davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Agnes Lucia Knox The
Little School Boy.
Dear Courier Junior:

Dear Courier Junior:
l am sending my first story and
hope you will like it. The name Of my
story is ''The Little School Boy"
Once there was little boy who had
to go through a big wood on his way to
school, When school was out he would
not come directly home but would play
along the way
One time he kept playing and did
not notice it was growing dark. Sud
denly it grew so dark he could not see
to go home, so he lay down in the
snow, for it was cold winter day and
had been showing.
The men came in from work and
still he had not come home. His moth
er was uneasy about him and said to
her husband: Have you seen any
thing of Henry?"
No said her husband. has he not
come home from school?"
NO said, his mother.
Then we must look for him." said
the father They went to look for him
and soon found him in a snow drift
where he had lain down.
The men took off their coats and
wrapped them about the little boy,
Soon he was safe by the fireside in his
mothers arms
He had learned a good lesson, and as
far as know, he never played on his
way from school again.
Agnes Luella Knox,
209 Keota ST, Ottumwa. Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Truman Sears-'Paul and
His Faithful Dog,
Danger"

Dear Juniors:
One day Paul was coming home from
school and his dog Danger was with
him.
Now Paul lived up in the Rocky
mountains in California mile from
school. He had to cross q railroad
track.
Paul came to the railroad tracks. He
heard train whistle and turned around
to call Danger when he stubbed his toe
and fell hitting his head on the oppo-
site rail knocking him unconscious.
Danger came up and saw the train
coming and that he had only few Sec
onds in which to act. So he took hold
of his sleeve and pulled him of tho
track. The engineer saw what was
happening and stopped the train. All
the tourists praised the dog. 1t happen
ed that doctor was on the train and
soon had the boy out Of danger. Danger
afterward received gold medal for
saving life. Danger was Pauis best
friend ever afterward and every other
persons friend, too.
Trumen Sears, age H.
625 w. Main ST. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Lavada Tolbert-" 1.-THE
Birthplace of My
Mother"
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
AS / have not written for good
while will write another story. The
title is The Birthplace of My Mother"
Mother was born near Richmond in
Mississippi. Their home was little
house made of large logs and dobbed
with mud. The floor was made of dirt
and boards. The door was made OF thin
boards and it swung backwards and
forwards whenever they shut it or
opened it. Whenever storm came they
had to put a big log at the door to
keep the rain and the wind out. The
chairs We're made Of willow trees trim
med thin as leather. The beds We're
wooden beds which they bought. The
water bucket was wooden. The dipper
was made of gourd. The windows
were cut on each side of the house
They lived on big cotton and tobacco
plantation. The owner of the plapta-
ton was named Thomas Crayton. He
was a very good man to them. They
stayed there or a long time and then
they moved away to Connecticut in
Mississippi where they stayed for many
years. After that they moved to Fupelo,
Miss. where her father and moth
er died in 1909. They were both nearly
100 years old. They had eighteen chill.
dren.
l.avada Tolbert, age 10,
SO Ogden ST., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Margaret Canny-A Birth
day Story.

Dear Juniors:
7 ! saw in the Junior page last week
that thev wanted the Juniors to write
letter Of some one in the family or
some friends, so ! thought | would like
to write about my aunt whose birthday
was the tenth OF September. She lives
in Morcnci Ariz.. and she is here on
visit.
She has two children. The Oldest is q
boy. His name is Michael the other a
baby girl Mary Margaret. Mary Mar
garet is two years old. and has pretty
blue eyes and golden curls. She is very
winning
They live down in the ore district Of
Arizona. Ny aunt has some specimens
of ore which | recently brought tot
school The teacher passed it around
the school room. They all thought they
We're nice There is a lot more to tell
you but hut as my letter is getting
long ! will close.
Margaret CannY. age 10.
10 S. Iowa Ave, OttGnwa. la.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Cecil Buch h oil -"Unclc
Charles Rabbit Hunt Be-
fore He Was a Soldier.

