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NOTICEl All letter* for this department must bo addressed: Courier Junior, VOL. XI, NO. 42 aa though they were visiting city. The reward for the best "'tm will be a box of letter paper oarelopes, a book, a friendship or a knife. Irate Walters to awarded the prize. Ottumwi, Iowa. COURIER JUNIOR .f^ Published by rMI COURIER PRINTING CO. Ottumwa, Iowa EDITOR MATILDA DEVEREAUX :LAG CONTEST CLOSES JUNE 12. Dear Juniors:—We are receiving 1 ~e very interesting stories on Flag As the contest announced last rk does not close until Monday we jI print the rules again: lii "Wednesday, June 14, is "Flag "r- we want all the Juniors to write "e'ndkl stories about flag day. The 'tar of the best story will be pre tad with a beautiful flag. The fol io* outline will help the writers: •?.Th« date of Slag day. Bo« the day is honored. origin of Flag day. id Carribelle Perkins' splendid on Flag day. A NEW CONTE8T. ^rant all the Juniors to write on the following suhjecte: Tha CoiMoMdatad School, My -Oraateet Summer Pleasure. YWwre I Wovld Like to Spend My ,vTIm 0«iRti7 In Summertime. &TM City in Summertime. fSiianmer Pleasures. Tha Playgreunde. wTfters can select their prizes fee following: "j iMimnrlr book, roller skates, •el, box of candy or a stoqoet basket. opens today and closes Jttaa IS. WANT LETTERS. We want the Juniors to write some Interesting letters, "newsy" let Some of the Juniors can write their parents. Other Juniors might ANCESTOR STORIES. want the Juniors to write about -tome of their ancestors (which —is your parents, grandparents, grandparents, etc.). We will ask juniors to write nice short stories iiag something remarkable or un ual about their ancestors. The Courier Junior is always glad em the Juniors send in unusual lies. The unusual feature of the an tor story is what appeals to The oiler and prompts it to continue the ntest. The Juniors certainly send in iendid ancestor stories. The writers can select their prizes ,m among the following: A box of dy roller skates, book, friendship pin or knife. SCHOOL COMPOSITIONS. We' want more school compositions. Member, we give one friendship _j, engraved to the writer of the ~t composition. The boys can have knife, book, or friendship link. ALL ABOUT PRIZES. 'We send out prizes within two KHdcs after the names of the winners published. We do wish the Juniors would ac fenewledfie their prizes. If any Junior has ever failed to re Jjahre a prize after his or her name in this paper, it is because wrong address has been given us. we say wrong address we es _'*efer to incomplete addresses, city Juniors should put their •treat number and all Juniors living )H the country should put their box Camber or failing to have a box send •fa. their parents' names. WIN RUI 1. Ufe oi I. Write RULES FOR THE JUNIORS, one side of the paper only, neatly and legibly, using ifetk or sharp lead pencil. 8. Always sign your name in full apd state your age. 4. Do not copy stories or poetry send us as your own work. 5. Number your pages. I Always state choice of a prize a separate pi^e of paper, with •une and address infull. Address envelope to The Cour tier Junior. Lazy Lad By Helen Ruckman Once upon a time there was a boy who went to school and he was so slow that his schoolmates would not play •with him. He always wrote his name thus: S. •'Low. To ohange S. Low into Slow was *an easy trick. So Silas lost his name of £ow for that of Slow. If his father told ijihm to run and get a pail of water he ?la.y on the floor until his father went to got it. So he never lost his name of 'Blow. Helen Ruchman, age 7, Ottumwa, la.. 714 W. Main St. tuth Hammersly Lives With S^Her Grandparents in Laddsdale Dear Juniors: I am a little girl ten years old. ]^Iy smother is dead and I make my home with my grandparents and have since I waB two years old. I have one broth er and one sister. We live on a farm and have three horses and one cow and two hogs. For pets I have three hens and one kitten and her name is Tabby. 