davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23

beaver left his hut quickly. and swan
to the dam to see what was wrong. AS
soon as he saw the channel that had
been dug he struck four loud blows
with his tail and every beaver in the
village left his bed and rushed out in
answer to the call. When they reached
the dam and saw the large hole in it
they took counsel as to what they should
do. Then the head beaver gave orders
to the rest and all went to the bank to
get sticks and mud.
When they had gathered together as
much as they could carry, they formed
in line and marched with their loads to
the dam. The sticks were thrown into
the hole and mud and stones were
packed upon them. They worked hard
and in a short time the dam was as
good as ever. Then one Of the old
beavers struck two blows with his tail,
and in few minutes all were in bed
and asleep again.
Nsttie Miller,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
An Umbrella House

Bernice loved to play in the fields and
gather flowers. Several times she had
gone out in the pasture lot back Of che
house: but as there was no shade there.
the sun made her little head ache bad
ly so mamma said she must wait until
evening to gather the pretty flowers.
One rainy day Bernice was playing
in the attic and there she found big
umbrella which Uncle Ben had used on
his wagon. Il will ask mother for it."
size said Il am sure Brother Ben will
PIT it UP in the pasture lot so I can
have little house all of my own
Mother gave her permission, and it
was not long before the little girl saw
her playhouse waiting for her. 1t was
still raining when Ben completed his
task, and the ground was too damp for
little girls to play on, but Bernice stood
at the window looking out that way.
Now there were some other creatures
that saw the new umbrella house too.
Spreckle had taken her little chicks out
for walk She did not think the show
ers would come SO soon, and her little
babies were all shivering and wet She
tried to hurry, but the wet grass tar
gled about their feet, and they fell
many times.
"Cluck. cluck," she called. "Come to
this nice house, children. and we will
wait here until the storm is over
Sprecl<le tucked the little chicks I'M
der her wings and ruffed her feathers
over their backs. just letting their tiny
little heads peep from beneath her
feathers, and this was the picture little
Bernice saw from the cottage window.
Look. mamma" cried Bernice. my
umbrella house has been OF some use al
ready. for it has sheltered the baby
chicks from the storm. I am SO glad
Ben nut it us for u.s."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington was born Feb
|sruary 20, 1892.
Much of his childhood was spent on
THE Rappahannock river. nearly oppo.
site the town of Fredericks burg.
When George was eleven years old,
his father died. During his youth he
lived at Mount Vernon with his elder
brother Lawrence.
George had three brothers and two
sisters.
January g. 1859 he was married to
Mrs. Martha Custas.
He afterWard became president of
the United States.
He was often called the father of
his country
II He died December, 1893.
His resting place is at Mt. Vernon.
sSsa Yours truly.
Dora selix,
Unionville, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23

much trouble.
Of course, everybody wanted to
know what had happened, and Helen
couldn't very we'll show them the
tooth without the cherry stone. so
she opened her hand slowly and let
them see what she had.
why, that's too bad, my DEAR
said father ''Biddy must have been
careless and left a stone in one Of the
cherries Mother must be sure and
speak to her about it,
But mother looked knowingly at
Helen and waited for her to say some
thing. Then Helen, without mo-
ment's hesitation, said bravely: Bid
dy didn't make the pie. father. Mother
and I made it--that is, l helped her.
While | was stoning the cherries |
wanted a surprise for the boys, so I
left the stones in just two of them
cause l thought they'd each get one
in their pieces and De surprised when
they bit on them"
We'll. the surprise is on you this
time. little daughter, isn't it,"
Eyes, but it isn't such a bad sur
prise after ALL for it pulled out that
tooth and now shan't have to go
to the dentists. Mother said if didn't
pull it myself or let her do it by Sat
urday I'd have to go and see DR..
Wheeler. f..
well. it worked out all right in
your case. Helen. but it wouldn't have
been so nice if mother or auntie or |
had broken Off one of our teeth on
a cherry stone or swallowed one by
mistake. don't think should plan
that kind of a surprise very often if
I were you
"Oh won't again, father. | prom
Use you But this time I think it was
a pretty good thing that there was a
surprise on me instead of on any of
the rest of you. And I'm going out
doors and give three cheers for the
cherry stone that pulled my old tooth.
Come on boys. and help me-
And upon that the three children
ran out Of the dining room and quick
.ly disappeared from sight in tho tall
flowers of the garden.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23

