davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
A True Story.
Versailles.

I have read Uncle Jed's talk to Wide Awake5 and I have found that We should always be eager to learn thing5-asll questions.
 ] thought l would ask some of our relatives and sec if I could find the information I wanted. At last I ob- taincd the following true story from my gTandmoJher's lips:
 A long time ago in the early part of the 18th century my great-Srand- parents lived with their first child. an infant, on a large farm. The husband, being a minister, was obliged to preach in 9 town some distance away.
 It was not long after his departure when the young wife heard a bold rarping at the door. At first, being frightened, knowing she and her baby Were alone, she refused to open the door. The rapping was repeated. She knew then her bold caller meant to gain entrance.
 Upon opening the door, what was her anazement on heholding an Indian asking for adnittanCe.
 Indians were common in those days but being alone she was a bit timid He asked for food and a bed near the
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Our Auto Trip.

This Fourth of July six of us start ed on an auto trip to Norwich. It was quite late when we left home so that we did not arrive in Norwich until after the parade was over.
 After we had looked around nearly an hour someone proposed going home by way of New London.
 When we were about seven miles from New London the tire blew out We were intending to go into New London if we could, on the flat tire. Every once in while some one would pass us and say: You've got a fiat tire"
 One place a little boy ran along be- side the machine and said to the man who was driving, Hey! Mister! You got a flat tire!"
 When we were within about Q mile of New London we met a man who said he was going to New London and would go to a garage and get some body to come out with a tire and tube. We got him the size of the tire and he started.
 We waited nearly an hour. Finally the man came and put on the tire. It was after s when we reached New London.
 We stopped and had supper, then took the ferry across to GrotOn When we landed we started for Mystic where we stopped and had ice cream. Then we started home. We arrived home about o'clock, all happy but tired.
 A. L. F. StOning+Ou
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Franks Boy,

Frank had been skating nearly the whole afternoon, for there was no school this week, and the ice was in fine order It was almost dark, and he was going home, skates in his hand, when a poor boy about as big as him. self came up to him.
 Come home with me-" said Frank, land you'll have some supper"
 The boy went gladly, and on the way Frank asked him many questions. When they got home, Frank took him to the kitchen, where Jane the cook, gave him a warm seat and plenty to eat.
 When Frank had seen settled he went upstairs to tell his father and mother about the lad.
 Don't you think, father" he said, that grandpa would like such boy He says he will be glad to work, and if mother well let me give him my old suit. I can take him to see grandpa tomorrow morning."
 Well, Frank, you try" said his fa- ther.
 So poor Fred had a good bed to sleep in that night, and next morning the two boys were to see about work, for him, Dressed in warm clothes Franks mother gave him, he looked like different boy and was very glad for his kindness.
 ROSILDA CHAMPAGNE, Age Il.
 Versailles,
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
POETRY.
THE LITTLE CAPTAIN.

By Emma A. Lente. He hears about the battles. and tho pictures closely studies The cavalry and troops and banners fire his heart; And the puzzling things he asks no general could answer, And he wishes he was grown to nobly bear part. He dons a worn old cap that his grandpa in the sixties Wore. when battles ragged in our own land;
 And he wears a sash of red with a stick sword hanging in it, And deftly beats a drum to lead his little band. He holds his head up high, and his steps he duly measures Oh, the Little Captain is so very And his followers obey him as they two by two march after, And he gives his orders quick and shrill and loud. But. o my Little Captain, may you never tread long marches, Or for safety hide in trenches, or breast a fiery hail; Or lie unknown, uncared for, with wounds and thirst and fear On ground by war sore trampled, till breath itself shall fail And, o my little Captain. may in your time be safety, And passion. hate and strife be swept aside, And earth be fair and pleasant for the treading of your footsteps, And the gentle Prince of Peace be counselor and guide!
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Books.

