II 1
The Busy Bees
Their Own Page
THft OMAHA StTNPAY HKE: JULY 18, 101.V
SUMMER sports bav not teen so popular m yet this year on account
of the unusually cool weather and such copious rainfall, but the
Busy Bees are having a good time at that.
Many have eccotnpanled their parents to lake, mountain and
seashore, and a many more have gone to visit on farms and in
the country, but those who remain in the city are having a good time, also.
What with two circuses In one scant week and the prospect of an
other one this month, they are not complaining. Every hour of the day
f.nds the children's room at the puhllc library filled with children browsing
over their story books. The story hour, always attractive to the little ones,
has been discontinued, however, during the summer.
The public library substations at the Train, Monmouth Park and
Kellom schools are being opened once a week this summer for distributing
books. The attendant from the library also reads aloud to the children, so
that they find solace for the discontinued story hour.
This week the prize Is awarded to Henrietta Lentz of the Blue Side.
Elizabeth BlankenbeckleT of the Red Side and Mildred Dunham of the
Blue Side win honorable mention.
Little Stories
(First rriie).
Life of a Fisherman.
Bj- Henrietta T,ent, Aged 12 Yours,
K. F. D. 1, (jothenburg. Nab. Hlue Bide.
How many of tha Busy Bee have aver
thought of the life of a fisherman?
When the sea l calm and the fish
plentiful, his Ufa U eay, but when tha
cold storms coma and tha llttla fishing
smack Is half covered with ica and let
tha fisherman has a hard Ufa.
He must llva upon tha coarsest food
no tabla neatly spread with linen, dainty
dishes and cut glass, but a tin cup, a
tin plata and very few or no luxuries
at all.
When the winter la severe he often
spends his time carving buttons and many
ornaments from the shells he gathers up
on the shore and so helps out a scanty
Income.
Sometimes while he may be quite a
distance out on the water, severe storms
come up and tha small smack perishes
and all other fishermen drown that aro
cn board.
There might be more than one fish that
some of tha Busy Bees have eaten while
the fisherman was In great danger pull
ing the nets during a heavy storm.
1 wish that every Busy Bee would
think of the fisherman when he eats fish.
This is Che first time 1 have written
to this happy page and I wish to Join
the Blue 8lde. 1 expect to enter the
ninth grade next fall.
(Honorable Mention).
The Mysterious Box.
By Mildred Dunham. 2G17 Hanscom
Boulevard. ' Blue Hide.
All was in a hubbub, everybody was
rushing, for today wa the Fourth of
July. "Belle Town and her little brother,
Jack, were out In the yard shooting off
firecrackers. Diana, the oook. was in
the kitchen and now and then turned
to the oven to look at-whit do you
think she looked afr-s. Urg apple-sauca
cake. Suddenly an expressman came tip
tha walk carrying a large box. which he
put on the porch. Then up came Jack
and Belle s playmates and began looking
at it. "I wonder what is la It," "Let us
sea Inside," and "Open it up." were-some
.of the excited remarks of the children. ;
Finally Mr. Town came and too, it in,
so that tha children were disappointed.
Jack and Belle went running In and said.
Oh. mother, let u see what Is in It."
Bho. just smiled and said she would see.
Bo Belle and Jack sat down and thought
and thought until Belle said, "Well. I am
sure I can t guess it." "Nor I. said
Jack, and they didn't Ulna anything
more about it.
Soon It became evening and Mr. Towne
said -Now for the box." So they gath
ered around and saw. much to their
happy surprise, plnwheels. skyrockets,
firecrackers, everything children could
want. After a merry evening, they went
to ted, as happy child ran as one could
.find.
(Honorable Mention.)
Origin of Fourth of July.
Elisabeth Blankenbecker, Tekamah. Net..
Aged 12 Years. Red Plde.
' On a hot summer day the
July there was a meeting held in the
town hall of Philadelphia, Pa. Gathered
at that meeting were many great men,
among them Oeorg. Wuhb.to. and
Thomas Jefferson. The meeting of th.se
men was called to decide whether tha
colonists should be free of England.