\ Now that the summer vacation
days are over we feel sure that the
MJuniors are ready and anxious to work
hard again. Consequently we have
Sdecided to have big contest. When
I'VE say big contest we mean one in
which many subjects are announced
and splendid prizes are given. Dur
ing the month ,of September we will
give four big prizes to the four Jur.
Elors sending in the best work on such
Hsubjects as the following:
Mi School compositions,
Ancestor stories
Interesting letters,
Book reviews, .....
Unusual stories.
Current events, .......
Soldier stories related by veterans
and retoid by juniors,
ne Great People Of My State.
In the beginning Of this announce
lnent we said the big contest would
nun through September and that we
would give away four prizes, and these
tour prizes will be as follows A
tatch, camera, scouts knife or two
pounds of candy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
Beavers, and How Hard
They Work

The beaver is a will dand large ami
NAL. 1t is about three feet in length and
weighs forty or fifty pounds. Its fur IS
a kind Of a grayish brown.
A beaver cannot bear to live alone.
He is very happy when large number
Of beavers are close at hand.
Beavers are kind neighbors, they are
ready to helD one another.
When they are going to build new
house or a village they get place
where a large pond or a. low plain with
a stream running through 1t. The beav-
err puts a dam across the running
stream to make pond out of it. They
get sticks and logs about five feet long
and put them into the streams Other
beavers carry green branches of trees.
The branches Of the trees are piled
upon the sticks and logs. Then the dam
is finished and reaches entirely across
the stream After the foundation Of the
dam is finished, the beavers pile stones
and mud upon it until they have built
wall ten or twelve feet thick at the
bottom and two or three feet thick at
the top. After all Of that has been done
the older and wiser beaver looks to see
if every part Of the dam Is strong and
safe Beavers do not like poor work,
and they know that weak dam is cas-
lily washed away. ss. ,
When the Dam mas Deen nnlSnoQ anu
the pond made the beavers begin to
think about their houses. They like to
have their rooms dry They raise them
above the water. so that when the
stream rises during the rainy seasons,
they will not be flooded. When the
beavers are in the water they are as
happy s they can be, but when they
are out Of 1t, they like to be in the dry.
1t takes them about two or three
months to get village done All that a
beaver does is done we'll. a ~ .
Once F'renchman who was travelling
in Louisiana spent a great deal of
time in watching the beavers and learn
ed about their ways. He hid himself
close to dam which the little creatures
had built and in the night he cut a
hole about foot wide right through
it.
He had made no noise while cutting
through the dam, but the rush Of the
water aroused one beaver who was not
sleeping as sound as TIN, rest. This
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
Helen Ray Writes a Most
Interesting Story About
Her Ancestors

Dear Juniors
I have never written to the Courier
Junior before, but now I will write
about my ancestors. The first one I
know about came from Scotland to
America before the French Indian war.
and settled in Franklin county, Penn
sylvan;a His son was Richard Bard
who married Catherine Poe, a relative
Of Edgar Allen Poe.
In 1853 the were captured by the
Delaware Indians and their baby was
killed with tomahawk right before
them The Indians made them carry
heavy loads Of about forty pounds on
their backs.
They circled around the house and
burned it. And when they were march
ing they were not allowed to talk to
each other and treated them cruel. Aft
er several DAYS he escaped.
1t was early April and snow was on
the ground and he nearly starved He
ate berries and roots Of trees and four
snakes. And he said meat never tast-
ed so sweet" His shoes wore out and
he ran thorn in his foot. which made
it so sore he had to crawl part Of the
way And he almost froze to death one
night. but he found few Goals Of fire
where some one had camped. So he
built a fire. He finally reached Fort
Duauesne. Catherine his wife was a
captive three years. and was the adopt
ed sister Of two of the Indians.
Richard bought her from them at the
end of the three years and paid them a
large sum Of money. She had rheuma
tism from living with the Indians, but
she lived to be an old lady. He was aft
erwards a soldier in the revolutionary
war, .n X
Richard and Catherine Bard were my
great, great. great GRANDPARENTS.
My home is in Knoxville, Ill, and
am visiting at Hedrick, Ia. and read the
Junior page, so thought / would write
Helen Rae. age 9,
Knoxville ILL.,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
AL ABOUT PRIZES.

