davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Buying a Coat.

One day my mother called me and said,
 Sophie, you need a new spring coat, come with me and buy one" As we were walking down the street we saw beautiful blue coat trimmed with white.
 Mother said. 'Do you like it ?"
 Yes" I replied. So we entered the store to look at the coat.
 What do you want" asked the saleslady, as we entered the store"-~' T would like to see the coat that is in the window" said my mother. T will get it." said the saIeslady, and she took the coat down and show ed to my mother
 Fit it on my little girl" she said She did and it was just a fit.
 How much is it ?" asked my moth Five dollars"
 My mother paid the money and the lady wrapped up the coat
 Thank you" said the lady. Call again. Good bye
 ELEANOR HUNTIEY, Age II. Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Domestic Science.

Dear Uncle Jed: Thinking you would be interested in hearing about our domestic science class I am writ ing to tell you about it.
 I am in the B division, Broadway V school. The girls in our division take their cooking lesson on Wednesday from a quarter past one to a quarter past three.
 Each division has a closet in which the aprons and caps are kept.
 In the cooking room each girl has g, gas plate and a chest of drawers in which are kept the cooking utensils needed by each girl.
 Miss Grace Rogers is our cooking teacher. Besides teaching us to cook instructs us about the value of foods and the proper way of setting a ta- ble.
 In September and early October when the vegetables and fall fruits were in season. the girls in the eighth grades of the Norwich public schools canned and preserved the following: Grape conserve, apple jelly, orange marmalade, seckel pears, peaches, pears, pepper relish and tomatoes.
 These preserves were kept until wis iting day last March They were then sold at reasonable prices to those desiring them. The money received from the sale being used to purchase necessary articles for the cookins room.
 At present we are being taught to set the table properly. These lessons are very interesting and helpful.
 IRENE KIEDASCH, Age IA.
 NorTich
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Dry Mills, Maine.
Her schooIs and Studies,

Dear Uncle Jed: I thought I would write to you about my Westford Hill school.
 My teachers name was Marie Lipps. Her mother was sick so we had an other teacher named MT. Bisnal; but after her mother got better she began to teach again.
 We had nine girls and five boys which made fourteen scholars in the school.
 The name of my school Is the Ledge school because We had Q large ledge back of our schOolhOuse.
 Our supervisors name is MT. Bond who lives in Wilimantic.
 Now we have moved to Chaffeeville, so we go to school at Gurleyville. Tn this school there are thirty seven scholars.
 When I went to the Westford Hill school we had to study geography, history and language in the afternoon; and in the morning we had reading, then arithmetic. writing and spelling.
 If We missed a word in our spell ing we had to write it one hundred times after school
 When I went to that school I had four teachers. My first teachers name was Mir. Bignal. the second May Cooper, the third Lillian Amidon, and then Marie Lipps.
 PAULINE WOLFF, Age II.
 Mansfield Center
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
A Fishinq Trip.

Dear Uncle Jed: It was a warm day and a fog was just lifting. l thought it would be a good day for fishing. I went to a friend of mine who's name is Harold and asked him if he would go fishing with me.
 Harold asked his mother if he could go fishing. His mother told him he could
 My friend and I went into the gar den and dug some worms. Harold and I took fishing rods and a minnow net.
 We started for Fitchville pond where we thought 1t would be good fishing. We began fishing. In a little while my line began to shake. I knew it was a fish that was trying to get the worm. I instantly pulled in my line and caught a large black bass.
 About two minutes later my friend felt a nibble on his line He instant ly pulled his line in. He caught pumpkin seed.
 I took my net and netted some min
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Catching the Foxy Fox.

The hens were choking vigorously because they saw Tommie coming with their breakfast.
 The geese and ducks were swimming on the pond.
 The farmer was feeding his cows and . savory smell came from the kitchen telling the wife was prepar- ing breakfast
 The family were sitting down to breakfast and talking about the fu- ture, when they would harvest and sell their crops, when all at once a terri ble quacking was heard from the hen yard.
 Tom rushed out to see what was the matter and then shouted, "A fox, fox
 Father ran to get the gun. but it was too late. The fox ran off with a chicken.
 T will watch for him." said father, and so he did.
 Tn the morning he took the gun with him when he went to milk While straining the milk in a can he saw the fox on the lodges. He quickly grabbed his gun and fired. The fox dropped.
 We all ran out to the place and found. a large, grey fox. shot dead in his search for another chicken break fast So ended the life of a thief
 The town clerk gave father the bounty of one dollar and a half and the s)x was buried with much rejoic- ing.
 LOUIS RABINOwITZ.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
STORIES WRITTEN BY WIDE
 AWAKES.
A May Basket.