Dear Juniors:
This is my first letter to the Juniors.
am going to write a true story.
Two Years ago Uncle Charley came
over to our place to go rabbit hunting.
Papa had to get a load of wood before
he went and Uncle Charley went with
him. They got one rabbit while they
got the load of wood. They ate dinner
and We're about to go and asked
mamma if l could go with them.
Mamma said yes. got my coat and
cap and went with them. Uncle Charley
mad to go over to Uncle Johns to get
his gun. We got over to Uncle Johns
and Uncle Charley got his gun. We
went up big hill and into some brush.
We got fifteen rabbits. It was getting
dark and we had to go home for we had
a long ways to go.
But ] don't think will go a rabbit
hunting with Uncle Charley again soon
for he has gone with Co. G Third Iowa
Infantry, now the 16Sth U. s.. Infantry.
soon to go to France.
Cecil Buchholz.
Floris, Ia, f. 2.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
4 Letter to a Little
Girl From Her
Great Hunt,

When l was little girl | liked to
find and pick the wild flowers. l had
a little sister named Helen, and when
we came home from school we used to
run in the fields and in pretty grove
and gather such large bouquet that
my mother (your great-grandmother
had to give us pail to put them in.
We kept them until they faded and
then we went for some more. In May
there were anemones, violets, and but
tercups, and later there were daisies
and wild roses and many other flow
ers. Everything that blossomed we
brought home.
In the fall we used to take our little
baskets and gather acorns and other
nuts to put under the large elnl-tree
on the lawn and when the first frost
came to open the burrs, we liked to
watch the squirrels find and carry
them away.
We often played house on the top of
a huge rock in the grove, and some
times when you come to see me per.
haps you will like to climb on it, for it
is still an attractive place for children
to play.
You know how hungry little children
al Z NACll pIuy IAS, OuI VI uOOAo. N1oAAOI
times my mother used to give us our
out little chairs and all our playthings,
and thought the bread and butter and
cookies never were so good in the
house.
We had a big dog whose name was
Bose. He was black with white spots
on his tail and feet, and he liked to go
- l. h
afraid of thunder, because he didn't I'M
derstand the noise, and during storm
he would not leave the corner OF the
kitchen, which seemed to him the
safest place, and we could not coax
him to come and play with US.
My father had large barn. and in
the summer used to like to go there
and see the cows come in at night, and
4 often wondered how they knew
which stall to go into. We used to
like to play and jump on the nice soft
hay, but my father used to tell US we
must not do it, for the cows and horses
could tell by the smell that their hay
had been used for children's playing
and sometimes they refused to eat it.
We had very high swing that hung
from the rafters of the barn, and 1t
was great fun to swing in 1t. When
big brother was ready to push us way
up in the air, 1t was "the pleasantest
thing ever a child can do" as you
know Stevenson says in his verses
about swinging. He hadn't written
that nice Garden of Roses" that you
like SO much when was little girl:
but like to read his book now, and
remember how enjoyed the same
plays that he has described beautifully
for children of all ages
The barn swallows used to build
their nests in the highest part Of the
barn, and i used to like to watch them
flying in and out of the window, which
always was left open for them during
the summer. We had a pussy who
lived in the barn to catch the naughty
mice that like to eat the grain which
was kept there forl the cattle, but
those swallows were safely out of her
reach
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
/ A WONDERFUL KITTY.

My Uncle Jim is a terrible tease.
And he laughs at my kitty, Fluff.
Nov what do you s'pose that he
means by that?)-
And makes believe she's muff!
And even mother can't quite believe
That Fluffy would win a prize
In a great big show. But do; yes. sir.
And I'm sure you'd think SO If you
knew her
She has such wonderful eyes,
To begin with: first. they were shut
up tight
When she came to our house, brand
new
And then when l thought they we're
shut to stay
They opened up like bud one day
Oh, the sweetest shade of blue!
And then they changed to yellow and
green,
And now some days they are black,
When the slit swells out to great
round o,
And her tail grows big and she spits,
you know.
At Fido. and hoops her back.
But that's not all that that cat can do.
When the lamps are lit at night,
In the pitch-black dark she can light
her eyes!
My Uncle jim just gasped with sur
prise
When l showed him; they shone so
bright!
So do you think it is fair to call
kitten that does all that,
And can see in the dark, and sparkle
her fur
A wonderful INTERESTING kitty like her
Just "a common, or garden 'cat"2
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Fannie May Knox-Thc
Wreck, A True Hap :
pening of 1911.
Dear Courier Junior:

