davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
NOANK
Twenty Join First Aid cIass-specia Meeting Called to Decide Matter O PatroIman-Tempera Cadets tr Give Dance.

The first meeting Of the class to or ganize for first aid work in connec tion with the Red Cross unit wa, we'll attended and about 20 showt c their interest by becoming members Mrs. Mary Luce was chosen clas president and Miss Elizabeth Fish class secretary
 It was voted to send at once fir the text books and to hold meeting. each Monday evening, in the Re6 Cross rooms.
 A large number of women from this village attended the Sunday school institute in New London Wednesday.
 Relatives here have received word of the death of John Brewer of Brook Iyn, well known here where he visit" q frequently
 A meeting of Liberty counci Daughters of America, was held O. Wednesday evening.
 The weekly social at the rooms Of the fire company was given Wednes- day evening and proved a successful
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Rabbit.

One day in summer my brother and l went picking huckleberries- We took our dog Je6 with us. At first he kept right with us. but finally he went into clump of bushes and we did not see him for quite a few minutes. Very soon we knew where he was. for he began barking loudly and we could hear him tearing through the bushes.
 My brother said he thought he must have seen a woodchuek in the wall, so we went to the place where he was. He had already got his prey and was shaking a. pretty brown rabbit
 I felt very sorry, for I did not like to have him kill the poor rabbit and I began to scold and call him Naughty Jen!" But JeH was not easily shamed tor he began. to smell around again. Finally he stopped and parked furious ly at one spot in the wall
 2 He pulled out the stone and there we found four of the prettiest baby rabbits.
 My brother took two and I took the other two and we carried them home and you may be sure We did not pick any huckleberries that day
 As soon as we got home we began
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Flood.

Dear Uncle Jed: Years ago when my mother was but five years old there was a great flood in Jewett City. It began to rain very hard. Thinking g that it would stop in a short time, the people didn't bother about it any more than any other time it rained. But to their surprise they found out it kept on raining for an awful long time. At last it stopped raining. The water was so high Chat if the people wanted to go out they had to go in boats.
 After it stopped raining the Skaters dam burst which made the water twice as high On the bank near this dam stood a house in which Mrs. Brooks lived in. it disappeared with all the water.
 After the water had all gone down several men went in search for the house. They found it just seven miles away, in Taftville.
 This is a true story which happened years ago but has never been forgot ten.
 DORIS PARISEAU. Age 10.
 Jewett City
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
charise' Dream.

Dear Uncle Jed: I want to tell you about a little dream I had. I always feed my grandmother's chickens.
 Well, I went to the barn, got the corn and then went to the henhouse and fed the chickens. Then I came out, got my peggie and stick and started to play. when | noticed q big flock of things in the air. I thought it was a hawk when I heard a ping and a bang. ~
 I looked around and I saw the barn smoking. I ran and got grandfather's gun and shot up at the big black thing and it came down into the river near my house and to my great surprise it was an aeroplane. ran and unlock ed the boat and rowed out where it fell
 Then I heard someone call for help. I asked them what they said: We are Germans"
 I was rowing back and shouted: "Hurrah for the red, white and blue"
 I asked if they cheered the red, I;hite and blue and they said: ''No."
 I left them there to drown.
 Only a dream.
 CHARLES GUNDERMAN, Age II.
 Lisbon.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
Ths hsnest Pertuaueae.

There-was once little Portuguese living by keeping . store selling can dy. cigars, tobacco and pipes.
 Heedid not have much trade at first, but after the people were acquainted because he was very honest z One day . man bought . pipe from him, the pipe costing 25 cents, but he gave the Portuguese 90 cents by mis- take When the storekeeper noticed the mans mistake he went to the mans house and gave him his five cents back.
 Ever since he did this honest act the people have liked him and he has got enough trade to become rich.
 Honesty is the best policy.
 ALVIN LACHAFELLE, Age IF.
 Canterbury.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Newfoundland poa.

