davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Abraham Lincoln - BY
Stella Dale

Dear Juniors:
Abraham Lincoln was born in Ken
lucky April IL. 1909. When ne was
eight years old his parents moved 10
Indiana. They had no wagons, SO all
their household goods were carried on
two horses, At night they slept on the
ground under the trees. 1t was only
fifty or sixty miles from the old home
to the new one, but it took several days
to make the trip.
The boy was tall and very strong Tor
his age He helped his father 30 Az
kinds of work. He knew how to handle
an axe and shoot with gun.
It was in November when they
reached their new home without shelter
for the mother and little sister.
Abraham and his father soon made
a camp Of poles covered with leaves
and branches. Three sides were enclos-
ed: on the fourth side the fire was kept
burning all the time. A big kettle hung
over the fire which was used TOR cook
ing. This camp was their new home IN
Indiana.
The mothers strength gave away be-
fore spring. Thomas and his father
worked very hard cutting logs to make
a new house and cleared the land to
farm in the spring. They hunted and
trapped for their winters meat.
In the spri1g they built no" ios
house, then b1gan farming. His moth
er died and her last words were MY
boy, I shall very soon leave YOU; l
know you will always be kind and eood
to your sister and brother; try to live
as have taught you and to love your
heavenly father Then she fell asleep
never to awake again. It was almost
year before he could get 4 preacher to
preach his mothers funeral. Long aft
erwards he became the sixteenth pres
ident Of the United States. When he
was called great he said All that I am
or hope to be I owe to my mother
Stella Dale, age 10.
Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
The Courier Juniors Suffra
gette, Isabel Forsylthe,
Talks to Vader Hunter

Dear Juniors:
As the editor asks me to discuss the
matter of woman suffrage with Vader
Hunter I will endeavor to do SO.
It should not take all the time for
home duties. Generally most women
have the afternoon to sit and crochet
or embroider. Why should they not
help the government with their spare
time? Here when the people voted for
our new school house women did not
march up to the polls for themen were
gallant enough to take the women to
and from the polls in their autos
There were 244 women voted for and
nine against our school. This proved
that women will vote for the best In
terests Of the community. Women
properly associate with men in business
so why should not they meet at the
polls? Six million adults in the United
States cannot read or write. Should
such men vote when educated women
are not allowed that privilege?
The law allows women to hold prop
erty and why should they not help
make the laws under which they and
their children live?
She is the intellectual equal and moral
superior of man. She is believer IN
purity of homes and because of this
belief she is a safe person to say who
shall govern the community which is
made up of many homes. Womens
ideas Of right and justice are superior
to men. Her entrance into politics
would mean cleaner politics.
A student Of Ames took dinner with
US Saturday and he said he heard
Helen Keller lecture in Des Moines Fri
day night and some one In the audi
ence asked her if she believed in woman
suffrage and she said yes. Then some
one said: Don't you think men are
capable Of managing affairs?" She said
they haven't so far"
The Flying Squadron held three
meetings here yesterday under the aus
pieces of the w. C. T. U. They We're
working for temperance. Collard
Evans and Cosson were the speakers
They are trying to see that the laws
enacted by the last general assembly
are kept on the statute boks and thai
WOMEN suffrage will come to pass
They are determined to win.
You do not think it ladylike for wom-
en- to march up to the polls and vote
If I faced table of dirty dishes il
might be more ladylike to go back anG
sit with folded hands, but it would be
more womanly to march right up, wade
in and clean things up. So it is in poll
tics-See?
Isabelle Forsyth. age 10.
Mystic, a., Box 307.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Why We Send Valentines
BY Luella Wood

Many years ago there lived a priest
named Valentine. He lived in q small
village and as he was good. kind man
everyone in the village loved him. He
had kind word for all and many tired
wanderers found rest by his Preside.
Cheering and encouraging many down
hearted ones he lived a patient, peace
1ul and pleasant life.
Whenever he heard Of sick person
In the village he went to see them.
At last he become so aged that he
could no longer walk. And how the
people did miss him. But all the time
he had been busy thinking how he
could again serve them. Finally he
thought of this plan. He sent them
messages of love. And this kind deed
which he did for the people gave him
much happiness.
He did this for several years but one
day the people heard that he was dead.
They wanted to do something to honor
him and as his birthday was on the
fourteenth day of February they decid-
ed that on that day they would send
messages called valentines, to their
friends. And this was the beginning
Of our custom OF sending valentines.
Luella B. Wood, age IL.
MOulton, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
A Story of a Valentine-By
Felicia ZenOr

