davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

ger and surprise and from dozen
throats came the cry, Lets
strikel No more foolishness for
US"
h Grumpy held up his hand for
silence and pausins moment to
gather his thoughts, said, Yes, it
is time to strike. Some of you
make the rounds of all the rooms
and tell every man to meet down i'll
the Office in IS minutes. Tell them
to come quietly, and to come pre-
pared for action and long tri p.
We have much work to do before
morning. Now remember, the Boss
mustn't be awakened"
Such hustle and hustle as there
was. Each Gnome fairly jumped
into his clothes in order to be in on
all the fun.
When they were all gathered to-
gether i'll Santa's office, many Of
them half asleep, Grumpy scrambled
up on 4 box and asked them to listen
to him for moment while he told
them of his plans. Grumpy loved
10 boss affairs and never missed
an opportunity to make a speech.)
"The time has come, friends, when
we must show Mr.. Santa Claus just
where he stands. All around you,
in these sacks, is proof that he in
tended to play some mean trick on
us. Now it is our time to turn the
trick on him. Let's empty every
sack, and not be particular where
we put what's in them either Sew
eral started to do his bidding at
once, but he called to them to wait.
NO, not yet~> Wait until finish,
and we'll pitch i'll. Then we'll put
that nervy old cook out of the way
so we can fix up something TO eat to
take with us. That done and we
will be ready TO start on our way to
look for Tatfytoe.
Let the boss try to run things
without us and see how far he gets.
If pleasing the children means
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
BELGIAN MUSIC

AS our thoughts are now turning
toward Belgium, so Belgiun's mu-
sic should have a place in our
thoughts and hearts And, by the
way, girls and boys, don't make the
mistake which many grown-ups
are making, in calling the Belglans
the "Belgiums." 1t would be like
calling the Canadians the Cana
diums."
Il am going to tell you about
letter from young American,
which I had the pleasure of reading.
He went out to engage in business
in Liege, Belgium, before the war,
and was an amateur musician. So
his first letter was full of little re-
marks about the good type OF music
he found in his new home town.
You just ought to have heard
the little chap | heard this morn
ing whistling Traumerie' (Schu-
mann's) He never once got off the
key, and the way he got exactly the
second ending of the opening phase,
when it is repeated, was caution.
You know it ends on f at first
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
Santa Claus in T0yland

had started, it would be an easy
matter to keep the Gnomes at work
and still have plenty Of sugar plums
to give the children.
The next morning everything was
running smoothly again, and as San
ia walked through the shops, it was
hard to believe that these little fell
lows who were working so hard and
faithfully now, could become so
cross after doing without their ST.
gar plums for short while. What
a narrow escape he had had. He
must be very careful in the future
The work went humming along in
fine style and when the whistles
blew for the Gnomes to quit work,
the second day before Christmas,
everything was in readiness to be
loaded upon the sleigh, and they
had whole day left in which to
do that. The Gnomes had behaved
themselves and tended strictly to
work and Santa had had no more
cause for worry.
However, there was one thing
that puzzled the Gnomes. What
was the reason for their not being
able to eat more sugar plums? One
Gnome in particular, nicknamed
Greedy" because he thought of
nothing else but eating, allowed
himself to worry quite little over
the matter. He had always been
able to eat a great many more than
the rest and was very proud of his
ability, and boosted about it at
every opportunity. But of late there
had been something wrong and it
almost broke his heart to think
that two sugar plums were as many
as he could eat at time. At last
it become more than his greedy lit
tie soul could stand, so long after
all the Gnomes had gone to sleep. he
crept out OF bed and slipped down.
stairs to Santa's office. Very quiet
ly he opened a sack and filled his
nightcap. Then he tied the sack up
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

(playing it in the key of ~ and
when the phrase is repeated it takes
it up to "a Well, that little chap
never faltered minute. . He went
right up to that second ending. 1t
is a tieklish kind of thing; but he
got it all right"
The name of Ysaye in connection
with Belgian music will naturally
come first to your mind, Ysaye be-
ing Belgian, a musician, and one
who has been before the public so
much with his violin magic. | say
magic because it really seems as if
he does use magic in playing the vi
din. Hid does it so wonderfully.
Ysaye was born in Belgium in 1858.
He was at Prospect Park one night
last summer, and led an orchestra
assembled in the music stand.
II seems as if many children con-
nected Belgium with chimes and
music through reading Longfellow's
"Belfry of Bruges." 1t seems, in
the poem, that Belgium means
Ginning and music, and it was a
very beautiful idea
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
Billy Squirrel.
By Lillian Nielsen, Wolbach. Neb.
R0x y