The Newfoundland dog is found on the island of Newfoundland. It is larger than the Esquimau dog and is generally black and white, although there are some yellow ones. It is handsome, has long curly hair, . bushy tail. large hanging ears, and bright eyes. It is very strong, is intelligent, kind and trusty, and is one of the best of water dogs. Many stories are told of the brightness Of Newfoundland dogs.
 A gentleman who was spending the summer at seaside watering place was accustomed to walk in the evening along the quay with a fine Newfound- land dog. The dog delighted to play In the water, and his master often sent him to fetch things. to the great amusement Of the people who gathered on the quay to see him swim and dive.
 Captain. for this was the dogs name, soon became great pet, and everyone
 One day another gentleznan. a major in the army, came, bringing with him two bulldogs of great size and strength. On the first day the new swan and dived in his usual way; but on the second evening. when he was following his master along the quay. one of the brutes flew at him and Captain fought braveiy. the bulldog came on the victor and could not be made to give up his hold until his jaws were forced open with an iron bar.
 Poor Captain went home linping and bleeding and did not come to the water side again for several days, and when he did appear he looked much crest fallen and stuck close to his masters heels, with his tail between his legs
 One evening about ten days after the fight the major and his bulldogs etopped close by the edge of the quay 70 look at something in the water.
 Captain, who was just then passing with his master, saw that his time had come. and epringing with all his strength upon his conqueror caught him by the back of the neck and jumped with him into the sea- The bulldog could do but little in the wa ter, for Captain kept his head under all the time.
 The people were giad to see the bulldog punished and would not give him any aid.
 The major shouted: My dog, My beautiful dogt Win no one save him%' But no one stirred.
 At last. seeing that his dog was
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
How R.ner is Made.

Not long ago I visited a paper mill. It was a low, long. brick building with tall chimneys and plenty of big win dows, built by the side of flowing river, where the water helps to force the machinery inside, and gives pure water also for mixing the paper pulp. I will tell you what know of these interesting mills and then you may try to make a little paper yourself by using a fine wire screen or sieve. All paper is not made from the same materials, however; the newspapers from wood fibre, the coarse -four sacks from vessels worn ropes and tattered sails and osd baggfng, but the finest and most beautiful paper is made from rags-cotton and nnen- Yes, all those rags which your mother sold to the other rags, bags and sent to the paper mill. And here they meet more bright colored clippings and snippings from the factories where hundreds of little dresses and waists and aprons and skirts are being daily cut from new cotton cloth. All these pieces. you see, are not thrown away, but are carefully bundled and sent to the paper mill, too, where they are taken into the same room with the ragbag scraps, to be assorted and picked over, that there may be no hooks or buttons on them
 Now the real work begins The cut ting machines take these rags and snip them and cut them into bits no bigger
 
 the iron cylinder shaped boilers, where they are steamed and turned and boil ed for about twelve hours, or until they are all soft. Then they are dumped into the round washing tubs and mix ed and mixed about with the fresh river water until the old rag coloring is all gone and they are a loose. white, pulpy mass, to be still beaten and whipped and stirred until every thread is separated, and this is what is called the paper pulp.
 Now more water carries it and dis tributes it very thinly over a moving, shaking, fine wire screen, and as the water drips away underneath the forming and drying paper is gently carried by this wire carrier to a long, thick, wool blanket. around and up and down and over steamheated cylinders, until it is quite dry and ready to be ironed smooth and hard in more iron ing cylinders; and now the rag paper is finished and stands in a heavy white roll in the shipping room, ready to be carried out into the busy world of work.
 GARRIELLA BUJAK, Age 13.
 Mau<AaId~
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
An Old Fashiensd Country Hou..

Dear Uncle Jed: I will tell you about an old fashioned country house. During my Easter vacation I went to my uncle's farm out in the country. I had a very pleasant time. The house was an old fashioned one. The kit chen was the most pleasant room in the house. There was an open fire knitting, popping corn and singing hymns.
 To go into the cupboard there was a little staircase about three steps. The best thing of all was the old fashioned wooden clock which was from the ceiling to the floor.
 Hope the Wide Awakes had a pleas ant time during their Easter vacation.
 AMANDA LEMOINE, Age 12.
 Baltic.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Sheen and the Birds.

