davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
From the conauIar Reporta.

Metal shingles for Johannesburg, South Africa, have to be thicker than those ordinarily sent from the United States, in order to be proof against the severe hailstorns that are fre- quently experienced in that district American metal ceilings find g, good market there. j
 Petrograd last month held an expo sition of "prosthesis'' and in connec- ton with the exposition there was a. competition of inventions and appfi-I ances to be used in the making of artificial limbs.
 Cuba's president has signed a decree appointing a commission to study the question of nationalizing. the railroads there. The committee Is expected to report in six months.
 At the end of 1915 there were ap- proximately S3,128 automobiles in Canada, as against 61,000 in the prev fous year. There is believed to be no reason why in a short time there should not be twice as many cars there as at present.
 Japan has accumulated a specie re- serve of more than $243, ,000. 900 and by, the end of this year the total will probably exceed $340, ,0o0, ,000,0 This is believed to mark a new era in the relationship between Japan and the welt
 Holland has not yet solved the prob lem of removing the water from its flooded districts.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
\ TrIp to the Philippines.

 Dear Uncle Jeds The Philippine Is- lands belong to the United States, They were obktained from Spain by war in 1893.
 They are in the Eastern Hemisphere and in the same latitude as Yucatan. .,l Aney nave only three seasons there the cold, hot and rainy. The hot and rainy seasons are unheaIthful SO we decide to take our trip in what they call the cold season. It is about as cold as our autumn.
 The size of the islands are 126,000 square miles There are 1T25 small islands the largest being Luzon. All of the islands together are about as large as New Mexico.
 The islands are mountainous and are of a volcanic origin.
 We see very few animals. fhe larg- est being the water buffalo. The croc- odile, several kinds of deer and goatk also snakes and birds with beautiful plumage are found there. There are no large hesh-eating animals.
 The products are rice, hemp, fruits, tobacco, sugar, perfume, bamboo, cab inet woods, rubber, Indigo and sage. Gold. silver, coal, copper, oil, iron, lead, platinum, marble, sulphur. as- bestos and limestone are found in the The government is a republic, the same as the United States. The Unit ed States send men there to rule them, soldiers to force them to obey if they refuse.
 The natives are negroes, belonging to the Malay race. We find that they are very smart and eager to learn. There are quite a few Chinese there but very few white people live there. They build their houses only one story hlgh because they have earthquakes which shake them down.
 FLORENCE BROWN. Age Il.
 Norwich Town
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
Howl l spent Mx Easter Vacation.


 Dear Uncle Jed: My aunt invited me to come to spend my Easter vacation with her. She lives in New York As l had never been there, I thought it pleasant to go to see the city. l started out Saturday morning on the eight o'clock train. I got there about noon time. My cousin met me at the train.
 In the evening my cousin, some of her friends and went to see some of the streets. Many are very beautiful, with large stores and buildings Sunday in the afternoon we went to see the park, which was near where my aunt lived. There were some swings. We swung about a quarter of an hour Then we played ball. When we fn- ished playing ball we jumped rope. Then we sat down and rested for a while. After this we went home
 Monday we stayed home, but in the evening we went out to the moving pictures.
 The next day my cousin and I went for a car ride.
 Wednesday we all stayed home the whole day.
 Thursday and Friday we stayed home.
 Saturday we went to Central Park. This was the most beautiful place ever saw. It is very big. There we saw many animals that I had never seen before.
 All the rest of the days I enjoyed very much.
 stayed in New York week and a half.
 When went home my cousin, who was very eager to see the country, came with me. We had a very good time on the way home When we came to the station my father was there waiting for us
 had a very good time while I was in New York. I hope to go again when I have my summer vacation.
 MARION DEUTSCH.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
The widow,s Rinq,