Books arc very intelligent friends and should be consulted often At school and at home. They are worthy friends.
 CTS could not live without them. There are books written on almost all sub jects under the sun. Education would be impossible with out some form of books. What would school be without it's history, geo. graphy, spelling, arithmetic and other text books?
 We should be thankful to the au- thors of books who have spent some times many years for the benefit of others. Great men have solved many puzzling questions; and then books have been written on these explana- tionS so all may read about them. We would scarcely know anything about the past if the wars and doings of the people had not been inscribed on rocks, parehments and other sub stances which were the first forms of books.
 The Bible which is the greatest book in the universe, could not be read by thousands of people if books had not been printed.
 In most, if not in every city, there is a public library. In these libraries one may borrow books or read the daily papers and magazines in the reading rooms.
 NIally men WHO QlQ not go 10 SEnOOl read many books.
 Abraham Lincoln, who is one of the greatest men in history, went to school only a short time, but he read many books.
 This is Abrahams description of a book when only years of age:
 THE BOOK. I'm strange contradictions; I'm new
 and I'm old, Pm often in tatters, and oft decked in
 gold
 Though I never could read, yet let
 tered I'm found; Though blind, I enIighten; though
 loose, l am bound. I'm always in black, and always in
 white; I'm grave and I'm gay, I am heavy
 and light. In form, too. I differ-Tm thick and
 I'm thin; I've no flesh and no bone; yet I'm
 covered with skin; I've more points than the compass,
 more stops than the flute l sing without voices, without speak
 ing confute; I'm English, I'm German, I'm French,
 and I'm Dutch; Some love me too fondly, some slight
 me too much; l often die soon, though I sometimes
 live ages, And no monarch alive has so many
 FLoss1E M. MEYER, Age II Taftville.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

to take care of us"
 Now Betty was surprised. It had never occurred to her that anyone had to go without things.
 That night in bed she tried to think of some way to get a. Sunday dinner for those children. On the morrow she went to the Kitchen and asked the cook to pack up a nice Sunday dinner In little wagon. She dragged the wagon over to the next door. She knocked and quickly ran away and took her favor1te seat by the window. Later when she saw the children come out with smiling faces, she was happy
 That day when her father came home instead of being in a hurry and looking worried, he seemed to have plenty of time and asked Betty to come and sit on his lap and talk with him.
 She told him how she had taken dinner to the children in the next house, and becoming very drowsy her last words were: This has been my happiest day andNI am so thankful guess if Ta went to be happy our selves we must make someone else happy"
 Then her curly head dropped on her fathers arms and she slept peacefully with al smile on her sweet little face and herB rBfather said:
 Poor little lsoul, perhaps after all I have neglected her; but from now on shall. keep in. mind the lesson she has taught me and do all in my power so make her happy.
 -. gR faGoRDoN, ,-Ase~1a.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
What Becomes of Money.

It will be a surprise to many of our readers to learn how many cents and nickels wear themselves out in their service.
 Out of the five hundred thousand pennies and three hundred thousand nickels redeemed every month at the Philadelphia mint, five out of every hundred go to the melting pot.
 The reason that cents and nickels wear out more rapidly than other coins is because they change hands oftener When the worn pieces come to the mint they are carefully parted by nin- a big pair of scissors and then sold for old metal.
 The good coins that are too much worn for further circulation are melted and recoined and started on another life of usefulness.
 Very few mutilated coins are found
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
NORWICH BULLETIN, THURsDAN JULY 27, 1e1e

tunes. were standing on the sandy shore.
 Let's all hold hands and run right in, then every girl will be wet at orce," said Pauline.
 This was a good plan so nice, pretty line of bathers was formed on the beach, waiting for the signal to start
 First came Pauline, then myself after Grace and Kathryn, Josie and Mary. and lastly Helen.
 "One! two! three!" rang the chorus, then the next instant every one was splashing around in the cool waters of the lake.
 But what we enjoyed most was to dive from the spring board. We raced in the water to see which girl would land on the float first, and Pauline and I succeeded in landing first, after came Grace and Kathryn, Mary and Josie and Helen.
 Such fun we had that day and such a lovely supper that evening when we landed home.
 ANGIE WHITE, Age 16.
 Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
storks and Ducks of a Park.

