves
Her Native State

Dear Juniors:
The subject of my composition IS
"Why I Love My State
For one reason why l love my state
is because we have such good drain
age. F.. u| b
Another is because we have lots OF
farming in our state.
Another one is because we raise such
big crops in our state. ..
We have plenty of rivers in our
state.
When their banks overflow it makes
Our land richer.
For another reason we get minerals
from our state. The minerals are soft
coal, limestone, lead, clay, sand, gravel
and boulders. .....
We hire men to dig these minerals
in our state. Sometimes these men are
called miners.
That is the reason why I love my
state.
am nine years old. I am in the 4th
grade. My teacher is Miss Hedrick. We
have forty one pupils in my room.
Thelma Osborn. .. ..
725 Graves ST., Ottumwa. Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Al ABOUT PRIZES.

We send out prizes within Two
J keeks after the names of the winners
Sfe published.
We do Wish the Juniors would &C.
|llnoWledge their prizes.
Y n any Junior has ever failed to re-
elyc prize after his or her name
&ppeared in this paper, it is because
ne wrong address has been given us.
when we say wrong address we es-
sSecially refer to incomplete addresses.
All city juniors should put their
erect number and all Juniors living
the country should put their box
humber or failing to have box send
: their parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Flower of Courtesy

Have you read that pretty play
Where a mischief making fay
Drew a juice Of wondrous power
From a harmless seeming flower.
Just one drop of which distilled
Made all love go as he willed?
If we had that magic spell
We could make folks love us we'll;
But alas. twas fairy brew.
And the flower in Elfland grew.
Yet there is another flower
That has, too the charmer's power
And without the fairies arts
We can make it win US hearts.
Can you guess what it can be?
IT'S the flower of courtesy.
Jane Blair Reid, in st. Nicholas.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
SEyEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

1EVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.
4. Use one side of the paper only.
!. Write neatly and legibly, using
Snk or sharp lead pencil.
MIS-. Always sign your name IN full
Md state your age. 49,.
Do not copy stories or poetry
md send us as your own work.
|E s. Number your pages.
ID Always state choice of a prize
~ separate piece of paper, with
Siame and address in full.
7. Address envelope to The Cour-
III Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Reva Ferne Halls Birthday
Fell on Easter in 1915
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
/ thought would write letter as
have never written before. l am nine
years old. My birthday is April 4. 1t was
on Easter Sunday last year.
I attend the Hawkeye school district
number nine, am in the fourth grade.
l study ten different studies. They are
music, reading, history. arithmetic,
writing, grammar, physiology geog-
raphy. spelling and agriculture
I have attended the Hawkeye school
about four years. My playmates at
school are Reva Stagers. Villa Plow-
man. Eva Poole and Iona Hanshaw.
AS it Is about Easter time wish all
the Juniors a happy Easter.
Reva Ferne Hull. age 3.
Douds- I.eando, Ia, r.. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Playing Telephoning B.
Robert Nelson

Dear Juniors: ... .g.
7 am going to write story about
playing telephone.
Ralph and Harry often play tele-
phone. They first stretch wire across
the street. Then they put bell on
Ralph's side and then on Harry's side
Harry rings his bell and Ralph comes
to the phone and then they talk for
little time The birds like to sit on the
wire They sit on the wire Of mornings.
The sparrows sit on it and it looks like
they are playing games. Nell thinks 1t
Is nonsense because it is small dis
lance. Sometimes robin redbreast sits
on the wire and says Good morning"
and flies away. -
Robert Nelson, age 9,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
~ g-170 1-E----- -------- =
Mabel Mae Elkins Writes
Letter to Cousin Daisy

Dear Cousin Daisy Moss:
write to you through the Junior
RAge.
We got home all right Sunday. Ern-
ut and I went to school today but the
&eacher won't let Ernest go any more,
hut i will still go.
How are you folks? Tell Aunt Lizzie
and Uncle Jim and Harry hello for
ne. Papa is getting ready to SOW oats.
Mamma is baking light bread today.
Mabel May Eakins,
Ottumwa. Ia, r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Mary E. Quinn, New Junior
Receivers From Operation
for Appendicitis
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors: ..r .,
This is my first letter to the Junior
page thought I would write about my
school, I go to ST. Patrick's school at
Georgetown. I am in the fourth grade.
There are five teachers in, my school.
MY teachers name is Sister Mary
Raphael. There are nearly two hum
dred pupils.
I was operated on for appendicitis
about months ago.
My papa is mail carrier on r. r..
No. / at EitrrI1an.
Mary L. Quinn. age 8.
Iiiteman, Ia. r. r. No. l.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
See That Brown Horse
Trimmed in Black" -
Says Lucille - and
Everyone Laughed

Dear Juniors:
l am going to write you a few lines.
One day we were standing on the
back porch and there was a brown
horse with black tail and black eyes
and black name standing close by.
And | sad See that brown horse
trimmed in black" Then everybody
laughed and thought they never
would quit.
.N. Lucille Schworm age 10,
$50 Church ST.. OttumWa, Ia
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Walter Rogers, a Bicycle
Rider, So Tired He Falls
Into Mud and Sticks

Dear Juniors:
This is the first letter I ever wrote
you. was going down hill one night
when the bicycle broke down and threw
me over the handlebars. I will tell you
about my bicycle ride to Centervlle. l
got so tired Of riding l fell in the mud
and got fast in mud.
am feet 10 inches tall and weigh
1853 pounds. ,
Walter Rogers. age Is.
Ottumwa. Ia. r. No. 4.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
WANT LETTERS.

We want the Juniors to write some
8yery interesting letters, "newsy' let
|tters. Some of the Juniors can write
||tO their parents. Other Juniors might
4 write as though they were visiting
Some city. The reward for the best
9etter will be box Of letter paper
and envelopes, a book, friendship
Rnlnk or a knife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
Mary Lois Jackson Lives
One Block From School

Dear Juniors: a
4 / live one block from the school
house. I am in the fifth grade. We have
twenty six in our room.
There are seven girls and eight boys
in my class.
Mary Lois Jackson.
Agency, Ia, L. B. 1874.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
acHooL COMPOSITIONS.

z we want more school compositions.
we give one friendship
INK. engraved to the writer OF the
lest composition. The boys can have
= knife, book, or friendship link.