The King of Spain was very un- fortunate in his wars. His armies were beaten over and over again; his son was taken prisoner, and his mon ey was all gone. He had not enough to pay the price or ransom, to set his son free.
 Accordingly he asked that the peo- pie help him in every way they could and he sent persons to collect the money. These collectors came to the cottage of a poor old woman who lived on charity.
 1s prisoner. Win you help to set him free ?"
 The widow took from finger an old and very thin silver ring and said: That is all have to give. Take it. I give it to the king with all my heart"
 The collectors laughed, for the ring was wohth very little.
 Some time after that the king won great victory over his enemies, and freed his son. His first care was to show how grateful he was to those who had helped him in his trouble
 Of course, the great people around him expected to get the first rewards. But they were very much mistaken. The king sent first of all for the poor old widow and gave her some beauti- full presents
 She said: "oh, your majesty. I do not desPve these splendid gifts. I never did anything for you. I only gave my old ring when your son was Q prisoner."
 '+ T do not value gifts at what they cost" said the king, 'swhat I think of Is the heard that gives them. You gave me all your heart. KATHERINE GORMAN.a Age Ii.
 Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
How the RIuehird Came to be Blu

How the BIuebird Came to be Blue.
 Dear Uncle lad: Once upon time there lived a woman and her two children.
 One beautiful day the woman and the two children went for a walk in the woods where they lost their way.
 The children cried, TOh, Mother, something to eat!" The kind old mother had to say: Dear children, I have nothing to give you to eat" But the dear old mother was hungry her self, though she had said nothing about it to the children.
 By and by they cried again, saying, ''Oh, Mother, do give us just a drink of water"
 But she said: T can find no water for you to drink" She had also had been thirsty for long time.
 On, and on they went, hunting for a path, and food, and water. They were badly scratched by the ~briers of berry bushes, but they found no ber- ries. The streams were all dry, and they found no spring of water. At last they sat on the ground and cried, all together. As they sat down they heard voice. They listened. It said:
 "Come, come" They were all glad to hear the voice, but they saw no one.
 BuC soon one or the children saw a little gray bird, peeping right into the mothers eyes. It said, Come, come, comet" in the sweetest way.
 Come. children" she said. ''We will follow the little bird"
 The bird hopped along slowly, for he knew that the mother and the chiI- dren were very tired. Hop, hop, hop, he went, and they followed him.
 He first led them to a spring. There they drank as if they could never get enough.
 The second time he led them to a and ate; and ate.
 Now the night was upon them, Then the little bird led them to a tree that had branches near the ground.
 The mother easily climbed up into of the reach of wolves. While the bird watched over them.
 The next day the little bird cared for them, showing them other springs and fruit trees, and tree for which they could keep safely.
 The mother soon found a path that led to her home. How happy they were to be at home once more
 They looked up to thank the little gray bird, but the Title gray bird had feathers the color of the sky. Now he was a bluebird. And to this day the bluebirds are proud of their coats For the beautiful blue feathers were given to that little gray bird because he had been so kind.
 LENA LACASSE, Age 1S. Uncasville,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
Bozrahville.
Good for Evil,

Pay him for it, Fred; pay him out!' So called a group of boys to a lad who had stumbled over a string fastened up by a mischievous school fellow.
 Fred Wilson did pay out Harold Wynne for that bit of mischief which cost him many a day on the sofa with a sprained foot. He gave him the best possible payment for injuries-good for evil.
 There came a day when some lads were bathing in a river, and boastfuI Harold, who could swim but little, ventured too far into the stream. At that time of peril 8 boy plunged into the water and swam bravely to his rescue. His reScuer was the boy he hurt a few weeks back-Frea Wilson.
 Harold felt more ashamed of him self than if Fred had conquered him in a fight. For once in his life he felt himself a mean coward to have willfully leased one who had never wronged him, and he could >only thank Fred brokenly and murmur:
 I'm awfully sorry about the string tried to trip you up with"
 am glad to tell you, however, that Harold lived to show that F'red's gen erous and free forgiveness was not thrown away on him.
 I read once of a great ruler who de- clared he would kill all his enemies. How did he kill them? He treated them so justly that all became his friends. If any of you have enemies, try killing them with kindness, for this is the Christian, sure and noble way. FRANCES FIELDS, Age B.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
eIad summer Haa Come.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am glad that summer has come so we can plant a garden, corn, potatoes and other things
 I expect to have some chickens this summer. I have two hens setting now.
 l have a hot bed, too, and have planted three things in it, tomatoes, peppers andk cabbages.
 l milk two cows night and morning when am not sick
 I am writing this letter in bed as I have a hard cold and could not go to school.
 We are raising three pretty calves and fatt1ng one. call that one mine as take care of him; but my father will butcher it when it is old enough to kill. We have a brook back of our barn where we go fishing. My broth CTS and I have caught four small fish.
 My oldest brother caught a muskrat in his hands the other day. We set a trap for one, but haven't caught any yet.
 RAYMOND W. GRAY, Age II.
 Willimantic
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
BozrahviiIe.
The Squirrels.