A May Basket.
 One day we asked my mother if we could hang a May basket.
 My mother said, "Yes'
 That night we sat down and made one. On Thursday night, May 17th, 1917, we hung it. We hung it to our netshbors' door.
 o'clock and went to the store first. Then on the way we put candy in, and many v1olets; afterwards we My sister Sophie, went to hang the May basket while my brother and I bid. Then my friend came out to find us.
 We hid behind a stone near an ap- pie tree quite near the house When ran away. I was caught last because hid again behind the barn. They did not come there, so I came out again and began to run. They saw me. At last I was caught.
 When we came in my friend gave us some candy. Afterwards we played games. The games were blind After we had played quite long in the house we went out to play.
 After we got tired of playing we went down the road. We saw a light. We did not know it was an auto. Then we saw such big lights that we ran away fast as we could. Those lights were so big that we 5hoGght they were wolf's eyes. When we went up again the auto was standing by the auto. We went home at nine o'clock.
 NELLIE MUSIAL.
 Mansfield Center.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
POETRY.
ROck-A- BYE SONG.

ge Miss Moon Is CT rockin' in de sky; Her little star caiI1un Is CT shinin' Ole Narse Sun done shet his eyes to sleep; All de little frogs is CT hollerin' Knee deep" De boot owls CT callin' to each udder in de wood. To, better shet yo' eyes up tight and be mighty good.
 Fur, sho, is you is born,
 Sumpin's gwine to ketch yo'
 Long before de dawn.
 Hush-a-gye. ma baby.
 Bye-lo-bye- All de nanny birdies Is CT singin' rock-a-bye; Baby squirrels safe in de treetops Lots of de baby stars Is up mighty late. Er waitin' fur Marse Sun ter open up All de little f1owerkins tucked up tight So sslet xo' eyes dis mint an kiver up yo' haid. An doan yo' say anul1ed word. But shet yo' eyes up tight. Fur de witches an de gobblins sho' trables in de night
 By-lo. hush-a-bye,
 Bye-Io- bye. Nellie Robertson Cannon. in the Southern Womans Magazine.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
LETTERS TO UNCLE JED.
The Poor Little BIuebirds.

Dear Uncle Jed; Two bluebirds made nest in my backyard in a crabapple tree. They were very pretty and my mother and father and I watched them from our window, and we al thought they were just lovely; but when the sparrows found out that the bluebirds were nesting in that tree they came in great numbers and started maxim g 1t very unpleasant for the little blue birds. The poor little thingsi They would try so hard to keep the spar rows away from their nest and to drive them away from the tree; but the sparrows would keep coming t1 l am sure they made the little blue birds very unhappy.
 There was a tiger colored cat that tried to get them, too. The bluebirds are not in their nest. and we do not see them any more so I don't know whether they flew away to find a new home or the cat caught them. I hope that the cat did not.
 MILDRED BLANCHE ELLIS, Age g.
 WiIIin1antic
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Rule. fer Young wri.srs.

| Write plainly on one side of the ,ansr only and number the paxen. Use pen and ink. not pencil. a Short and pointed articles will pa given preference. Do not use over ese 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 communication ec Uncle Jed Bulletin Omce-
 Whatever ycu a-S-Bs thati
 Whatever you Eay-Be truet
 Stralghtforwzrdly set,
 Be honest-in fact.
 Be nobody else but you-
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
The West Chelsea School.

Dear Uncle Jed: The West Chelsea school is situated on a rather high hill and may be seen a few miles off on a bright, clear day.
 It is a large wooden structure paint ed yellow, with white trimmings. It is a two-story building, having three en- frances, including an exit to the fire escapes in back. There are two large railways upstairs and the same mum Der at the bottom, used chiefly for passing into the large and spacious rooms, and also for dressing pur- poses. Running through alf the large rooms are a number of piss,s, heated by two large furnaces which are at tended to by a janitor.
 The school is chiefly used for edu- cational purposes and occasionally for meetings.
 Norwich
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Glasgo.
Ianitor Work.

