davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
Possum Pinktoes Wakes UP.

VVUUu" ptUN&OS0 "ON0O w.
Johnnie Bushytsil was sorambling
up and down a big oak tree In the
woods. He jumped from one branch
to another, peeked In holes to see II
there were any nuts there, and then
sat up and chartered like mammals
sewing machine when she's sewing an
apron or maybe ven q bib for baby.
"Well," said Johnnie Bushytail, af.
ter = while, when he had sat up and
chartered three times. "Billie said he
was coming here, after he went to
the store for some peanut butter and
a loaf of bread, but l don't see any
thing Of him" Then Johnnie almost
stood up on the end Of his tail, so he
could see farther, and he looked and
he looked of through the woods for
his brother. but he couldn't notice
even his nose. II guess he must
have met Bully, the frog, and Sammie
Littletail, and gone OF to play with
them" Johnnie went On after q
while: II wish I had some one to
play with. Guess I'll go home and
get Sister Sallie."
So he skipped down the tree, and
was running along the ground, when
suddenly he saw a little bundle Of
fur. At first the fur was moving along
quite swiftly, but when Johnnie made
q little rustling noise In the leaves,
the fur stopped, rolled Itself up into
a little round ball, and lay still. John
ME was quite surprised, until he hap
| pened to see some little pink toes
!! sticking out. Then he cried: "Oh,
you can't fool me! I know who you
are. Come on, Postum P1nktoes, let's
have a game Of tAg!" .
And IL that bundle Of fur wasn't
the little possum boy; really, I'm not
fooling q bit.
Postum Pinktoes, who was called
that because all possum boys have
pink toes, you know, unrolled himself
like that cake you buy In the bakery;
you know the kind, it's all rolled up
and has jelly curled around inside,
and you have 1t for supper-some-
times. Well. Possum Pinktoes un-
rolled himself. stood up, and said:
81 didn't know 1t wa you, john
ME, or I wouldn't have gone to sleep
80 quick. You know, whenever I hear
q funny noise, l curl up quickly, and
pretend to go to sleep; then bad ami
mails like foxes and savage dogs won't
touch me-"
Doesn't it bother you to have to
sleep so much?" asked Johnnie.
YES said Postum Pinktoes, 1T
does. You see, there are not very
many bad animals in these woods, but
every time l hear a funny noise have
to go to sleep, whether l want to or
not. All our family does" he added.
"Well, let's have q game Of tag,
anyhow" suggested Johnnie. MAY
be by that time Billie will come
along"
So they started to play tag, but my
good gracious me, sakes alive, every
once in q while Postum Pnktoes
would suddenly curl up and go to
sleep. Yes, that's what he did;
sometimes when he was "it' and
again when he was being chased by
johnnie. Now, you know as well as
l do that you can't play tag when one
of you Is always falling asleep. How
would you like 1t If you were trying
to tag a little girl or boy, and they
stretched out on the sidewalk, and
took a nap, just because they heard
q funny noise? You couldn't play
much tag, I guess. Well. after Pos
sum Pinktoes had fallen asleep about
q dozen times, and there hadn't been
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

OF the fellos hadent pounded him
the back and sum on the ffunt
docktor wood probsrly Of bin neseo9
sery.
Sporting News.
Sam Krawss did the street In s yest11l
day. being q record for him but mol
for the street. Skinny Martin having
did 1t In 4 last Toozday.
A waite lifting contest was hold
early In the week. Reddy Merry WIN.
ming 1t by lifting up the biggest rock
and not letting enybody elts try To-
lift It.
I'D Wernick has bin winning %
meny sigerett cards awf Of the uthir!
fellos that 1t 10 sed that he will not
be aloud In meny games unlcss
he starts to lose rum.
News frum othir cities. Flatfoot
tho cop Is sick this week and . fat
cop II taking his place. Nobody likes
his looks very good, but we think he
proberly cant run AZ fast AZ E1atfoct.
wioh may come In handy.
Weather, continued cool.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
BOY SHOT WHILE
HUNTING RABBITS