Dear Courier Junior:
This is my first story to the Junior
page. ! hope you will like my story.
The name of my stot.y is The Wreck.
Long time ago when was too young
to go to school had two sisters going
to school, One winter night in Novem-
Der, they were coming home from
school with one of the neighbor girls
that they rode to school with. They
had to cross a Sand draw. 1t was full OF
ice. water and snow al! the time so they
had to ride.
One night they We're coming home
from school. In coming down hill the
shafts and the front wheels came
loose from the back wheels so the horse
and front wheels Went ahead Of them.
My Oldest sister got dumped out over
the dashboard and her nose was skin
ned. They got up off of the ground and
put the buggy together again. When
my, sister got home she put something
on her nose. so it would not get so
sore. And in the morning she was ready
to so to school.
This story is true because 1t hap
pened in 1911.
Fannie Mae Knox, age 10.
209 West Keota ST, OttumWa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
The COURIER JUNIOR
DEPARTMENT
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.
Ottumwa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
.comFoRT KIT" THE PRIZE.


Dear Juniors: Today we have all
been helping to fix up some ,Com ,':l
kits for the soldier boys. THESE k lts
are intended for their Christmas s11ts.
into them were put the following ar.
ticles: Soap In metal or celluloio
case. small metal comb, toothbrush III
case, handkerchief, lead pencil, game
writing pad, envelopes, tooth powder IN
tin container. small steel mirror, sew
ing kit, shaving soap, tobacco IN pouch,
nine. foot powder, wash cloth ana
name and address of donor
While helping with this work the
thought came to us that perhaps some
minors would like to send Christmas
gift to his or her soldier protner'
father, friend or cousin. Wen, Inc
Courier Jr. will be glad to help with
comfort kit, but the Juniors must 40
the most work, you know. Our IDEA Is
ia offer Comfort kit as a prize for
the best story on one of the following
subjects:
NV VISIT TO CAMP DODGE.
nv SOLDIER FATHER (oR
BRoTHER).
COMPANY G.
GEN. PERSHiNG.
RED CROSS WORK.
We are sure that all the Juniors
viii work in this contest The closing
day will be Saturday, October =.
Next week we will announce the
nrize winners in the September birth
day contest.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Agnes M. Coady-A Story
About Corn.
Dear Juniors:

Dear juniors.
This is the first time have ever
written to the Courier Junior. am
sending composition about corn.
am little ear of corn. My owner
picked me off the stalk in the fall. He
handled me very kindly. He hung me
up in the attic to dry, where the rats
and mice. could not get at me. lie
left me there until spring, then he
shelled me off the cob, and put me in
sack.
My owner plowed and disked the
ground. Then he waited until
the ground got warm. He put
me in a planter and drove across the
field. He finished about the fifteenth
of May. Then in about a week he
came out to see if l was growing
was just coming through the ground.
There were a lot of weeds around me.
then man came out with a harrow,
and narrowed the field. 1t narrowed
some of my brothers out, but it killed
all the weeds We grew very fast. In
a week we were tall enough so we
could see one another in the row,
then man came along with a cultiva-
tor and went very slow SO that he
could get close to us and loosen the
earth around US. He went over this
field four times.
We are now too big to be cultivated,
so he let US alone for while. About
the first of October he turned lot
of hogs in the field and the hogs tore
the stalks down to get the corn.
1t saved the men lots of work shuck-
ing and feeding besides leaving all the
shucks and cobs in the field to be
plowed under for the next crop.
Agnes M. Coady, Age u.
Abba Iowa r r. 9. Box 70.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Ethel Boyce-s'My Friends
Birthday
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
| thought | would write about my
birthday. NV birthday Is the 18th of
September. | was born in 1909. ! was
8 years old this September.
! went to school on my birthday and
had a good time When I got home
mamma had baked me birthday cake.
I put eight candles on it and when we
ate supper lit them and they looked
so nice Then I blew them out and we
ate the cake. My teacher gave me a
handkerchief and my grandma gave me
a nice hair ribbon for my birthday.
| also wish to thank you for the prize
/ received some time ago. I thank you
very much for It..
Eythel Arvila Fite.
Eldon, Ia, r. ..
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Violet Sloan-The Little
Boy and the Fairy.

