davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31

I received the prize book and was very much surprised. I have read 1t and found it very interesting.
 AImira Kramer, of Colchester: l thank you very much for the prize book, "The Meadow Brook Girls in the Hills" It is dandy.
 Alice M. German, of Versailles: ] received the prize book and have read it and found it very interesting. thank you very much for it.
 EsteIIa Adams, of EagleviI1e: ] thank you for the prize book. Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Camp Rest awhile"
 Beatrice Burnham, of Hampton: thank you for my last book. l have read it with much interest.
 Agnes M. Brown, of Yantic: I thank Uncle Jed for the prize book, "The Automobile Girls Along. the Hudson teresting. Many thanks for 1t. Received a o prize book entitled "The Meadow brook Girls On The Tennis Courts" I have read it, and find il very interesting. I thank you for it Faith E. Curtis, of Norwich: thank you very Err, muSh 2ao for the the PTi1f ,,7f Off Long Island" I have read 1t an6 found it very interesting. Esther Shershevsky, of Norwich: thank you very much for the prize book you gave me entitled Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Aunt Lu's City Home" I have read some | of 1t and have found 1t very inter esting.
 l Catherine Desmond, of Norwich: | thank you for my prize book. I quito l agree with one who said Good books are as essential as good companions, | don't you?
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
The Snake.

The snake is easily distinguished by its long. slender body which tap- CTS gradually to a tail and which is covered with Srny scales, but never with bOny plates. The ribs are very numerous some snakes having more than 300 pairs. These give form to the body, aid in breathing. and are also in connection with the scales, or gans of locomotion.
 Snakes crawl along the ground by swinging their bodies in loops from side to side and most of them are able to raise their heads into the air. They have hooked conical teeth which serve to hold their prey, but are useless for chewing.
 The tongue of the snake is forked. It can be pushed far out of the mouth and is probably an organ of touch rather than that of taste.
 Some snakes lay eggs while others produce the young alive. In most species the mother takes great care finer young and it is said that in one species, at least. the mother when alarmed, will open her mouth and al- low her young to run in.
 There are over 1500 species found in the United States. Most of these live only in the southwestern parts of the country. Two rattlesnakes and the copper head are the only poison ous natives of the Northern states.
 GERTRUDE BLATHERWICK, Norwich. Age 14.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
PoIIv Pratend.

Polly Pretend was not her real name. Mary Madden was her real name She was the cousin who was coming to visit the Tunnels.
 We've got enough girls in the fam fly now" declared Rogers. T wish it happened to be a boy who could help fill the furnaces"
 Cousin Mary came just at supper time. Her hair was very straight and the color of straw.
 The new cousin did not talk much during the meal.
 Dishes" spluttered NIeggs when they had finished supper.
 Dishes" echoed Meggs, "and it is your turn to wash tonight, Meggs."
 Lets pretend about the dishes" the new cousin remarked quietly.
 The whole family stared at her,
 'All these dishes are travellers on a long journey to a faraway land. The glasses are beautiful ladies, the knives and forks are kings and queens, and the spoons are princes and pr1ncesses All the plates are their subjects. Tine pantry is the beautiful country they are trying to find; but before they reach it they have to go through many dangers and cross Dish Pan lake.
 ''The one who washes is good
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
The Old Mill.

On rainy days, while we were at school we used to visit an old mill which sets back in a field across the street from the schoolhouse. The girls had many a good time playing drop he-handkerchief and hide and seek in the old building. We would hide in the cellar and behind doors.
 Under the caves of the mill was 9 birds nest. The nest was made of moss and held four white birds eggs. The bird seemed to know just where to build it's nest, for it was where it and it's contents could be seen from the second story window, but couldn't be reached by cruel hands.
 While we spent our rainy days in the old mill we had as many nice times as we had on pleasant days, but the teacher feared we might break some of the things, or fall through the floor, for there are holes in the floor. She asked us not 10 go again, and we didn't.
 I do not expect to visit the old mill many more times, as l have only one more year to go to school
 AGNES M. BROWN.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31