Centerville Jan. 20.-WArdie. the
1Syear old son Of Mr.. and Mrs. Sam
Houser living east Of C~enterville, ~
most lost his life from the accidental
discharge Of his shotgun while rabbit
hunting. It was laid down on the
bank OF . rsvine and slid over the in-l
cline, being discharged as 1t fell, and
the shot entering the calf OF the boys
leg, tearing away = part of the bona,
While d companion went for helps
Lester Dawson, = 14-year old neiShbor
boy, tied q handkerchief about to
leg and prevented him from bleeaino
to death. He was almost frozen when
help arrived.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
CHILDREN's EVENING STORY

mucn tag played, johnnie S0l0: SAY,
this has got to stop. Can't you keep
awake?"
mo" replied Postum Pinktoes.
"I'm sorry, but I can't"
Well, them" said Johnnie, II guess
Wen have to stop playing tag. Let's
take a walk. Maybe you "a keep
awake then,
So they walked in the woods, but
they hadn't gone very far before Pos
sum heard q queer noise, and he call
ed out:
"Oh, Johnnie, I'm going to sleep
again. and bless me, II he didn't
right then and there.
"Oh. fddlesucks!" cried Johnnie,
which was what he always said whom
he didn't know what else to say.
wake up!"
Then. "a the queer noise didn't
sound any more. Postum NnktOes
awakened. Then they went on . little
farther, and In about a minute, or
maybe two minutes, what should they
see but . boy sitting on tho edge Of
a little brook, fishing.
:" think I'm going to sleep agsin,S
said Possum, who was afraid Of boys.
NO, DON'T" begged johnnie. He
won't hurt you. Let's watsh him"
So. by hard work. Postum kept awakA.
and they watched that boy. All At
ono the boy pulled up his line, and
believe me, thsre wasn't oven . hook
on it. to say nothing Of . An.
why, that's no way to hsh," spoke
Johnnie, before hs thought
:" know It," replied the boy. but
you see I don't want TO catch fish.
I'm only pretending. It's Just - much
fun for me and doesn't hurt tho dsh.
I don't eat nsh anyhow, but I love to
sit here, and dangle my line In the
water, and think Of tho umo when I
was a mud turtle and lived there"
"What!" cried Johnnie. Are you
the fairy prince who was once a mud
turtle?"
II am" replied the boy, throwing
his hookless line IN the water again.
Il am that very person. What can |
do for you today, my young friend?"
and he spoke just like the grocery
man.
81 don't want anything, thank you"
answered Johnnie, "but perhaps you
could make Postum Pinktoes stay
dWdko. ne 10 OlW8yS CA00Hy.
Yes, and I'm going to sleep now!"
cried Postum. II just heard . funny
noise. Johnnie"
"Oh, stop 1t, Possum!" cried John
ME. Cant you stop him, fairy
prince?"
"Of course I can fx him!" said the
fairy prince. "Wait q minute SO
he stood up on one foot, and swung
his fsh pole around his head three
times, SO that the line whistled In the
wind, and then he pronounced the
magical word, "Sneezumsnackum!"
Then he cried: "You will not be sleepy
any more, Possum Pinktoes, except
when IT'S time to go to bed" and the
funny part Of it vas that Possum
Pinktoes wasn't. Now, Of course, I'm
not saying that II you pronounced the
word "Sneezumsnackum" It would
make you so you wouldn't be sleepy.
but it will do no harm to try IL, any
how. Then Postum Pinktoes and
Johnny Bushytail al on, after thank
ing the fairy prince, who started to
fish again, and they soon found Billie
and Bully, the frog, and told them all
that had happened. Now IL a dog
doesn't bark at me, I'll tell you tomor-
row night about Grandpa Lightfoot
and the purple fairy.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
4 FREAK WHO IS NOT 4 FREAK.

