davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
WASHiNGToN'S INTEREST IN
CHILDREN.

During Washington's campaigns, nu-
merous instances are told of his notice
of. and kindness to. children. sometimes
very little ones. Mrs. Bowers, an >old
lady of Cooperstown, n. Y. used to tell
how. when she was a little three year
old tot, General Washington once stop
ped at her mothers and how, dignifted
as he was. he could condescend to
amuse a little child. When her mother
left the room for a few minutes. she
was taken upon the generals knee, and
trotted as he sang the ludicrous rhyme,
There was an old, old man and an old.
old oman
They lived in a vinegar bottle togeth-
err.
SHELTERED alike from wind and from
weather,
They lived in a vinegar bottle to-
gether,"
repeating the last line several times for
n chorus. When her mother returned to
the parlor, the general old how he
had been occupied In her absence, add
ing, 1.-THE little Jade wished to know
how the old people escaped from the
bottle; and before I had time to reply
to her question. h anticipated me by
saying. 4 guess. General. they knocked
Off the neck!"-H. A. Ogden, in st.
Nicholas.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Orvetta Writes About Iowa;
Moves to Peoria

Dear Courier Junior:
This is my first letter to the Junior
and as we will soon move away ]
thought I would write one letter be-
fore we go.
| have lived in Iowa seven years and
have liked to live here very much.
Our home was in Allentown, ILL.,. and
we came out here when | was but a
little girl Of four years.
have two sisters and two brothers.
We all 90 to school except by little
sister and she is too young.
We are going to have a sale and
to Peoria, H.. only eighteen
miles from our old home.
I have always lived on a farm in
the country so | do not know whether
I will like the city or not. Peoria is
a nice place and has many beautiful
parks and places of amusement. The
schools are different from those in the
country.
My sister has two ponies and she
wants to live In the country so she
can keep them. She likes to drive to
school. We have two miles to go.
0rvetta Finks. Age II.
r. 3. Blakesburg, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Katie NJ. Ward on Easter
Day

Dear Editor:
I have write to the Junior page be-
fore and thought would like to write
for the Easter contest.
Easter is celebrated to commemor-
ate the resurrection Of our Savioor
from the dead. His death occurred on
Good Friday. Easter then should be a
joyful occasion. We have the sadness
of Good Friday and Easter Saturday
closes the lenten season. All the
gloom and sadness should be displaced
by the glorious resurrection OF Easter
morn. We celebrate it by having the
Easter tokens. Easter eggs are color
ed and used everywhere. We see the
Easter rabbits. the little chickens In
various ways. We have the candy
eggs and a little cotton hen to set -
them.
I believe this Is all I can tell about
Easter.
Katie NJ. Ward. Age 9.
r. 5, Box 67. Melrose, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Bernice Baldwin - I'M,
Grand parents, the
Baldwins"
Dear Juniors.

Dear Juniors:
AS l have not written to the Courier
Junior for a long time, I thought I
would write about my Grandmother
and Grandfather Baldwin.
My grandfather was born February
%, 1887. He had three brothers and
four sisters, and two sisters are
living. Grandfather Baldwin died
August q, 1907 He died at the age
of 70 years, 6 months and 3 days. He
was born in Guernsey county, Ohio. He
came to Iowa in 1910 and located with
his parents four miles northwest Of
Birmingham. He was married to Miss
Esther Bennett December IS, 1856. To
them were born ten children: William
Baldwin. James Baldwin, Beadie Dus.
tin. Rosetta J. Dustin. Newton M.
Baldwin, Edward Baldwin. Sadie j.
Woodrow. Anna Anderson, Garfield
Baldwin. Grace Johnston, four Of whom
are dead now, William, James, Beadie
and Edward.
Bernice Baldwin, Age II.
r. 1, Box s. Birmingham, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Violet Hults on The Birds

Dear Junior:
As l have not written to the Courier
for a long while / will join the contest.
| will take for my subject, Birds.
| love all the birds but l am particu.
larly fond of bluebirds and robins.
Every summer a pair Of bluebirds
build their nest in a hole in one Of the
fence posts around our yard. They
generally lay three eggs.
Last summer u old cat Tabby
caught the female bird and the male
sat upon the eggs and when they
Matched the old bluebird certainly had
a busy time caring for his family. He
scarcely had time to eat anything. But
he raised all three of the birds and he
with his family vas ready to go to
the warm, sunny south in the fall.
Violet Hults, Age 13.
r. l. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Cleo Lee = Poor Little
Girl