In the pretty little village of Hamlet he large elms were so tall and stately the branches from one side of the road intertwined with the branches of the trees which grew on the other side and formed a canopy or overhead arch all along the main-road for a distance f four miles
 At oposite ends of the main road .iYed two thrifty and prosperous men. Mir. Adams and MT. Jones. The ap- pe2rdnCc of these well cultivated farms 2ttested the fact that lhe owners not only knew how to till the soil in a prosperous and successful manner, but they also believed the time spent in oeautfying the grounds about the house and in repairing and remodcling the buildings, amply repaid for the lahor.
 The beautiful flower gardens and well-kept lawns and everything, even the. farm land itself, bespoke careful attention and thoroughness of the work done or superintended by these two men.
 Mir. Adams son, Jack, admired and owed his beautiful home, but like many another boy, perhaps it was not really a dislike for work but because le did not realize the necessity for being systematic and thorough in his undertakings was naturally inclined 70 work as hastily as possible, regard ess of how the work was done; and when he was reproved by his father 'or being in too much of a hurry to finish his task to do it well, he would should think you would be glad that wish 10 work fast, Dc you want me 70 be a slow worker?
 Neither one or the other, unless he work requires 1t. Everything worth doing, is worth doing we'll is n old gQyfnp gn6 C tn6qV a t was when first quoted my boy. Do your work as fast as you can, pains alSlngly and thoroughly and no faster, Or haste makes waste in more ways han one. Learn to be thorough and O do well whatever you undertake, md you will never become a trifer but he speed. to accomplish the task well md right, will come after you have required a thorough and painstaking iabit."
 pat it was his nature to hurry to inish his task but it must be said to ifs credit that he was always willing q begin another; he simply did not ealize that in seeing how much he ould accomplish he was sighting his york.
 Oftentimes in order to accomplish lfs work quickly he would follow his ,Wn inclinations rather than his aAher's rules and suggestions, but he gaS at heart good boy.
 MT. Jones' son, Carl, who lived at he other end of the town, was about asck's age, IS years old, both attended hb High School, Jack in Hamlet and .ari in Sylvester. They were not per phnly acquainted but knew each ther by sight and spoke when they net. Carl was a willing and strong 1knded boy. He also loved his home 4td the farm, but he realized that scould not remain in such a flourish nK condition unless he was as in tstrious and thorough as his father ben he became a man. He realized ht these desires could not be full ted unless he acquired these habits
 .Ilo young. so he learned to do the
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31

trees, or on the pier, to show them where to come in with the boats.
 Wild blackberries grew in the woods, and sometimes they took a pail and went cut to pick some for tea.
 There were May apples, too. Uncle John used to pick them, and put them on a stump in the sun to ripen.
 There were a great many birds. thrushes, meadow-larks, catbirds and pewees, but the one she liked best was the Baltimore oriole. He was bright scarlet, like a flower, and she used to watch for him through the cool woods, and throw out crumbs for him to eat.
 Sometimes, when she lay in the hammock and the wind swung her to and fro, and the tall trees swayed so that she could feel the hammock rise and fall, the oriole would come and sit on a low tree and look at her and she almost felt as if she. too, were a bird and going to fly.
 REGINA SAVAGEAU, Age 12. Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
Norwich
An Apple Cure.

Old Farmer Brown had long been pestered by having his apples stolen. Try as he could, he could not eaten the thieves.
 He had always suspected the two Harper Boys, who as they passed the orchard exchanged many a grin and chuckle. This morning as they passed the orchard they could not help notic- ing how large and rosy the apples seemed and accordingly they planned to raid the apples in the afternoon when the farmer would be away,
 When noon came they approached the fence with bags on their shoulders. They soon were filling their bags. when John, the oldest threw a stone at a branch.
 The stone unluckiIy hit a hive of bees that swarrned about them, sting ing them, They dropped their bags and ran.
 The next morning the farmer found two bags. partly filled with apples on the ground. And ever after the farm CT was never troubled by having his apples stolen.
 ESTHER LYMAN, Age 12.
 No71Syicb
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
Luey,s Vigit to the Country.

