davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Devovah Zion-The Won
derful Flag.

Dear Juniors:-As have never
written before thought would write
now. so could send in composition
that l composed in school. 1t is about
The Wonderful Flag"
When I see the dear old American
flag flying before my eyes 1t fills my
heart with Joy to think that that flag
stands for our country. the greatest
country in the world. People should
always be loyal to their country and
their flag, and now when our country
is in this great world war people
should be more loyal than ever.
think many more people, rather many
more millions of people think that the
American flag is the 1aintiest and
prettiest flag throughout the world
This dear old American flag can cheer
any ssd heart. 1t stands for so many
things. The red stands for the blood
the GEAR soldiers shed to defend their
country. the white for their purity,
and the blue for the heavens above
them, and the whole flag with all the
colors put together stand for liberty,
justice and freedom.--End.
Devorah Zion, age 10.
CLIO East Main, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27

Savannah, Ca, July 2s--With a con-
tribution of man power to the armies
of the nation greater than that of any
other city Of similar population in the
United States, and with a record Of
having led all cities in the southeast
ern district in response to appeal for
Liberty Loan bond subscriptions and
Red Cross contributions. Savannah has
marshaled an army Of several thous-
and children who are harvesting
bumper crop Of vegetables from their
back yard gardens.
AS soon as the call went out from
Washington for million back yard
gardens in the interest of food conser-
walton the chilrden Of Savannah got
busy. Land owners and real estate
dealers freely granted permission for
all vacant lots to be used for this pur-
pose, with the result that there Is
scarcely any ground in Savannah to-
day that is not under cultivation. For
the first time in history Savannah has
been practically Independent of buck
sters this summer
The city government formally pass
ed an ordinance setting Saturday aside
as market day for the chilrden and
creating a market in the residential
section where they are allowed to con-
gregate and offer their wares for sale.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Rees Lincoln Hoy-Nickel
Went Down on
Lusitania.

Once there was a nickel lying in a
bank. It was given to a young man for
change. He took it home and gave it to
his little boy. The next day the boy went
to the store and spent it for gum. 1t
was then put in the bank. 1t was given
again for change. Then it was lost
down a crack. 1t was not long until the
house burned down. After 1t had lain
there about a year a little boy found
it and spent it for a tablet. 1t was then
given in change to an old lady who
had come in to buy some beans. She
took it home and put it In cracked
sugar bowl with some other money
She had been saving money to buy a
dress. In about year she had saved
enough to buy the dress. 1t then went
with Its brothers and sisters into the
cash register of the dry goods merchant
1t was given to an old man who sailed
In few days on the Lusitania. The
Lusitania was sunk and the nickel has
never been seen since.
Rees Lincoln Hoy. age 9,
Ottumwa, Route No. s.
Care of Frank HOY
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27

be profitable after the present food
crisis is thing of the past
For the lessons in gardening learn
ed this summer will persist in effect
after the war is over. Not only are
the tables of the owners more plenti-
fully supplied, but the taxes on other
wise idle real estate are thus easily
provided
Hundreds of acres of city building
lots are being cultivated by the chill
dren, in addition to the gardening
which their mothers are doing in their
back yards. And the community can
ming club established by the young
ladies is taking good care Of all the
surplus. Savannah is thus releasing a
considerable quantity OF grain and
meat for the use of the allies and the
armies of the United States in France
and again demonstrating to the world
that she is prepared to do her bit not
only in the matter of soldiers and
money but in the home work of her
women and children.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Gerald Spike-History of q
Nickel.