'iMy dog's name is Sam. I go to school every day. My teacher's name is Hat tie Allen. I like her very much. Ruth Hamersley, age 10, Laddsdale, Iowa. VJL ijt,. A Hard Thing For a Little Boy To Do (Frances Margaret Fox.) Jimmy loved his little sister: hut even so, he didn't like to take her out in her go-cart even so, he did not wish to be seen taking care of that pink and-whlte baby, especially on Saturday morning when his work was done and he was ready to play with the boys on the public playground around the cor ner. He had done his work well—his mother said so he had straightened the room In the basement where he and his older brother had been making bird houses he had swept the furnace room and carried the ashes into the alley and cleaned the walks: all that was boys' work. He thought that taking the baby out for an airing in her go-cart was girls' work, and if his big sisters were too busy that Saturday morning to go walking, why couldn't the baby play in the house until afternoon? "Turn her loose in my room,' he said to his mother, "and shut the door. She'll be good if she can have all my play things and can pull everything she sees down to the floor, and then I'll straighten' up!" "Why don't you want to take your dear little sister out in her go-cart this lovely morning, Jimmy, when you know that the sunshine and fresh air will do her so much good .the darling!" "Of course I know that she is a dar ling all right," Jimmy admitted, as he helped the baby take uncertain steps from one chair to another, "but"— "But what?" urged his mother, as the boy stopped talking and looked cross. "You'd know if you'd ever been a boy," Jimmy grumbled. "Here, let go of my hair!" he advised baby, as she made a dive at his head with both hands and squealed for Joy. "Here, here sis, let up, let up, or brother'll be bald headed!" "Now, mother" he continued, "babies are all right of course, and a feller likes to meet his little sister out in a go-cart when some one else is wheeling her. But if I take her out. the boys will laugh!" Jimmy's mother opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind so quickly that, although Jimmy felt cross as a grizzly bear, he half smiled when he saw his mother's mouth open and close like that, and certain it is that he felt a bit ashamed, because he add ed— "Of course the baby is all right she is pretty and clean, and she doesn't cry! But, I tell you. it isn't any fun to have the boys all laughing at you!" "Jimmy, please bring me the baby bonnet and coat." was the way his mother answered that. "1 am sorry, but she must be out this morning, and you are the only one who can go with her. You are dragging her bonnet-strings," she added, as Jimmy obeyed ungrac iously. j)ear Juniors* When the baby saw her bennet and coat. she was so pleased she lost her balanc?, and down she sat, bobbing her head and saying. "Bye-bye-bye." and you may be sure that Jimmy was not cross to her he was only cross about her. Mother looked troubled when her small son took the go-cart down the steps, "Bump-ety-bumpl hump-ety-, ™"e bump!" hard! but she smiled wnen sne, saw how tenderly he carried the baby down those same steps, and how gently ho smiled her back against her P»-| soon as you make up your mind that' you want to give her away! Jimmy laughed at that: "Then I sup pose," Tie remarked, "that I shall have I to stay out with her forever and forever, walking up and down back streets'" Jimmy's mother said no more, be cause she knew that Jimmy chose back streets for baby lest the boys should see him and laugh. At eleven o'clock Jimmy suddenly re membered that half nast ten was the baby's nap timf. "Oh. I must get her home to mother!" he exclaimed. ''I shoudn't have kert her out so long! When Jimmy turned toward the open the fourteenth of June. window and inquired. "How long do I When Washington saw it he was de have to keep her out?" his mother an swered: "Jimmy, I am ashamed of you! You behave as if taking your little sister out for a walk is the hardest thing a boy can do! You may bring her in the house It happened that morning that Jimmy didn't have a chance to turn in the di- I rection of a back street before he met I three of his particular friends, whom he Dear Juniors: did not wish to meet, on their way to I I thought I'd write and tell you where the playground: but before those little 11 live—at Seibert, Colo., on a farm of boys spoke to Jimmy, they began doing 160 acres. I live thirteen miles from tricks to make the little sister laugh, town and three miles from school. I and they crowded in front of her so go to school every day that isn't too thev stopped the go-cart. I stormy to go. I go in a buggy. I am in "Where are you taking her?" asked the fourth reader. We have two black Bobbie Evans. calves. Their names are Callte and "Nowhere, just out walking," answer- Blackie. I will tell you what I will write ed Jimmy. "Then bring her over to the play ground and let her see us go down the slide," suggested Peter Brown. "And lemme wheel her! My! but she is a peach!" exclaimed Kenneth Barnes, Thus began one of that dear baby's rk«v «f Rfltavia happiest mornings, because when she LieCOrailOn Vay at DdtdVld reached the playground she discovered that all the children loved her, even the boys—big boys and little bovs. Jimmy discovered the same fact, and baby al lowed IVm to play with the boys to his! heart's content: and that day she learn ed a new word: it was "boy!" Come home with brother and say 'Boy- and when the man played the bugle we boy' for mother!" dropped them on the old soldiers' "Let mf wheel her again," offered graves. We ought to be proud of old Kenneth Barnes. "It is time for me to soldiers because they fought for the go home, anyway. Don't tell the others, flag. but I promised my mother that I would My school is out and I am having a come home and do the dusting this: THE COURIER xtnoc [The Origin of Flag Day By Carribelle Perkins The tJtle o( the st0ry jg The lived on Arch street in Philadelphia. She was known far and near as a neat sewer. One day George Washington and two other men went to see if she would flrgt Amerlcan she smiled when sne .. nAaa tiiot «h*» lighted with it. Every American is not only delighted with it, but he loves the dear old flag. HERE'S HEIR TO THE DUKE MILLIONS Every American boy and girl is proud of the flag. It stands for all that is good arid dear to every American. It stantjs for Mrs. Angier B. Duke and her son Angier B., Jr. This is the first photograph which has been made of Mrs. Angier B. Duke and her son Angier, Jr. Mrs. Duke, who was formerly Miss Cordelia Biddle of Philadelphia, was one of the leaders of 'th^ son^f and her wedding last year was a social event. Mr. Duke is the Benjamin B. Duke, head of the tobacco trust. that 1 am writ- ..The origin of Flag Day." flrst flag was made on June 14. It wag ma made by Betsy Ross who flag gaid that she WQuld try Washington told her that it ye simple an thing to do. He outline for her. low. If his tones wire not joyful when he said. "Brother take her bye-bye." the I Mrs. Rosssettowork and 11.was not baby didn't notice. Probably the reason long until she had the first America she pulled his cap off and tossed it on flag made. It took her three days the grass was because she wished to make it. see him laugh while he buckled the go-j There were thirteen stars in the flag cart strap so tight that, no matter how to represent the thirteen colonies, hard she bumped against it, she could There were seven red stripes and six not fall out. white ones. The day she finished it was liberty. It proclaims liberty for all. EvSry star and stripe stands for liberty. It stands for liberty of thought as well. Carribelle Perkins, age 10, Bonaparte, Iowa. Seibert, Colorado, Junior Writes His First Letter about the next time. I will tell you about my colt and my calf. This is my flrst letter. Francis Tiliotson, age 9. Seibert, Colo., Star Route. By Mildred Koons It has been so long since I have writ ten to you that I thought I would write. So many of the children have won prizes so I thought I would try to win one. Decoration exercises were held here and the school children were in the parade. We carried flowers and flags njce vacation. Saturday." I Mildred Koons, age 8, "Isn't that girls" work?" demanded Batavia, Iowa. Jimmy, as he arladly allowed Kenneth to wheel the baby. "Mother says not," answreed Ken neth. "She says that whatever a boy can do to make-everything easier tor his mother and sisters is man's work. Of course, though. I don't like to dust!" "And I don't like to take a baby out in a go-cart," confessed Jimmy, on reaching his own gate. "Do you know what is the hardest thing a boy can do?" Kenneth wished to know, as shook hands with the baby and laughed because she laughed. "The hardest thing a boy can do is to see a baby like her going into another boy's house, when there isn'a any little sister,in ona day she said "Good-boy!' in his own house!" "Come on over and play with her any time." was Jimmy's invitation, as he went whistling into the house, carrying his sleepv little sister, while that dear little sister patted his shoulder and said ''boy, boy, boy!" "1 know now what would be /the hardest thing a boy could do," exclaim ed Jimmy, as he dumped the baby in his mother's lap: "it would be to have to get along without her!" Straightway the baby said another new word, which mad? two new words JS & OTTUMWA, WAPELLO COUNTY, IOWA The Wonderful Cradle—By Frank Clark One summer there lived a little cat erpillar in a grape vine. He fed upon the green leaves and ate so many that we wondered if there would be any left. One day after a very large dinner the caterpillar began to spin. He spun a large silk thread that seemed to come from his mouth and it was fastened to the grape vine. Then a strange thing happened. He moved his head to* and fro and twisted it around and around until he was wrapped in a beautiful soft silk blanket which he had made for himself. Soon there was no caterpillar to be seen, nothing but this curious silken cradle. There lay the cradle close to the grape vine stem all through the winter with its ice and snow and bitter winds. The old year went and the new year came but the cradle lay quietly in its cranny. It did not even rock in the winds. At last the cold winds died away and the warm days came. The little sleeper awoke with the May sunshine and rust led inside the brown cradle. We watch ed to see the caterpillar come forth from hii winter nest but what do you think we saw. A beautiful butterfly that clung to the grapevine stem and slowly unfolded his velvety wings. The baby caterpillar had changed into a beautiful butterfly in his winter cradle. 1 Prank Clark, age 11, Ottumwa, Ia„ R. No. 5 Irene Walters Has Just Moved to a Farm Near Bidwell Dear Juniors: As I have never written to the Cour ier Junior for so long a time I thought I would write about our farm. We just mved out here last month and we have a pig and a cow and fifty little chick ens and have turkey and duck eggs setting. We are going to get a horse and buggy. I like to read the Junior page very well and I think Margie Hankins' letter about Decoration day was very nice. I have two sisters and three broth ers. Their names are James, Martin. Robert. Elsie and Dofis. I like to read "Bringing Up Father,'' Petey Dink, Lit tle Benny's Note Book and working the puzzle. Irene Walter, age 11. Bidwell, Iowa. DON'T YOU SEE The day was hotter than woPds can tell, So hot the jelly-fish wouldn't jell, The halibut went all to butter, And the cat-fish had only force to utter A faint sea-mew-ay, though, some have doubted, The carp he carped'and the horn-pout pouted. The sardonic sardine had his sly heart's wish When the angel-fish fought with the paradise-fish 'Twas a sight gave the blue-fish the blues to see. But the seal concealed a wicked glee. The day it went from bad to worse. Till the pickerel picked the purse crab's purse. And that crab felt crabbeder yet, no doubt. Because the oyster wouldn't shell out The sculpin would sculp, and hadn't a model. And the cod-fish begged' for something to coddle: But to both the dolphin refused its doll, Till the whale was obliged to whale them all. —Katherine Lee Bates, in Churchman. 1 Vivian Hoyt Writes a Com position Her Subject Lincoln and Washington I am a girl twelve years old and I thought I would write to you about Lincoln and George Washington. Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardm county, Kentucky. February 12 1101. His grandfather, Abraham, had moved from Virginia in 1781. while his father Thomas, was a lad. His mother's name was Nancy Hawks, and was also a Virginian by birth. In 1809 Lincoln's father left his log hut in Virginia and settled in the forests of Indtana, In what is now Spencer county. Lincoln's mother had a good character and she taught Lincoln and his sister Sarah to read and write. She taught him three maxims, never Jo swear, never to touch liquor and never to lie. He never did any of these. When he was president he said "All that I am. or hope to be, I owe to my sainted mother." She died when he was nine years old and a year later his father married again. When Lincoln was 19 he made a trip to New Orleans in a flat boat as a hired man. When he came back his father moved to Macon county. 111. When he was twenty-one he made another flat boat trip to New Orleans, sailing down the Sagamon, the Illinois and the Mississippi rivers. He was a clerk In a store at New Salem, reading and studying such books as he could pro cure in his spare time. Is 18S2 he was captain of a company which served in the Black Hawk war and was popular because of his great strength and abil ity to tell more and better stories than any other man in the army. He was de- greatest conflicts were seen feated for the state legislature in 1832 and he was then appointed postmaster of Salem. He borrowed all the books he could get because he was too poor to buy them, and studied by his evening fire. He studied Aesop's Fables. Pil grim's Progress, Life of Washington and of Clay. Burns, Shakespeare, the Bible and books on surveying and law. On May 16, 1860 the republican na tional convention at Chicago nominat ed him for president. He was elected on November 6. He was re-elected in 1864 by an electoral vote of 212 to 21 cast for General McClellen, his oppon ent. Mr. Lincoln while attending a theater on April 14, 1865 was shot by John Wilkes Booth. 'He died the next morning. He was 6 feet 4 inches high, thin, wiry, sinewy and raw boned. There was great mourning when he died. Our world loved President Lin coln. George Washington was the first president of the Usited States. He was born February 22, 1732. His parents were rich. He was a very good scholar at school. In 1755 Washington was an aide-de-camp to General Braddock. In 1774 he was a delegate to the flrst con tinental congress, which met in Phila delphia. He married a wealthy widow, Mrs. Martha Custls. Washington had two horses shot from under him and four bullets passed through his clothing, but he was not injured. Vivian Hoyt, age 12, Webster, la., Box 37. Mabel Daniels' Grandfather Was a Captain in the Civil War Dear Juniors: As I have never written thought I would write an story. before I ancestor My grandfather, Captin George W. Wycoff was in the civil war and one day he and some men were invited to the wh'te house to see Lincoln and Lincoln gave them a very Interesting talk. Mabel Daniels, age 10. Bentonsport, Iowa. -vv o, Leila Flte Has Twin Sisters and Twin Brothers I have twin sisters and twin brothers. My twin sisters names are AUene and Lorene and my twin brothers names are Robert and Russell. I have three sisters and two brothers. My brothers are ten months old. My sisters are four years old. I go to school. I like my teacher very well. I am in the third grade. My teachers' name is Hattie Al len. For pets I have a pet lamb and a pet dog named Toodle. I stay at Aunt Allle's and go to school. I am seven years old and Wilma is nine years old. Dear Juniors: This Is the flrst time that I have writ ten to the Junior. I go to school every day. I like my teacher. Her name is Hattie Allen. I have one brother named Charley. He is 11 years old. I have one sister named Ruth. She is 16 years old. I have two pet rabbits. One is black and white and one is black. I have some roses in my yard and some live forevers. Dear Juniors: and dance." Buzz put them on but they This is the first time I have written had wax in them and it tickled his feet to the Courier Junior. I like to read the Courier. Leila Flte, age 7, Eld on, Iowa. Two Rabbits Are Pets of Alice Hart Selma Alice Hart, age 9, Laddsdale, Iowa. Charles Hart, a Laddsdale Junior, Writes First Time Dear Juniors: This is the first time I have written to the Junior page. I have two sisters. Their names are Selma and Ruth. I go to school every day. My teacher's name is Miss Hattie Allen. We lay games at school and our teacher plays with us. For pets I have two rabbits and one hen and a rooster We have a dog. His name is Rover. We have a garden. Qur lettuce and radishes are big enough to eat. My age Is 12 years. I am in the third grade. We are going to get some little chickens. I have a cat. Its name is Puss. There are bird nests in the tree is our yard. We gathered some flowers when they were blooming. siAMsflUiW: Charles Hart, age 12, Laddsdale. Io^. The Great Civil War By Junior Corrick Soon after Abraham Lincoln became president the civil war broke out, which caused the death of many hundreds of brave men. Perhaps none of us will ever see so sad a time, but it was also a brave time. The war came about in this way: There had been almost from the foundation of the government a rivalry between the northern and southern states. Long and angry de bates took place about slavery, about the rights of the states and the gov ernment of the territories. These had produced much bitter feeling. When a president opposed to slavery was elected some of the southern states as serted that they had a right to with draw from the union. This the north ern states denied, declaring that the union could not be divided, but before Lincoln was inaugurated seven states had declared themselves out of the union. They formed a new government which they called "The Confederate States of America" and elected Jeffer son Davis president. Between Washington and Richmond the confederates won many victories, but they were at length compelled to fall back behind the fortifications of Richmond and Petersburg, where they were besieged by Grant. During the time of this siege General Sherman marched directly into the heart of the confederacy, where he was tbv weeks without communication with the north. He marched across Georgia. Atlanta to Savannah, on the seacoast and then toward Richmond. He destroyed Lee's army supplies and made it utterly im possible for the war to continue. Le» surrendered his army in 1865 on April 9. All the other confederate forc*es soon laid down their arms. The war had lasted' four years and as a result of th* struggle, slaverv was abolished in all the territory of tbe United States. Junior Dear Juniors: I thought I would write a school com position on 'The Cat Learns to Dance." One nisrht some children left some bread and milk out in th» garden, and the cat whose name was Buzz was eat ing the bread and milk.' The moon shone bright that night and he thought it would be a fine night to dance. A little mouse was at one door o* his hole. He said that he would learn Buzz to dance so he went into h's little house and brought out a pair of white boots with pink tassels on them. The mouse said "Put these boots on so he didn't want to dance, but the mouse answered "You will have to dance until you wear them out." By that time the boots were worn out. tbe mouse had eaten all the bread and milk. ..v.,-::..*.-:,. NOTICII Corrick. age 13. 119 W. 5th St.. Ottumwa. Iowa. The Cat Learns to Dance By Alda Bessie Alda Bessie, age 10. Keosauqua, Iowa. Vera Hening Says Her Grandmother is Almost Seventy Dear Juniors: I am going to write about my an cestor, my grandmother. She was born in Ohio. She soon will be 70 years old. She came to Iowa when small. They drove through in covered wagons. At night they would camp near a stream of water so they could wgter the teanrTand have water to wash and cook with. She lives near me and I go to see her quite often. Vera Hlning. age 11, Floris, Iowa. Miss Hattie Allen Is Glen Wilkinson's Teacher Dear Junior: I am writing you a letter. This is my flrst letter to the Junior. I am writing the letter at school. I am going to school every day. I like my teacher. Her name is Hattie Allen. I haven't missed a day of school yet. I am in the third grade. I am seven years old. I have three brothers. Their names are Paul, Gerald and Hollis. Glen Wilkinson, age 7, Floris, la. Alice McLean Lynch Owns Quite a Stock Farm Dear Juniors: I have four sisters and one brother. I am 9 years old. I like to go to school. I am in the flrst reader. I like my teach er We have four horses, five cows, a cat, some chickens. Agnes Lynch, age 9, Pv AM letter* for thla department murt be addreeeed: Courier Junior, President Lincoln refused to acknow ledge that the confederate states were a government. He refused to allow the United States fort in the harbor of Charleston. S. C., to surrender to the confederate states, and he sent ships drying to bum Itself? with provisions for the small garrison of this fort. The southern troops about Charleston refused to let them be land ed and at length opened fire on the fort. This began the war. Four other states now joined the confederacy, making eleven in all. The armies on both sides became very large and during the war some of the in the world. The flrst great battle was fought at Shiloh in Tennessee. and also Nash ville which wasn't far from Shiloh. An other at Antietam in Maryland and at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. On the side of the union the three most fa mous generals were U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman and P. H. Sheridan. The three most famous on the southern side were Robert E. Lee, Joseph E. Johnston and Stonewall Jackson. Victory was now with one party and now with the other, but as the years passed on, the union armies, being the stronger, gradually gained one advan tage after another. By means of troops and gunboats sent down from the north under'Grant and a fleet under Admiral Farragut which was sent around bv sea to capture New Orleans. the whole Mississippi river was secured. Eldon, Iowa. jlw Ottumwa, Iowa. FOR THE CHILDREN Jerry's Bubble Party "I'm going to have a party today," announced Jerry on the morning of his sixth birthday. Uncle Jimmy stared at him in sur prise-. He and Jerry were alone in the house. Jerry's mother and father had been called away to grandmother, who had been taken ill. "I guess not," said Uncle Jimmy at last. "Who is to give the party for you? Not your Uncle Jimmy!" "I'll give It myself." said Jerry. "I've got the pipes from last year, and I'll have another soap-bubble party. But It won't be a real party without any thing to eat.' he ended wistfully. Jerry invited his six best friends, and they all came, even though he told them there would be nothing to eat. They blew bubbles until Rosemary blew one as big as a five-cent belloon. Then they laid aside the pipes and went Into the woods. They had been gone only a few mo ments when they came running back Jery leading. "Come quick, Uncle Jimmy," he call ed. There's something in the tree that'* trying to make soap bubbles, or else it's "Uncle Jimmy hurried back with th« excited children. "There it is," whispered Jerry. "It" was a grayish-brown objec! about three Inches long, with a lumpy body and a pair of beautiful, bright eyes. Every other Second its breast pufTed out until it did look a little like a soap-bubble, in shape at least. And all the while there was a shrill not® thrown upen the air. "Do you hear that noise?" asked Uncle Jimmy. "That is the tree-toad's song. And the soap-bubble is his chest expanding when he draws in a breath to sing." "I didn't know toads pang!" "You're listening to one now, Rose mary," said Uncle Jimmy. "The tree toad's song )s about the flrst spring note heard in the woods. They beat the birds to it. Now, if I know this fellow', I believe I can give you another treat, thought it seems a shame to disturb him Watch him and tell me if anything happens." Uncle J:mmy vtoed on the stump of a tree and gently prodded Mr. Tree Toad with the end of his finger. In stantly he stopped s.'nginj, the soap bubble chcst became quiet, and after a moment's watchf-i waiting he-hopped up the branch until he came to a shel ter of green leaves. Xot for a second did the eager eyes of the children leave him. S"ddfnlv Bi'h- cried cut. "He's changed his riothes!" Sure enough ,he was wearing a green suit! "He changes to match his surround ings." explained Uncle Jimmy. "When his bwn coat did not hide him on the limb of the tree, he hurried to the leavrs and tool.- on their color. He thinks h? is hidden now. And he won't sing for a while, cither. So let's go back to the house. I believe I smell a bi~th day cake, and who knows but there might some roprp m^e out of pink ice-crecm to ent' wi it?" "Oh! oh!'' cried s^'en v^'ees. "It's a rpal nrrty.,after all!" shouted Jerry. "And -I've had special, singer at my part?/, jus* the way mother has at some of hers!" Rcse Bailey, a Unionville Junior, Writes to Her Friend Blanche Dear Blanche: I will write you that letter in the Courier Junior that I promised you. How are you? I am well and go to day. I have lots of fun riding down hill. We run races. How many scholars have you In your school? There are eighteen in our school. How do you like to teach school? My teach er's name is Florence Bean. 1 like her very well. s. hool tverv Rosa Bailey, age 12, Ununviile, Iowa. A Bear Story—By Maybelle Austin Onte upon a time there lived a little boy, his father nd his motner. There were not many people who lived around them for ihey livea in a deep forest One day his father was walking In the fcrest when he saw a mother bear and three cubs. The mother bear was show I ing tht cubs how to eat the bark off of the young trees. The mother bear had not seen him yet when there sounded a loud crack and looking around he saw a hunter carrying a gun and game bag. The mother bear fell with a loud cry. The shot had killed her. All the baby bears cried out in fright. The man felt sorry for them, so he took them home and gave them to the little boy. He took care of the mand raised them up. He named one Jim, another Jack and the third Mehowen. One morning Jim had run avtfay and could not be found, and his brothers Jack and Mehowen were very lonesome without him. Not long after Jim had run away a man came through the forest with a trained bear. He made the bear dance and play on the fiddle. The man then asked to stay all night. The next morning Jack and the trained bear had run away. Mehowen was the only little bar left. He was very lone some now. Not Ion gafter this he ran away. The little owner hoped Mehow en would come back. But^ he never did Maybelle Austin, age 11, Agency, Iowa. A CONTRARY CLOCK I'm out of patience with our clock. Although I like his old "tick-toek"— He always seems to tease me SQ When I must practice, he's so slow. An hour's as long as half a day, And when at last I go to play. He hurries time along so fast— The little hours go flying past! I wish our" clock would use his wir.gs, When I must practice scales and thir gs! Then when 'tis playtime, I'd like best To have him stop awhile and rest. fj&&