Dear Juniors:
thought / would write story as I
have not written for long time. The
title of my story is "A Story of VAL
entine."
Long ago there lived priest named
Valentine. This good man was noted
in all the country round for his kind
ness. He nursed the sick, comforted
the sorrying and was always ready to
give help to any one who was in need.
Valentine dearly loved children and
those who went to him for clothes or
food were never turned away
After this kind priest became too old
to go about among his people he was
very sad because he thought he could
no longer be Of any help to them. Then
he remembered that he could write
loving messages to the sick and sor-
rowing. Soon his friends began to
watch for the kind words that were
sure to come whenever sorrow or joy
entered their homes. Even the little
sick Il think Father Valentine will
send me little letter today"
But after time no more letters
were received and soon the news went
abroad that good old Valentine was
dead Then every one said that such
good and kind man ought to be called
a saint. And from that dav to this he
has been known as Saint Valentine.
1t was not long before people began
to- celebrate his birthday by sending
loving messages to their friends. The
notes and letters containing these
messages were called valentines.
Saint Valentines day is the four
teenth of February This is all l can
think Of.
Felicia Zenor age II,
42O N Miner ST., Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Irma Crawford Writes Her
Letter to the Juniors
on Lincohs Birthday
Anniversary

Dear Juniors: This Is the birth
day OF Lincoln, one OF our great men.
He would be one hundred and seven
years old, were he living today.
think he would see q great chance In
the north and south of today. don't
you? '.'.'
l am in the ninth grade, and am
carrying i've studies besides music.
l Like all of my studies this year, but
perhaps Latin and English better than
the others. In English we arc study
Ing SCOTS "Ivanhoe" for classic work.
l like the story fine I certainly ad-
mire Rebecca, the Jewess, because OF
her bravery and self control and like
her for her kindness Of heart. I Also
admire 1vanhoe, who risked so much.
Before taking up 'Ivanhoe," Va
studied "Poe's Poems and Tales" /
didn't care much for them. however. n
they were SO imaginative. like some.
thing which could be real, but which
isn't. also like best tho stories writ
ten In third person form.
like to read, but I haven't much
time to read outside of school. But
in vacation I read most OF the time,
Some Of my favorite authors are,
Annie Fellows johnson, Kate Doueaaa
Wiggin, Gone Stratton Porter. Zane
Grey. Harold Mac0rath, Rex Beech.
Meade, Montgomery, McCutcAeon and
Thomas Dixon. am now readfng the
third book of tho Infancy Lee' series.
l find that one Of the Ottumwa
basket ball teams defeated our team
last night. But the e. H. s. team 10
alright just the same, and perhaps Il
will turn the tables some day. AT
least, hope 80.
I suppose most Of you have gone
sleishing or shedding the last two or
three weeks. We "fSeshies" won't last
Wednesday night. In 4 bob sled. We
certainly had good time, and no up
set" uke bunch which went the night
before.
Last Sunday afternoon three of us
girls walked to Laddsdale and back.
We were glad to leave Eldon and glad
to get back to 1t. We arrived here at
$40 and were real tired, but not at
all sorry that We had gone. I like to
walk out into the country the farther
the better. "
We'll. perhaps I'd better close now,
and study my botany. We will have a
test in it Monday morning, and l pre-
sumo most of you understand what
that means. .,....-"s3
Sincerely, junior friend.
rrmah Crawford, age IA,
Eldon, Iowa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Hazel Adams Writes Biog'
raphy of Abraham
Lincoln