The first place can remember was
In dark mine. Then I was dug out
and hauled to the surface where I was
taken to the mint and was pressed and
stamped into a nickel. Then I was
taken to a bank where was put into
drawer.
Then I was given to man with
some other coins. The man gave me to
baker who gave me to an old woman
She dropped me in the road where I
was trodden upon Then I was found
by a little girl who gave me to groc-
err. l stayed Their a long time and then
was given to man who put me with
some other coins where am now. This
is the story of my life so far.
Gerald Spiker
125 South Willard ST.. Ottumwa Ia
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27

Philadelphia, July 26-The remark.
able swimming performance of Miss
Olga Dorfner, the Philadelphia girl.
who SO handily won the national wat
er sprinting honors for women last
summer in San Francisco, arouses
hope once more that at last America
has developed swimmer who can
bring to this country the various
worlds records for swimming.
Heretofore Miss Fanny Durack, the
Australian, has held virtual monop.
oily on the women's records from fifty
yards to one mile Miss Dorfner
capped the climax Of a series of start.
ling performances extending over sew.
eral weeks by lowering Miss Durack's
record for 500 yards. The Quaker
City girl covered the distance in 1882
Is.
AS the meet was held under the
auspices Of the Middle Atlantic ANA
teur Athletic union, and was proper.
ly conducted, there Is no reason to
doubt that worlds record will be
granted Miss Dorfner. This will make
the first split into Miss Durack's long
string Of records and gives an indica-
ton Of the possibilities that the com
ing meets hold.
Miss Dorfner primarily has bsen
sprint swimmer and her best work
has been done at distances from 80
to 200 hundred yardA Her triumph ut
the longer distance was surprise and
now the shorter distance marks
should fall to her speed
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Yvonne Sperry-'' What the
Pilgrims Did For U.s."

Dear Juniors:
My story Is to be one on why we
have Thanksgiving. When the Pilgrims
came over to this country they had
mad such hard winter. but the follow
ing summer was prosperous one.
They had had good crops and they
were very happy and thankful to have
such good things to eat and places to
live in. So Governor Bradford who had
come over with the Pilgrims set aside
the last Thursday In November to Of
fer thanks to God for a prosperous year
and they offered payers for three days.
So generation after generation have
still kept the last Thursday in Novem
Der for that purpose and have called 1t
Thanksgiving. But so many people are
very thoughtless and never think of Of
fering prayer or thanks to God for what
ne had done for us. We should be
very thankful we are in the Unit
ed States instead Of in Europe this
year Yvonne Sperry,
113 Fairview Ave, Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27

turn came, and once more she knelt
before the king.
Take, my child. my gift he said
and her hands received the simmer
ing pearl attached to q golden chain
so fine she had not noticed it before,
and to her soul came great peace.
With song on her lips and holy JOY at
her heart she left again the temple
and went on her way to her home, her
brothers hand in hers
What was the name of the pearl.
Auntie Lou?" asked Katie, who was
accustomed to the lesson hidden in
Auntie LOUIS stories.
'Forgiveness,' was the answer.
spoken gently. Forgive us our tres
passes, as we forgive-you know"
she added.
FLORENCE can play with my new
bat tomorrow" said Bob, a little
shakily.
But Florence only pressed her head
against Auntie LOUIS knee.
"Why, my child" Auntie Lou
touched the burning forehead. I'm
afraid you've taken cold"
Florence sneezed--three times!
Katie looked at the others:
"You can't pretend a sueeze," she
remarked
When they had all gone b,d Bob.
the eldest, and while he was putting
away his books, he wondered sudden.
ly why Auntie Lou had told that par
ticular story? / daresay she gave her
self away when she said:
at isn't 'ostercize.' Bob, but ostra-
cize.' Frances Hamre.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Virgie Langford - The
Little Match Girl.

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written to the Courier
Junior before will have for my sub
iect "The Little Match Girl"
There was once a little girl whose
parents were very poor. Her father was
a poor old sailor.
He had to work to clothe his wife and
child
He sailed for many year but a last
he was drowned when his ship was
sunk.
1t was some time before his wife
heard of his death She had no one to
care for her and her child.
1t fell on the little girl to sell matches
for the living
She sold matches for some time when
at last her mother grew very ill.
They had no money to get doctor
so she grew so much worse that she
died. q
The little girl was now left alone in
the world
She had no one to care for her.
She kept on selling matches to buy
her bread.
When at last the cold days of winter
came the poor child had no home.
She had to roam the streets bare
footed and thinly clad So she crept be-
tween two houses to sleep.
The snow was falling fast and drift
ing.
When she awake in the night she
thought she saw her grandmother. She
cried to her "Oh, grandma. take me
with YOU But when she looked again
she was not there.
She fell asleep again for the rest of
the night.
When morning came there was a
wonderful sight seen between the two
houses--the poor child had frozen to
death
But the people still cherished the
Little Match Girls memory in their
hearts.
Virgie Langford, age IA,
Ottumwa, Ia, r L. Box 113.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Jerry the Postman