Dear Uncle Jed: few months ago Orin Whitehouse and I were tanitors at school. He had to make the fire every morning and then he had to help me.
 We had to sweep, dust the desks, clean the erasers and wash the black boards. We had to work twelve weeks and each got s250.
 am janitor now for the third time and I get s5. I have it all alone. with the same work. which I like.
 I cannot let the children in until 1t Is half past eight
 Sometimes in the morning the fire does not burn weE but 1t usually does.
 I buy my own shoes. and I think I will buy me a nice new summer hat.
 At night when I come home I help my mother get supper.
 When she is tired I get if myself. but I have to ask her many ques-
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
eabrielIe's Employment.

Dear Uncle Jed: make use of my time at home. Tn spring I help faEhsr plant as we'll as hoe corn, bearE and potatoes.
 Tn summer rake hay. Then bIrE nuckleberries, blackberries and rasD- berries.
 plant my garden with au kiufs of flowers. and then I help my mother pull the weeds out Of her garuer5
 Tn autumn dig potatoes. husf corn. gather the vegetables. help take them to the cellar. I pick grapes and help mother make jelly.
 At home I help mother to cook fir- ner. sweep the floor. wash the tlsre7. feed the cows, chickens and uiEa. milk the cows and clean fhe barn. T crochet. sew and embroider. have very little time to play, and some dafr none at all
 thank you very much for fine love ly prize book you sent me euti-.al Ruth Fielding at Snow Camp. road it through and find it very lntereT-- ing.
 GABRTEI LIE BUJAH. AEo t4
 Mansfield Center
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
What They Do at School.

Dear Uncle Jed: Elsie McDaniels is the janitor at our school. She builds the fire and sweeps and dusts. She gets here about o'clock every morn ing and she washes the boards and puts the chalk on.
 Sophie Musial sweeps out the entry in the afternoon. If any hats and coats are down, she comes in and tells us and we go out and hang them up; and if our rubbers are not in position we go out and fix them the right way.
 Mildred does the same as Sophie, only she does it in the forenoon.
 I clap the erasers, open ts.e ven tiIator and shut it, and fir the lunch boxes right.
 In arithmetic I have multiplication examples. long division, short division, subtraction and addition examples.
 Nellie Musial passes the papers and I collect them.
 HAZEL McDANIFLS, Age g. Mansfield Center.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
UNCLE JEDs5 TALK TO WIDE
 AWAKES.

Everything Is not exactly what 1t seems to be to us The earth is whiri- ing around at the rate of 1000 miles how we spin in an automobile going z5 miles an hour. or just re-fortietn as fast
 4 glass or globe of water sitting on the table is called stiT1 water: but it isn't Water is composed Of oxygen and hydrogen gases and these are al- ways active in it. drop of ink In water will show you it moves, and 1t will keep moving until the whole water Is discoIored. This is a simple ex- pertinent to try.
 If you sit out of warm evening and look at the stars you will notice that they move: but the earth Is going through space fifty times as fast as a cannon-bal1 and you do not know 1t moves.
 Heat changes water into steam, and in this vaporous form one inch of water becomes 1900 inches of steam, and the pressure of the gases forming is done with 1t. Tn this way mills and factories are operated and boats and flying machines are propelled from 50 to 150 miles an hour.
 We talk about the heavenly bodies when we look at the stars, and many people live and die without ever having been made aware our earth is a heavenly body revolving in space just like the planets we behold in the sky.
 Every thing in nature noves-not even the rocks are stock still; but are changing all of the time Every thing is alive, but nature creates no racket in most of her wonderful and mysterious realms of industry
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
A EussN Little Violet.