We do wish the Juniors would &C.
knowledge their prizes.
IL any Junior has ever failed to re.
seeive q prize after his or her name ap-
sbeared in this paper, it is because the
wrong address has been given us.
When we say wrong address we es-
9pecially refer to incomplete addresses.
AL city Juniors should put their
SAtreet number and all Juniors living
III the country should put their ooX
number or failing to have a box send
~ their parents names.
rs Weasend our prizes within one week
sAfter the names Of the winners are
Established. ..-.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23

Rv Francis J. Yates.

Rv Francis J. Yates.
Just small livery mare,
White-stockinged bay; ..
Battered and traveFworn,
Far spent her day.
Dawn to the fall of eve,
All her life through,
Hard ridden and hard driven,
Rest seasons few.
Winter or summertime,
Sunshine or rain,
Beaten by thoughtless boys,
Hard-handed men,,
Out starting, knowing not
What comes by night.
Touch on reins guiding her
Heavy or light.
Up hills and down the dales
Feet Gathering swift,
Of the far rolling miles
Making short shrift.
Lost shoe, or harness gall,
Stone-bruised feet
Hard through her weary way,
Peggy keeps sweet.
Some horses vicious grow
From livery life. =
Swapping teeth, rolling eyes,
Bad tempers rife.
Soured by lack of care,
Stiffened by rain,
Thirsting for water and
Hungry for grain;
Shivering and unblanketed
In the cold wind, ..
Mouths lacerated by
Drivers unkind.
Not so with Peggy brave,
She meets ev'ry test.
Brave hearted optimist,
Giving her best.
Ears pricking forward,
Eyes steadfast set; .sa.
On the days journey each E,-..
Need much be met.
Old age creeps DER her,
Steals unawares;
God knows her ending but +
Surely God cares!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
n THE COURIER PRINTING co.
Ottumwa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
THE CIRCUS CONTEST.

Dear Juniors: Today in the center OF
1.-THE Junior page are four circus PIC
sEtures grouped together. Well we want
Aall the Juniors to write circus story
either about one Of the pictures or
about all of them. This contest VIII
ssopen today and close September 81
Select prize from among the following
4 articles: football. book, knife, plue-
Ebird pin, box of candy. doll, box OF
school supplies or hoX Of letter paper.
No doubt many of the Juniors in this
County and the adjoining counties saw
the Observation-Disclosures circus thls
week. 1t was splendid one.
THE BULB CONTEST.
We hope all the Juniors will work
Sin the bulb contest which was an
nounced last week. AS we have eX-
tended the closing from Monday. Sep
sitember rs to Friday, September 20,
I'VE will reprint the rules again. we
know every Junior will want to work
An the bulb contest. You all know
that every little bulb planted in pot
Sof nice earth will bring forth beau
sfiful flower. The rules as printed last
week follow:
To the Junior writing the best let
ter we will give twelve bulbs and four
paper pots.
To the Junior sending in the best
composition we will give twelve bulbs
and four paper pots.
h To the Junior writing the best story
about some event Of September we
will give twelve bulbs and four paper
pots.
This contest open today and closes
Monday, Sept. rs.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
A Practical Love Potion

A young woman who thought she
was losing her husbands affection
went to seventh daughter of a sew.
enth daughter for a love potion. The
mystery woman told her:
Get raw piece of beef, cut flat!
about an inch thick. Slice an onion
in two and rub the meat on both sides
of it. Put on pepper and salt, and
toast it on each side over a red coal
fire. Drop on it three Jumps of butter
and two sprigs of parsley, and Get
him to eat it,
The young wife did so and her hus
band loved her ever assSss
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
The Wonderful
Basket