Lucy Lee was eleven years old. For a long while she had been wishing to visit her cousin who lived in the coun- try, At last her mother decided that she was old enough to travel alone.
 It seemed very early in the morning to Lucy when the train carried her off to the little village near which her cousins lived. Her clothes were neatly packed in a small valise. About noon the train reached the place where Lucy was to stop.
 After she had warmed herself by the stove and had eaten her dinner, she went out to the barnyard. She learned the names of some of the cows and horses. On the farm were two little ponies which had been bought for the use of Lucy's cousins. When Lucy was with them there were six children i'll. Sometimes they all crowded into the old sleigh at once.
 One morning Lucy looked out of hel window upon a scene so beautiful she thought it must be fairyland.
 ABBIE c. MURPHY, Age 10.
 TaftVille
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31

friend who rescues them from the lake"
 "oh. want to be a rescuer," Meggs interrupted.
 "Oh, let me-" Meggs leased.
 "Everybody's rescuef who helps these travellers any nearer home" Cousin Mary explained.
 Then there was a great scurrying back and forth to the kitchen and pantry. Even Roger, who was always washing time came around, insisted on helping the travellers up the noun tains, which were the top shelves in tpe pantry.
 Next morning the twins had long faces again because they had beds to make.
 Let's pretend" said the new cousin, that each little bed is a boat that has been out sailing and has come back to harbor and wants to have it's sails rolled up and its ropes made tidy"
 They soon had the beds made up.
 'T believe, Polly, you can't make alarming any fun," said Meggs. They called her Molly the second day of her arrival, but it soon changed to Polly
 Let's pretend-" Polly began, but 'Polly's pretending! Come quick everyone!" and after that they called her Polly Pretend.
 You girls have all the fun in the 1 house,, Roger complained. Now have to chop wood and tend to the fur nace."
 Don't you like to feed that hungry man a shovelful of supper?" asked i Polly, land you could pretend that 1 there is a treasure buried under tho woodpile" Off Roger run to feed his hungry man.
 1 The Tunnels children were very saC when Polly Pretend went home. 1 CAT THFRINE NELSON, Age 13. l Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
CaHie Up,

Dear Uncle Jed:-I thought maybe the Wide-Awakes would like to know some new game. The one I am going to tell you about is a game called "Callie Up"
 This is a pretty lawn game for a group of boys or girls. A tennis ball, or any good bouncing ball may be used. Each player is numbered. The leader throws the ball into the air and calls a number, and the girl or boy whose number is called must catch it before it has bounded cwrce. It may be caught before 1t falls to the ground, or when it has bounded once, but if 1t falls to the ground a second time before it is caught this number loses his or her chance and the first leader may throw the pal and call another number. The Shepherd:-It doesn't matter how many play this game. one play CT is chosen for shepherd and her eyes are carefully blindfolded. l One of the other players Ca sheep) | goes to the shepherd, taps her on the | shoulder, and asks:
 How many steps will you allow me | to take ?"
 1 The shepherd gives any number O. 1 steps, not over thirty. The sheep steps and stands still 1 The other sheep" comes up to tht | shepherd one by one and ask tht i same question, walking away a. many steps as they are told. When the sheperd finds that nt more sheep come to her. she cries:
 Sheep! Sheep! Where are you, m, 1 dear sheep?"
 In answer to this, all the sheeI must say, "Ba-a-a!" in chorus, ant the shepherd goes to one of her sheer and touches it, and then the sheel she touches must say. "Ba-a-a!' again.
 If the shepherd cannot guess wht this sheep is, she asks again: Sheep! Sheep! Where are you m, dear sheep?'
 When they all say, "Ba-a-a!" il chorus again, and the shepherd walk! to another sheep. She does this unti she recognizes some sheep's voice, ant guesses correctly whom she ha' caught.
 The one caught now becomes shep. herd.
 MILDRED T. DUNN, Age F. | Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
UNCLE JED's TALK TO WIDE.
 AWAKES,

Do you know the insects and flowers work together and are all the time producing new flowers; and most of these cooperative flowers cannot re- produce flowers without insect help?
 The bring the pollen of other flowers. which may be called the powder of life. and the flower takes it up and in some way weaves new patterns and the red flower may make seeds that produce rcd and yellow blooms and the white flower may make seeds that will produce white and scarlet or white and maroon flowers.
 The dahha is a great variety pro- ducer and from a single pod of seeds a dozen different varieties may be grown, and some may be single some gemi-double and some double, and they
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
The Three Pink Badoes.