A father and his son were once sit ting under a tree upon hill. It was near sunset, and a flock of sheep were feeding near them
 A strange man came along who had a dog with him. As soon as the sheep saw the dog they became alarmed and ran into some thorny bushes which grew near by Some Of their wool caught upon the thorns and was torn off
 When the boy saw this he was troubled and said: See. father, how the thorns tear away the wool from the poor sheep. These bushes ought to be cut down so that hereafter they may not harm the sheep"
 As they were speaking a bird flew down among the bushes, picked off a tuft of wool and carried it away in his beak to a high tree See said the father. with this wool the bird is making a soft bed for it's young in the nest. How comfortable the little ones will be! and the sheep could we'll spare a little of their fleece. Do you now think it we'll to cut down the bushes ?'
 'No,' said the boy, I've will let them stand''
 Remember, my son." said the fa- ther, that we are all dependent on one another. It seemed to you very hard that the poor sheep should lose their wool, but now you see that without this wool the little bird could not nave its warm nest"
 CLARISSA N. CHAPMAN, Age 14.
 Yantic.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
Pussy and Rover.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am going to write you about my kitten, and there Is a dog down stairs where I live l am going to write about him also
 He is a very large dog and is a light color. My kitten is all white and is not quite a year old. She is full of fun and wants to know everything that is going on.
 Whenever give something to my cat to eat. Rover takes it away He wants it for himself.
 One day Rover got mad. He was in the window. He jumped right through the window and broke the window right in half. He did not get very badly cut I think he is more of a hunting dog.
 have a baby brother and he is all most two years old He Is always playing with Pussy
 My father was on a farm in Jewett City and he asked the farmer if he could give him a cat. and the farmer said he would give him the best eat. So this is the cat he gave him.
 She is very fond of puffed wheat. In the night if she smells something she is ready to go over and see what it is Often put a handful of wheat on the floor and sometimes she will pick one of the kernels up with her paw and put it in her mouth I think she is a very nice kitten. don't you?
 HELEN BROWMAN. Age II.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
THE WINNERS OF PRIZE BOOKS,

1-Deris Pariseau, of Jewett City Phil Bradley at the Wheel. 2-charlss Gunderman, of Lisbon The Strange Cabin on Catamount Is- land.
 3-Heien Kahn, of Yantic-The Chums of the Campfire.
 4-Leeoy Congdon, of Moosup- Af1oat on the Flood.
 5-Gabrielle Bujak,. of Mansfield Center-Ruth Fielding at Snow Camp.
 e-HsIen J. kurtx, of Yantic-Harry Watson's High School Days.
 T-Annie MeGrath, of Yantic-Ruth Fielding Down in Dixie.
 SHAnena Hailoway,. of Plainfleld- Dave Dashaway Around the Worhe.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
POETRY.
PAS SOFT SPOT.

By D. A. Ellsworth. -All folks hev some soft spot"
 Ma uster say; ''Somethin' or mother
 Comes out some day; Comes out fore they know it.
 Jest like as not Wen us hidsd say. 'Ma,
 Whats your sof spot" An we'd Keep a-plaguin'. q wish t you youngins
 ID run away! Ask your pa bout his'n.
 An like ez not, He'll tell you w1llin'ly
 Whats his sof spot" Men we'd gree to ask him
 That veryuay; When his train'd whistle
 Why, right away Wed jest skeddle
 Clean 'cross the lot. To be first to ask pa
 Whats his sof' spot Pa, he'd say. My sof' spot?
 Never he'd none." Wouldn't tell us neither.
 But jest make fun: Then he'd tell his brakeman He'd say. Great lot. Think you're goin' to tell em Whats your sof spot!" Men we'd all go home.
 An after while Pad tell ma bout 1t,
 Am ma she'd smile; We'd 'gin a-guessin',
 Till pad say, Troti Time you kids was drearnin' In some sof' spot" An pad never tell us,
 When he wuz in; Evry trip he came home
 We'd gin agin: Onct George sex when prayins He prayed a lot. "Pleast, God. wisht you'd tell us What's pas sof' spot!" One day the opurat'r
 SeEt word by Bert There he'd bin a washout.
 An pa wuz hurt; Engineer wuz hurt. too.
 An both might die; Pa wanted to see us
 To say good-by. We wuz ali so still
 When we went in; They wuz holdin' pa up.
 A-fannin' him: An pa sex, 'I may die
 Jest like ez not, Tell the children I sed
 They's my soft spot!'' But our pa didn't die,
 He jist got well; We vuz all so happy,
 Couldn't gin to tell. Cause we all loved our pa. A great big lot, guess God saw we wuz Pas sof spot
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
a.is. fer veuna w-itsrs.