Minneapolis has q mail carrier who
when compared with the average man,
must be counted a freak but who, after
all, is simply living the normal sort
Of life which the creator designed that
men should live in this great, free
country, The name of this man Is
Wesley Emerson Wheelock and he Is
SO yea of age. He Ia q widower and
has three children. Two of his child
rem are working In Chicago and the
third is attending a seminary for girls.
Wheelock carries mail-has been do
ing SO for twenty-four years-and
lives alone. As an antidote for lone
liness he occupies his spare time as a
student.
! Three nights each week Wheelock
attends a night school and takes les
sons in shorthand. One night each
week he attends q prayer meeting. The
remaining evenings he stays at home
and studies Greek and Hebrew, which
he has been working ten years to
master. He now reads the scriptures
in their original texts.
Mr., Wheelock has already three diff
ferent system OF stenography and he
is now on the fourth, the Gregg sys-
tenn. which is used in the Minneapolis.
schools. In addition to his studies
In these lines this man has taken a
course in psychology and phrenology.
In the meantime he has become an
expert penman and has a diploma
gained for work in a regular course
in this line. He Is also a student In
music.
Mr.. Wheclock says this work keeps
him younc, His mind is alert and &C
tive and is still growing. When his
daughter finishes her work this elder
" student thinks he may tackle a
regular college course. To him the
continual requirement Of knowledge
is a pleasure. 1t is just as essential
to his mental and spiritual well being
as food for the nourishment OF his
body.
Ponce de- Leon came to this CONT
nent in an early day in search OF q
,fountain which it was claimed would
restore his youth If he was permitted
to battle in it. AS a matter Of course,
M fountain exists which will restore
nhysical youth to the aged, but Whee-
lock has found the fountain which VIII
keep the mind young. The creator
designed that man should use MS mlno
in this manner.
Az a matter of fact, the people OF
American are in a crucible. Man,
with his mental attributes, Is the raw
material out of which he may make
much or little. Books, newspapers,
schools. churches, liberty-boundless
opportunities on every hand-are his
to be used as he may choose. Vince
lock seems to be n out OF thousands
who really and truly appreciates the
Significance of the day and age l n
which he lives.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
In the Religious World
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
BY LILA r. ELLIS.

tennis racket or a baseball bat or a
fishing pole may be a real instru-
ment of grace.
A wise old preacher in picturing
the failure of the prodigal son to
find happiness, coined the epigram,
"A good time cannot come out Of q
bad man." If the gospels philoso-
ply be the true one, then the high
est happiness Is normal and possible
only to the Christian, who alone Is
in harmony with the laws and with
the Lord of life. Good times are the
~prerogative of the good. They have
in themselves tho conditions from
which happiness springs. "The Joy
Of the Lord" Is a heritage of the re-
deemed and the righteous.
A happy Christian is a more efec-
tive argument for the gospel than q
whole volume Of Christian evidences.
Even u recreatiOns should reflect
credit upon Christ. If our pleasure
is unselish, spontaneous and genuine
it will surely glorify God. Indeed.
If our faith is not manifested in our
recreations it is not very deep in our
life.
Pleasure and religion are not two
things, but one. Pleasure is often
religion. To engage in recreation is
as much a Christian duty as to go
to prayer meeting. There is this
danger, however, that recreation
will be given disproportionate at
tention, or that 1t will be made a
thing secular and apart from relig-
ion.
He is a poor workman who can
not also play.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
STALE AIR DANGEROUS.

The children's bureau OF the United
States department of labor states
that: 1T Is not the cold of winter
which makes people sick, ordinarily,
but rather the stale !over-heated air
inside our houses and public buildings,
which we breathe and re-breathe, thus
passing disease germs about from n
to another. Babies are particularly
liable to be infected in this way be-
cause they spend a large part of their
time indoors, and because mothers are
apt to feel that to keep the baby warm
the rooms must be kept shut tight"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
FREIGHT TRAFFIC
TO BE

North McGregor, Jan. 20. - The
opening of navigation on the Missis-
sippi river in the spring will mark a
new era in freight traffic. A New Or
leans construction company will put in
service thirty-six steel freight barges.
The barges will be modern in every
way, and equipped with wireless ap-
paratus, to keep the shippers informed
of the latest market conditions. The
barges will ply the Mississippi from
New Orleans to Minneapolis and under
contract by the Marconi company Of
New York.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

The occasion will be made a Jeffer-
son day celebration and harmony is
to be the watch word. On the local
committee are associated side by side
some Of the war-like members of
opposing factions in the local demo-
cracy. Milt Maring who won the post
Office, and W. X. Currie who lost it af-
ter being once appointed, are both
working for the success of the ban
Quet. t-a
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
GIRLS Z STRIKE.