Around the meeting house were gath
ered men and women of ths colonies
of North America, waiting tor the
answer to this great question. Presently
there was a great shout, for they heard
these great men say that "we shall be
free and independent of Great Britain."
Near the meeting house stood a little
boy waiting for the answer to this ques
tion. He gave a shout and ran to the
door of the church, where sat an old
man waiting for the news with his hand
on a bell. The little boy ran to him and
said: "Ring, grandfather, ring,' and soon
the great bell, since called Liberty bell,
was sounding glad news over the land.
Since then we have celebrates that day
every year for 13 years.
Foolish Jocko.
By Lalllan Pokomv, Auk! 10 Years,
Clarkson, Neb. Red Side.
Jocko was a bright monkey. It was
given to George and May. It could do
many tricks. George and May were very
fond of It. It could chatter in the most
curious ways.- It would climb the fences
and go into the neighbors' gardens. Best
of all. It liked to get Into the chlcken
jsrd and pull the hens' feathers.
George's fattier bought an Iron ball
and tied it to Jockos leg by a chain.
Jocko did not like the Iron ball. When
it tried to climb the fence the ball would
pull It down. Tha chickens In the
chicken-yard had peace.
In the yard was an old well that was
not used. Tha children always uncov
ered the well and threw stones into tha
water. They liked to hear the splash.
Jocko liked to watch them at their pl7
and liked to try it Uaelf.
Ona day tha well was left uncovered.
Jocko wanted to throw the hall In the
well. It earns close and leaned over.
Then It rolled tlie ball close to the edge
of tha well. It gave a puvh. A great
splash was heard and this was tha sad
nd of Jocko.
Pet Babbit.
By Susie PUson, Aged 1". Years, ft. F. D.
S. Platte Center. Neb. Blue Side.
I will tU you about my rabbits. They
are bo'.!-, tarkrsbblt. Their names are
Jack and Jiil. They ware small when we
first got them. We built a pen for thorn.
Wa got Jack a while before we got Jill.
by Little. Folk
RULES FOR YOVXa WRITERS
1. Write plainly on one side
of the paper only and number
the pages.
2. I'se pen and Ink, not pen
cil. 3. Short and pointed arti
cles will be given preference.
Do not use over 260 words.
4. Original stories or let
ters only will be used.
6. Write your name, age
and address at the top of the
first page.
A prize consisting of a book
will be given to the writer of
the best contribution printed
each week.
Address all communications
to CHILDREN'S DEPART
MENT, Omaha Bee, Omaha,
Neb.
Jack has only three legs because ha got
In the trap. Jill had one leg broken
becauoe our horse, Pete, stepped on his
front foot and broke It. When we would
call them they would come to the edge
of the cage and Jump around to see who
called them. We feed them dandelions,
lettuce, corn and cabbage sometimes.
This spring Jill died, but we still havo
Jack. 1 like to feed and water them.
This Is all for this time, I will write
again.
Mother'g Surprise.
By Ines Roberts. 4001 Charles St., 12
' Years Old. Blue Side.
"Oh. father," cried Ruth and Bob all
In one breath, "let's hava some sort of
a surprise for. mother on tha Fourth of
July, because you know it is her birth
day." "All right, children, but what shall It
be?"
Tha children and father tried and tried
to thing up something nice for mother.
Father soon thought of a lovely plan
and after he told the children they said:
"It's Just tha thing."
Tha surprise was going to be In tha
library. There was so much hammering
and going to and fro with smiles on
their faces that mother soon became very
curious to know what was going on In
the library, mother forgetting tha Fourth
of July would be her birthday.
"Father, what shall we give her for
a birthday present?" asked Ruth.
"Well, now, how about giving her that
set of books she has been wanting 7"
"That's Just the thing," said Bob. .