 The squirrels are very quick and swift animals because they can run very fast and when they see some one is coming, or going to hurt them, they soon see a place or hole to hide themselves. An when they gather nuts in the fall they put four or five nuts in their mouth and then start of to their hole in the tree.
 Last fall when I and some of the other girls were coming to school we saw a little red squirrel running from a pile of brush. We made up our mind to go and see what that squirrel was there for. We looked until we saw little hole in the ground and we didn't touch if. When school was out we looked in again, and saw the hole with four or five nuts in 1t So what did we do2 We put a couple of nuts near the hole. The nuts were piled up close togeth- CT, so as to get more nuts in it. The next morning we looked again and we could not see the hole this morning because the squarrel has fn- ished 1t.
 This winter when we were coming home we saw him run out with a mouthfuI of nuts and ran up the tree and in the hole. They will soon be out because their storehouse it not very full with food.
 CARRY CELLO, Age il. Lebanon.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
UNCLE JED's TALK TO WIDE
 AWAkES.

suppose every wide-Awale who writes Uncle Jed hopes to get book for his story. This Is hope Uncle Jed shares with them. too, but every deserving letter does not win a book because we have to limit the number of books. and letters not quite as good from the young competitors have to be rewarded.
 It is quite a difficult task for Uncle Jed to award the prizes exactly ac- cording to merit because of the differ ences in the ages and the opportuni- ties of the writers. And-do you know Uncle Jed has never known personally but two Wide-Awakes in the whole five years he has been dealing with the children. .a' It should be borne in mind that there is no reason under the sun why any writer should win prize except it is deserved.
 q expect to get a book for this let ter has been added to deserving sto- ries, and for this reason the book was withheld, for it would not look we'll to be sending story books to those who expect them.
 There are lots of other things a Wide-Awalze may put in a letter which may prevent the issuing of book to them. There Is no reason for the giv- ing of book except the excellence of the story.
 Do not try to convince Uncle Jed he should send you book for some special reason, for that is a pretty sure way to miss winning.
 When the story is finished, sign your name and postoffice address to it, not emitting the R. F. D.. if there is one. Disconnected slips of paper with the address upon them get lost and finally the story is thrown away.
 Uncle Jed wants every Wide Awake to win book, and if they work hard enough and are painstaaxing they cannot miss getting one.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
BRIEF STATE NEWS

