davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08


world Of art and make the selection
the artists own, hoping that it might
be a subject that would inspire Ot-
tumwa boys Of the future.
This lad, who reads the daily papers
as we'll as his school books, was one
Of the Ottumwans who evinced an in
terest in the return of the noted
sculptor, David Edstrom, to Ottumwa
recently after an absence of more
than a score of years. The fame Of
the sculptor, won after hard battle
that only his artists soul and deter
mination to succeed permitted him to
fight. Sufferings and privations, all
for a noble end that was finally at
tanned, made of the sculptor char
acter that won the admiration Of the
school boy and following upon the
visit Of Mr.. Edstrom to Ottumwa,
Master Manro wrote the publisher Of
The Courier proposing to start a
the school children for the purpose Of
buying a piece of sculpture made by
the former Ottumwan, Edstrom. That
he was sincere was made plain for
the lad sent his personal check for
a dollar drawn on his own savings
account to start the fund. 49,.
To do it practically he suggested
the names Of number of Ottumwa
men and women to act as trustees for
the fund and later was asked to ap-
pear before the Commercial club d.
rectors at their weekly meeting, at
which place he laid his plan before
these business men. More than that,
he received their attention and the
directors appointed committee of
the Commercial club to work in con-
junction with the persons suggested
by Master Manro. The movement
started may result in Ottumwa having
a piece of her former residents
sculpture to grace the city, the result
of young boys work.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
NJ arjrie und
Hou 1t Started
How 1t Gre!w---------

The patriotic call of Marjorie Ster-
rett, the little Brooklyn girl who is
raising fund among the children and
grownups of the land for the building
OF battleship, has not fallen on deaf
ears in Ottumwa. The children of
this city are going to lead their elders
in raising money to help prepare this
country for defense. Little Miss
Airline Patton, fourteen years old and
very enthusiastic, is the first Iowa
miss to join with the Brooklyn miss in
her worthy project. Airline came
to The Courier Office and asked that
the Courier Junior become custodian
Of the fund which she desired to head
and which she is going to raise among
her girl friends throughout the city.
""
Airline lives az 2104 Hast Main street
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Why Willows, Droop, School
Composition by Olive
Morrow

Once upon time thousands of years
ago when fairies were in the land
there lived beautiful lady who had
four beautiful daughters. 5
Irene was the youngest and far more
beautiful than her other sisters, and
when she was only five years old her
father died. They all lived an easy
life for they were wealthy and after
they had mourned for about week
for their father their mother sugges-
ted that they move to the city.
This pleased the elder sisters very
much for all they thought about was
going to shows and having parties,
but little Irene cried for she loved the
cows and chickens and did not want
to live in noisy city. But her moth
er thought it the best thing to do for
she could not look after the farm,
so they went.
After they had lived in the city six
years the elder sisters began to get
jealous because their mother seemed
to think so much of Irene and had
even promised to move to the country
in another year. So it came to pass
in another year they moved to the
country. This made the elder sisters
very angry for they did not want to
leave parties and fine dresses. They
decided to get rid of Irene So one
morning in December they made some
little cakes and gave them to her.
That night she grew very weak and
in the morning when they called her
and she did not answer her mother
rushed to her room and found her
dead. She was so full of grief that
she died too and the elder sisters be-
gan to make preparations to move to
the city again; but a beautiful fairy
walking past saw what the sisters had
done and said, "This poor woman shall
not die, but shall become a beautiful
willow and stand beside the grave of
her daughter and the three sisters
shall be turned into stones to lie by her
grave to think about their migrate
fulness, and Immediately there could
be seen three large stones lying on
the grave and willow dropping over
it because she was so sad. So that
is why willows droop
Olive Morrow, Age II.
Bloomfield, Iowa, Box IS.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08