On tha Fourth of July mother was In
vited into the library. Just as she got
to tha library door her friends inside
shouted "surprise." Mother was led to
a beautiful big chair decorated in the
Fourth of July colors. Across the front
was printed "Mother."
After they were all seated a play was
given by a lot of little boys aad girls.
Then came the refreshments, served, by
little girls dressed up to represent fire
crackers.
After it was all over the mother called
Bob and Ruth and the dear father to-,
gether and told them what a lovely time
she had had and said sha would always
remember It as "mother's surprise."
Two Pet Kittens.
By Lyda Bwanson, Aged 10 years, Goth
enburg, Neb. Blue Side.
One day mamma went out in tha barn
to get a basket of cobs. There ware
two boards standing up against the
wall and a little tall was sticking out
behind them. Mamma gotscared, so sho
threw a cob at it. Behind tha boards
were two little bright-eyed kittens play
ing. They were about two weeks old.
When mamma came in aha told me. 1
was to happy I didn't know what to
do. So I went out to tha barn to see
them. I looked behind tha boards an!
there wore two kittens. I stayed ov.t
there and watched them a while. I
went to the barn every day anj watohod
them. I would take thaaa out of the
barn and play with them and would
hava the moat fun. They had their
home in an old dish pan with a (urpet
In It. One night papa took tha carpet
away. Then the kittens got in a big
basket. They were all gray and tha
dearest little kittens I hava ever had.
I weuld take them out of tha basket
and take them over to the swln. There
was a carpet under my swing and it
was double, so I put them in between
the carpet. They liked that vary weJI,
but I took them out so much that tha
mother cat didn't like it.
Conservation and Watte.
By Gladys Spring, Ogallala. Neb. Box
No. 63. Blue Side.
Once upon a time there lived a poor
newsboy and a rich glrL Tha boy's
name was Jack and tha girl's ncjna was
Mary.
Every day Jack was seen going to ths
IDime Savings bank and tha girl was
seen going to the candy and Ire cream
store.
At last Christmas came and tha rt-Ji
girl had nothing to buy for Christmas
presents, but Jack did. Mary learneJ
a lesson.
Campers Near Home.
By Irene Dollage. Years. 'Walnut, la.
Red Side.
Once there mere some campers that
ramped near our house. There were two
men, two somen and a baby girl. Thit
evening a woman and the baby came
up and sol a dime's worth of mil. They
ONE OF THE BRIGHT LITTLE
BUSY BEES. .
Y V
I ' f
' I
" r
Charlotte Abrahams
had two covered wagons and a top
buggy. They had over twenty horses.
The night that they were there It rained
and they did not get started the next
day till noon. When they were about
two miles away my brother, my slater
and I went to see what they had levt
there. They were headed for Omaha.
The baby could Just walk. Well, I guess
my story Is long enough for the first
time. I wish to Join the Red Side be
cause red Is my favorite color.
.
Honest and Dishonest.
By Edda Carneer, 3510 Valley St.. Omaha,
Neb. Blue Side.
There was Ace two little girls. Their
mother was going on a trip for two day.
She said: "The- one who had tha most
dandelions dug could have 5."
The girls names were Myrtle and Beu
Inh. When the mother came home sha
saw that Myrtle had the most dug.
She told them to empty them on the
ground. She was ashamed to sea that
Myrtle had the bottom filled with dirt.
Beulah won the ST.
She was going down town to buy soma
clothes when she saw a llttla girl cry
ing. She asked her what was the mat
tor. She replied: "My mother Is sick and
Stories of Nebraska History
(By special permission of the author.
The Beo will publish chapters from the
History of Nebraska, by A. E. Sheldon,
from week to week.)
First Nebraska Missionaries
After tha explorer and tha fur trader
the missionary came to Nebraska. BeV.
Moses Merrill and his wife, Ellna Wil
cox, were the first to ootne. They were
sent out in 1K to tha Otoe Indiana by
the Baptist Missionary union. At that
time the Otoe tribe llve.d along tha Platte
as far west as the mouth ot the Elk
horn. Their largest vUlage waa in Baunr
ders county, about ten miles north, of tha
place where Ashland now la They
hunted outh and west along Bait creak.