By Lillian Nielsen, Wolbach. Neb..
Box u.
Once upon a time there was a
happy little squirrel who lived in a
little hole in a tree. The SQUIRREL
was always happy and had no rights
for being mean. His fur was as
soft as snow and he had two
bright eyes. The color of his fur
was brown and black, which he
always kept clean. He had cute
name which was Billy.
One day Billy was going to the
pond near his house with a little
pan in his paw. Billy was going af-
ter water. Soon he reached the
little pond and he met another
squirrel. "Goodday, sir" said Billy.
The squirrel answered him very po-
litely and said, "Goodday. | was 60
ing TO the bushes to gather some
nuts for my mother who lives in a
big cottonwood tree in the woods,
but don't know where there are
any"
We'll, did your mother send YOU
for them" said Billy. Yes, she
said that il wanted to | could
gather some flowers, but | want
nuts
"Well, YOU are quite foolish" said
Billy. You can find no nuts here
except some that are not ripe yet
But | could show you some and
your mother could make nut cake
which YOU will find very good"
All right. will you show me
some said the squirrel very anx-
iously.
II will" said Billy. "You come
with me-
So off the couple started for the
bushes. Soon they reached them.
Billy picked lot and the other
picked some flowers which he put
in his pail.
Billy said Put your nuts in here"
and he gave the squirrel a can that
was on the ground which was clean,
so> the squirrel put his nuts in it.
Soon they were ready to go home.
Billy said he would give the SPUR
rel his pan and get him some water.
So the squirrel said he would pay
him back when he was through with
it so they got some water and the
squirrel bidding Billy goodby said
thank YOU for for kindness, | will
do the same for you some day" and
he started merrily for home. Billy
went home and got another pail and
went to the pond for some water
When he reached the pond he saw a
man coming with a gun.
The man saw him but Billy didn't
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
Copyright 1915, by Reilly & Britton Co J
CHAPTER III.
The Gnomes Get Even.

At breakfast and supper, Santa
and the Gnomes all ate together in
the large dining room. long, low
room with table running its full
length. . After breakfast each
Gnome was given his supply of su.
gar plums for the day, along with
his lunch; but after supper had been
eaten and the dishes had all been
cleared away, they sat around the
table smoking and talking. Large
bowls of their favorite sweets were
put in the center of the table and
they could eat all the sugar plums
they wanted.
A funny thing happened, though,
after the supper on the evening of
the day Santa had had his talk with
the Gnomes. They all started in to
make up for lost time and eat as
many sugar plums as they possibly
could, but for some reason or other
they all stopped before they had
finished their second. They all
smacked their lips and remarked
upon how extra good they were, but
try as they would they couldn't
down another bite. However, they
all felt so good-natured after eating
them that they didn't bother their
heads very much about how many
they had eaten. They just sat back
and pulled on their pipes. Then
their meeting was held and Santa
agreed to leave the sacks of sugar
plums out in plain sight to show
them that he mssnt to play fair.
The Gnomes apologized for being
So quick to doubt him and wound
up the meeting by singing, For
he's jolly good fellow"
That night. Santa went to sleep
in the best OF spirits. His scheme
had been big success, and if it
continued to work out as we'll as it
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

more to him than giving us what
rightfully belongs to us, let him
see how much pleasure he can give
without our help. Now, men, be
quick; we must hurryT With that
he jumped down and commenced
cutting the strings that held the
sacks closed. Other Gnomes fol-
lowed his example and in no time
the room looked as if it was deep
in snow. Then they began throw
ing the moth balls at each other,
putting them down each others
necks, stufing them into every
thing they could find and having
such good time that they forgot
how angry they really we're. If
Grumpy hadn't called them and
told them to hurry, Santa might
have found them still enjoying
themselves when he got down next
morning.
The next place to be visited was
the pantry. They crowded in pell-
NEIL and when Oman came Sleepily
in to see what was the matter, she
was promptly caught and tied to a
heavy chair. A napkin was
stuffed in her mouth to keep her
from making noise and she
was left to learn for her
self as best she could the reason for
this last outroun The (,pOr1as
looked so fierce that she was aw-
fully frightened and then TO make
1t worse someone started to throw
mothballs at her. 1t was such great
sport watching her try to dodge,
that they all stopped hunting for
things to eat, to join in the fun.
After they had tired OF this. to top
it all of someone got the flour sitter
and sifted -four all over her head.
By this time Dinah was too angry
to be frightened and her black eyes
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
SOME SILLY SUMS.