Dear Juniors:
I am going to tell you a story Of a
poor little girl.
One winter day you might have seen
"a little girl going up Washington
street. She had no father, no mother,
no home, no nothing. but her pink cal.
leo dress, her big rubbers, her little
shawl and her long name. She went
from Washington street to Canary
street and came to a large hotel.
Whether the doorkeeper was lazy or
not, Mary Elizabeth managed to get in.
She passed the ticket agent but no one
saw her except a rich little girl eating
candy. But Mary Elizabeth did not
notice. She passed a Don that said
dining ROOM" then she came to a
place that said smoking" She won
dered il there were any extra suppers
for an extra little girl. She went in
the smoking room and held out her
little hand and said. I'm hungry She
went up to a mar but he put the news
paper up to hide them, then when no
one was looking he put a five cent
piece in Mary Elizabeth's hand quick
Nv as II he had committed sin. Mary
Elizabeth saw another man with
brown curly hair and his head buried
in his arms. She went up 70 him. The
man caught her in his arms and said,
''What is your name""
MARY Elizabeth, sir
"Where is vour father9'
dead, sir"
What made him die"
Drink"
"Well, wait and 7 will see if ! can
get enough money to get your %supuer."
And sure enough Mary Elizabeth got
$40 and went down the street happy
and gay.
Cleo Lee. Age II.
Ottumwa. Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
The Lambert Twins-"Ques
tons and Answers"
Dear Junior:

Acdl JuuAOl
l am half Of twins. My name is
Lucille and my other half is Camille.
I am the half that asks the questions
and my other half profits by them.
One day last summer my half and
went to an adjoining town to visit for
the day and having a little extra time
on our hands we called upon one more
girl that we knew who has no sisters
but has seven brothers from 2 years to
grown up. Her mother vas very deaf,
but a dear. good lady and as we had
not seen them for quite a while my
other half. Camille. as usual placed me
in the lead to ring the door bell, which
l did.
The lady came to the door and did
not remember me at first and I said in
a loud voice, Were the twins"
She didn't hear and said, "What?'
I felt awful red and made a horn
Of my hands and said still louder II
didn't know I had such a tremendous
voice, everyone was so quiet but mel,
Were the twins"
She smiled and said, ooh. Where is
the other one?"
! looked around for my other half
in time to see her step around the cor
ner as though she had Just walked up
on the scene. l promised myself to
get even later.
We went in and had a very nice
visit.
The little boys did their best to en-
terrain us, as well as u girl friend.
They asked us all about our school
and our grade and one little boy asked
me how they played marbles in OF
tumwa--did they shoot them or did
they PUNK them.
My brain worked very fast Just then
as 7 did not wish to be outdone in
7 told him I felt quite sure they
plunked them. but I resolved to ask
my brother when I returned home as
he knows everything boys always do.
We sat there doing our best to an
swcr all questions correctly. And, by
the way. we are called upon to answer
quite a few, for instance, a little girl
asked us how we could tell each other
apart in the dark. Well. we sat there
and did our best to be polite. We
didn't feel the least bit like LAUGHING
but we would answer a question and
then gieeIe politely. then answer an
and repeat the gigele.
Then it flashed through my brain
how funny everything vas and my 9th
half always thinks the same thing
I do at the same time, and then we
both wanted to laugh when there
a thing to laugh at.
NY other half said we had better be
and excused us. | couldn't talk.
They asked us to call AGAIN. My 9th
pr half said we would. ! was out of
doors by this time. I knew it wasn't
safe to stay any longer or | would have
lissraced all my lessons in good man.
lers.
While waiting for the train my half
and | had a picture show to ourselves
and we were the star performers. VIII
one plesase answer this ques-
ion: Why is it when one should laugh
,ne can't and when one shouldn't one
IAN?
Lucille and Camille Lambert, Age IA.
BIG Mcpherson st. Ottumwa. la.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Eythel Arvilla
mas Trip From Germany