Dubuque, Jan. 20.-Announcement
was made that a satisfactory adjust
ment Of the difficulties involved in the
strike Of the girl workers at the Dy-
ersville branch factory OF the H. B.
Glover company, Dubuque, had been
reached and that the girls would soon
return to work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

WEALTHY LAND OWNER DEAD.
Scion, Jan. 20. - Ambrose 8. Brown
passed away at his home in Cedar
township, where he was born over sc
years ago. Two brothers and three
sisters survive him. He was unmar-
ried. At the time OF his death he own
ed 500 acres Of rich Johnson county
land besides much other valuable
property.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

II President Wilson comes west in
the interests of his preparedness prop
uganda and fails to visit Ottumwa 1t
will not be because Of failure to get
an invitation. 1t is doubtless if many
cities beat Ottumwa to it in the matter
Of inviting the president.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
Willow AsHTABULA ELECTS.

Willow ASHTABULA ELECTS.
Ashtabula, O., Jan. 15.-Ashtabula
deserves q place in history as the first
town in this country to violate the
ancient American principle that the
majority rules. 1t has added one more
new flourish to commission govern
ment by electing its commissioners on
the proportional representation plan,
which insures that the minority shall
be represented in the city govern
ment. incidentally the Ashtabulans
have shown a most progressive civic
spirit, and a talent for higher mathe-
mates which is even more amazing
to the lay observer.
This innovation was just put into
practice at the last election, SO it has
yet to stand the test Of time; but the
way the problem has been worked out
in Ashtabula is interesting in itself.
When you first hear about the pro-
portional representation method of
voting and counting ballots, you wish
that whoever brought up the subject
would talk about some simple little
thing like integral calculus, the pre-
historic civilization of China, the
fourth dimension or esoteric Bhudd-
ism. The exact age of Ann or a
scientific determination of why the
hen crosses the road is simplicity it.
self compared to the proportional rep
resentation system, a process even
longer and more complicated than its
name.
However, Ashtabula has passed a
successful examination, and what man
has done nan can do, SO here goes!
Don't mind the s%upposing. because
you've got to suppose a lot to under
stand it, and when the smoke is all
cleared away it is found that the sys-
TEN really does accomplish it's theo-
retical purpose.
In the first place, any citizen, who
can get two per ent of the voters of
the last. election to sign q petition for
him, a have his lame printed on the
ballot along with the other candidates.
In Ashtabula a city commission of
seven members was being elected and
fourteen men happened to be running
for the jobs. The system would have
worked the same way If forty had been
running. No nominations arc made
by any party or organization. Each
ballot bears the names of all the can
didates, printed in one column.
When Mr.. Voter goes to the polls
on election day, he Is given such a
ballot. In front Of each name is q
blank square, and it is in this that he
does his voting. He votes for as many
men as there are jobs to fill. In Ash
tabula the number is seven.
1t is right here, however. that the
system gets up and walks OF at right
from the ordinary system Of
in this country. Mr.. Voter
looks over the names and picks out
the man whom he is most anxious
shall be elected. In the square in
front of this mans name he writes
the figure "one." Then he picks out
the man whom he would like to have
elected If number one doesn't get 1t,
and in the square in front of his name
he writes the figure two" This pro-
less is followed until he has express
ed his choice, in the order of his pre-
ference, for all seven Offices.
All this is easy and simple enough,
but ut this point the trouble begins.
The voters duty is done, and the
expert steps in to deter
mine from the seven choices Of each
ballot, just which men shall be given
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
THE THINGS WE LOSE By
SEEKING.

Terse Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic Of the Young
PeopIe's SocletIes-christian En-.
deavor, ETC. For January 20:
Amusement That 10 Worth While"
EccI. 3:1.16.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

There is no issue in this country as
to whether we want war or not. The
issue is do we want to be prepared to
defend ourselves or are we willing to
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

but they returned to earth
when the official added:
Cant you 9 you're making big
dents in the concrete PLATFORM"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

Which is the berry state" of the
nation? That is hard to tell, but fig.
ures show that Iowa ranks third in
the two-thirds of the country that lies
west of the Mississippi.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

Portugal Is revising it's tariff law.
It is claimed that 1t is too general
and must be made more specific.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

1t is easy for the knocker to get a
large audience because the show is
free.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

take a chance on there being no oc.
casiOn for self defense"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22
(By William T. Ellis.)