Once upon a time a little violet grew in the woods. It was blue with white in the middle, and thin black lines.
 The birds sang songs, kissed it and said: ''Be glad, oh, little violet But the violet was not glad. It wished to be big and strong like the other vio- lets. It wished to have large leaves and most of all it wished to go with the big violets. But where did they go?
 One day the violet asked the tree, lets go2"
 violet"
 Then it asked the birds and the breeze, but they did not know.
 This made the violet sad. ''Wil1 no one come and pick me ?" it said
 One day @ lady came by. When she saw all the violets she said, T will pick pick some of these vfoiets, and so. she did The little violet she picked, too. Then the little violet laughed She was very proud. She did not say good bye to her old friends
 The old tree sighed but she only laughed.
 But one day she cried. Her b1os sorns were faded and the maid threw her away.
 "Oh!" she cried, but the maid did not hear her and threw her away with the rest of the violets
 Then she said, T shall never be proud again"
 ELIZABETH SIMMONS.
 South Windham.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Woods.

The wood of the cedar is strong and reddish in color. The wood of our lead pencils are cedar. Manufacturers use cedar for some kind of furniture. Cedar chests are mothproof.
 Mahogany is a, valuable wood, brown in. color, and used for making furni- ture; also, black walnut makes fine furniture.
 Rosewood, which is used in making piano cases, has a beautiful color and odor.
 There are many varieties of maple which are useful in making beautiful ly grained furniture, while the tall white pine produces useful wood which is used for building masts for ves- sells.
 Some hoasehotd furniture Is made from chestnut.
 Oak is very durable wood and used for shipbui1ding.
 Barrels, posts, fences, shingles and other things are made from ash, birch, beech, cucumber, hem1ock and hickory.
 In some regions wood is the only fuel.
 THEORA MAE BENNBTTE. Age 12.
 Ashford
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
How the Indians Made Paints.

Before the white men came the In dians made their own paints. Some times they found red clay or stones which, when they were burned, made ccaored powder; sometimes they used other minerals. Then, too, they stain- ed their faces with juices from the bark of certain trees The juices of certain berries also were used to color their skins. But white men brought paints which they wished to exchange for fuEs, and the Indians liked the paints much better.
 They used to carry their paints in little sacks made of buclzskin The palnfs were generally in the form of dry powder
 When the Indians wanted to dress up to receive company they took a lit tie of this powder and mixed it with some talow from the buffalo or with the oil which they obtained from cer- tain other animals, and rubbed the grease and paint over their faces
 JOHN WISNESKE
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07

would do with the money he earned with them. Although he offered his services at farms along the road, King could get no employment, and he only stopped in his journey eastward when he reached the broad waters of the Kennebec river at Bath.
 He was profoundly impressed with the noble stream, but as he could get no work at Bath he directed his foot steps inland, and retraced his steps westward to Topsham. Here he se- cured employ in a saWmin.
 Such was the beginning of a career noted for it's stirring incidents and it's activities in public affairs. King, all though a self-made man, was one of those rugged Americans who leave their country better than they found it. but whose lives are barely men toned in the nations history.
 E. T. LIBBY.
 Dry Mills Maine,
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
My Pat.

is yellow and white, and has double paws He can do many things. Here is one which I will mention
 One day when we were in bed, we hoard the door bell ring We waited a while then my sister and I went to the door. We asked, Who is there ?''
 Then we heard a meow, and we knew who it was. We opened the door and in bounded the cat, and gave an other meow, as if to say: Thank you for letting me i'm
 Next night he did the same and my father had locked him in the barn This worked well for a while, but aft CT that he would run away and hide.
 Then when we were in bed again he
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
A smar+ Handk.rohief

One fine day in June Jack went into the woods with his father, who was going to mend g, strip of fence They had just got fairly into the woods when there was a loud whir-r-r-r! and a mother partridge flew up almost into Jacks face, then f1uttered off among the dry leaves and bushes and made a noise and a great fuas.
 She has some little chicks. I dare say said father.
 'Oh, look, quick" said Jack There and there See the little chicks!''
 The little dar1ings!" whispered Jack under his breath.
 The mother partridge knew we'll how to call her brood together safely. Jack only saw them an instant, for they all disappeared among the leaves.
 The very next moment they found the nest full of empty egg shells and one egg that had not matched.
 Don't you suppose it would hatch father" asked Jack
 Tt might, if she stayed on it longer. I believe I will carry it home and put ready to hatch"
 So father wrapped the egg carefully in his Handkerchief, carried it out to the edge of the woods and laid it on a rock where the sun would shine and keep it warm.
 Then they went back to the woods to mend the fence. When the noon whistle blew father was all. through Come,SJack we must go TOT dinner. Aren't you hungry"
 'I believe I am," was the answer ''It makes me awful hungry to work in the woods. Oh, father, we mustn't forget the egg.''
 We'll go right to it now said fa- ther, and they did, but what do you think? ? The handkerchief was there, all unrolled, and the empty eggshell there, but the little partridge had matched out and gone.
 "I wonder if it's mother came and found it?" asked Jack after looking for it in vain
 We shall never know" said fa- ther. and they, never did know
 BEATRICE ABLE1AAN, Age II.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
uErERsoR AckhowuEeEMENr.