Nov look here" said Harvest
Apples, 81 can make eight quarts OF
apple butterr'
HUH" grunted Purple Grapes, II
can only make four quarts of jelly
when strained"
Bartlett Pear interrupted with:
when | muster my crowd in bas-
ket, six quarts of preserves is the
limit"
"Oh, pucker" srumbed Ounces,
"pm not in it with you'll only make
two quarts of jelly"
"Crates!" cried Peaches, pulled
up-like, Il can make ten quarts of
picked peaches"
Jelly Glass was there to supply
from his army enough pint jars for
all. And Sweet Sugar Barrel said
he would donate half a pound of
sugar per quart for each fruit.
How many pint jars and how
many pounds of sugar would it take
for all?
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
CHESTER H. LAWRENCE

carefully again and scurried back to
bed as fast as he could. He snug
gled under the covers and began
dipping into his hat.
Suddenly the sleeping Gnomes
were all awakened by cry of pain.
A Gnome was sitting up in bed wav-
ing his hands and crying, Help,
I've been poisoned, I'm poisoned"
1t was Greedy, and as he cried he
threw the sugar p1ums in all direc-
tons. In moment the room was
in an uproar, the flying sugar
plums hitting Gnomes on all sides.
Thinking they were being attacked
by someone, everyone began yell
ing. In the midst of all the excite
ment Grumpy came tearing into the
room and demanded to know what
all the trouble was about, and Or
derlng them to cease their noise
or they would awake Santa. Grum-
py finally located the cause of the
outbreak and pulling Greedy out
from under the covers where he
had buried himself. made him tell
the meaning of his actions. He
started to give Greedy good talking
to about taking things that didn't
belong to him, when he had an idea.
Let me see one Of those sugar
plums you took" One was found
for him and he took a bite out of
it, but that was hardly all, for he
hardly tasted it before he started
suffering and making awful faces.
At last he managed to get rid of
the taste and growl: Moth balls!
We've been tricked."
Without waiting to explain him
self, Grumpy made hurried trip to
Santa's office. He was gone only
a few moments when he returned, a
heavy scowl on his face. Men. |
don't know what his game is, but
whatever it is, it can't be any good.
Those sacks contain moth balls, not
sugar plums.'
On every hand were shouts of an
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
HAIL TO THE BOY SCOUTS.
BY John Clair Minot.

I'm Youths Companion for Sep
ember S, 1879
A hail to the lad who always does
his bit!
When there is work, he hustles into
With the zest of batter who is
swinging for hit
The ready and the steady and the
heady Boy Scout.
He's often small, and he's never
very big;
He's always square, and he cannot
be a prig;
And when there is digging you
ought to see him dig
The ready and the steady and the
heady Boy Scout.
The woodland lore is bit of what
he knows;
He loves the flag and follows where
it goes;
He's a man in the making, the very
best that grows
The ready and the steady and the
heady Boy Scout.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

living Any food it was put upon
was made to taste much better, aud
you didn't need nearly so much TO
satisfy you. In this way, he
thought, people could have good
things to eat without having to
spend so much money. In think
ing that old Santa had deceived
them the Gnomes really did
him a great wrong. He had not
thought for minute that they
would get into the sacks, for he
would not have hurt their feelings
for the world. Besides, the sacks
didn't contain mothballs at all. They
we're sugar plums-burnt sugar
plums. They were Dinah's failures.
Time and again she had tried Taffy-
toes recipe, but each time the sugar
plums seemed to be worse than the
time before. At first Santa thought
OF throwing the bitter plums away,
but quite by accident he discovered
someone who was very fond OF
them.
Not far from Toyland was
great flock of penguins. Now the
pengulns really did not belong at
the North Pole at all. but a few
yeats before. when Santa was ex-
ploring the recovered country
around the South Pole, looking for
a new kind OF ice plant for his
friend, Jack Frost, he rescued a
number of penguins from starving
to death. lie brought them back
north with him, and ever since then
the family had been growing till
now there were hundreds of them.
1t was with great pleasure that San
ia learn d that the penguins were so
tond of the burnt sugar plums, for
it had become hard to thisk what
to give them for their Christmas
dinner.
Continued Next Sunday
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