Uncle Ned, please tell me story.
i've Just told you one, Pussy"
That was just little speck. Please
tell me nice. long one"
Run away, that's dear! want tc
read"
But want a story"
I'm tired"
you amt as tired as my papa. He
works all day at the bank, but he never
says Run away He always tells me
stories"
IF I'll tell you one more story, will
you promise to run away and not
bother me any more?"
IF you'll tell me two. three
| Not another word, Miss! I'll tell
you one story and one only, If you'll
promise. - 49,.
well, promise"
"All right"
But want to sit in your lap"
"A great girl like you? I'm too
tired"
| I-want-to-sit-in
Come along! come along! There
now, shut up that mouth tight! Don't
ask a single question or can't tell the
story.
Once there was a wonderful basket
1t was most as big as the world. And
1t was full Of of crabs! And they
were all -1umping!"
What for?'
Because they we're so happy. Now,
not another word. Didn't I say Keep
that little mouth shut?'
We'll, the crabs got happier and
happier, and at last one jumped out.
sWhoro did ho iI1nn10
'Out. goosie! Didn't say 'out?' Now
you Just listen. It's going to get ex-
citing. Then another jumped out and
another jumped out and another -
Il don't like that story! Tell me
! bout
You keep still, Pussy, and hear this
! lovely story. It's going to get excit-
niger and excitinger. Then another
jumped out and another jumped out
and another
II want to 60 and play
PLAY, when I'm telling you such a
fine story? Why, you couldn't be so
impolite. Just listen - then another
jumped out and another jumped out,
and a... ---.'
Wasn't it really wonderful how
they all got to jumping? Then .anoth'
er jumped out"
II want drink of water"
by and by, when we have finished
this beautiful story. And another
jumped out, and another jumped out!
Then another" s%
II feel sick" .~.ssas.
''Too bad-too bad. So die the crabs
With joyful excitement. Well another
jumped out and another jumped out
them
'Edward."
Grandma stood In the doorway
She saw her son mumbling some.
thing in a great hurry, while Pussy
sat on his lap, her two hands firmly
clasped in her uncle's. Pussy's cheeks
were very red and big tear glistened
on either one. ...
Edward, have you made that bless
ed child cry? Aren't you ashamed?"
Then Uncle Ned put his lips to Pus
sy's ear and whispered
Then they all Jumped QUIT"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
Irene Walters Likes the
Farm; Also prudence
Says So"

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written to the Courier
Junior for so long a time I thought l
would write about our farm. We moved
here April 10, 1915. and we have pig,
COW. a horse and a buggy and about
a hundred chickens.
like to read the new story about
prudence Says So" Well as my let
ter is getting long I will close.
Irene Walters, -.
Bidwell, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
JEAN MILLET

Jean Millet was great French
painter. His father and mother were
poor peasants. When Jeans father
and mother would 60 out in to the
fields and work, they heard the bell
or angelus they folded their hands
and prayed. Some of his paintings
are. Water Carriers "The Clean
ers,' and the best one is the AN
gelus.''
Madeline Johnson
Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
ANOTHER CONTEST.

Es We also want the Juniors who
mink the new contest is too big to
write on one of the following sub
The Story Of Nickel.
S9 My Best Friend.
q "a Pet Dog.
Corn and Apples.
% Sweet Potatoes and Cotton.
M e Letter to Mother.
Select prizes from among the fol-
|1owing: Box of candy, football, roller
Mates, doll, knife or book.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
'oEvEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

/. Use one side of the paper only.
Write neatly and legibly, using
Ink OF sharp lead pencil.
8. Always sign your. name in full
and state your age.
Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work
5. Number your pages.
g. Always state choice of prize ON
II separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
Z. Address envelope to The Cour.
Ter Junior.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
Hazel Tells All About the
Farm
Dear Juniors :

Dear JunIOrS.
I thought l would tell you about the
farm.
have eighteen little ducks and seven
little geese and l have two dogs, one
named Shep and one named TriXie.
We have seven cows and five calves.
Hazel Vaughan, age s,
Eddyville. Ia, r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-23
The SEPTEMBER CONTEST.