and went down to the creek and took
a good bath.
We then came up and ate breakfast.
We were swimming in the creek al
most all morning. We came up at noon
and got dinner ready. After we had
eaten we went down and fished.
While we were fishing we looked
over to the road and saw that an auto
mobile had got stuck In a large mud
hole We all went over and helped him
get his car out of the mud.
We went to bed that night and about
two o'clock we were awakened by the
rain. It had begun to rain and We had
to put our clothes under the tent. We
then went to sleep and did not wake
up very early the next morning. It
was Sunday and after we had eaten
we had Sunday school. That afternoon
we broke camp and went home.
Yours truly,
John Swenson, age 10.
., Dear Juniors: I will tell you about
my trip to Des Moines. took 1t about
two years ago.
We started in August on No. 3. We
got into Ottumwa about 1880 a. m. We
went to the Milwaukee depot and took
a train to Hedrick about $3.50 a. m.
We got to Hedrick about 1920 a. m.
We went to my aunt's and stayed all
night We took train out the next day.
We changed cars at Grinnell.
We got on a fast train at Grinnell
and about $50 we got into Des Moines.
We could see the dome of the capitol
when about five miles out of the city.
When We got to Des Moines we got
our supper and then we went to a park
north Of the depot and waited there
till about 9 o'clock when we got on an
interurban and went to Woodland about
40 miles from Des Moines where my
brother lives. We hired an automobile
to take us to my brothers.. We got
there at 11:15 that night. ~
We visited at my brothers about a
week. We then started for Des MONIES.
We went across the river and saw the
dam.
y We got into Des Moines at about
1920. We got our dinner and then
got on a street car and went to the
capitol
There we saw many old flags, that
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Earl Wilson Hicks on His
Mother Crossing the
Ocean
Dear Juniors:

s&Uear juniors:
[ said in my last letter would write
SSabout my mother crossing the sea, but
sassI have so many other things to tell you
4sabout when she was in London so l will
sftell you some Of them first for it will be
~ long letter
sgss When write the one when she cross
sssed the ocean am going to tell you
little about when she was little girl
3and grandma took her to the tower OF
ssssIlondon. Grandma did not live but three
&miles away, so she used to 80 quite
Gotten on week days. They had to pay
ITO get in. But on Saturday it was free.
Nov the tower she said is right on the
99Sxiver Of Thames and it is a beautiful
@place. There are soldiers all around and
#S1hey have funny, bushy looking things
ION their hats. They always have gun
ION their shoulders Now we are coming
ITO the beadle that is a guard to show
you the place inside there. He takes
about twenty people along with him
land he points to all the places in the
Flower and explains to you what they
MAre He would show you all Of the
Ssetuffed horses and stuffed ladies on
%hOrses and all Of their armours in old
mines, also mother saw the Ratchet and
1block that Queen Elizabeth was be-
#headed on. She also saw the gold room
land the silver room. all Of the English
2Snoney where it was kept and on every
%cOrner in that tower was card saying
#.Please do not touch" They have the
dungeons there still that they had years
Sago in olden times.
sgSs a Now / am going to tell you a little
about what my mother said you could
ssget for one penny in London. You can
Effget four things for one penny. Here
ssare the articles: l farthing's worth of
SStreckle that means syrup, l farthing
#worth of tea, / farthing worth of sugar,
~ farthing's worth Of milk, all for one
SSpenny believe will have to draw my
SAetter to close. am afraid it will be
gstiTesome will continue next week..
Earl Wilson Hicks, age 10,
SsS Agency. Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Mildred Mahin Tells Why
She Likes to Live on
a Farm

live on a farm with 2S2 acres on 1t.
We have a garden and large house. II
has eleven rooms and two halls. we
have harm and two chicken houses
and work shop. We have about 100
hens and six roosters. We have nine
head of horses. six head Of mules and
eighteen head Of cattle. We have al
together thirty-three head OF live
stock.
We have ten hogs and killed six for
our summer meat We have nice
Shepherd dog that will drive the cattle
and is a nice watch dog too.
We have a raspberry patch that will
bear raspberries this year and a large
orchard with apples, pears, peaches and
apricots.
Mildred Mahin. age 8,
Albia Ia r. No. g.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
St. Agnes - BY Clara
Krumpholtz
Dear Junior:

Dear Junior:
| thought I would write story to
the Junior page. My subject is st.
Agnes.
st. Agnes was the daughter of rich
and noble Christian parents. She was
born in Rome, near the close of the
third century. 1t was lovely day
as they walked out of the Momentum
gate. Already the almond trees were
hoary with blossoms and spring
seemed latent in the swelling buds.
She was so good and so kind that
later she became a saint and was
called ST. Agnes.
Clara Krumpholtz
Quincy street and Abba road.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Helen Corrigan Writes
Composition - Subject,
':Poultry''

Dear Juniors:-I thought l would
write composition about poultry.
The Plymouth Rock chicken is one
of the leading breeds for utility pur-
poses. They are very famous for their
eggs and meat They are one among
the Oldest breeds in the United States.
Ottumwa has one of the leading
Judges of Plymouth Rock chickens in
the world.
Helen Corrigan.
121 West Myrtle St., Ottumwa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
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.
81 II any Junior has ever failed to re-
Give prize after his or her name
ppeared in this paper, it is because
he wrong address has been given us.
When we say wrong address we es-
ecially refer to incomplete addresses.
All city Juniors should put their
9Street number and all Juniors living
IA the country should put their box
BAumber or falling to have box send
~ their parents names.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Double Vision

My grandma's spectacles are queer
It's almost like game;
She says he has two pairs OF them,
Although they look the same.
One pair makes tiny things seem big,
ENLARGED" she says it's called;
The other makes big things seem
small
l s'pose they are ensmalled.
never see her change them, but she
always seems to know
Just when to see things pretty small
and when to make 'em grow!
Some days folks think I'm 'quisitive,
And bother round lot;
Her specs just twinkle as she 'splains,
"She's such little tot"
But when she gives me gingerbread,
Or cookies, for treat,
She says, "A great big girl like you
Needs lots and lots to eat!'
I saved some cho'lates for her once
Some teeny little ones
She said was IAN angel an
They looked "as big as buns!
But when l dropped my mug and made
A big spot on the mat,
She said, eft won't be seen at all,
A little thing like that!'
I'm saving all my pennies and I'm go
ing to buy two pairs
OF spectacles for father-the kind my
grandma wears.
st. Nicholas.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
THE COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
fHE COURIER PRINTING CO.
a Ottumwa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
THREE oTruMwA BOOSTERS.

Dear Juniors: We hope all tNe
Juniors will read today about the
three Ottumwa boosters, Airline Pat
ton. Doris Towers and Anterior Man.
no. You will find what Airline and
Doris are doing under the heading
"FIow 1t Started-How 1t Crew." and
what Anterior did, under the heading
what one Ottumwa boy thinks Of
David Edstrom" We hope by next
week to have many more Iowa boost
ers as we'll as Ottumwa boosters.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
Brooklyn, N. Y, Feb. 2, 1916.

Brooklyn, N. T., FeD. Z, 1910.
To the Editor New York Tribune.
Dear Sir:-I read in your paper
every morning lot about prepared
ness. My Grandpa and my great
Grandpa were soldiers. If was boy
would be soldier too, but am not,
so l want to do what I can to help.
Mamma gives me dime every week
for helping her. am sending you this
weeks dime to help build battleship
for Uncle Sam. l know a lot of other
kids who would give their errand
money if you would start fund.
am thirteen years old and go to public
school No. 8, Brooklyn.
Truly yours, ~. fv..z
.....,.,.,. Marjorie Sterrett.
| am true blue American and want
to see Uncle Sam prepared to lick all
creation like John Paul Jones did.
P. S.-Please call the battleship
America. ...y
This is the letter that Marjorie Ster-
rett, Brooklyn school girl, wrote to
The New York Tribune.
Col. Roosevelt Sends Dollar.
Three days later Marjorie received
three page letter from Theodore
Roosevelt, written in his own hand
writing, in answer to one which she
had sent him. 1t contained Shorty
cents Ca dime apiece for Oracle
Roosevelt, Richard Derby II, Theodore
Roosevelt III, and Cornelius Van
Schaak Roosevelt.
"The other sixty cents" it explained,
ARE for my other six grandchildren.
They are not born yet If they are
girls think some of them will be nam
ed Edith, Alice, Ethel, Eleanor and
Belle. If they are boys some of them
will be named Kermit, Archie, Quen-
tin and Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan
Edwards was an ancestor OF their
grandmother's, who lived in colonial
times. He was a great preacher and
a strong and good man
Marjorie's Inspiration.
These results were purely spontan-
eous. No contributions were solicited,
no benefits were given for the fund. 1t
was all as straightforward as the way
in which Marjorie came to write her
letter Her father, a gunnery SER
geant in the United States marine
corps, was speaking one evening of
battleship which the children of Ger
many had built by subscription.
IF the German children could build
!, one" said Marjorie, whose great
grandfather on her fathers side fought
the Barbary pirates and whose great
great-grandfather on her mothers
side fought through the War of 1912,
81 guess the American children can"
Then she wrote the letter to the
New York Tribune, without her faith
er's and mothers knowledge.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
WANT LETTERS.