town have appointed this week Clean up Week.
 Mission in the Church of Our Lady Mercy is being well attended this week
 Waterbury-There were 425 arrests during April in Waterbury, which is a record number for the city under normal conditions.
 Torrington-Pleading guilty to sell ing cider illegally, Concetta Maneino, a small shop keeper, was fined $40 and costs.
 Meriden-During May, June, July, August and September, the coal, wood, grain and feed dealers will close their offices Saturday afternoons.
 Windsor-Clean-u week started in Windsor Monday and will continue during the remainder of the week. The local troop of Boy Scouts is actively engaged in the campaign.
 Durham-IIl health has Caused Rev. Joseph Hooper, rector of the Church of the Epiphany, to resign. Mir. Hoop CT, who is about 70 years old, is one of the oldest active Episcopal clergy men in the diocese.
 Farminston-The marriage of Miss ter of Mrs. Alfred Pope, and John Wallace Riddle, of New York and Washington, D. C., is to take place Saturday, May $, at the home of the bride-elect in Pennington.
 New Britain-The New Britain Fish and Game Club has leased Doerr's ponds on Shuttle Meadow and has stocked them. The club plans a big season. More than POO members have been secured.
 Weston-This CThursday) evening a large delegation from Norfeld grange will visit Cannon grange by invitation of the latter which will al- so at the same time entertain delega- tions from Ridgefeld and Bedding granges.
 New Haven-By the action of the board of fire commissioners a new office in the department is created, that of supervisor of motor apparatus at SAYS per day, under the direction of the fire chief.
 Hartford-Monday's Cleanup Week collection of rubbish and ashes by ords for the city of Hartford, over 240 loads of refuse being taken up during the day.
 Meriden-About 65 per cent. of the town tax assessed on the 1915 grand list has been collected by Tax Co1lec- tor Dexter. The bulk of it came in the April collections and in all amounts to $229, ,400.49.
 RockviIIe-Under the auspices ot the Ladies' Auxiliary and Division No l, A. O. H., prize essay contest has been arranged for pupils of the pa rochial school. The subject is to be Irish History, and prizes amounting to $15 are to be awarded.
 WaIlingford-Not only track but tennis is at its height at Choate now The team this year is the first ever organized at Choate although inter- class tennis and tennis playing has been popular at the school for years The school has at present nine courts
 Southington-Adrs. D. A. Keenan of New Haven has announced the en- gagement of her youngest daughter Miss F. Alberta Keenan to Dr. Will liam T. Nagle, son of MT. and Mrs William Nagle Southington. Dr. Ma gle is a graduate of the Medico-Chi- rurgica1 college at Philadelphia.
 NorwzlI<-Lester B. wheelers sfor is one of the busiest in Norwalk to- day. There are twenty five men em- ployed at the plant, working 90 hours a week, making gauges for the Rem
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
POETRY.
My MOther's Game.

When all the sky is black and still, And the day is dark and dead, And the only light is in the stars Which twinkle and blink o'erhead-- I waken and slip through the nursery
 door
 And climb in my mothers bed. She never scolds, but hugs me tight And says with her sleepy smile, 'Ts my little squire tired of being
 alone, That he comes to mother a while? Hold tight, tight fast to sleepy time
 coach
 And we'll dream for many a mile" Then the sandman whips up his flying
 steedS
 And we rush at a terrible pace. Through lands that are full of beautiful
 toys
 And clouds that are made of lace. And I wake when the sun is cleaning And smiling in mothers face.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
LETTERs oF AcKNoWLEpeMENT

John B. Purcell of Colchester: I thank you very much for the prize book you sent me entitled Circus Boys on the Mississippi. have read 1t half through and find 1t very interesting. Wish you a bright and happy Easter
 Josephine 5orovlcka of West wfll- ington: Thank you very much for the prize book entitled The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea-N find it very Interesting.
 Katherine German Of Versailles: I received the nice prize book you sent me. have read it through ana found it very interesting. Thank you very much for 1t.
 Walter Supina of Stafford Springs: thank you many times for that good prize book. am very interested in 1t.
 Edward G.sMoran of Norwich: I thank you for the prize book received last week. have read 1t all through and find it very interesting. ,-s1 .n
 Helen LoMsinbSPsas Sek Bgpywica: F naaHk 5yun wary sa1lsa1 1dE tlk
 AIFA3H,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
rha snrinn Blowers.

Go into the woods some day early in April ahd you will find, pushing up through the last summers litter, a curled up leaf Open this leaf, and nestling within will be a white flow CT bud Even when in bloom the leaf surrounds the flower stem as though to protect it. As you pick the flow CT a red juice oozes out of the stem, and stains your hands. This is the bloodroot. Just beyond it, bending and nodding in the wind, is the dainty little anemone; there is sometimes a tint of pink or lavender in its white flowers.
 Among the rocks you will find, swinging, the little Dutchman's Brooches, with their peculiar little flowers that look like pairs of trous- CTS hung on a line. Growing with it will be the saxifrage, whose name means that it breaks rocks. This name was probably given to it be- cause it usually grows in clefts of rock
 As spring advances the woods are dotted with bright little star flowers, and the white trillium with it's three long petals The feathery banebar- ry is in flower when the columbine blooms and when the green and brown Jack = in the Pulpits are preaching in the woods.
 HARRY LEVI, Age F.
 Bozrahville.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
The Little Ball Player.