shot fire. But the Gnomes just
laughed at her and began looking
around for good things to eat. They
ate and stuffed their pockets until
it looked as if their stomachs and
pockets would burst. Then one of
them spled Greedy in dark corner
of the pantry having the time of his
life. AT last he had a chance to
prove himself that he could eat as
many sugar plums as he had been
used to eating. But his dream was
ort-lived, for in a moment he was
the center of fighting, squirming
mass OF Gnomes all striving to get
more than the others; in no time
the large jar was empty and Greedy
sat staring into it, tears liz his eyes.
A short five minutes later and all
was still. The Gnomes had gone.
Poor Santa! Just think OF the
trouble he was to have on his hands
when he awoke. Without the
Gnomes to help him pack his sleigh
it would be impossible for him TO
get started on his Christmas Eve
journey on time. 1t would be i'm
possible for him to get everything
together alone or even with Dinah' 5
help.
Santa hadn't really intended to
fool the Gnomes in quite the way
they thought. He had only put the
sacks i'll full view so that his work
men would be satisfied and not ask
him about the sugar plums. You
see, he had been giving his new in
vention test by trying it out on
the Gnomes. At the same time he
was saving the childrens sugar
plums.
Santa, after much thinking and
Scheming, had learned how to make
liquid that was to be a Christmas
present to mothers and fathers who
complained about the high cost Of
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
New BUSY Bee,
Kathryn Ellis Reeves, Aged III.
Years OnaMa. Ia.

"
Years, Onawa, la,
Dear Busy Bees:
May.I be a member OF your Busy
Beehive? | read the letters every
Sunday, and | enjoy the stories, too
| have a story that would like to
send, but it has three or four times
over $50 words. The name OF the
story is Alfreda's story,
Elma Cranes story was Just line
last week and so was Verna Mays.
| read the Little Wilfull Princess
series ard like them very much.
have a splendid teacher in schoo!
this year and so is my catechlsm
teacher. lie is so jolly.
am in the senior fifth grade III
school and am getting along tine
with my work,
| take music lessons on the piano,
but | don't like to practice. can
play several pieces on the war sub
ject :,
In my music lesson this week |
have a piece called The Gypsy
Rondo." 1t is a beautiful piece, there
are 50 many trills in it,
They closed the schools here yes
terday on account OF the Spanish in
auenza, and the mayor has ordered
every child off the streets, and he
arrests them if he sends them home
of the streets over three times. He
also ordered US to stay in our own
yards. Well, Busy Bees, must QUIT,
Tor have written quite long let
ter, wish happy blessing on
every Busy Bee.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
BUS Y BEES
IN WARTIME

children DEAR: Are you
making plans for Thanksgiv-
~ ing yet? | expect many-of you
will visit grandmother or perhaps
an aunty on some beautiful farm.
hope you will write and tell ME all
about your holiday and just what
good times you had We must not
forget the poor children in these
times for many of them will have
no delicious dinner such as you
will have. We all have nicer times
when we know we have made some
one else happy, don't you think So?
Lovingly, MARGARET.
Junior Red Cross.
Four big avenues are open to the
Junior Red Cross to help win the
war. The Juniors can help collect
clothing, linen for bandages, peach
stones, fruit pits and nut shells and
tinfoil. It's the little things that win
the war you know. and little hands
can help so much.
In Ohio the Juniors have done
wonderful work. The children
worked through the long, summer
months and at the end of the sum-
mer they had completed S,32S
articles for the Red Cross. Don't
you think that fine record? Aside
from this work the children COL
lected and sold 50 pounds of tinfoil
and acted as pages and errand boys.
| am sure Uncle Sam is proud Of
these nieces and nephews Of his.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
THE SPIDER