(By William T. Ellis.)
Pleasure is not ian end but an in
cident of life. 1t is meant to heart.
en- us and invigorate us as we travel
the path of duty. We misconceive
of life's essentials when we put pleas
ure first. When pleasure becomes
the object of a life the life itself Is
dwarfed into such smallness that it
cannot enjoy true pleasure.
The whole-heartedness of our pleas
ures should bear testimony to our
religion. There is something lacking
in the Christianity of the person who
cannot heartily enjoy himself.
Every recreation that is not dissi-
patton Is Christian.
Pleasures are either recreation or
dissipation. The former builds up,
strengthen, satisfy, but the latter
waste time or health or money or
energy or virtue or spirituality. To
all pleasures that are recreation
Christ would give his approval.
Many a Christian who is troubled
by morbid questionings about his
spiritual state needs nothing else in
the world so much as to get out In
the sunshine and enjoy himself. A
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

Every recreation that is not dlssl-
is Christian.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-22

He is a poor workman who can
not also play.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

is absurd. No woman would do that.
In my book Eve refuses. She doesn't
want to marry and settle down without
having any fun Nobody that she ever
heard of got married. And if she must
marry she sees no particular reason
why she should marry Adam. She
would prefer some one with full quota
of ribs and a man with some settled
occupation who wasn't hanging about
the house all day. Besides it would be
dull living in the Garden. There was no
society there whatever and the dino
saurs barked at her.
$50 Eve wanders off to see the world
and Adam trails after her, expostulat-
ing and pleading. He is in humiliat-
ing position, because there are no other
girls to console him, and drinks for
drowning sorrow have not been discov-
cred. He tries everything, service, en-
treaties, threats, sarcasm, getting neck
laces Of shiny stones, saving her life,
putting mice in her bed. It's no use. In
her mind are vague foreshadowings Of
Partisan milliners and the opera and
Fifth Avenue and summer hotels, and
these drive her onward At last, after
a year Of wanderings, Adam sees it is
no use. He gives up and goes sadly
back to the Garden alone.
after months of travel he arrives,
and the first thing he sees is Eve wait
ing for him at the gate Hello, Adam,
she says brightly. Won't you have
bite of this perfectly lovely apple?
Tales of primitive adventure do not
go very well just now" said the editor.
"A large element in our population
would consider a novel based on some
other than the Darwinian theory Of orr
gins as sort Of blasphemy. We try 10
avoid controversial novels. In addition
your characters are entirely too modern
What we want is a good old-fash'-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-29

THIS horrid world is full of false
prophets, and the falsest are
those who tell you that New York
is money-mad, completely absorbed IN
the pursuit of the dollar. Their dictum
is that most dangerous thing-a half
truth. The town is mad enough, but not
about money; its real business is hunt
ing new places to dine. If it pursues the
dollar at all, it is only to secure the
means to play the greater game.
began to get at the truth of this
most interesting phase of life in a big
city the instant I arrived. Anne met
me at the Grand Central and immedi-
ately dragged me to parcel stand.
Check your bag quickly" she COM
manded. We've just time to get the
last table at Eulalies It's duck of a
place. I discovered it early yesterday
morning after an all-night search. I'd
been on the trail for weeks"
But" protested, I'D like to lingcr
a few minutes and look at the Grand
Central. I've never set eyes upon it be-
fore this evening"
Some other time" she said shortly.
please hurry"
Innocent that I was, 1 persisted in
admiring the terminal. l know better
to-day. I'd never think Of standing be-
tween a New Yorker and his or her pet
restaurant. Its quite wonderful, isn't
it?" I continued. "A city in itself.
What did it cost? And if all the red
caps were laid end on end, how far
would they reach2 And"-
Get your bag check and come" Anne
ordered. This is thick soup night at
Eulalie's. It's no time to trife around
railway stations"
AS stranger in New York was par
ticularly keen on seeing several places.
There were the Brooklyn Bridge, and
the Metropolitan Gallery, and Grants
tomb, and the Zoo, and the high build
ings, and, oh, a dozen other institutions
whose fame had penetrated the back
districts. But have seen none Of them.
NY life since my arrival has been just
one restaurant after another. l know