davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Moonbeam Sups With Mr.
And Mrs. Owl and Sees
A Very Queer Home
By MARGARET MSHANE.
tTwent,eth story Of the Nixht.)

NAWSuNsetu otVts " pup NsBHSp
X "Good evening Mrs. Owl. I am
here to keep disappointment made
with you last night
Mrs. Owl was sitting at the front
door OF her house as Moonbeam APP
preached
She saw ner coming and stepped
out to welcome her. Her attitude 20
Moonheam had certainly charged
Was it the pretty name Of our
little advcnturer, or was It because
we did not understand Mrs. Owl,
that she seemed, now, so very ditfer-
cut. Mrs. Owl took Moonbeam by
the hand and led Her into the house.
Happy little Moonbeam followed
GLADLY. and what do you think she
saw there. Ashouse OF mary rooms!
there was al. upstairs aud Nown-
stairs--a :org corridor ran through
a thick brancf. which shot cut from
the heart OF the big tree.
In here were several tiny bed
r9cns. Plenty large enough. how,
e.,er, for the little Owlets, who were
scamoering through the house. Fresh
air poured into the rooms from knot
holes, made in the tree long ago
from age.
This house is very, very old" said
Mrs, Owl, as she directed her guest,
through the place. II have no doubt
that several generations VI Owls
have occupied it."
The dining room was upstairs.
From a knothole in it, Moonbeam
could see miles and miles away, as
she sat between Mr.. and Mrs. Owl
at the little table daintily set for
three.
Would you believe it! Mr.. Owl
was mucl, smaller than Mrs. Owl.
Moonbeam was habbergasted. She
almost dropped her cup in surprise
when Mrs. Owl introduced this tiny
person as her husband. OF course
Moonbeam thought it was Hooty
Owl junior. Who else could it be?
Forgetting herself completely.
she, burst forth with most I'M
pudent remark:
why Mrs. Owl, you are so much
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

larger than Mr.. Owl. This seems
SO very funny"
Mr.. Owl smiled broadly, as he
leaned over and reflled Moonbeam's
cup of nectar.
Not until then did Moonbeam no
tice what dreadful mistake she had
made ---" and think of it, at their
very own table" she emphasized to
Mother Moon weeks after when tell
ing about her adventures on earth.
After long pause Madame Owl
finally said, in most degnihed tone
OF voice:
MY dear child, you are very un-
wise. Don't you know that we are
cannibal birds and as such the
mother of the family must be larger
than the fathet.
Mother owls are the protectors
of the nest.
Each day we are called upon to
fight for the safety of this home
and each day We must fight again
to catch Sufficient food for ourselves
and family.
with so much responsibility, is
il not well that our shoulders are
the broader and the stronger of the
two. My work in lif4 calls for more
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
courage and strength than father

courage and strength than father
owls.
My cousin, the great Horned
Owl, once sat on her nest with such
strength and vigor. that a strong
man failed in his attempt to draw
her off. In the nest, you see, were
two moou-white eggs--iust the color :
OF your light my friend--and she
would have been killed rather than
fisk those tiny eggs to an enemy.
This is more courage than yAu have
ever found in those feathcred peo-
pic you were telling me about, who
live in beautiful homes that swing
from the green branches,
so you see. Mother Nature has
arranged our size with good rea,
son."
As she was speaking a large plat
ter was placed upon the table. On
il was heaped MICE, moles, bats and
beetles. They were all in their
feathers skins and bones, Just as
Mconbeam had often seen them
scampering through the woods when
alive.
Father Owl had just returned
from his nightly round, and the
platter filled with delicacies was
what he had found on his way.
How happy | am, th0dght Moon
beam, that ] do not have TO eat to
live. | would hate, awfully, to swal-
low such things.
How Mr., and Mrs. Owl did en-
joy their support
The fact, that their guest did not
join them, was not a surprise to
their. Owls are pretty wise.
They remembered that Moon
beam belonged to the Astral family,
and they knew that only Eaxth
Beings eat food. "
So, quietly the little visitor sat
listening to the conversation of two
wise old Owls, and slipping rare
nectar from leafy cup. Nectar that
Mother Moon made her carry with
: her on her journeys to earth, aud,
only allowed to the children OF the
sky.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

he threw it over Balky Sans head.
Balky Sam was. surprised, but
didn't try to jerk away. He was a
good fellow. and when he found
he had been caught he cheerful,
set about pulling Cranky Jimkins
out OF the mud He was good pull
er, and the truck began to move
forward!
"Bow-wowl Stop! That chap is
an enemy OF mine and tried to kill
me-" barked Johnny Bull to his
friend. AS Balky Sam didn't seem to
hear him above the roar of Cranky
Jimkin's engine, Johnny Bull leaped
off Laughing Mans truck and
jumped in Balky Sans way. Don't
drag him out. Drag him into the
ditch" barked Johnny Bull, and a,
that Balky Sam gave a great side
wise pull that jerked the truck out
OF the -rut and into the soft clay at
the side of the road. That put
CRANKY JiinkMs in a worse fix than
before, and to prevent him using
Balky Sam to help him Johnny Bull
Ndl tHC LOW lOPC dHu SldWSo
it apart with his teeth.
"Ho, no, hoi Now | can get by"
shouted the Laughing Man, and he
started his truck forward. He picket
his way cheerfully and kept his
wheels going steadily and so he went
right over the bad clay spot, erept
around Cranky Jimkin's ditched
truck and moved forward to the solid
ground beyond
Yah Yah +! Yahl Stuck in the
mudl tStuek in the mud! Now
Laughing Man will beat you to-the
home of Farmer Field" jeered the
little old woman, the lame boy and
the men and women who had been
picked up.
The Laughing Man didn't jeer. In
stead he stopped his truck and UNI
fastened wire tow rope from a
rack at the side.
I'll not leave any one stuck in
the mud even if he is q rival seller"
he said to the surprise of the others
and also to their admiration. He
hooked one end OF the tow rope to
his own truck and tossed the other
end to Cranky Jimkins, who eagerly
hitched it to his machine.
Nov ready" cried Laughing
Man. He turned on all his power
and Cranky Tmkins did the same
viii, his engine, and with great
grumbling and roaring Laughing
Mans truck pulled the other cut of
the clay and up on the solid road.
Then he climbed down and unlock
ed the tow rope.
But did Cranky 0Jimkins say
Thank your" He did not. He
didn't even stop to cast off Laugh
ing Mans tow rope, but sent his
truck ahead and rushed on toward
the home of Farmer Field.
Well of all the mean tricks, that's
the meanest!' cried Laughing Mans
passengers. "But Cranky Jirnkins
will not win the fortune. Drive on,
Laughing Man"
THE next chapter will be told how
Laughing Man does another act OF kind
ness and gains an unexpected reward.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Stories by Our Little Folks

woods, 50 as not to leave Betty alone
very long. He had gathered his
berries and was preparing to go
home when someone spoke to him.
II was an old woman, but she was
very pleasant looking. Il am hun
cry" she said. will you give me
something to eat?" why, we
haven't anything but berries" said
John. 'But you may have some OF
those il you like" The old woman
took the bucket and ate every berry.
Il haven't any money" said she, "but
here is Z tiny gold heart you may
have" John took it in his hand and
thanked her as he started for home.
"Oh, Betty" said John as he
opened the door, "see what have"
We can sal 1t and then buy anything
we wish"
please don't sell ne,i' said the
heart. both children were fright
ened. Again the heart spoke clay
me on the floor and say, DO, re, mi,
open, little heart; open.'" The chill
dren did as the heart had said and
slowly the heart opened. There
stood a tiny man, but he began to
grow big, yes very big. Father"
the children cried as the big man
took them in his arms. TIE children
led him into the house and then
asked, "WereNhave you been so long,
father dear?'
~ was in the forest said father,
when | came upon an old witch.
She said she. was going to shut me
up in a tiny heart and say some
magic words and when those words
were spoken again | would become
myself again. Then before | could
get away she said as she took a tin,
heart from her pocket, Do, re, mi
open little heart: OPEN I felt myself
grow smaller and smaller, and then
she put me in the heart and now |
am hero, and that's all | know
about t."
But, Oh, daddy, mother is dead
they cried.
Eyes. dears. | know" said their
father, "the witch told me she would
die of grief. But let's try and be
happy Just the same"
They tried to, and let's all hope
they did live happily ever after.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

cult to construct palj6drome SEN
fences in English. One of the very
few extant examples is Adams ia
nous introduction of himself:
Madam, I'm Madam"
Each of the following sentences is
answered by palindrome word.
|. Dean Swift often speaks OF an
empress whose name read backward
and forward is always the same.
2. The mother Of men was a lady
whose name read forward or back
ward is always the same.
). And Cain took a wife in his
exile whose name read backward or
forward is always the sameAf
4. And of female recluses we
know that the name read backward
or forward is always the same.
5. When you speak to lady,
you'll find that the name read back
ward or forward is always the same.
s. When a child, you were dress
ed in garment whose name read
backward OF forward is always the
same.
z Then. too, you were ted on a
diet whose name read backward or
forward is always the same.
s. You may travel abroad in z
carriage whose name read backward
or forward is always the same.
9. You may pass Ger a fiat piece
OF country whose name read for
ward or backward is always the
same.
TO-. When lamb trots about its
creature whose name read back
ward or forward is always the same.
II. You may go out and walk at
an hour whose name read backward
and forward is always the same.
II. You may ride at a time, that IS
later, whose name read backward or
forward is always the same.
IS. Ii you shoot off a gun, you'll
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

was going home. Then he took me
back to school. When we came to
school. the teachef took me to
neighbor near the school house.
They changed my clothes and after
school ] went and took my own
clothes and got home safely.
I have one brother. His name is
William. I have one pet dog. His
name is Buster and he is white.
A Brave Boy.
BY Glepn Duryta, AGED IL. Ravenna, Neb.
Hans Brinker was a little Dutch
boy about II years old who lived by
the great sea, where there were
many dikes. One day when it was
getting dusk Hans and his sister
were playing. His mothes called
him and told him to take the dain-
ties she had to an old blind man who
lived half mile away. When he
was returning he heard the trickling
OF water. There in the dixie was
little hole. He put his hand in it
and yelled for help, but no one came.
His mother, getting worried over
him not returning after dark, sent
his father to hunt for him, but did
not find him until daybreak, faint
and tired, with his hand in the hole
in the dixie. Afterwards they fixed
the hole and he was called Hans
the Great" because he saved the land
from being flooded.
This is a good story, but an old
one. All Busy Bee stories should
be original and not copied ideas
Editor.
Brave Jimmie.
BY Violet sutherland, Aged II, santon,
Dear Busy Bees: 'lought
would write to you. Is ] have NOT
written for long time, II is snow
ing today.
Once upon time .'icre was
little girl (aged g.. Her rame was
Gladys. She was OH lsr way to
school, and she heard :, sound of
voices alshe was jus, ,rning the
corner; She met some Indians. She
ran but the Indians caught her. She
was screaming and little boy
whose name was Jimmie saw her
and ran to save her. And he made
the Indians give her up, and she
sure was glad. And after that
Gladys father and mother both
called Jimmie Brave Jimmie, so that
is the way he got his name and he
was proud Of it, too. Well, goodby,
Busy Bees.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
)irector-SAM LLOYD

hear something whose name read
backward or forward is always the
same.
IA. And your dog may hunt well,
for no longer his name read back
ward or forward is always the same.
Is. Your bird, too. may sickefr-of
something whose name read back
ward or forward is always the same.
10. You may quaff of a drink,
made of wheat, and its name read
backward or forward is always the
same.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Copyright. 1919. BY Sam Lloyd.

II. Or stare at giant whose lit
tie wee name read backward or for
ward is always the same.
Is. But this you can't do without
something whose name read back
ward or4forward is always the same.
~. Whatever your doctrine or
dogma, its name read backward or
forward is always the same.
20. Do but take sly look, and of
this, too, the name read backward
or forward is always the same.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Pu2sling Switch.

Here is knotty problem in rail-
roading. The black and white cars
can pass through switch B, which is
not long enough to accommodate
the engine BY what method can
the engine, in the fewestnumber Of
revcrsals, change the positions of
the two cars, placing the black on
track c and the white on track A?
No trick or flying switches are to
be employed. but you will find it a
sensible problem in practical rail
reading. which an experienced engi-
neeri should solve without hesita-
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
(Prize.)
Ciiristrnas.

(PTize.)
Christmas.
by Ruth. John. Aged 8, Elmvood. Nsb.
Once when lowly shepherds
Watched their flocks by night
There came band OF angels
Amidst a wondrous light.
They brought to earth glad tiding:
And ere the dawn of morn
There came the joyful message
That Christ, the Lord, was born
A merry, merry Christmas
To each and everyone.
How much the Father loved US.
To give HE only Son.
1t is the time for kindness.
The time to scatter cheer;
1t is the joyful Christmas
That comes but once . year.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
An Unknown Hero.

By Margaret Smith, Age IL, sos East
Ninth Street, Fremont. Neb.
John always seemed to be so
quiet. He didn't have any spunk. /
wasn't working when this happened.
But one of the workmen told me.
Ths~whistie had blown for the noon
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
A Recipe.

A little brown bowl full of soapsuds
(don't shake themD
Three slim white clay pipes (please
take care not to break them!)
The Oldest of clothes. DER which no
body troubles,
And into the garden we 60 to blow
bubbles.
-Queenie Scott-Hopper, in Pull
the Bobbin."
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

made reasonable by punetuating as
follows:
Though seldom from my yard !
roam,
I saw some queer things here at
home.
| saw wood; floating in the air
| saw skylark; bigger than a bear
/ saw an elephant; with arms and
hands
| saw a baby: breaking iron bands
| saw blacksmith; weighing half .
| saw a statue; sing and laugh and
run
i saw school boy; nearly ten feet
tall
| saw an oak tree; span Niagara's
Fall
| saw a rainbow: black and white
and brown
I saw a parasol; walk alone through
town
/ saw a politician; doing a. he
= should
I saw a good man; and ]. saw some
wood"
TODAY
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
CHAPTER ".
Laughing Man GivSsra Tow.

Cranky Jimkins turned sour face
toward Laughing Mans passengers
when they made fun Of him because
his truck was stuck in the clay hole.
Get out of the way and let me
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
ANSWERS TO LAST WEEKS
PUZZLES
Weary Willie and Tired Tim
p,Y1x1av


Puzzle"
The information CLEANED from
Weary Willie's diary proves that the
distance between Joytown and
Pleasantyille is Is miles.
"Leap-Frog Puzzle
The little frogs made the puzzlng
trip across the brook by hopping
upon the stonss in the following or
der: l,8, 5, 2, E, 9. 4, 3, 7, TO-
"Ollendorf charades.s
|, Caprice; 2, legate; s.. donkey; q,
nomad; ), castigate; s, carmirle.
yearly Penitents."
Ida, Edward, Martha, Howard,
Ben, Frank, Nora, Ada, Rose, Will
liam, Peter.
"can These Things Be True?"
The woodcutter's statements are
-,
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
A Good Wetting.

By Agnes Pavllsh. Aged II, Crete. Nsb.
Dear Busy Bees: One day, the
second year when I began to go
to school it rained very hard, but
| went 10 school anyhow. AS l
went along the road, there was .
large puddle of water and ! was
afraid to 60 across it. So | stood
there and began to cry. Then ] ran
across it and when | was across |
looked at myself and ! was very
very wet The water was higher
than my knees. My shoes, stock
ings and part OF my dress were
soaking wet. | went on again and
came to a piece OF water which
was near the school house. When
| was about to the center yof the
water neighbor, who tobk his
children to school with thehhorses,
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
DR. EAMI.. AND
ADVENT URE
By DADDY,
The Laughing Man.

Cranky Jlnkins and Laughing Man race
Jimkins gets ahead when Laughing Man
stops TO do Kindness to persons in need
Finally Cranky Jimkins gets stuck in a
clay hole)
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
The Golden Heart.

BY Frances Bradley Aged ~, ossood.
Once upon Ntime, long, long ago.
there lived little boy and girl with
their father and mother, in a littla
cottage close to the forest. Their
father was wood cutter.
Now 1t happened their father
never came home from the fores.
Supper was ready and yet he Gdn't
come. The woods were sesrched,
but he was nowhere 70 be found.
Weeks passed by and mother wor-
~rried until hnJly sne dfedIof abroken
heart, BETTY and John stayed close
70 the cottage after their mothers
death.
Finally they ran out Of food. John
took bucket as he said. Don't
leave the house while / am gone.
Betty. You, too, might disappear as
father did" Tears stood in Betty's
eyes as she gave her promise.
John walked quite fast to the
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Three Miners Iodrneyed.

. Three miners who planned long
journey into the desert realized that
they could not carry enough pro-
visions to last all three the entire
distance and return, so they figured
out method whereby provisions
were to be transferred from one to
the other SO that first one man
should return. then a second, and
the third continue just as far as pos
sible, not forgetting to reserve
enough provisions to last him on
the return trip. Each man started
out with enough food to last " days,
and they travelled at the rate OF 20
miles each day.
II Is quite puzzling matter to fig
ure out just how far one member of
the party was able to proceed, re-
Numbering that all three returned to
the starting point without cutting
do,wtS yatioNs
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Christmas Letter.

BY Gertrude coAsr; Aged $. sutherland
saw my letter on the Busy Bee
page about My Pet Dog" Now I
am going to write a Christmas let
ter. ! am in the Fourth grade. Ny
teachers name is Mrs. Elaine
Brown. She is very kind to me. We
had a Christmas program at the
school. I,have large doll. named
her Elaine after my teacher. Elaine
and took part in the program. We
had Christmas tree and gave and
received presents. | got Christ
mas book.
We are going to have.a Christmas
tree at he church. am going to
speak a piece entitled "A Letter to
Santa Claus" My brother, Paul, is
going to speak piece entitled "a
Tale OF Hard Times" We are 60
ing to sing song entitled Holy
Night"
am taking the touch system on
the. typewriter When | finish the
course am going to take music
lessons. Then | an, going 10 take
painting and drawing.
Think I'm awful greedyf Want too
many thingsf
Just what he brings.
Surely dear old Santa must love to
give away
Every single toy he has on merry
Christmas days
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Enjoys the Busy Bee.

Ruby Nelson, Age IL, overton, Neb.
Dear Busy Bees: | have written
to you two times before and would
like to see rGs letter in print. |
read your Letters every Sunday and
| think they are just fine. ! am i'll
the eighth grade this year. My
teachers name is Ellen Lindquist.
Won't some of the Bhsy Bees write
10 me: L sure would like to hear
from you.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
Twenty Palindromes.

Originally the term "palindrome''
seems to have been applied mainly
to sentences that read the SANG from
left to right and from rigbSe6 left.
As matter Of fact, it is very diff
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
(Honorable Mention)
The Haunted House.

BY Alpha Buchsr. Assd y Years, North
\ This is my first letter have writ
ten. am in the Eighth grade at
school. My teachers name is Miss
Cheney. The story | am going to
write about is . house and its &C.
cupants. \
We had just purchased two lots
Il, town, both of which had houses
built on them. We occupied one.
but the other was vacant and was
also very large.
The people that live by 10 said
that the house was haunted and
when anyone went near il they
heard noises and grunts. This made
my sister Bess and ! scared. So we
took care not to venture too near
the house and after dark we would
not go outside alone, for fear of
the ghosts,
But one afternoon, | went to see
my cousins and / had to cross the
lot We played till late and it was
after dark when I started home. AS
neared the house ! heard the
grunting and people walking on the
inside. got scared and started to
run. In one corner of the lot was a
rubbage pile and ! was running so
fast ! did not see it and ran into
iii. I stumbled and tore my dress.
While was trying to get out I
imagined l saw people walking
around me. ! soon freed myself and
went to the house. When | got in
the house ! was out OF breath and
my mother asked what made me
look so pale. / told them and they
said that we would 60 over the next
day and see what was in the house
. The next afternoon my father and
| went to the house. fingered be-
hind so that the ghosts would not
get me. When my father reached
the door he was greeted with a
grunt, which was followed by a
loud laugh from father and l ran
to see the ghost and there in the
kitchen was an old black sow with
eight tiny pigs, She had been out
in a storm and had wandered into
the lot and entered the house,
Hoping to see this in print in
next Sundays Bee. will close.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29

hour and the men were eating lunch.
One of the men got up and began:
Lets 60 on strike; we don't have
to work our lives away SO other peo-
pie can live" And mo one wants
YOU or any other such chronic
GROWER. Hurry up and take your
seats or III be so kind as TO help
YOU" The man skunk away, who
was that speaking? Fellow men,
we are making ships to, carry our
boys over to- fight for us. Are we
going to listen TO this nan!" No,
came the chorus. "Are We going to
have it said that we didn't do our
part in this war" No, no, no. said
every one. "A
Mary's Party.
Helen Feagino. 2s6s North Thlrtieth Street,
Omaha.
Dear Busy Bees: On one June
day, Mary, aged 9, asked her mother
ii she could have a birthday party.
her birthday being on June IS. Her
mother, a pleasant woman, said that
she might If she would be a\good
girl. Mary was dclignted al tn's,
and decided that she would be extra
nice. Her mother invited nine boys
and nine girl friends. She prepared
a good lunch and when all the chill
dren had arrived they played out
door games for about an hour.
They then went to the house where
they ate her mothers appetizing
lunch. They spent the rest Of the
afternoon in playing games About
5 o'clock her friends left for home,
all agreeing that they had enjoyed
the afternoon very much.
| will close hoping that all the
Busy Bees have enjoyed my story.
| am little girl 10 years old and
was one OF the girls present at
Mary's party.
Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-29
yearly Penitents."

"can These Things Be True?"
The woodcutter's statements ar