Dear Juniors AS have never writ.
ten to the Junior page before. l
thought I would write the biography
of Abraham Lincoln.
He was born at Nolin Creek, KY,
Feb. IL, 1909. His fathers name was
Thomas and his mothers maiden
name was Nancy Hanks. His PRO-
fession In his late life was law but In
his early life he was q farmer. His
father was farmer and could neither
read nor write.
On Nov. 4, 1s43, he was married to
Mary Todd at Lexington, Ky. She
was born at Lexington, KY, Dec. II.
1918. They had four children and
they were all boys.
His term of Office as president was
from March 4, 1861 to April Is, 1855,
when he was assassinated by Booth.
He died at Washington, d. c., at the
age of Sc years. He was buried at
Oak Ridge cemetery, Springfield, Ill.
Hazel Adams, Age IL.
Richland, Iowa, r.. F. d. No l..
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19

His mother believes this is little
Jimmie Glass, who mysteriously dis
appeared from Greedy, Pa, May IL,
1915, but she is not any nearer find
ing him than before she saw his face
and figure on the film. She was in
vited to see a production of Judy
Forgot" in New York City the other
day, because those who had seen the
pictures thought the boy resembled
photographs Of Jimmie sent out
months ago. 81 am sure it is he,' said
the mother, whose home is now at 10
Lienau Place, Jersey City. The film
pictures were taken in New York
City. But the company did not keep
a record of the child's name. A won-
an offered him as an actor for the pic
lures and took him off when they were
finished.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Russell Hoffman Writes of
the Two Presidents, Too

Dear Juniors:
] have not written to you for a long
time see that the editor wants stories
of Abraham Lincoln and George Wash
ington. So / will write one.
Abraham Lincoln was born in Ken
lucky in 1909. When he was seven
years old his father moved from Ken
lucky They moved to southwestern
Indiana, which was then wild coun-
try Abe lived in a house Of the rough
est sort known to back woods people.
1t had three sides Of logs. The other
side was left open entirely to the
weather. These wrecked shelters were
called half faced camp" These were
not as good as some Indian Wigwams.
Abe Lincoln sometimes attended the
backwoods schools. They boys Of the
school had to chop and bring In wood
for tn efire. The schoolmasters were
generally harsh men who managed
their pupils with large beech switches
which We're used in driving cattle. Abe
held it all out and he became one of
the best known presidents In the Unit
ed States. He was chosen president
in 1860. He was assassinated On the
14th of April 1865. He was shot as he
sat in a theater. A man came in the
back way, locked the door and then
shot Lincoln He leaped from the box
in which Lincoln was sitting. In doing
so he broke his leg but there was a
horse at the door Of the theater. He
leaped on it and rode off. Soldiers pur-
sued him to barn. They set the barn
on fire to drive him out, but he stood
his ground and one of the union SOL
diers shot him. The death Of Lincoln
was not only lamented in the United
States, but all over Europe where he
was known for his goodness Of heart.
George washington was born In
Westmoreland county, Virginia Febru
arv %. 1882. He was sent to a school
called "Old Field school,
George Washington's teacher was
named Hobby In that day all the land
was left to the oldest son. to the GUS
tom of England for then Virginia was
an English colony. AS Georges broth
err Lawrence was going to have all the
land and to be the great man OF the
family he was sent to England for his
education When Lawrence returned
from England he had many interesting
stories to tell George Of England. When
Lawrence went away as captain in
regiment. raise din America for service
in the English army against Spain in
the West Indies, George began to drill
the boys in Tohbies school. George soon
grew to be tall man. He went through
many hardships. He went through the
revolutionary war and died at Mount
Vernon in 1893.
Russell Hoffman, age II.
1910 Locust ST., Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Thelma Langdon Advises
Juniors to Be Like
Lincoln
Dear Juniors:

Lear j
I thought I would write about Lin
coin. we celebrate Abraham Lincoln's
birthday the twelfth Of February. Lin
coin was born In Kentucky. He was
very poor boy and he split rails for his
living and many time borrowed z
book from the man he worked for ana
read by the light Of the fireplace ana
did his lessons on an old shovel pc
cause he had no paper and pencil like
We have at our schools now. Lincoln
liked to read about great men such al
Columbus and Washington.
One day Lincoln borrowed book
from the man he worked for and at
night he put it between the logs Of the
house and it rained and showed on 1t
all night. Then when Abraham saw that
it was all spoiled he was so sorry be-
cause he had no money to pay for it,
So he thought he would work to pay for
the book. So Lincoln told the man about
the book and said he was willing to
work to pay for 1t.
Lincoln had to sleep on straw and-
then they had no floors in tho house
and it was very cold on staw on that
kind of floor.
Lincoln was very kind to all dumb
animals. One day when he was going to
school he saw some boys throwing
stones at poor crippled turtle. Lincoln
went up to the boys and said you
boys ought to be ashamed to treat a
poor crippled turtle in this manner"
and he put the turtle In the brook and
then went on to school. feeling lots
happier because he helped the turtle.
Another time he bought q new suit
and was riding but on his way he heard
a queer noise He looked around and
there was a pig struggling in large
mud puddle and could not get away.
Lincoln thought Of his new suit and
said II might get my suit dirty, SO he
rode on. He thought how hard the pig
was trying to get out Of the mud and
he rode back, tied His horse. and got
in the mud to help the pig out His suit
was ruined but he felt much happier
than before because he helped the pig.
Lincoln was a very kind man and
wish all Of the Juniors would try to be
like Lincoln. Lincoln moved to Illinois
and in 1860 he was elected president.
He was again elected president in 1854.
In April 1855 he went to an opera in
Washington D. C. and was shot by
John Booth and this man was followed
to barn and was shot for killing Lin
coin.
Everybody mourned his death. and
| after him Andrew Johnson was presi.
dent.
Thelma Langdon, age 10.
215 N. Green ST.. Ottumwa, Ia,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Pets - A School Compost
ton - BY Margaret
Walker

Dear Courier Junior thought I
would send in one Of my school COM
positions, about pets.
One summer day Henry and Fanny
went out in the woods to get squirrel
or a rabbit for pet.
As they were walking along Fanny
said, "Oh, Henry, look up In that
pretty cottonwood tree. What kind
of an animal is THAR" asked Fanny.
Henry laughed and said, why, that
is a little squirrel. the very thing we
want"
Just then it went into a hole In the
tree. Henry said, II will climb the
tree after It,"
He got it without much trouble then
they brought it home with them.
Henry said, What will We name it,"
Then Fanny said, Let US name him
Bob"
Bob was its name from then on.
Their little neighbor ptaymetos
thought a great deal Of it. too. They
would come over quite often 10 play
with Bob.
Henry made Bob house to stay In
1T night and he got to run about in the
tree at day.
When be got hungry he would go to
the woods and eat hickory nuts and
acorns and talk to the other squirrels
and the bees and birds that go singing
by.
Then Bob would go down to the
creek and wash his face in the water
with his paws. When it would get
along toward evening Bob would come
home to play with Henry and Fanny
for he likes to run and jump with
them.
When it gets dark Bob goes and
washes his face then he will 80 to his
house and gets into the little bed
which Henry made.
To make Bobs house Henry took a
big box and put three rooms in it.
One room had a bed of straw and
leaves for the squirrel to sleep on.
One was little room for Bob to eat
in. They had a piece of wood all
followed out to put Bob's food In, and
the largest room was for Bob to play
In.
Every morning and evening the
squirrel found his wooden bowel full
of food. To thank them he would run
and jump around them.
Soon after that their parents gave
them a pig and little pup. And their
Aunt Mary gave them some little
chickens for they helped SO. much.
They liked to work very we'll.
They called their dog Rex. Rex was
a little spotted dog. One day when
Henry and Fanny were at school the
dog and squirrel thought they would
have some fun, so they went out In
the woods and the dog would chase
the squirrel up tree.
They got out in the woods so far
that the dog didn't know his way
back.
He howled around all that day.
When the children came home from
school they missed him. They set out
to hunt for him. They heard him
barking and bowling. He was glad to
see them and he never ran away any
more. Rex would drive up the cows.
Well, I will close for this time.
Margaret Walker, Age II.
Stockport, Ia., r. r. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Genevieve Miller''s. School IL
One Mile and a Half
From Her Home

Dear Juniors,
AS haven't written to the Courier
Junior for a long time I thought |
would write.
I go to school every day that I can.
I am in the sixth grade. l have sew
en- studies. They are arithmetic,
reading, grammar, physiology, geog-
raphy. spelling and writing. like
grammar best Of all. My teacher 3
name is Edna Francis. like her very
much.
We live a mile and half from
school. We are going to have bas-
ket social February ia. There are
fourteen pupils who go to our school.
There is no one In my class.
I live eight miles south of Broken
Bow.
Genevieve Miller, Age II.
Broken Bow, Neb.
Georgetown Star route.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
How Mr.. Lincoln Helped
the Birds - BY Wanda
Long