Dear Juniors:
/ am writing a school composition of
the little boy and the fairy
There was once a little boy who lived
with his father and father in a, little
house in the country. The little boy
was out picking flowers. And he got
lost. He went on and on until he came
TO a little house in tree. He stopped.
He asked the fairy to show him the
way home. The fairy showed him the
way home. The little boy said thank
you. He went home happy. He told his
mother and father he saw some flow
ers and picked and picked until he got
lost. He saw fairy and asked her the
way home He told his father that tho
fairy was kind and told him the way
home He said, thank you, to the fairy.
He never got lost again.
Viola Sloan.
1928 w. Main ST. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Vergie Fielder and Her
School at Hopkins, Mo.

Dear JuHlOTS.
This is my first letter to the Junior
page. l am going to write about our
school.
/ live in Hopkins, Mo. But we, are
camping two and one-half miles from
Pulaski. la.
Our school sets on top of hill II
has twelve rooms in It, My room is OH
the first floor. 1t has six windows in IT.
two doors and a cloak room. This
summer they were going to fix 1t so thu
high school girls can learn to cook. sew
and the boys can do carpenter work.
There are forty-six pupils in my room
Nergie Fidler. age 10,
Pulaski, Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Mary Eleanor Canny-Hel
Brother, Edward.

Dear Juniors -sss t.
I will write the story OF my brother
Edward, who was born September l.
1911
He has bright blue eyes and light
hair.
When he was one year old our fam
lily was gathered around the phono-
graph listening to some pieces. We
were all surprised to see him start to
walk He soon began to walking
quite we'll
He began to talk at the age OF
twelve months and his first words
were Mama" and Papa
Once when he was three years old.
he went into the pantry and pushed
the lock OH the door which kept him
locked in the pantry.
When he saw that he could not open
the door he began to cry and did not
know enough to push the lock. He
screamed and screamed, but Mamma
could not open the door. She went to
the window and told him to push the
bolt, but he didn't know how. he said.
In few minutes papa got home and
broke the lock- After that Edward
did not lock himself in the pantry
again
He is now six years old and thinks
he is big because he went into the sec
ond room at school,
Hoping TO see my letter in print.
close.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
OTHER SUBJECTS.

The Juniors who do not care to write
IN the above contests. can write on the
following subjects:
The Happiest Day of NY Lite.
The Boy Scouts.
A Story About Bees.
Pleasure of Working for the Rcd
Cross.
The Birthplace Of My Parents.
Ancestor Stories.
Her Best Gift.
The Good Roads Near My Home.
A Successful Boy or Girl Farmer.
The Girls and Boys Corn Club.
School Compositions.
Interesting Letters. *
Unusual Stories.
Current Events.
Soldier Stories Related by Veterans
and RetoId by Juniors.
The Hotel Ottumwa.
NY Soldier Brother.
This contest will run all through the
month Of September The writer's
can select their prizes from among the
following articles: A character doll.
letter paper, knife, ball bat. roller
skates, knitting basket. flag. book,
box of candy, school supplies or knit
ting needles.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Vernie Bevin-On He
Niece Whose Birthday
is Sept. 26.

Dear Juniors:
/ will write about my little nieces
birthday.
Her Dir hday is the twenty-sixth
She will be four years old She has
dark eyes. brown bair Her name is
Goldie Marie Halliburton She does
not go to school. She went back to
Texas and can pick cotton. will
close as my letter is getting long
Hoping to see my letter in print.
Virginia Bivin, age IL.
506 West Second ST., Ottumwa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
BIRTHDAY SONG.
BENJAMIN r. Eu!keIey.

a, Benjamin r. Eu!keIey
Here's JOY for all the years that have
brought,
And all their richness left with thee:
Here's JOY for all the years to be
Into finer issue wrought.
Here's wishing that the year may
round
Full many times along thy path.
With plenteous yield and aftermath.
Zen better than thou yet hast found.
Here's hope the best is yet to be.
With labor sure. but worthier while:
And whether skies may frown or
smile,
Here's faith that good will come to
thee.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Emily Leonore Browns
Best Friend, Imogene
/ Bequaeith.