1. Weeaa plainy on enc AfAe c& the papew only. ams number the paSAA q UN@ nmm ana ink n~e peacM g. HhoFR Aad pa&nksd articles vtii os gi san prNference. Do not usa osef 2So words.
 {. Osa1inal stories or lstfsrs only wal be used.
 C. Write your name, age ana Ad" dFaos plainly at the bottom of the story. Address all communications t. Uncle Jed, Bulletin once
 ssWhatever ycu ar-Be that!
 Whatever you Iay---6@ truet
 Straightforwardly act
 Be honest-in fact,
 Be nobody else but you"
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26

drowning he called out: 'T will give 50 pounds to anyone who will save my dog!"
 Then some men went out in a boat and rescued the bulldog, which was so nearly drowned that it was with great difficulty brought to itself again.
 Captain swan in triumph to the shore, amid the shouts of the people, who rejoiced with him in his victory over the ugly brute.
 PELAGIA KURTZ, Age 13.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
csmo Fire Girls Hike,

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought 1 would write and tell you about the first hike we have taken since we started our ca ampfire We started at half pa st two with twelve girls. We walked up Bradford Hill.
 One of the girls had a camera and took some pictures. On the way we went through the woods and it was very nice. We came to a,<brook and stepped and took some pictures of it.
 We found some pussy willows and saw some birds We found some skunk cabbage and thought it was jack in the pulpit. We stopped at a farm and got a drink of cold water. We got home about half past five. We were all tired for we had walked six miles
 ANONA HOLLOWAY, Age 12.
 Plainfield.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
Visiting Grandpa's Farm.

Dear Uncle Jed: I think the Wide Awakes would like to hear of my spending my vacation on grandpa's farm.
 I went away on Monday and stayed there for one week. While I was there my grandfather let me milk the COW and feed the Chickens.
 If go to the farm the next va cation he will give me a small chicken. chicken. me to go home for it was Saturday morning and I started at 1915 and got home at II o'clock
 My mother was glad. to sec me and made dinner right away as was hun gry. I told her I had a very nice time and she was glad I did.
 HELEN KELLY, Age 9.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Birds She Knows.

Dear Uncle Jed: I am going to tell you about the birds know around my house. There is quite variety. I have a Bird Guide and if I see a bird that I do not know I look at it and get it's colors. Then I look it up in my bird book
 Some of the birds that are com- monly around my house are the fol- lowing
 Robins. starlings, red-wing black birds, Pheobes, nuthatches, downy woodpeckers and several kinds of sparrows. The English sparrow is one, too. I care the least for them- I know a lot more birds besides those I have mentioned
 like to study about birds and watch the different motions of them. hope there are more of the Wide Awakes who like to study about birds.
 HELEN KAHN. Yantic.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
A Trip to the Beach.

Dear Uncle Jed: I want to tell you about trip to the beach last sum mer We went on the Block Island at g o'clock and reached Watch Hill at 12. I went in swimming for an hour while my mother and father sat on the beach I finished dressing. ] had some rides on the merry-go-round and then went back to the beach. Soon the boat came. We reached home at half past six. I had a fine time.
 CATHERINE M'VEHGH, Age s.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
SToRlES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAkES.
An Encounter With a Tramp.

 One day last summer when we had our vacation went to visit my aunt who lived in tho country. was go- Ing to stay there a month. my aunt and uncle were going to the city, and I and my cousin, whose name Is Mary. were to stay at home. My aunt had our dinner ready. made because she thought we didn't know how to cook. After my aunt rode away we were very lonesome.
 Mary said. Let us play with our
 So we played part of the time, then went into the kitchen and I saw that 1t was twelve o'clock I told Mary that it was dinner time. We did not go into the dining room to eat our dinner as there were only two of us-
 After dinner I had to wash the dishes. while Mary was in the other room looking for something. Just as finished wfping the last dish the doors opened and an old man was His figure was small and shrunken, his hair was long. and snow-white. He wore a broad felt hat and a brown plaid shaw across his bent shoulders. then he broke in saying:
 "HelloI little gal. won't you give me something to eat?'
 I said. Alright, Just wait till I put these Q1ShSS mo the CupDOarQ- Then gave him something to eat
 By the way he ate I thought he had not eaten for many aday.
 Mary heard me talking so she came Into the kitchen. She saw the old man eating his dinner. and she ask ed me who he was I said:
 T don't know, but I'll ask him."
 What is your nane?"
 Marion Dennis" was the reply. Mary said she never heard that name before.
 After he had eaten his dinner he said: What can do to pay for my dinnerr'
 'T said. If you want to. you can chop some wood"
 Alright" said he. and went of Half an hour afterwards I went to tho wood pile and saw him chopping wood. As he was quite old, he ece3ldNtt chop very well. I told him he had chopped enough bless ye. lirtie sal. for the dinner ye gave me"
 said that it is all right: and be- sfdea. ycu've paid for it."
 Whea Hay amt and uncle came hcsns teld her the story, She said the Htery made her very happy to knew hew brave and kind we were. Yanti..
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
Yantic.
FIuHy's Birthday.