The storks and ducks of Franklin park, Boston, are very nice.
 The ducks are of all colors. Some are blue and green. These are very handsome.
 They have pond all for themselves. They like to swim in it. I think all ducks like to swim.
 The storks are large white birds. They have long legs. They stand mostly on one long red leg. The other leg is tucked under wing. They also sleep like this.
 The storks live in a large iron cage. They can go on the lawn whenever they want to.
 The storks are gentle. They do not hurt anybody unless they get angry. The keeper is usually there.
 HELEN LOWENBERGER, Age g.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Two QuarreIsome Cats.

Before I begin to Write my story I think it proper to tell the name of my cats.
 Niggar was a black cat, as you see by his name, while Tabby was a vel low and white cat
 One day while Tabby was crossing the kitchen -Niggar, who was a mean cat, dashed after him. When Tabby saw his pursuer he Immediately ra up stairs in my room and jumped on the bed. No sooner had he done this than Neggaf approached him.
 And then the fight began. At first Tabby was the victor, but after lit tie while Niggar made a vicious dash for his victim ano had successful re- suits. Tabby seeing Nigger was stronger, dashed out of the window, but Nigger did not follow him because he was afraid to juntp out Of the win dow.
 The results were that Nigger had but one scratch on the nose, while Tabby had several painful ones.
 PETER GODAIRE. OcC71D7
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
The Missing Papner.

Last spring we planted some peppers which didn't come up very good. Only four grew up, but before they ripened half of them were gone. First of all I noticed a bite in one of theEa and at last nothing remained but the green seeds.
 One day as passed the garden I heard a faint cry among the beans. I hid behind a stone wall and waited until ] found out what made the faint cry, It came closer and closer, but to my surprise it was our cat
 l didn't think of cats eating pep pers, but this cat of ours marched right up to the pepper, smelled and began to eat it.
 So the cat ate two peppers and two more were left from the whole four.
 Mother asked us if we knew any thing about the peppers, but when I told about it she could hardly believe it.
 WALTER SUPINA, Age 15.
 Stafford Springs
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
The White Peacock,

There is Q white peacock in Frank lin park, Boston. He is very hand- some.
 At night he sleeps in a large cage. Each one of the peacocks has a cage for itself. There is a pool in each cage where the peacOcks get their water. There are white peacocl1s and blue. The one this story Is about is the prettiest white one.
 Sometimes when he is very proud of himself he spreads out his beautiful tail. Oh, how beautiful it is! His whole tail is white. When it is spread out it is a very grand sight as he struts up and down the length of the lawn.
 He seems to say: See how beautiful am. I am the handsomest bird here.'
 ELIZABETH VERVEER, Age $.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Toms First Swimming Lesson.

Tom was sitting at the breakfast ta- bIe and thinking how hot it was. Just then his father came into the room and said: How would you like to learn to swim today 'N
 Tom was overjjoyed. He could think of nothing else all the morning.
 When afternoon came, Tom and his father took their bathing suits and went down to the river.
 Tom was rather afraid at first. and he would not let his father show him how. He just went into the water and stubbed his toe and fell. But be- fore his father could help him he was swimming toward the shore and so Ee learned to swim.
 J. KENDALL FULLERTON, Age s. KIDS
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

fire, which she readily granted him, being afraid to refuse.
 Upon going into her room she de- cided to lock the bedroom door, but to show that she trusted him she let it remain open.
 About midnight the Indian came into her room, carrying a long knife with which he approached the bed and drew the quilts from the baby, the mother meanwhile all of a trembIe.
 However, her fears were soon quieted when she found he only meant to measure the baby's legs and feet. Then, replacing the quilts, he went out.
 Tn the morning after he had been given a good breakfast he presented to her pair of lCggins ornamented with many coIored beads which he told her were for the baby in gratitude to her for her kindness the night before.
 This Indian was always her friend and never again was she afraid of him.
 CBCELIA SHERRY, Age 13.
 Brooklyn, N Y.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES.
The Opossum.