Miriam ShersheVsI<y, of Eorwich:- ] thank you very much for the nice prize book you gave me entitled Ruth Fielding and the Gypsies." I have read some of 1t and have found it very interesting.
 Irene Stewart, of Jewett City:-I thank you very much for the prize book you sent me entitled The Boys of the Bible I find 1t very interest ing
 Bertha AdeInan, of Yantic:I read the prize book and was very much satisfied Thank you very much.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07

don't seem to me that anything could beat 1t. The perfume from the apple orchards was so sweet one could hard ly realize it wasn't heaven.
 We had lunch under the trees, and then MT. Davis, who lives on the same farm, invited us to look the place over.
 He has planted every foot of avail able soil on the place and 1t looks as though he would have enough to feed a good many when the time comes to harvest
 Farming is great, and I hope some day I will be able to have a farm of my own.
 After an hours run, we got home about 6 o'clock, we'll paN for our days outing.
 LOUIS zIEGELMAYER, Age g.
 City
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
The Adventures of Chestnut Tree.

Oh, I wish I was-as large and. tall as the other trees, said a small chest nut tree. My brother and I are so small and the other trees are so tall that they make us seem very small, in- deed.
 The other trees keep saying: You are not patient. When we were small like you we were patient. We waited long time. Now we are large and tall. You are not patient like we were.
 We did not believe them at first but one day my brother said: Let us try to be patient for just one year. Then if we grow any more we shall be like the other trees.
 We started to be patient that vefy day.
 When the year was over we found we had grown a whole lot, 50 we thought we would keep on being pa tient until we were like the other trees.
 One sunny day two men came into the forest After talking a while they cut a. mark on the bark of my brother and I. After a while a wagon came and some men cut my brother and I down.
 After shaving my bark off they took me to a house and put me into a hole in the ground and they put some things on me and called me a teleErap ph pole. They made railroad ties of my brother.
 CAROLINE BRITTIN, Age il.
 Norwich.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
WiIIlam Has eeen Very eusy.

Dear Uncle Jed: I have been very busy taking care of my hens and chickens. have fifteen hens and a rooster and twenty chickens to take care of
 Last week I started to plant my garden. I have a garden all my own, and I planted some potatoes. corn, beans, beets, carrots. radishes and let tuce. Don't you think I will have some work to take care of all that2 I hope I will have a good harvest be- cause we need the food very much.
 Our school will be out in a week and then I will be busy working in my garden, keeping the weeds out. I hore all the Wide-Awal1es will have a gar den this summer.
 WILLIAM BOUREY, Age 10.
 ClaSRo
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Yantic.
A Robins Nest,

Dear Uncle Jed: Saturday morning I went into the shed and a robin flew up into the corner with it's beak full of dry grass, and it went back and forth many times during the day.
 Sunday morning I looked again and there was a nice big nest.
 I never thought a bird could build a nest in such a short time. It is in a good place where crows and hawks can't get the little ones. I love to watch and feed the birds.
 VIOLA M. WATSON, Age g.
 North Franklin.
Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-07
Baltic.
The Lunas.

The lungs are two large, pinkish, spongy organs which surround the heart and the large vessels, and fal up all the rest of the chest cavity. So light and spongy is their structure that piece of lung, unlike any other tissue, will float in the water.
 The right lung is the larger Of the two, and has three parts or lobes. The left lung has only two lobes. Esch lobe Is also made up of many groups of snnaEer parts called 1obules, each with it's little bronchial tube, air sacs and blood vessels.
 The chest is lined and each lung cov- cred with a smooth, delicate lining called p1eura- These two surfaces rub against each other when we breathe The lining secretes a fluid which keeps the parts always moist and prevents their bubbing on one another.
 MARY BOROVTCKA, Age 13.
 West Willin