Dear Uncle Jed: A great event hap pened in my life short time ago. On the twenty-third of March I was a year old A lady sent me a. cute card with the kind of written message a pussy could understand.
 The mail that day brought a doll from my mistreas's sister, the head looked so much like a handle that the drst thing I did was to take it in my mouth and shake it. I wished it would make a noise. as there's not much fun playing with dolls that can't be heard; i; although I wouldn't wish the donor to
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
They Found Uncle.

Once there lived out west a little brother and sister. It was half mile to go to the town and there were very few houses about. Their father had died when they were small children and their mother worked hard for a living.
 The children helped their mother the best they could. The mother soon grew weak and died. The children were left with a kind neighbor. On her dying bed she wrote a letter. This was the letter:
 After I die if ever you find a man who is called John Erase take my chil- dren to him, for he is their uncle. The fast I heard of him was he lived in New York city.
 MRS. HHDEN. The kind woman was poor, so the the kind lady in sewing and other use ful things.
 One day John went out for a walk dressed somewhat better than the peo- pie were dressed where he lived.
 The man walked up to John and said: Do you know a family by the name of Hilden?"
 John looked startled and said: That's mel" Then John told him about his mothers death, and the man told him he was sent there by John Erase
 The man took the children to New York. and they lived happy ever
 BEATRICE AHLEMAN Age II
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26

making . house for them. Two of them have died but we still have two and they are quite tame.
 ANNIE NsGRATH, Age F.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
The Bitter End.


 The derivation of the often-used phrase, ito the bitter end" is explain ed by . veteran officer as follows: It is a nautical term If you have ever been on a big ship you must have noticed two large pieces of timber sticking up out of the deck forward alongside each other. They sometimes have a windiass between them and they are used to secure the anchor cable These pieces of wood are call ed the butts.'
 When the ship comes to anchor and the cable is paid out, all that part of 1t which is abaft, or behind the butts is called the bitter end of the cable. In a storm. or in poor holding ground for the anchors the more cable that is paid out the better the anchor will hold.
 When the captain is at all doubtful he pays out his cable to the bitter end sooner than risk any harm to his ship.
 ALBERT MATHEwsoN, Age g. Versailles.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
YanHs
The Sea Star,

'soA! sea that pretty moss! It is Ills . stArt''
 A wMs eAinwing eo n rock by the eenahore. fe was not moss, but an
 m ss q ssa star, Nellie, or a star nsh. as some people can it. Take it in ycur hand. You wiil not be hurt
 .WhY uuels JoAn. he is all legs. Where are his eyes and nceee"
 The sea a1Ar has neither eyes. feet
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26

ed to her home in New London after a lengthy stay here.
 Mrs. Minnie T. VaIlette is caring for a patient in old Mystic.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-26
Jimmie.

~isnFltG.
 Jimmie was sitting on his doorstep when a crowd of boys passed, going fishing. Jimmie jumped up and went into the sittingroom where his mother was dusting.
 Mother, may I go fishing down on Leary'S lake?" he said.
 No. dear" answered his mother But after a bit of arguing, Mrs White said Jimmie could go. So she fixed him a lunch and he started off.
 He had not gone far when he heard a woodcutter chopping trees. He ask ed him for a pole, which the wood ter gave to him. Then he walked on until he came to the lake. He threwi his line. then drew it up and discov- cred he had no bait. He started to cry, but that would do him no good. So he caught some grasshoppers. and threw his line again, and it caught under a rock, then he fell in. The lake was deep and Jimmie crawled out, wet and muddy.
 When he got home he was tired and sleepy.
 .fMother," said he. T will never go fishing again."
 MONTCALM GAUTHTER, Age 10.
 Brooklyn