 The opossunn is a native of America. It is about the size of a large cat, be- ing rather more than three feet in length. the head and body measuring about twenty-two inches, and the tail fifteen.
 The opossum is a destructive animal. It eats young birds, rabbits, fruits corn, berries, and almost anything that comes it's way. Not content with the food it finds in the open country, it steals into the poultry yard and makes a meal of the chickens and the hens eggs.
 Travelling along. perhaps on the ground perhaps aloft from tree to tree, 1t makes it's way to the farm yard. With great care 1t creeps along till at last it reaches the hen-house in which it hides. As soon as the sun has set, and darkness approaches, the opossum begins it's meal with a dozen or more eggs; and then seizing the plumpest chicken runs off to it's home in the woods.
 MARY E. MURPHY, Age H. TaftYille
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.


 Celia Sterry, of Brooklyn, N. Y: I thank you many times for that beauti- ful prize book you sent me. entitled Swiss Family Robinson" I have read it through and found it to be a book not only interesting, but a book in which you may learn many things about birds and beasts.
 Walter Gavigan, of Willimantic: I received the interesting prize book you sent me. Please accept my thanks for It.
 Joseph Atwood, of Willimantic: I received the prize book Thursday. have read it and enjoyed 1t very much
 Lucy A. Garter, of Hampton; I re- ceived the prize book and thank you for it very much. I have read it and find it very interesting.
 Martha Haigey, of UncasviTe: Ac- book entitled, Daddy Darwin's Dove cote" I have read it through and found it very interesting.
 Raymond Gray, of Willimantic: I thank you for the two prize books you have given me, Ruth Fielding at Sunrise Farm" and Fred FentOn in the Line" I have enjoyed reading them very much
 Frank M. Gray. of Wilimantic: ! thank you for the prize book I receiv- ed from you, "The Submarine Boys and Middies." I think it very inter estiIG.
 Nancy Tetreauit, of Versailles: received the pHaze book you sent me. I have read it through and found it very interesting. I thank you very much for it.,
 Agnes Kan1inski, of Norwich: I thank you for the prize book which was awarded me. I read it through and have enjoyed it very much.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
The Moon.

The moon which Is a large. round, dark, heavenly body, reflectlng the light of the sun is nearer us than any heavenly bodies except meteors.
 With the naked eye we can see ob- jects which resemble the continents of the earth, also nliened to the face Of a man having nose, eyes and mouth; through telescope these are seen to be mountains and forests of this world above us.
 The moon Is not always visible be- cause the earth revolves continually. When the moon is between us and the sun it's dark side is toward us and it is invisible. This is the period of the new moon which is a crescent sun in the west. AS days go by this crescent grows larger until the full moon is visible, then it begins to grow smaller until it entirely disappears,
 This beautiful queen of night with her soft, cool and mellow rays which she sheds with mysterious splendor, is appreciated byA everyone.
 Everyone seems enchanted in her
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
Versailles
The Nest Near My Window.

One day, as looked out of my win dow 1 saw four little blue eggs.
 The mother bird sits on the eggs all day long.
 look at the eggs every day. About one week ago I saw some very small birds. They were very funny.
 As soon as l go over to the window they begin to scream. l gave them crumbs. 1 watched them every time, day by day. How they grew.
 One day my sister went to look at the birds and they flew out.
 After this I never saw them again. It is very nice to watch a birds nest with eggs until they are matched.
 ESTHER RESNICK, Age s. BOzrahVilIe.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
UNCLE JED's TALK TO WIDE
 AWAKES.

You should not believe all you read about bears, birds. or flowers.
 There are lots of people who believe the sun-fower keeps its face turned to the sun. It does not, and this was not the reason it was called the sun flower.
 Uncle Jed has a group of sun flowers and at midday some of them face east, some south east, some south. and one south west These flowers flourish best in bright sunlight and hence they are said to love the sun and hence may have been called sun flowers.
 The sun flower is a composite flow CT, or one flower composed of many, like the daisy and the aster. Growing alone it could attract no attention to itself but in a group they form a big flower that can be seen by the bees far away.
 Writing of them an author says: A school of 50 boys and girls may club together and get a flag for the whole school, a flag so large 1t can be seen miles away. Tn the same way the little flowers that make up the disc of the sunhower club together to make few large, yellow forets so that the bees can see the sun flower a long way off And then, think how well it suits the bee to have all these little flowers so close together that it can visit one after another quickly and without trouble"
 The sun-hower and the gold finch hold a close relationship, and these birds know, if you do not, that the seeds ripen from the outside row in- ward in circles, and when the first row is ripe the gold-fnch arrives to feed
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
RGIsa for Young Writers.