We want the Juniors to write some
very interesting letters, "newsy'' let
tiers. 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 a box of letter paper
and envelopes, book, a friendship
link or a knife.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
|SEyEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

S3EVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.
1, Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly, using
Ink or sharp lead pencil.
8. Always sign your name in full
md state your age.
Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work.
5. Number your pages.
s. Always state choice of prize
2on separate piece of paper, with
name and address in full.
Z. Address envelope to The Cour-
Her Junior
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
acHooL coMPOsITIONS.

We want more school compositions,
ID we give one friendship
link. engraved to the writer of the
hest composition. The boys can have
II knife, hook, or friendship link.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
AN FASTER CONTEST.

We will have many beautiful prizes
to award for the best work in the
Easter contest which will open today
and close Saturday, April Is. We
want stories on the following sub
jects:
Il One Beautiful Easter Day.
q My Ancestors.
u A Letter.
n A School Composition.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08
IL Batavia Juniors
Write to the Courier
T. on Many 7 optics

Dear Juniors This is the first time
ever wrote I am going to tell you
about picnic l went to last summer.
l belonged to the home guards. Mr..
Davidson was my teacher. She got
Mr.. Davidson to take the team and hay
rack and take us to Cedar.
We started about half past nine and
got out there about - o'clock We
ate dinner and Mr.. Davidson put up a
swing. Then we went out and waded
and played games and walked around
in the woods and about four o'clock
we went home.
Mildred Durham.
Dear Juniors:-I am telling you
about my going fishing last summer.
warm, so / thought it a good time to
so fishing.
I took the potato fork and went out
behind the old house and got lot Of
worms in a can. Then l got my pole
and line and put all three things in
the buggy and started out. The creek
was two miles from home but it took
me just about twenty minutes to get
GOWN Lncre.
When l was down there and had tied
the ponies I took my lunch and pole
and line and went up the creek to fish.
sat down on the ground and baited
my hook and threw the line into the
water. l sat there long time and
was about to go to sleep when I saw
my bobber jumping up and down.
I jerched it out and on the hook
was catfish about six inches long.
took it off of my line and put it on
stick and fastened it out in the edge
of the water.
I then baited my hook and threw it
into the water again. l sat there
long time and did not catch anything
so l went on up the creek and caught
two up there. After those two were
caught I thought would eat my din
ner so I went down where had left it
and found the dog in it. picked up
rock and threw it at him but did not
hit him.
Then I went and fed the ponies and
went back to my line and found it in
the creek. I rolled up my pants leg
and waded in to the water and pulled
out a turtle. It was then 4 o'clock so
l had to go home and do my evening
work
Yours truly,
Harold Mcneil, Age 10.
Batavia, Iowa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08