With legs apart and shoulders bent. And sparkling eyes he stands, The magic sphere of his delight Clutched tightly in his hands. With all his strength he sends the ball And views its rapid flight, A frown upon his chubby face So softly pink and white. His aim was true. he straightens up And feels himself a man Who bears upon a crowded field The plaudits of the fan. Tricycle. now, and teddy-bear,
 And choo-choo cars and all, Are toys he'll never want again He's learned to play baseball!
 -Minna Irving in Leslie's.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
Rheumatic Pain stopped

The drawing of muscles, the sore ness, stiffness and agonizing pain of Rheumatism quickly yield to Sloan's Liniment. It stimulates circulation to the painful part. Just apply as directed to the sore spots. In a short time the pain gives way to a tingling sensation of comfort and warmth. Here's proof-'T have had wonderful relief since I used your Eminent on my knee. To think one application gave me relief. Sorry I haven't space to tell you the history Thanking you for what your remedy has done for me."-James S. Ferguson, Philada, Pa. Sloan's Liniment kills pain. 25c. at Druggists.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
The Two Pias.

When Harold was seven years old, and Hazel five. they went to the coun- try to spend the summer on their Grandpa Mason's farm.
 Having lived in the city all their lives they were very happy to be able to run in the fields picking wild flowers and riding in the hay cart
 They had such a big appetite that grandma declared that they would eat her out of house and home. But they were very good children. and tried so hard not to give their grand ma any trouble that one day Grandma Mason made each of them a present of 2 little whit pig.
 The little children had never be- fore had any pets, and they became very fond of the pigs. One was named Snowball and the other Fris- tSv and thev soon learned to come when the chiIdrer called them. They we've good little nies. and very tame. and did not make a. fuss when they were washed. They had to be wash ed very often for they were fond of living in mud puddles and playing in the farm-yard with their dirty scolded.
 But tie little girls loved them. dirty or clean. and were sorry to leave them in September. when +hev went back to the city They did not for get them. and when summer came again and they went to the farm in June. they asked for F'risly and Snowbsll before they had even taken off their hats.
 EDWARD MARA, Age g.
 BozrahviIle.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
5oininu eontess.

One day, when my brother Rudolph came home from haying he brought several papers and magazines to amuse the smaller children, and hav- ing no work to do. picked up pa- per and commenced looking at the pictures. But suddenly my attention was attracted by these big. black words. "A Shetland Pony and Out fit Free" instantly wrote for it and was much astonished and dlsap- pointed when I got a big package ii- stead of a post card saying that the Pony and Outfit had arrived. This package contained recipes, order blanks, a magazine, and two hundred post cards as premiums for the sIb- scribers. Getting subscribers for the magazine was the only way could get the pony, so prepared to go fhe following Sunday. because I could not go on week days.
 My friends and some other boys called me a Jew, or said. NO bust- ness on Sunday
 I was quite sure that wen-known farmer in the neighborhood would be one of my subscribers.
 Early Sunday morning started out. but did not take any lunch with me because I usually bought something to eat. As many a time came o'clock, very hungry and tired, but that didn't matter if had good luck. did have good luck once when I got one dollar and a half for six sub- scribers, but sometimes didn't get any So you see travelling on foot from twelve to eighteen miles day made quite a walk, and visited near ly all the nearby towns. Stafford Springs, Union, North Ashford, Will ington, Mashpaug, Gurleyvi1le, War renville and places around Moose Meadow. However, in spite of all the walking, I didn't win the pony. but a beautiful dinner set of thirty-two pieces, which gave to my mother for a Christmas present.
 WALTER SUPINA. Age 14.
 Stafford Springs.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-04
MY Two Peta.

Dear Uncle Jed: am going to tell you about my two pet kittens. They were obtained from Spain by kittens names are Tootsie and Fluff fy. Every day when I come from school they are sitting on the board walk, watching for me. Now Tootsfe and Fluffy like raw meat, just as all kittens do. Across the street from me live two little children.
 They are afraid of Tootsie and Fluff fy.
 ALBERT LEFFUNGwELL. Age 8.
 Norwich