Dear Juniors:
AS ] have neve written to the
Junior before, l thought I would write
about my grandma's trip from Ger.
many.
In August, 1865, my Grandma
Deborn started from, Europe tc
America. She was on the water seven.
teen days. Her Oldest brother came
off from the ship and they had a bad
storm. The ship rocked so that all
the tinware fell down. She said it
frightened her almost to death. There
were ships passed them and they all
waved to each other. The name Of
the ship she came on was Harsaw.
love to hear my grandma tell what
they did in Germany.
Her parents died when she was II
years old. SO she was left an orphan
very young. She was 10 years old
when she came to America.
In Germany the women work mostly
lagos and their farm land lays around
them And my grandma worked in
the field most of the time. When they
baked bread there they would prepare
it all ready for baking and then they
would take it to the baker and have
them bake it In their big ovens. They
would sometimes bake enough to last
them two weeks. 1t was mostly rye
bread they had to eat.
AS my story is getting long I will
close, hoping to see 1t in print. NY
papa takes The Courier and | like ia
read The Courier Junior.
Eythel Arvilla Fite, age 7.
Eldon, Iowa, r. r. No. 2.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Lois Currie on Idaho
Dear Juniors:

bedT JuulOTS.
Since this is the second time I have
written to you. l will write more abou'
Idaho.
lived in Idaho in the Wood river
mining mining district in Blame county
and the town in which I lived was
Haley, the county seat.
Haley is a lovely place in the sum
mer. There is lots of trout fishing and
also fine hunting.
n summer hunting are birds, such
as grouse, sage hens, and Chinese
~pheasants and in the winter the hunt.
ing is for big game such as, bear, deer
mountain goats, mountain sheep, foxes
OF different colors, bobcats, mink,
jagar n many others.
There is a great deal of snow there
in the winter. and as the country is
IN the Sawtooth National range (park)
mountains. They are called the Saw
tooth on account of the rough ragged
peaks and they resemble a sawtooth.
In these mountains are a great
many quartz mines and also other
mines. They contain lead, silver. cop
per and gold.
In the valleys they raise a variety
of crops. such as alfalfa, oats, wheat,
rye, barley, timothy and clover. They
raise some fruit. such as, pears, ap.
pies. cherries. strawberries and rasp-
berries. They also raise various kinds
Fof vegetables. potatoes, turnips, cab
bage, and parsnips. The Chinese do
most of the gardening. The altitude
is too high for tomatoes and such.
The elevation at HALEY is $685. feet
above sea level.
The Wood river country is noted for
it's stock grazing. In the summer
there are thousands of sheep brought
to that country to craze upon the land
in the mountains and forests Of which
the U. S. Government allotted to each
man a certain amount of territory on
which he is to stay to preserve the
feed and also the timber. I don't mean
that he has to stay alone. 1t is his
men that is working for him.
The government has men to watch
the forests. They are paid by the for
est reserve. These men are dressed in
uniforms of gray or olive drab.
The forests soldiers have several
duties to perform. They have to live
in houses in the mountains in sum-.
rner and ONE of them live there in
the winter, and. some OF them live in
town in the winter, working at the
forest headquarters drawing maps Of
the forests and making sign boards
for various purposes for the reseve.
They have signs at canyon creeks,
also at each trail and road, telling
name Of the creek and where the road
or trail leads to. 1t is a grand system
| think.
They stamp every tree that is cut
with the brand U. s.
There are different kinds of timber
growing there fir, spruce, black and
yellow pine. elder, cottonwood. quach-
inasp. and willows. Fir is the most
generally used for timber and fire.
wood.
I will tell you some more next time
hoping to see my letter in print. If you
want to know more write to
Lou Currie.
General delivery. Bloomfield, Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Dorothy Christie's School
Composition - The
Little Spy