tattered and torn. We went through
the capital and then climbed to the top.
Here We had view of the whole city
We then went to the historical build
ing and saw stage coach and many
other old things.
The next day we went to the fair,
where we saw prize horses, hogs and
many other things.
The next day we started for home.
Well this is all.
Gertrude Alverson, age II
y - Batavia, Iowa.
Dear Juniors:
am going to tell you about a saw
mill. When you set mill you have
to set it near creek or some place
where you can get water.
Then you get a shovel and pick and
dig hole where you are going to
set the mill and in winter when the
ground is frozen you have to blast the
hole with dynamite. Then you take
and set the saw mill on the hole so
that when you saw the logs the saw
dust will all go down in the hole and
be shoveled out. Then you line up
the engine with the mill, build a fire
in 1t and wait until you get about $50
pounds Of steam.
Then you get the canthooks and roll
the logs on the carrier and then throw
the lever that sta.*> the engine and
then there is a lever on the mill and
you move it and then the log goes to-
wards the big saw and it is cut into
boards and then the boards build
barns and sheds Lumber right from
the mill Is cheaper than lumber from
the lumber yard.
Sometimes you run out of lumber
and have no more logs. You take
your axes and saws and the team and
go into the woods and cut down some
more trees and haul. them in and
start up again. When you are saving
the saw might run into the deadlock
and sometimes the saws break and
they have to be hammered and fixed.
When you are long way from home
you take a shanty and then you can
cook meals right there at the mill.
Edwin Walker,
Box I. Batavia, Iowa.
Dear Juniors: I am going to tell
about camping trip we took last
spring about the last of April About
eighteen boys went out on Cedar
creek. Mr.. Hellor the professor, went
with us. Mr.. jaeger took the tent and
what we ate in his car. We started on
Friday after school. We got to Cedar
Creek about five o'clock.
The first thing we did when we got
out there was to set up the tent Then
and the dishes were washed we went
swimming. When we got to the tent
we told stories till time to go to bed.
The tent was about 10x15 feet. It was
very much crowded and hot.
Saturday we fshed and swan and
ferreted and in the afternoon about
five of us went to town to get some
thing that we needed. After supper
we would give one of us little while
start and try to catch him. That night
it was little cooler
Sunday morning for our Sunday
school lesson Mr.. Hellor read us the
story of the other wise man. Then
after dinner we tore down the tent
then we took a big swim and started
home
It was very hot and we had the tent
and what things were left over. We
did not go very far till we got home as
we had to go only about two miles. It
was about three o'clock. We were all
tired and hungry But am sure we all
had good time. ! should like to go
this spring.
Cyrus Durham.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08

Dear Junior:
AS have never written to the Cour-
Ter Junior, 1 will tell you about our
picnic.
One day when we were at school
we had several perfect days to our
credit so the teacher said we would
have a picnic that afternoon. She
said we would meet at Nordgreen's
store and start about 1 o'clock. When
we had all met we went down the
railroad track to Rock creek, some
going in a buggy.
We got there about 1870 and the
other children were there. When they
saw us coming they came to meet US
to help us carry the food.
When we got to Rock creek we
went up large hill and ran down
the hill having lots of fun, Two
Mexicans went down the railroad
track and we all got scared so we
we went to another place. We played
for quite while until 1t was supper
time. We went to where there were
some large shade trees. Our teacher
built large fire and we roasted and
boiled eggs.
When we had finished supper we
cleared up the table Then it was al
most time for the train so when the
train came we put nails and pins on
the track and two of the boys were
going to flag the train from the side
of the bridge.
The train nearly hit one of the boys.
After the train went by we started
about o'clock toward home down the
railroad track. I reached home about
7 o'clock.
Edith Beck, Age II.
Batavia IaWO,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-08

Dear Juniors II am telling you how
I got my foot hurt.
was up to neighbours house and
his father told his boy and to drive
some cattle. We both got horses and
5, for the timber where the cat
tie were.
We rode along the creek till we
came to the woods and then We hunt
ed the cattle and after hunting a long
while we found them and drove them
in a bunch. Then we started home As
we were going along the creek the
bank came in close tothe fence. The
boy was with rode his horse along it.
thought could do 1t too and tried
it. The horse was riding was blind and
crowded into the fence and hurt my
foot. 1t bled and got the saddle all
bloody. I started to cry and the boy
that was with me cried to. He wanted
me to ride home. I would not do it
and started to walk. 1t was a week
before could walk very far till fell
down. got up again and walked a
little way. At last l got home.
laid down and doctor was called.
It took long while to bandage it,
After that lot Of boys came to see
me and I had plenty of books to read.
day or so.
The other boy went swimming and
could not 60. l had to go to the doc
tor twice every week. 1t took three
weeks for it to get well.
Lowell Storm. Age II.
Batavia, Iowa, Route No. g.