There were three little girls who were sisters. Their names were Milly, Lily and Katy.
 One day they couldn't think of a single thing they wanted to do. So they ran to their mother.
 We want to know something nice to do." said Milly.
 Then I must put on my thinking cap, children" said their mother Come back in five minutes"
 Milly Lily and Katy ran away and when they came back their mother said, 'tMilly, please cut this piece of pink ribbon in three pieces.
 Lily, please get out the paint box and brushes.
 "Katy, please spread newspaper on the sewing table"
 When everything was ready, she said;
 Now you're going to make badges Milly may paint Breakfast Girr on her ribbon. Lily may paint Dinner Girl on
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
A Kewnfe Weddina.

Dear Uncle Jed:- have a little girl friend who lives in Vermont. Her name is Ruth Tracy. Ruths father is a minister.
 This summer Ruth visited her grandmother, who lives in this city. She had a birthday party while here.
 gave her kewpie. Arter the party Ruth came home with me to spend two days.
 We loved our kewpies ana played with them very much. One day Ruth married the kewpies.
 My keWpie was the bride. She was dressed in pink silk. and looked very pretty. Ruth named her Lady Smiley and named the groom Sir Chubby.
 They looked very cunning. Ruth said the same words that her father says when he narries people. was very sorry when Ruth went home, but once in a while she sends me letters. and there is always a let ter for the bride Smiley, from her husband, Chubby. FAITH B. CURTIS, Age 10. Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31

said the chief, and all the little boys trembled at the sound of his voice.
 "I have found what the trouble is, ' said fireman holding up a letter" l knew it would be the way when those new boxes that could be opened with out keys were put up.''
 "Why, that's my letteri' cried Dor ry's aunt, and the child's heart gave a great throb, for it was. the very let ter he had taken to the corner a few minutes before. he had put it in the fire alarm box instead of the letter box.
 will they put me in jail?'' he whispered, creeping close to his aunt Fan.
 Not this time." said the chief. "be- cause you made a mistake, but if you should ever do it again I cannot say what would be done" But Dorry never did it agin.
 LEONA M. SULLIVAN, Age Il. TaftViIie
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE
BOYS ARD GIRLS DEpARTMENT

may vary in color in half dozen com binations.
 Perhaps you do not know flowers have characters, and that 1t takes a dahlia three years to prove what 1t is going to be and a peony five years, and the growers of new flowers have to wait patiently to see what they are to become.
 Colors war with one another for supremacy, and the red of a red and white flower may make it all red. and so with flowers of mixed colors of all kinds If the combination of color remains true for three years the flower has fixed its character-it has become standardized or saleable. A flower of one color is a self" and those of mixed colors are mongrels, or hyhrids. Men learned from the in- l sects how to cause a flower to produce variable blossoms, or new varieties. It is a fact that the snapdragon and the humble bee are true partners, and all other insects are shut out from its honey pot. The lip or door of the snapdragon is closed by a spring which l the WSlBHL or the DuIlDI6 pee over 1 balances, and how the flower becomes so exactly fitted to the humble bee no naturalist has ever been able to find out.
 ] A similar relation exists between a
 trumpet flower in the East Indies and a moth. The flower is 16 inches deep and the moth which comes to take | its honey and to help it fertilize it's seed Is the only moth in the world that has a tongue or suction tube of this | length. This great flower and the moth seem to have been especially de- l signed to work together.
 The flowers have revealed lots of in
 teresting things to man; but as an expression of life, the ablest man has
 never been able, and is never likely to | be sharp sighted enough to discover all the mysteries of the simplest flower. There is much pleasure in studying 1 the flowers for ones self.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
SEPTEM BIER.