In little country town there was 6
man called William who used to &C,
as mail-carrier. Early every morning
stopping in front of the door and the
loud barking Of dog, she knew that
William had come for the mail, for he
never went out without his dog Jerry
Then in a moment Jerry would come
bounding into the room carrying bag
in his mouth. The postmistress would
fill this with the letters, and Jerry
would trot out of the room. leap into
the wagon, and sit quietly until Will
liam took the bag from his mouth
Then they would drive on from place
to place.
William had no need Of a whistle
for Jerry's bark was heard from afar
and there was usually little child
waiting at the door until the postman
and his dog should arrive.
Jerry then jumped from the wagon,
carefully holding between his teeth the
letters that William had given him.
Up the path he went and put them into
the child's hand. Then he ran back
again so as to waste no time.
One very cold day in the winter Will
liam became so sick that he could not
get up and go on his rounds. He did
not know what to do. for all the peo-
pie would be looking for their letters,
and yet he was unable to deliver them.
Jerry was sitting by his bed, looking
very unhappy, and wishing as if to
say, Dear master, why do we not go
lot To- CT n "
that nothing could arouse William. he
took the mailbag in his mouth, and
trotted off alone to the post-off'ce.
The postmistress did not notice that
William was not outside the door, so
she filled Jerry's bag as usual, and he
went on his way
When the child at the first house
heard Jerry's bark, he ran out, but.
seeing the dog all alone, cried: 20
mother, here is Jerry with the letters
William isn't with him. His mother
came out and saw Jerry shaking the
mailbag. as if to try to open it. She
undid the clasp and took the letters be-
longing to her house from the bag,
then shut it again, and away trotted
Jerry to the next house, where he did
the same.
At last he came to DR.. Robinson's
home. The doctor came out, surprised
to see Jerry all alone. He called the
dog into the house, gave him big
bone, and then went back with him to
see William. He gave him some food
and medicine. but told him he need not
hurry to get up, for Jerry was as good
a letter-carrier as he.
After this, every one called Jerry
1.-The Postman," and he seemed very
proud of his well-earned name.-Hel-
Disc Dawson.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Opal Bown-Why We Cele'
brate July 4.

Dear Juniors:
We celebrate July 4 because the dec
laration of independence was signed on
July 4, 1776. Soon after the constitution
was adopted the English government
sent a fleet and army to New York
Washington fought against the Eng
fish on Long Island and was defeated
and forced to give up New York. 1t
seemed like all were lost He did not
have as many men as the English did.
The English did not like to fight
against the Americans so the king
hired Hessan soldiers to fight for him.
A thousand Of these were in Trenton,
New York.
Opal Bown, age II,
sol N. Court ST., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Alta McCoy-A Sunday
School Picnic.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors
I thought would write about a Sun
day school picnic. We went to our
Sunday school teachers house. Her
name Is Isal Warren. I like her fine We
took our suppers with us. We had our
picnic In the front yard. There were
fourteen girls there. We had fine time
We played blackman and hide and go
seek before supper. Three of US girls
went up town and got two quarts Of
ice cream and went and ate supper.
After supper we played games. Then
we went home. I saw in the paper a
girl who had a garden. have one too.
I have sitter smaller than myself
and she helped me put 1t out We put
In cabbage, radishes. peoples, lettuce
and onions.
like to read the Junior page.
Alta Mccoy, age IL,
Agency Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
lola Angell-My
Brother.
Sailor

My brother is not a, soldier but he is
a sailor and l think they are about the
same. His camp Is at Great Lakes. III.
There is a little goat at the camp which
comes around and begs the men for
some of their dinner when they eat out
doors. He lives in tent with another
boy. He plays violin and an alto
horn and the other boy plays the
same. They go to Chicago and other
places on Sundays and have to get back
Monday morning. He was in a show a
while ago and 1t made the most money
Of anything On navy day he got sew
enty-two hours away and came home
and told us all about the place. He
says they have lots of things to eat
lola Angel. age I.
325 E. Main St, Ottumwa, Ia.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Fave Naturalization on
the Farm and ''HOw |
Am Spending Mine"
Dear Juniors

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written for long time,
thought l would write about vaca-
ton on the farm, and how am spend
ing mine School was out the 4th of
May. Then we were free from study.
After school was out, I helped mama
to clean house and make the garden.
When I had spare time, my sister
and | went flower hunting. We found
blue bell, horse flies, daisies, hair
bells, violets, sweet williams, lark
spurs, lamb tongues and buttercups. 1t
was so wet that we could not work in
the garden and papa could not pillow
the corn. They got so weedy that we
could not find the plants, so we had
to clean the weeds out. 1t was SO wet,
mama and | had hoed out the garden.
And now it is nice and clean. When
mulberries were ripe mama wanted my
sister and I to 60 to grandpa's and
get some for her. We went and stay
ed all night. That night after supper,
grandma called the cows and they did
didn't come. So ! went after them.
found the COWS and started back, when
It began to rain. Grandma called me,
but / didn't hear her and went down
and watered the COWS. Then started
for the milk shed with the cows
was almost there when it began to hail
The cows started back with me after
them, but grandma told me to let them
go, and she would milk them after the
rain. My clothes were wet clear
through and l had to put on one of
Aunt Laura's dresses, and they had
quite laugh because my dress touch
ed the floor The next morning
picked up the mulberries off of the
ground and finished filling bur buckets
off Of the tree after we had had din
ner and washed and dried the dishes
we started home. We met our brother
at the Pleasant Ridge school house
and he helped us carry the berries
home. / like to go to grandma's be-
cause she is so jolly. My sister and
go to Sunday school every Sunday at
Mars Hill. We are in the Junior class.
Our Sunday school teacher is Miss Ha-
eel Pitcher and like her fine My
papa has taken The Courier for num-
Der of years and | always have en-
joyed reading the Courier Junior The
church where ! go to Sunday school is
an old log church. II was built sixty
five years ago 1t is said to be the
Oldest Baptist church in Iowa But we
have just as good Sunday school as if !
it was In one of the finest churches. | !
will close,
Faye Waller Age 12
r. No. 2
1.-THE editor wants Fay to send a |,
picture of the oldest Baptist church |
In Iowa, and to get all the interesting
facts about il tool
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Everette Browne Curtis
''My Pet Dog"

Dear Juniors:--I will write a story
about my pet dog.
When I lived on West street I had
a dog and he was fox terrier and his
name was Trixie. liked him very
much He never bit any one. l had a
cushion in my chair and one day I
was going some place and Trixie
curled up in my chair and went to
sleep. One day he was with another
dog and got some rat poison, and /
tried to keep him away from it. I
found him dying in the grass, and
got under the table and cried, and we
had to bury him. will never forget
that time.
Everett Brown Curtis. age s.
507 West Second street, ottumwa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
E1nest's Grandfather Was
Soldier in the Civil
War.

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written to you
thought would write about grandpa
in the civil war.
The rebels had fort built on hill
toward Richmond while the Yankees
had the breastworks and were 1T the
bottom. One night the Yankees dug q
trench under the hill. When that was
done they put some dynamite in and
lit the fuse. Soon the fort was destroy
ed and the rebels were about all Killed.
Ernest NJ. age 10,
1872 N. More St.. Ottumwa
This Junior forgot to sign his last
name
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

We do wish the Juniors would &C.
knowledge their prizes.
II any Junior has ever failed to ra.
ceive prize after it 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, 1917-07-27
Alice Jones of Alberta, For.
merly of Kirkvile, Writes
First Letter.

Dear Juniors: This is my first let
ter l have written to you. l. am nine
years old. lived near Kirkville, Iowa,
until four years ago last March we
moved to Anderson, Alberta, Canada.
] live four miles and a half from
town. That's where l go to school.
We have very close neighbors that
only live across the road from us. II
l see this letter in print will write
you again. Alice Jones,
Anderson, Albert, Canada.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
SEVEN RULES FOR THE JuNIoR'

SEVEN RULES FOR THE JUNIORS.
I. Use one side of the paper only.
2. Write neatly and legibly. using
Ink or sharp lead pencil.
3. Always sign your name in fun
and state your age.
I. Do not copy stories or poetry
and send us as your own work.
s. Number your pages.
6. Always state choice of 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, 1917-07-27
Oliver LarsOn's Cal
Weighs 555 Pounds.

Dear Juniors:
1 received your beautiful post card
and thank you very much for it,
MY calf's name is Bobby She is a
great pet. l have her out on pasture
now and feed here every morning and
evening.
I weighed her in May. She weighed
555 pounds. She was nine months old
and she is doing fine.
/ am going to take her to the farm
ers' institute.
Oliver Larson.
Abba, Ia, r. No. 3.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Eythel Davis Writes a Most
Grateful Acknowledge
ment.

Editor Courier Juionr:-I respect
fully acknowledge the receipt OF my
prize--a nice box of school supplies. 1t
is Just what have wanted for long
time and it is greatly appreciated. |
think I will write another story soon
Eythel Davis, Grade s. age II.
Floris, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
THE PRIZE WINNER.

Today's prize winner is little lola
Angel and her subject, "My Sailor
Brother" We feel sure that Iolas
brother will be proud of his sister, af.
ter reading her nice little story
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
THE COURIER JUNIOR
DEPARTMENT
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
Ottumwa. Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUx
A NEW CONTEST.

a NEW CON ESI.
Dear Juniors:
For a new contest we want the Jun
iors to write short stories on the fol
lowing subjects:
Midsummer day in Sweden.
The birthplace Of my parents.
Summer pleasures.
The good roads near my home.
Why ! like my home Getty or coun
try.)
What makes city grow.
A successful boy or girl farmer.
The Improvements In my city.
The bathing beach.
The girls and boys corn club.
The LaddsdaIe boys and girls club
The. country beautiful.
Ny best friend.
School compositions,
Ancestor stories.
Interesting letters.
Unusual stories.
Current events.
Soldier stories related by veterans
and retold by juniors.
The garden Of kindness.
Kind hearts.
The cheerful giver.
Her best gift.
A motorcycle trip.
Fifty miles in an auto and what ]
saw.
The Hotel Ottumwa.
My soldier brother.
This contest will run all through the
month of August but prize winner
will be chosen each week The writer's
can select their prizes from among the
following articles: A character doll,
letter paper, knife, ball bat, roller
skates, full picnic basket, flag, book,
box of candy. or knitting needles.
The Jasper news., 1917-06-07
If You are Milking Cows.

There is nothing as conveient as
a good pasture for the milk cows
and in most cases there is no way
of growing feed for live stock more
cheaply than in pasture. Most
pastures, however, are short in
August and sometimes salso during
the latter part of July. AS a re-
suit COWS fall off in milk and later
when the grass revives and feed
again becomes more abundant
there is no way of bringing the
milk flow back again. The way to
get a maximum yield out of a milk
COW is to keep up her maximum
flow without Interruption This is
a fact we'll known to every man
who has experience with co VS.. but
comparatively few take the pre-
caution to fortify themselves
against the loss that is incurred
annually in August because of
drouth.
The best and most economical
method to supply extra feed for
the COWS, and other live stock dur
ing the dry months of summer, is
to have a quantity of silage on
hand for summer use. Those who
have no silage for summer use
should do the next best thing,
plant some forage crop and feed it
to the cows so there will be no
falling off in the milk flow that