Dear Juniors:
This is the first time have written
to the Junior Page about my hest
friend. Her name is Imogene Be.
quaeith. She is the best friend have
She has brown hair, blue eyes and is
good natured. She has two brothers
and two sisters. Her sisters names
are Leota and Retta, and her brothers
names are Lawrence and Ray
We go to school together and wa
are in the seventh grade, and are both
twelve years old.
Well, will close, hoping to see my
letter in print.
Emily Leona Brown. age IL.
Douds Leando.
Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28

take time to say a word Of all the
understanding words she knew.
She was so sorry for her badness
that she flOated off to the sky and
came down the next evening, no more
but good.
The last | saw of her, she was fast
asleep in a purple mist low upon the
sunset hills. and even in her dreams
she did one good deed. for poet
standing in his doorway saw her and
,;ade most beautiful poem about her.
One in her dreams she stirred. and
what do you think she said? "Poff.
paff, pofe, pfc. peff piff, puff. poof!"
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

We do wish the Juniors would &C.
kno~fedge their prizes.
II any Junior has ever failed to TT.
ceive a prize after it is announced
IN this column, 1t is because tha
wrong address has been given US.
When we say wrong address we es'
socially refer to incomplete addresses.
All city Juniors should put their
street number and all Juniors living
in the country should put their box
number or failing to have box send
In their parents names.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Lola Irene Bilter-Her
SchOOlmate's Birthday.

Dear Junior:
/ have school mate Her name is
Olive Wallace. Her birthday Is on
the 21st of this month, and mine Is
the 22d Of this month. / have q present
for her j will be fourteen and Olive
will be eleven.
Lola Irene Ritter. ag ella,
Fremont Ia, r. No. 4.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28

Despite the exhortations of her
teacher. small Mary persistently lag
ged during the march in the kinderga~
ten one morning.
AT last the teacher called Mary to
her side and said: Mary, dear. can't
you keep up with the music and the lit.
tie boy in front of your"
Yes answered Mary, with a beam.
ing smile. II can. but my new shoes
can't"-New York Times,
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
SCHOOL WORK.

Now that school is opened once more
we want to invite all the Juniors to
send in schol compositions each week.
The writer's can select prizes from
among the following articles: Roller
skates, book, knife. work basket, box
of candy, letter paper, or string Oh
beads.
Agnes M. Coady is the prize winner
today.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

1. Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly. using
ink or sharp lead pencil
3. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work.
s. Number your pages.
9. Always state choice OF a prize on
q separate piece of paper, with name
and address in full.
I. Address envelope to The Courier
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Marguerite Stoessel-A
New Junior.

Dear Juniors:
This is the first time have written
to you. My name is Marguerite
Stoessel. | 60 to the Irving school.
Ny teachers name is Miss Feehan. I
was born and live in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Marguerite Steossel age years.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
A Junior.
Mary Eleanor Canny, age 8,
10 Iowa Ave

-, HE little Earl of Madeley is the
siX-yearold son and heir of the
Marquis of Crewe. Lord Crewe,
in addition to his distinguished po-
litical energies and obligations, was
at ore time lieutenant in the York
shire Dragons. The present Lady
Crewe was formerly Lady Margaret
Primrose, the daughter of Lord Rose
berry
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28
Ethel Boyce-Gives Bees
Friend a Birthday
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
/ thought would write you about nv
friends birthday. She is my best friend
used to go to the school that she goes
to. We have lots Of fun on the school
ground
Her birthday is the Esd of September.
am goino to make her a hand bag for
her birthday. She will he eleven years
OLD on her birthday
Ethel Boyce. age II.
Ottumwa. Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-28

Of our
Id by
Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-09-27
knocked her down in a New York res /

knocked her down in a New York res
Itaurant because she demonstrated with
him for flirting with the hat-check
girls
He few into rage because I didn't
dress fast enough tc suit him." she
said. She further stated that he
pulled her out of bed by the hair on
one occasion at Atlantic Beach, be-
cause she didn't get up early enough
to go out on the beach and let him
take snapshots Of her
Asked by her husband If she had not
drank considerably" Mrs. Smith tes-
tifed that she had taken drinks at
her husbands whit parties, and add
ed: But / could never approach his
record"