I. Write. plainly on one, side of the paper only, and number the pages, 2. Use pen and ink, not pencil 8. Short and pointed articles will 260 words.
 { Original stories or letters only will be used.
 5. Write your name. age and ad- dress plainly at the bottom of the story.
 Address all communications to Uncle Jed. Bulletin Ofhce.
 Whatever you are--Be thatl
 Whatever you say-Be trual
 Straightforwardly act,
 Be honest--4n fact '
 Be nobody else but you"
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
My First Cooking Lesson.

The other day my sister asked me if would like to learn to cook. She said: Let's make @ cake" The name of the cake is Butter Cake.
 l will tell you how I made it. I took a cup of butter, two cups of brown sugar, three cups of flour, two tablespoons of ground cinnamon and one egg. Then came the cream, but ter and sugar; add cinnamon and eggfh add a little flour at a time; knead until well mixed, roll out on cake board one-quarter of an inch thick, then cut with a cake cutter Bake in a hot oven until brown.
 l made a delicious cake for the first time. I wish good luck to all Wide Awalzes who try this recipe.
 like to sew, too.
 Some other time I will tell the Wide Awal1es what I have been sewing dur ing the summer vacation.
 LILLIENNE MATHDEU, Age Il.
 :Willimantic.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
The Tailor Bee.

The Tailor-bee makes her cells of pieces of leaves, and she is called the Leaf-Cutting or Tailor-bee She cuts out neat piece of the leaf, such as she needs, and then she flies away with it, carrying it with her hind legs
 As soon as the cell is done, she fills it with pollen, lays q single egg, then closes the top, and begins another cell; a single Leaf cutter makes some times as many as thirty cells in one season.
 The egg soon matches, and when the little Iarva has grown to it's full size, 1t spins a silken case within its leafy cell and by and by changes into a perfect bee, which bites it's way out of it's cell.
 JOHN WISNESKE, Age 13.
 YantiC
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

presence and everything appears changed. Daylight seems harsh when the earth is flooded with calm and magical moonlight The world seems coarse and common when the sun shines beside the earth that lies bath ed in the silvery haze Of the moon. Nothing is ungraceful in the moon light, nothing unattractfve. The gnarled trees are softened, the rude fences straggle gracefully, and rough bushes seems transhgured. The earths resembles fairyland as though touched by a magic wand; everyone forgets his cares and troubles, even the most Wretched is given new courage.
 HELEN COOMBS, Age 15.
 South Canterbury.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

man who sang of common things and am moved therefore to suggest that his remains be allowed to lie in state in the retunda of the capitol" Ar engagements were made for the burial of Rtley's body in Crown Hill cem- etery, near Indianapolis, relatives feel ing that MT. Riley should be buried where the public might asily visit his grave. Thousands of persons silently passed the Riley home in Indianapolis, while many closer friends of the poet entered the home to view the body.
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27

onies, are and of a right ought to be, free and Independent states"
 Before July all the colonies except New York had declared themselves in favor of independence.
 The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson, and was adopted in Independence Ha11, on July 4. 1776.
 So now we celebrate the Fourth of July. When boys and girls are shoot ing of frecrackers they think only of the fun of it, and not of the real mean ing of the Fourth of July.
 MARGARET McGARRY, Age 12.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1916-07-27
A Day at the Lake.

'rAfy, but isn't it hot! wouldn't a hice I splasn .1 m {he Goot waters "a 2 or the group of girls trying hard to keep cool
 ''W7hy. that's a. good ideal" cried one girl. Let's spend the afternoon at Crystal lake,
 Agreed" answered the others.
 So, after dinner, preparations were made and at o'clock seven happy girls were ready and on their way to their destination.
 Arriving at Lake View station, they all jumped off and in ten minutes were at the 'fUneda Rest" cottage.
 Such a breeze! Isn't 1t just grand? Now, girls, let's get ready for a splash"
 A few minutes later the merry group, some in red Iothers in blue. and -sfi1l others in different c0I0red cos-