Mother" shouted one of Mary
lands sons as he ran in the door. 81
am going to join the army. There is
a captain coming tomorrow who will
take recruits and I am going with
him. I'll show those blamed rebels
that they can't kill a father without
his son coming back at EN-"
My SOM" exclaimed a quiet little
woman who was sewing in a low
chair, "how you frightened me, COM
ing IN that way. You say there is a
captain coming tomorrow whom you
can go with? Well, you may 20 IL they
Will let you, but l am not sure they
will on account Of your weak eyes. You
know you NUT have very good eyes to
join the army"
ooh, may I really go? I thought
maybe you would rather have me
stay"
II would, Robert, but l am not think
ing of myself, son, I am thinking of
the union and the slaves" his mother
told him with a proud lift of her head.
The next afternoon Robert Mackey
slowly opened the door OF his home
and walked in, sat down In a chair and
all OF a sudden threw his head in his
arms and began to cry.
why son, what is the matter?
Wouldn't they let you join? ?" his moth
err asked as she came into the room.
!" No. Said I had too bad eyes,
couldn't SEE far enough" came a muf-
Ned voice. But I'll show EN-" he ex-
claimed, jumping up. "Ill go as a spy
and I'll bet I find out what they want
to know about Jackson's army. I'll
start tonight and cross the Potomac
and be into the confederate lines to-
morrow"
Three weeks later a horse galloped
madly into the union camp and fell
to its knees in exhaustion in front Of
the generals tent. A boy slid of and
stumbled into the tent, helped by the
guard.
"I just wanted to tell you that Jack.
sons army is preparing to join Lees
and cross the Potomac together and
attack you. They will start at mid
night tomorrow night and will cross
the river at the ford near Browns
Landing"
Whats your name and how did you
find this out?" shouted the astonished
general.
my name, sir, is Robert Mackey and
I found this out by joining the confed-
crate army and then last night when
one Of the officers left his horse for
to take care Of for a little while,
I Jumped on his back and escaped"
How does it happen that you have
on a union army suit?" was the next
question.
II found one of our men lying dead
by the road SO I stopped and changed
suits with him. sir. And, sir, three
weeks z I asked to Join the union
army but was refused. May I Join
now" 90 -
"Howfoid are your
Eighteen last month, sir"
"Well. my lad. as you are a smart
boy and have given us this informa-
ton. I don't see who has a better right
to be a sergeant than you. Smith.
show Sergeant Mackey the cook tent
and see that he gets a good supper.
And on your way there send Lieuten-
ant Barnes to me-"
And Robert. too dazed at his sudden
stumbled after the man.
Dorothy Christie, Age IA.
1918 North Court st. Ottumwa, Il.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Donald r. Lewis - MY
Night at Home

Dear Juniors:
This is my first letter. My father
takes The Courier and I read the Jun
Tor stories so ] thought ! would write
a story about My Night at Home.
One evening when it was growing
late and I was all alone I heard a
noise down stairs. | descended the
stairway and became awfully scared,
but ] felt my bravery and went on
to see where the noise came from.
walked into the living room and there
in the corner sat a monster object. It's
eyes sparkled with light. I walked up
toward it and it arose and moved to-
ward me. | looked at II and saw that
it was our old black cat.
Donald r. Lewis,
421 South Main st. Abba, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
v SUBJECTS.

We all want the juniors to send in
school compositions and other stories.
besides the. ones on the subjects we
suggest. Sometimes children can
write better compositions when choos'
fne their " subjects. We especially
want letters and ancestor stories.
TO encourage originality and variety
IN the juniors work the following list
10 given:
School compositions.
Ancestor stories.
Interesting letters.
Book reviews.
Unusual stories.
! Current events.
Soldier stories related by veterans
and retoId by juniors.
Select prizes from among the follow.
ing: Bluebird pin, friendship link,
book. box of letter paper. doll. box OF
school supplies. box OF candy or a
knife.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06

loved me very much. had a little
box in which / kept all my playthings.
In among these was a little bell. Davy
knew ] loved this bell. He would often
get my bell when | told him to. When
any strangers would come to my cab
and want to pick me up he would
bite them. I think that showed he
loved me. Finally he treated people
so badly my father shot him.
Matilda Cheeseman. age ..
Richland. Iowa. r. r. No. 3.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06

was Minnehaha-
We had a tent for every two girls
and so we had partners. My partners
name was Wanka.
We had a very nice time. My cous-
in was with me so it made it very nice
for us.
Our guardian was very kind to us
and we liked her very much.
| only got to stay a week because
| was at Charlton visiting and | had
to go home.
Naomi Lee, Age II.
Box 223. Moulton, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
II COURIER JUNIOR
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING CO.
Ottumwa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUH
A FLAG CONTEST.