Three weeks have gone by since the
Isbig contest was announced. However
~ there still remains one week in
(which the Juniors can work in this
N4Ontest we will reprint the rules again.
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-23
The New Bank, Corner OF Juniata and
South Chestnut Street

The newly organized Farmers State
Bank will open for business on Monday,
next, September 25th. The State
Banking Department has notified the
officers of the bank that its representa-
tive will be here on that day to examine
into the affairs of the bank and issue :
certificate enabling the bank to do a
general banking business in this com
munity. The bank will occupy as tenn
porary quarters its new brick building
on the east end OF the banks property,
the DR.. Snyder corner.
For some years there has been talk Of
third bank in Hays. and the granting
of the charter to the Farmers State
Bank on July :. came as no surprise TO
those familiar With the banking condi-
tions of Hays an6 Ellis County. With
the exception of John P. O'Grady of
Oberlin, Decatur County, and his son,
Francis 3. O'Grady, the stockholders
and officers of the bank are well known
to practically every resident of Ellis
County. Mr. O'Grady, Sr., president
of the bank, has for some twenty-nine
years been engaged in the banking
business in Oberlin, and has the reputa-
tion Of being strong, reliable and
careful banker=oae who has done
much towards the upbuilding of the
Norwestern section of the state. He
is cashier of the Farmers National
Bank OF Ooerlin, with a capital OF
$50, 600, a surplus of S25, 900, and de-
pOsits tOtaling nearly half million. He
is also vice president and treasurer of
the Farmers Loan and Abstract Com
pany Of Oberlin, and president of the
Dresden State Bank of Dresden, Kan
sas- Francis B. O'Gracy. cashier Of
tse rev bz-iiI, ba5 received a. goo q
schooling in country banking and be-
sides has been trained in finance and
banking IN Chicago, Philadelphia, and
New York City. For the past two
years he has been a director and assist
ant manager Of = large export and
banking firm IN Ncz York City, and
hence IS experienced in foreign money
matters. Last February he made a
trip TO Europe in the interests of his
company. Mr.. C'Grady will reside
permanently in Hays, although he may
find 1t necessary to go east about once
a year to look after his interests.
Louis N Shaefer of St. Joseph, No.,
an experienced bank accountant, has
been secured to enter the new bank.
As for the local men interested in
the bank, nothing need be said as to
their standing in this locality Messrs.
Jacob Bruil and John S. Sack. vice
presidents Of the bank. are both veal
thy farmers Of no short residence In
this county Messrs- Schlyer and Arm
hold conduct = large and enterprising
implement business in our city of no
mean ability Tle name of A. A.
The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-09-23
NO GOOD SAMARITAN?
Poor Woman Wheeled Baby Buggy and
Walked Between Here and Ellis
Sunday as Dozens Of Autos
Passed Her.
(BY P. CAsPAR HARvEY.)

Last Sunday afternoon on the Golden
Belt Road between Hays and Ellis. a
travesty on the hospitality Of Hays,
took place. A bent mother. dressed in
the bundled style that tells OF making
any piece of cloth serve the purpose,
wheeled & baby carriage and led a FIVE
or six year old boy along the Golden
Belt Road from Hays toward Ellis. In
the little vehicle she pushed through
the dust Of that road, was her baby.
The three coughed down the dust of
scores of automobiles that passed or
met them. 1t vas a wonderful Kansas
Indian Summer afternoon with just
enough bite in the crispness of the air
to make motoring enjoyable. Dozens
of machines, some practically empty,
whirIed past them as they trudged
along The mother looked straight
ahead and kept on The little boy
looked back from time TO time to see
the automobiles coming and peered into
the dust ahead to catch sight OF those
in front The mother shook the dust
from the coverings of her infant from
time to time As far as could be de-
termined, she did not recognize that the
autO-owning public Of Hays was In
existence. Four and five miles out, the
three were still patiently at it In the
name Of al that is good u the world,
where was motorist with heart big
enough 70 give this poor mother a
''lift2" Has prosperity and autono-
biles made Hays folks marble-hearted7
Does motherhood NJ longer appeal to
these people who can take an autorz5-
bile drive On Sunday ettsEnoon?
i looks ike II. and the good name
Of Hays has received blot.