Come, put on your thinking caps,
 children,
 And tie them under your chin, And blow the dust from the spelling
 book,
 It's time for school to begin! It's time to be little scholars, And go to work with a will. It's time for dancing toes to learn The lesson of Keeping still. Good-by to the long bright picnic Among the timothy heads. GOod-by to the birds in the branches And the wild flowers in their beds. Eood-by to the brooks and meadows, Good-hy, sweet red and white clover! There's work for you. little folks, to
 do.
 Good-by. dear Summer that is over!
 A H D.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
Robbie.

beach. lie was five years old and his name was Robbie. He had his big, shaggy dog, Rover, with him. Robbie was making mud pies and sand houses and Rover was laying in the sand, watching him. All at once Rover heard a shriek.
 Robbie had fallen into the water while he was bending over 1t. The faithful dog jumped into the water and swan toward him. There was not sign of the child, but at last Robbie came to the surface. Rover caught hold of him and 6Wam ashore.
 When the people heard of Rover S bravery they praised him. He lived to a good old age. When he died a monu- ment was built for him by Robbie, who had grown to be a man.
 GRACE A. BURRILL, Age F.
 Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
My Trip to the Woods.

Dear Uncle Jed:-One day last week we all decided to so out in the woods for berries. The man that stays with us and I started early in the morn ing. My mother was conIng out about two o'clock to meet us at a certain stone wall.
 We got out in the woods about nine o'clock. At one o'clock we had three quarts of blackberries and SIX quarts of huckIeberries. We sat down and rested for about a half an hour when I said I would go and see if my moth CT was coming. I just got across the stone wall when I saw her corning. She had brought US some bread and butter and a bottle of root beer.
 We were very hungry ana thirsty. When we had eaten our lunch we picked four quarts more, then started for home. We got home about six o'clock very tired.
 ANNA ANDERSON, Age n. Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES.
Leaves.

There are some very queer leaves.
 One of these is the pitcher plant. It's
 midrib bends at the end of the leaf so
 as to form little pitcher with a lid.
 The lid is generally shut so the rain
 cannot get in, vet the pitcher always
 has water in it. How does 1t come there?
 The watery part of the sap is poured
 from many little mouths on the inside of the pitcher, which is thus kept filled with water.
 The leaf of the Venus's fly trap, which grows in North Carolina, is a
 real trap for flies and other insects. When the leaf is spread open, it looks harmless enough.
 But let an insect aIight on the leaf and he is made a prisoner at once. The two parts of the leaf close, and
 the points on the edge arc locked to-
 gether so as to form bars to the prison. The poor insect cannot get away and soon dies.
 You may never see these queer leaves, but you will find other curious and interesting ones near your home if you look for them. I am sure you know the fern leaf Do you know where the flowers of the fern grow? See if you can find out. Keep your eyes open as you walk in the fields and woods, and you will l see there is no end to the variety Of l leaves. And among them all you can- not find one that is not beautiful when | you look closely at it. Leaves are not only beautiful and 1 interesting are useful, too. They give us pleasant shade and they sup | ply the air with moisture. But their 1 chief use is to keep trees and plants alive and to make them gEOw. Leaves are to plants what lungs arc 10 animals The air that goes to our lungs keeps us alive and makes us grow. Like ourselves, plants must l breathe as well as feed in order to 1 live and grow.
 So you see the leaf is a very i'm 1 portant part of a plant. KATHERINE GORMAN, Age II. Uorcai1lac
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
A Story From Norwav.

Once there were three little girls out picking blueberries. After a while they wandered away from each oth- er
 At last one little girl sat down and began to eat her blueberries A few minutes after a bear came along and started to eat her bIueberries; but she said. GO away, bear! You will get belly ache"
 But the bear wouldn't go away. Sd she started to make a chain of daisies. He was eating the blueberries that she had picked while she was putting the chain of daisies around his neck, When the men came to find the girl they shot the bear, still wearing the chain of dasies around his neck.
 RALPH OLSEN, Age 18.
 Baltic.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-31
The Pyramids.

The pyramids have for ages been considered among the wonders of the world. They are enormous monuments of stone built by Egyptian rulers five thousand years ago.
 The Great Pyramid' is eight miles from the city of Cairo, it was con- structed by Cheops. who was king of Egypt more than three thousand years before the birth of Christ
 The Great Pyramid' was once four hundred and eighty (4SO) feet high, and although a vast deal of it has been carted away to make buildings for Cairo, it is still about four hundred and fifty (450) feet high. It's bases cover nearly thirteen acres.
 A Greek historian, named Herodotus, tells us that this monument was built by forced labor and that it took one hundred thousand men twenty years to build it.
 When Cheops died he was buried with his queen inside this pyramid.
 MARY HAGOPIAN, Age 14. Westminster.