Dear Juniors: This is the first letter
l have ever written to The Courier
Junior, so / think I will write about
Mr.. Lincoln.
Mr. Lincoln was a kind, good and
an honest man. He always told the
truth He never told lie. He helped
free the slaves. The war was called
the civil war. Mr.. Lincoln was the six
teenth president OF the United States.'
I am sending a school composition on
Mr.. Lincoln, ~. .-
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
February - A Composition
BY Mary Keefe
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
thought | would write you a COM
position. 1t is almost February. l have
written to the Juniors two times. I
3 like to write to you very much. My
Scomposition Is not very long.
February is the shortest month Of
/ the year 1t has the birthdays Of two
! Of the greatest men the United States
has ever known, George Washington
and Abraham Lincoln.
like February because we can go
sliding My birthday is in February. 1t
us on the 18th. like school very much.
And ] hope the rest of you Juniors like
school. There are forty-one pupils in
my room at school. There are twenty in
the B class and twenty one in the A
class.
Mary Keefe, age 9,
l26 East 4th st., Ottumwa
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
WANT LETTERS,

We want the Juniors to write some
very interesting letters. 'newsy' let
tors. Some Of the Juniors can write
to their parents. Other Juniors might
write as though they were visiting
some city The reward for the best
letter will be box of letter paper
and envelopes, book, a friendship
link or knife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Last Hours

II say goodnight and go upstairs,
And then undress and say my pray
erS
Beside my bed, and then jump in it;
And then-the very nextest minute
The morning sun comes in to peep
At me. s'pose I've been to sleep,
But seems to me-" said little Ted,
"It's not worth while to, go to bed
.r .~,s Sidney Dayre.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
ANCESTOR STORIES.

@ We want the Juniors to write about
some of their ancestors (Which
means your parents, grandparents,
great grandparents, etc. We will ask
the Juniors to write nice short stories
telling something remarkable or un-
usual about their ancestors.
The~writers can select their prizes
from among the following: A box of
candy, roller skates, book, friendship
link, pine or knife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
SCHOOL COMPOSITIONS.

We want more school compositions.
Remember. we give one friendship
link, engraved, to the writer of the
best composition. The boys can have
. knife, book, or friendship link.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

We send out prizes within two
weeks after the names of the winners
are published.
We do wish the Juniors would &C.
! knowledge their prizes.
IL any Junior has ever failed to re-
Sceive prize after his or her name
appeared in this paper, it is because
the wrong address has been given us.
When we say wrong address We es-
specially refer to incomplete addresses.
All city Juniors should put their
satreet number and all Juniors living
In the country should put their box
number of failing to have a box send
IN their parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
IaEyEN RULES For THE JUNIORS

1. Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and lightly, using
Ink or sharp lead pencil.
3. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work.
s. Number your pages.
q &. Always state choice of prize
ON . separate piece of paper, with
name and address in full.
Z. Address envelope to The Cour-
aor Junior.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-12-13
BRADFORD.

elizabeth r. Taylor, Correspondent
The many friends of Prof A. l..
Kibling will be glad to hear that he
has a new position as principal of a
high school in South Hadley Falls,
Mass. Prof. Kibling was principal Of
Bradford academy for six years.
Olin Lufkin of Windsor is home on
a short vacation.
Miss Hope Rogers has been i'll for
a few days.
Mrs. Grace Renfrew is assisting in
Prichard & Hays store this week.
Mrs. Blanche Merrill has been in
Burlington for a short visit.
Mr.. and Mrs. William Clary of
Lyndonville were visitors in town
Thursday and Friday.
Miss Bertha Dove intends to leave
soon for Grand Rapids, Mich.
Rev. and Mrs. A. r. Crewe have
gone to Newport, N. H., for a short
visit.
Mrs Joshua Hill, formerly of Brad
ford, died very suddenly at the home
of her daughter, Mrs. Gertrude Jen-
kins, in Corinth.