Evelyn jumped from her chair
with a cry: oh, goodness me!
There's horrid big spider"
why, are you afraid OF it, asked
mother.
OF course aren't you? | wish
the fall was past so they'd stop
crawling into the house. They are
such ugly, black thngS|
Maybe if | tell you something
about them you will not feel SO fear
full of them. Did you know they
have eight fixed eyes and are very
fond of music?" said mother, smil-
ingly.
Dear me, if | knew that I'd never
dare practice on the piano in Octo-
ber," laughed Evelyn.
you dread practice anyway, so
don't blame the innocent spider"
laughed mother. But let ME tell
you some more facts. They can al
ways tell whether the weather will
be fine or not. If it is going to storm
they spin short thread, and if it is
clear they spin a long one"
How funny of them. Tell me
some more" said Evelyn now
watching the busy spider with in
terest instead of fear.
They are all interesting. but
some are ugly i'll temper as we'll as
in looks. Now the other day ] saw
a mother spider running about the
window, carrying a little gray silk
bag with her as she ran. She had
spun the bag herself when she need
ed it, so | waited to see what would
happen.
Finally she found the spot she
needed and then she pipped at the
bag and pop! Open it burst and out
ran ever so many baby spiders who
had been carried with their mother
to the new home, They all ran
about hurridly to get the house set
tied while mother spider sat and
spun and sewed."
"Sewed! Are you joking, mother?"
asked Evelyn.
No, spider spins her web and
then sews leaves together for her
summer residence. Besides this do
INVESTIGATED spider that ran over your
book Just now, there are numerous
other kinds that | will tell you about
another time. Try the piano now
and see if the spider listens to your
music" concluded mother, and Eve
I1yn ran away tosry the novel fun.
HOLD TO THE RIGHT.
Keep to the right as the law directs;
Keep from the world thy friends
defects;
Keep all thy thoughts on purest
themes;
Keep from thine eyes the notes and
beams.
Keep true thy word-thy honor
bright;
Keep firm thy faith in God and
right.
Keep free from sin and stain;
Keep free from the ways that give
the pain
Keep all thy acts from passion free;
Keep strong in hope, no envy see.
Keep watchful care DER tongue and
hand;
Keep firm thy feet, by justice stand.
Keep. true thy word, a sacred thin :;
Keep from the snare the tempter
brings.
Keep faith with each you call a
FRIEND
Keep from all hate and malice free.
Keep firm thy courage, bold and
~ strong;
Keep up the right and down the
wrong.
Keep well thy words of wisdoms
school;
Keep warm by night, by day keep
| cool.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
Little Redy.

By Frances link, Aged TO- Ster-
ling. Neb.
Dear Busy Bees: read your
rage every Sunday, want to make
up a story to be put in the paper.
Once there was little BOY whose
name was Redy. They were very
poor 1t was getting toward
Christmas. His mother had to work
for a living. One day as she was
out working Redy went downtown
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24
First Letter.

Bernice Grunwald, Aged II years.
1869 Writ St, Omaha, Neb.
| am going to write to the Busy
Bee for the first time. ] have knit
one pair of wristlets aad | am al
most through with sweater for the
soldiers. | have two pet dogs.
whose names are Pep and Rex. We
have about 50 chickens.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-24

notice him much. Now it happened
Billy's playmate or friend that had
talked to him a few minutes before
noticed the man and Kan to Billy.
He reached him Just as the man
shot his gun but Billy got notice OF
him too quick and he and his play
fellow hid behind a tree and the
man missed them. Thinking it
would do no good to shoot again
he went on and Billy was safe from
the horrible gun.
Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-12-11
AHAmerican Party To First
Greet President When George
Washington ArriUes At Brest
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased Wire,

Prest France, Dec, 10.--(By The
Associated Press The steamship
George Washington. carrying Presi-
dent Wilson and the American dele
gates to the peace congress at Paris.
was reported by the naval wireless as
afternoon. All on board were well
after the stormy weather through
which the presidential liner passed.
Preparations for receiving Pres;-
dent Wilson here have been complet-
ed, The city is fairly humming with
expectancy.
The progress of each step taken
by the American visitors is followed
with eager interest. The first plan Of
sending an American dreadnaught
fleet seward has been changed. Ae-
cording to the new plan the fleet
will go out early Friday morning to
encounter the American party short
distance off the coast and accompany
it to port.
French warships also will take For
eign Minister Pichon. Minister of Ma
rina Leagues and Andre Tardieu. head
Of the general commission for Franco
American war questions, for the first
greetings by an exchange of salutes.
French Officers Arrive.
French officers arrived here to-
day from Paris to make final ar
rangements with the local authori-
ties for the presidents landing.
The George WASHINGTON draws too
much water to enter the inner harbor
so the presidents ship and the en-
tire fleet of warships will anchor in