Dear Juniors: We are going to
award one big flag to the Junior vino
writes the shortest and best compost
ton on Patriotism" We will also
give away twenty lapel flags to the
twenty Juniors writing the next
best stories on Patriotism You
know a lapel flag is n that can be
fastened on ones waist or coat. The
contest opens today and closes Mon
day, April 16.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06

states work in the cotton fields. Cot
ton is grown in Florida. North Caro-
lima, South Carolina and in Texas. The
cotton that grows on islands is known
as sea island cotton and has long
fibers. All kinds OF cotton are very val
liable.
Veta Mildred La Point, Age 10.
ia North Elm st. ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Veta Mildred LaPoint on
Sweet Potatoes and Cotton

Sweet potatoes are easy to r in
the garden. Sandy soil is best for
them. Sweet potatoes are not plant
ed like Irish potatoes. Sweet potatoes
are raised from plants and are set out
in long ridges and they are very good
to eat.
Cotton is grown in the southern
!, states. Many people in the southern
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
CONTEST.

We also want the Juniors who
think the other contest is too hard
to write on one Of the following sub
3ects.
The Story OF a Nickel.
Ny Best Friend.
! A Pet Dog.
Corn and Apples.
Sweet Potatoes and Cotton.
A letter.
Select prizes from among the fol-
lowing: Box Of candy, football, roller
skates, doll, knife Or book.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
sEyEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.

1. Use one side OF the paper only.
3. Write neatly and legibly, using
ink or sharp lead pencil.
5. Always sign your name in full
and state your age.
4. Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your W work.
s. Number your pages.
6. Always state choice Of a prize on
and address in full.
7. Address envelope to The Courier
q separate piece Of paper. with name
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
L ABOUT PRIZES.

We do wish the Juniors would ao'
knowledge their prizes.
II any Junior has ever failed to re-
ceive a prize after 1t Is announced
IN this column, It is because the
wrong address has been given US.
When we say wrong address we es'
pecially 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 a box send
IN their parents names.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Bernlce's Sister.

Dear Junior:
AS have never written to the Cour-
Ter Junior I will write about my pet
dog. It's name is Bunny. 1t is about
four years old. 1t has white, curly
hair. 1t likes to go riding In the auto
mobile. It will shake hands with me.
| go to school every day ] can. My
teachers name is Miss Holmes. My
school will be out April 81.
Lucille Baldwin, Age 8.
r. 1, Box s. Birmingham, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Naomi Lee - A Camping
Trip
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
One clear morning in June five of
my friends and I went TO the woods
for a camping trip. We found a nice
place to camp. It was shady and the
grass was very green.
We all had Indian I'M and mine
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
Matilda Cheeseman - A Pc
Dog

Dear Juniors:
This is the first time | have written
to The Courier Junior. | am going to
write about a pet dog.
Once when I was a little baby ] had
"a dog. It's name was Dayy. Davy
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06

The five Juniors in the garden seed
contest are asked to let us know at
once what kind of seeds they want.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-06
n PRIZE

The prize winner in the Easter
contest" is Katie Ward and Eythel Ar
villa Fite in the seven subjects con-
test"
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-26
Final Dash "OUer The Top" For
Presents For European Babies

TN the additional appointments OF
Mrs. Claiborne Adams as sponsor
4 for the E. Paso School for Girls:
Mrs. Charles n. Bassett Grandview
school; Mrs. J. I DriscoI, St Joseph's
academy. and Mrs. ". C. Roe. St
Aary's academy, Mrs. L. T. KILLER,
chairman Of the Red Cross junior
auxiliary, has plans for her tremen-
dous task wei in hand
The date for the toy shower and
membership campaign has been adj
vanced from Friday. November ,. to
Wednesday. October 81. This was
necessitated to get the gifts to New
York IN ample time TO ship on the
Christmas boat There are thou
sands OF unhappy mothers and chill
dren who would be suffering for the
barest necessities Of life in France
and elsewhere, were Il not for the
charity Of the American people. ex-
pressed throuh the Red cross or
CARNATIONS And the Joy that is TO
be brought the youngsters at Christ
mas time, when they receive all the
books and toys and pretty things
that 80 along on the gift-crammed
liner, can well be imagined. Real
TO starving childreni And
food, as well.
The committee, as it now stands, IS: