davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Elsie Jane Peck - Story Of
a Ring

Dear Juniors - AS have not w1lta
ten for while thought would writd
a school composition.
Mother was going to make cookies
and she didn't want the childreH
snatching pieces Of dough until there
was scarcely enough to make cookies,
"Skiddoo! out Of this kitchen" She
cried as she brought in maple umh0 To
shoe flies before she began cooking.
They did skiddoo because they aaws
the maple limbs ready If they did not
obey.
They went to the creek and on the
other side they saw the forest on flre.
They watched the fire crawl over q
dead tree log and start on the other
side, it crawled rapidly.
This was enough for James who was
twelve years old. He hurried the chill
dren entirely out of the forest.
ut will burn up all fathers oats that
he is working 30 hard to shock" sslf
James who thought himself acting
more as a guide to the younger chill,
dren and that he knew moro what IT
was to shock oats.
The children saw an enormous cloud
crawling into the sky. It proved ~
be huge rain cloud for it poured
down torrents Of rain and smoAheFe0
the fire.
When the children got home drip
ping wet mamma got their clothes
changed and they soon forgot IRE and
water eating cookies.
Elsie Peck,
246 South Schuyler 81.
OttumwA, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20

sketch, then in revised editions until
approved. Each boy plotted and laid
out his ground in strict accord with his
map and was allowed to begin planting
only after he had brought his plot up to
the standard required.
Then he set his seal Of ownership
upon it with stake, made by himself
in the wood shop of uniform pattern
with that of his neighbor, painted and
lettered with the boys name by the
school artist, T. W., whose work was
in constant demand.
When the seeds had been planted
and the season of watchful waiting be-
gan, the botany teacher told the boys
something of the mystery of plant life,
from seed to bud and fruit. Expeditions
to the gardens were frequent as part
of class work, and there was keen COM
petition as to who should first note the
breaking of ground by the young green
sprouts.
There was fine feeling of friendli-
ness about all this. The boys had work
ed hard, individually and together. The
gardens We're miniature democracy.
Here worked the son of the vice
president of one of Americas great
harvester companies. Alongside him
digged a Bontoc Igorrote boy from the
Philippines boy who insisted on
planting trees at each corner of his
garden, because he loved trees.
A copper colored, black eyed boy
from Colombia fraternized with pale,
yellow haired young lad who needed
just such training as the sunshine gave
him land such hardening of muscle as
came with the welding of the rake and
hoe.
Before long the boys were wedding,
proud Of their earth caked hands and
the brown on the knees OF their
trousers. The seeds had sprouted and
must be tended with care, for the boys
had their eyes on the harvest.
Jingle OF Real Coin.
Pulling up onions, picking peas, feel
ing the ripening ears Of the corn to test
them if ready for market and then
the CHEEKY Jingle of real, hard coin
down deep in their very own pockets
this was the happy harvest.
For the school bought what the boys
had to sell at regular market prices
even to the candytuft and carnations
that the flower minded lads had grown
In sections Of their land devoted to the
cultivation Of beauty.
Such was the tangible harvest, but
who needs be told of the far richer re-
ward to boy body and mind and spirit
that came through that season OF
labor?
And this year there will be added to
these interests and these rewards, a
feeling that every one is doing part
even though it be a small part, in feed
ing our nation in a time of need.
The boys have been impressed with
the idea that is beginning to permeate
our national atmosphere, the idea that
one may be definitely. recognizably and
honorablv useful to America while
working in his garden as well as when
| in the ranks with the regulars.
It may be. let us hope it will be,
| possible for the school children of the
United States to learn, without those
sacrifices and suffering that have come
to many of their fellows in Europe, the
/ great lesson that war is individual ser
vice, that war means work.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Myrtle Stanbas - Grand
father Rhamy

My grandpa Rhamy was born near
Columbus. Ohio, June 2, 1918. He lived
there until he was married. In 1886
they decided to go west Grandpa and
his family and seven other families
started west in the spring of 1886. Each
family had two horses and covered
wagon They travelled on plank road
called pixies through Ohio and Indiana.
They had to pay toll every seven miles.
When they got to the Mississippi
river there were no bridges. so they had
to load everything on ferry boats to get
across. They came on west to Fairfield.
then a small town. Then they separated
and grandpa went five miles west OF
Fairfield near Cedar. He settled there
and run the saw mill. There was dam
built across Cedar to hold water so
they could run their mill by water
power.
Grandpa helped build the first rail-
road west of Fairfield. He pumped the
water by hand for the first train that
ever went over the track. Grandpa
pumped the water for the train several
Years at the station of Whitfield which
was afterwards called Crum. He died
November 1886.
Myrtle Staubus.
Douds-Leando. Ia. Box No. rs.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Paul Zimmerman +.
Patriotism

Are you patriot? If not you should
be. There are many ways to show you
are patriot The army needs men. The
navy needs men. Why not enlist then !!
They need Red Cross workers. There
is another chance. Yes, they need you.
Come on. They need you and must
have you. A person don't have to be In
the army and navy to be patriotic.
The boy that stays at home and tends
the farm or works in his factory is a
patriot in certain sense. A citizen that
tends his business, files a flag at his
place Is q patriot.
Don't be an anarchist. Their own
organization breaks down their argu-
ment. They don't believe in govern
ment but they have captains and lead
ers just the same.
Don't stand for Germany. You made
YOUR fortune here Now stand for your
country and fly your flag. They have
too many anarchists now and we will
never have enough patriots. Let each OF
use be one.
Paul Zimmerman.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Harry Park "How Our
Grandfathers Fought
and Struggled

One hot August day band of men
| decided to take their goods and make
q settlement farther up the Ohio valley.
they heard that the soil was richer for
farming, than it was where they were,
1t would be long hard journey
through trackless forests where indiana
lurked looking for their prey, the
| white men.
On the way they were encountered
by numerous Indian attacks. They es-
capped through them all, losing very.
s sfwi AT 81 tas gro they it'll. reached level
BY Log cabins were then constructed.
The cracks were filled with clay. Two
| openings were made, a door and a wins
doW-a piece of creased paper was put
over the window so as to let in the
light. The door was covered with
piece of deerskin. Several three legged
stools and table were placed inside.
The bed was made of boughs covered
with skins.
When about twenty of these had been
built a palisade was built around
them, so as to be protected from the
Indians. When everything was ready
the women were sent for with the
children. After they came everything
was happiness. The women were busy
about the cabins while the children
played about and the men tended thein
crops as usual
Snortly afternoon the guard saw the
tall grass move, then up rose the head
OF a savage. Crack! came the report OF
a rifle and the big body rolled oven
Men and women came pouring out oA
the cabins to see what the shot meant.
The guard said he expected the Ind1ana
had planned an attack and this Indian
was q spy. The gates were closed and
the guns were brought out and loaded
but not any too soon for clear and
sharp came the awful warwhoop and
out from the grass swarmed crowd
of Indians, giving the palisade hail
OF arrows tipped with flame which soon
set the dry logs on fire. The Indiana
were afraid Of the guns which streaked
out fire. but they hid behind freed
where the marksmen could not seq
them. The Indians saw that they had
almost beaten them when suddenly the
sound Of horses hoofs could be heard
and then a band Of horsemen could b
seen galloping up tho hill to the se4tlers
aid. The Indians after short dght
gave up and scattered in all directions.
The settlers thanked tho now Corners
and were told that they too were goin8
to make a new settlement. The Indian6
were beaten and this was one moro
step advanced toward civilization.
Harry Park,
2013 E. Main St., Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Opal Davis - A School Com
position - A Fire

Dear Juniors:
| am going to write you one OF my
school compositions.
One day a large house was on fire
The fire bell rang and every one hur.
Irfied to 1t. The firemen thought every
one had been saved.
Just then a child appeared at the
attic window and called "Mother!"
Mother! come and help mel"
Then everyone looked and cried
"Look!" "Look!" "a child" "a child"
Then a fireman told some one to
bring him a ladder. 1t was brought
and he started up after the child, but
was driven back by the smoke and
flames. Then he said, "The child can
not be saved"
The mother said she was going up
after him. So off she went through
the flames and smoke The people said
she would be lost forever.
Then she came out with the child
in her arms. Then they all cried:
There is nothing like mothers love!"
Another said, 1.-THE mother love is
best!"
Opal Davis, age II.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY.
Dear Juniors:

Dear Juniors:
Since I have never written before !
will write a story about the Boston tea
party.
Before the revolutionary war there
was some tea sent over to America ana
so a tax Of 3 pence and about six cents
was laid upon every pound Of tea that
should be brought into America. As
soon as the Americans heard this they
said 1--WE will not drink any tea that
comes from England into America"
When vessels having tea on board
reached Boston they were ordered back
but the British officers refused to let
them sail Then one night party OF
men dressed as Indians and went on
board the ships. hoisted UP from the
holds of the vessels more than 800
chests Of tea, broke them open and
emptied the tea over the sides OF the
ships into the water. This performance
was called the Boston tea party.
Cozy Dearborn, age II,
F1oris. Iowa, Box No. 81.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Hazel Wilson - Patriotism

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written to the Junior
page for long time thought I would
write about patriotism. 1 am In the
eighth grade at school.
Patriotism is the outward sign OF in
herent love of country and answering
loyalty to your flag. and unfaltering
devotion to the interests OF your nation.
II does not merely spell duty. but also
embraces the thought of 1t being an
honor to serve privilege to sacrifice
ones life and all In the hour Of the
country's need, If necessary. in defense
of those principles upon which the gov
eminent is founded and which 1t rep
resentS.
Hazel Wilson, age II,
Moulton, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Elsie Jane Peck The Story
of a Ring

had slept all crunched up in a rock
sleeping. did not know what space
was. One morning felt the rock be.
ing hacked and whacked at. They got
me out of my stone dwelling. I saw
lights such as had dreamed Of Some
tall slim creature put me on the ele-
votor and they took me up, up, up.
thought l was going to heaven as l
had dreamed. Because we minerals
can't find out things, it's all dreamed
you know.
I was taken to a thing that they
melted us in. 1t was very hot.
I dreamed that unsinful gold went
to the land of happiness which is call.
ed heaven. And sinful gold went to a
place, oh, ever so hot.
When I was going up on the eleva.
tor I had faith Of reaching heaven,
but my faith failed me when l was
put in the furnace. Anyway I was
taken out and put in mold. I was
made into ring. I didn't have set,
but I had socket for one was taken
to jeweler where I was put with
more rings with out sets. He put dia
monds in our empty sockets and put
us in a jewelry case for sale. A man
came in and took a fancy to me. He
gave the jeweler lot Of bright stuff
was taken away to a big house. The
man went in and gave me to his little
daughter for birthday present
Shouts of gladness filled the room.
The little girl said she would wear me
till got too little then she would keep
me for her little girl, when she grew
big. And she did too, for I am on the
mans grandaughter's finger now,
though am badly worn.
Elsie Jane Peck, age IL.
OttumWa Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Marjorie Bowen - Com
position Cotton

Dear Juniors:
Cotton is raised in the warm south
ern states. On some years the crop is
worth twice as much as all the gold and
silver taken together. The cotton plant
Is about three or four feet in height.
The balls when ripe are about as Dig
as walnut. When the balls get ripe
they burst and come out. The blossom
Is like hollyhock.
The color is red. The seeds are the
size Of lemon seed. The seeds are
separated by a gin. The picking time
begins in July. 1t lasts some times I'M
til Christmas. 1t is harvested two or
three times.
The cotton gin presses the seeds out
of the cotton. 1t is box machine and
there are forty or fifty small circular
saws which revolve rapidly between as
many rows of stiff brushes fastened on
cylinders. Lint cotton is the cotton
taken out after the seeds have been
taken out.
The lint cotton is carried to the cot
ton press where it is compressed into
packages five feet long and four feet
wide and two feet thick. The bales
weigh four or five hundred pounds.
They are wrapped in rough cloth and
are bound with bands of hoop iron.
Cotton is used in making cloth and
thread The seeds are all carefully
saved and they are mashed between
rollers and pressed in a strong presser
until all the oil which they contain is
taken out 1t is used in making soap,
salads and patent buffers and in mix
ing paint and for many other purposes.
They use the crushed hulls from the
seeds for feeding cattle and as a fer
tilizer.
Cotton is manufactured in both
north and south. The reason the cotton
Use manufa ctured more easily in the
south than in the north is on account
of the water power and coal and cot
ton.
Marjorie Bowen, age 10,
Chillicothe, La, II. l.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Lavada T0lbert
Patriotism

Dear Juniors:
AS l have never written to the Jun
Tors before thought l would write a
story about the American flag or
patriotism The American flag is hon.
ored more by its people, more than any
other nation or race I ever heard Of.
The flag has seven red stripes that rep.
resent valor or bravery. 1t has six white
stripes that represent purity or peace
The forty eight stars that we see in
the corner of the flag are In a field Of
blue. The stars represent the forty
eight states in the United States. The
field of blue represents justice. The
American flag is flag Of peace and
bravery to it's country and people. 1t
isn't flag Of war but If 1t gets In war
it will fight brave and strong for Its
country hope it will still be flag Of
peace and bravery and stick by its
people.
Lavada Tolbert, age 10,
$40 Ogden ST.. Ottumwa, Iowa.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
~ LETTUCE, 1ONcIIlucAC Il
ENVELOPES MADE FOR SEEDS.

ENvEIOF6S mAOG run OEGDS.
Envelopes to hold the seeds were
now in order. Each boy made his pat
tern after standard size and construc-
ton had been determined in open de-
bate Those patterns were drawn ac-
curately and to scale with the asss-
lance of the mechanical drawing de-
partment
One dozen approved bags were made
by each boy. and one of the boys made
nearly his whole dozen. one by one, be-
fore he discovered that four or five
could be cut from the pattern at once,
provided the edges We're pinned or
fastened so as not to shift. This item
greatly delighted the son Of a famous
efficiency engineer, who was one of the
garden gang
When the envelopes were finished
the commercial department was re-
uuested to typewrite the following
legend on their backs. to serve as a
guide to the boy in his planting:
This bag is for -- seed.
Name of owner
Distance between rows.
No. of rows.
Length Of rows.
No of seed per inch or foot in row or
length of bed. in feet or inches.
Width of bed, in feet or inches.
No of seed per so. foot or SO. inch.
No of seed needed.
Standard weight (grm.) - per -
Weight of seed needed,
This may all seem extravagantly de-
tailed. but remember. this was not
merely gardening, it was arithmetic,
regulation lesson work. correlated with
other activities that intensified interest
in the purely mathematical problems
involved.
Plans Drawn To Scale.
Referring again to the garden plans,
each map was drawn to scale, first in
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20

to not more than one three-hour work
period a week, for garden purposes
II. The yield from the gardens be-
comes the boys own property.
-. The school will buy, at market
prices. what ever vegetables may be
needed, provided these vegetable be
delivered in standard lots.
Headwork With Seeds.
Next came hard headwork with the
seeds. The boys were impressed with
the fact that almost any one could
make a garden just by digging up the
ground and sowing at random, but the
successful gardening depended on the
following of certain standard prac-
tees.
The boys had plotted their gardens,
decided what they wanted to plant and
it only remained to know how seeds
should be distributed.
So the boys were set to calculating
how many seeds of certain Kind
should be distributed in their garden
rows. and to facilitate distribution Of
seeds they were given the problem OF
determining how many seeds there
were to a gram in weight. All cal.
culations were made in the metric
system, as this was one of the lessons
in arithmetic that they were supposed
to learn in their grades.
The seeds We're counted into bags.
and ten bags of the same number OF
seed each were weighed and the aver.
age of these weights taken as a
standard for seed distribution. From
the following table, copies Of which
were placed on the several bulletin
boards and constantly referred to by
the boys in making their own, indi-
vdual calculations.
No. of Ave. Wgt OF
Seeds. Name of Seeds. Given Number
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
SEVEN 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'
Ing their own subjects. We especially
want letters and ancestor stories.
TO encourage originality and variety
In the juniors work the following list
- given:
School compositions.
Ancestor stories.
Interesting letters.
& Book reviews.
Unusual stories.
I Current events.
Soldier stories related by veterans
+ and retold 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
knife.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
THE COURIER JUNIOR
DEPARTMENT
Published by
THE COURIER PRINTING co.
OttumWa, Iowa
EDITOR
MATILDA DEVEREAUX
chlLDRENs' GARDENING.

Dear Juniors: We want you all to
read every word of the big story on
Gardening which is found on this page
today. Notice the pictures carefully.
too. You know that The Courier and
all the other papers Of the United
States are helping our president,
Woodrow Wilson, to mobilize Ameri-
can farm products. The food situa-
ton In the United States, as in Ger
many, France and England, must draw
on the labor of it's school children to
aid in carrying on farm work. Garden
ing can, however, be fitted in very
easily with the other work OF the
schools and made highly interesting.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Lucille FulkersOn - a New
Junior

Dear Juniors:
AS have never written before J
thought would write. enjoy reading
your stories. am In the It'll A grade.
have five teachers. but my main teach
er is Miss Du VAIL Mr.. Holman our
history teacher, gave a debate on whe
was the greater man. Abraham LiDcoln
or George Washington. was on Wash.
ington's side and we won. Our school
is selling tickets for the play Ramona
and all the money above the expenses
is to be given to the school. would Be
very glad to answer any letters written
to me by the Courier Juniors.
Lucille Fulkerson, age IL.
Mystic, Iowa
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
cLEoNA's FRIEND. "TEDDY."

Dear Juniors:
7 thought would write little story
about a dog that lives across the street
from US.
Every morning bright and early he
comes over to my house and waits Tor
NV little brother. And his name is
Teddy. He is good dog too And ne
will run races with us. He is very nice.
The people who own him can Sc.
meat on the table and go away ana
leave it. And he will not bother u.
Cleona Sample, age 3,
IAN. Moore ST., Ottumwa, la.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
ALL ABOUT PRIZES.

ALL ABOUT PRIZES.
W. do wish the Juniors would ae'
knowledge their prizes.
II any Junior has ever failed to re-
oefy> a prize after 1t is announced
IN this column, 1t 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 box send
IN their parents names.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
ANOTHER CONTEST.

We also want the Juniors who
think the other contest is too hard
% WfiI5 on one OF the following sub
3ae4s. "
Tho Story Of Nickel
NY Best Friend.
!. a Pet Dog.
Corn and Apples.
9a1eet Potatoes and Cotton.
a letter.
esiect prizes from among the fol.
lowing: Box Of candy, bird kite, roller
sk&4es, doll, knife or book.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
LEXINGTON DAY.

We are going to award one big flag
to the Junior who writes the shortest
and best composition on Lexington
Day, April 10. We will also give away
twenty lapel flags to the twenty Jun
Tors writing the next best stories on
Lexington Day or Pajriotism. You
know q lapel flag is o(e that can be
fastened on ones waist ~r coat.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
Thelma Dagle - A Busy
Girl, and Has Many Pets

Dear Juniors:
thought would write letter to
you and tell you about my pets.
have some little chickens and +
have a hen setting. We have q COW
and a calf. l like to lead the COW
when we go to water her. The calf
is mean and do not like to lead HIM.
I will close as have another stoey
for some other time. About the story
Of a nickel.
Thelma DaXfe.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
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 OF poetry
and send us as your own work.
N,6. Number your pages.
6. Always state choice of prize on
and address in full.
Z. Address envelope to The Courier
Q separate piece of paper, with name
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-20
THE FLAG CONTEST.

Herbert King of Bloomfield is
awarded the first prize in the Flag
contest, which closed April 16. The
second prize winners are Hazel Will
son, Larada Tolbert and Paul thinner
man. Only four Juniors worked IN
this contest.