Weeping Water and the Nemaha.
Mr. Merrill and hi wife drova an ox
team from Missouri to Bellevue. Hare
was an Indian trading pout, where the
Otoe, Omaha and Tawnee Indiana came
to trade furs and skins fur white roan's
goods.
At first very fow Indians attended tha
missionary meetings, and those Who cams
begged for corn, potatoes and whisky.
Mr. Merrill began to study the Otoe lan
guage in order that he might talk to
the Indians without an Interpreter and
translate Uie Bible and hymns into their
tongue. In this way ha spent tha first
winter.
The next spring Mr. Merrill rode on
horseback, fording two rivers, to the
Otoe village on the south bank of tha
Platte, near Ashland. Ha waa received
by I tan, the great chief of tha Otoes, In
one ot his lodges, which was made by
setting large trunks of tress In tha
ground, laying polee on them and cover
ing tha wholo with grass and dirt. This
lodge of ltan was circular In form and
measured t-0 feet In ctroumiference.
I tan gave Mr. Merrill a feast of boiled
buffalo meat served In a wooden bowl.
It was to be eaten with tha fingers, the
guest eating first. All tha rest waited
until he had finished. Itan was a great
chief. He had five wives and four houses
for them to llva In. The town of Tutan
In Saunders county Is named for him.
It is only three miles from whs re bis
lodge stood.
On Sunday, the next day, Mr. Merrill
was Invited out to eat four times before
noon. He went, and after eating, read
to tha Indiana part of his translation of
the Bible. He showed the children some
pictures and began to teach them how
to sing the scale. Tha children were
deeply interested and tried hard to sound
the notes as the white man did. At tha
end of a week two of tha children could
sing the seals correctly and knew twenty
two letters of tha alphabet.
One day Mr. Merrill learned that fifty
Otoes had gone to tha white trading post
with fifty beaver skins, worth. tOO. to
trade for whlaky. Chief ltan spoke in
strong words to tha missionary against
the curse of the white man's strong
water. On the very next day ha and
another chief were drunk and talked
very loud against whisky, saying that it
was bad, the Indiana did not make It,
tha white man was to blame. Mr. Merrill
kept on trying to teach them better,
reading verses from the Bible and pray
ing for them.
One Indian waa sick and tha Otoe medi
cine men came to cure him. Tha atck
man was stretched out naked in his
lodge. Tha medicine men beat their
drums, shook their rattles and danced
around him, eaob stopping ta take a
mouthful of water from time to time
and to spurt It oa tha sick aaaa'a bead.
It is to be hoped that ha survived this
treatment.
Then the Otoes went away for their
summer hunt, W hen they came back In
the fall they brought skins snd began to
trade them for whisky. Mr. Mnrrlll wrote
from a trading post where whinny was
sold as f ilos: "This Is not the ho'ise
jot uod, nor Uie gala ot havn. it Is
T have nothing to eat." Bo Buelah gave
her the . It always pays to be honest
and careful, but never dl'honoet. I
hope to see my letter In print and still
more to win a rrlr.e.
Wins Egg Race.
By Mildred Knochaon. Aged 10 Years.
Schuyler, Neb. Blue Side.
We celebrated the Fourth of July in
Schuyler. We got to town about 1 I
o'clock.
About 4 o'clock I ran across my uncle,
cousin and aunt. My uncle bought my
cousin and 1 a horn.
There was a race calld the egg rnre.
My uncle said my cousin and I should 1
be In the race, fo we went. They lild !
five eggs In each of two row. Soon,
another girl came, who was going to
be In It, so they luld down another row
of rugs. There wa a box a little way
bark.
We had to take one egg at a time and
put It bark In the box. 1 got first prlte,
which was $2. and my cousin got sec
ond prise, which was $1. We went away
ve-y happy. Afterward wo had two
merry-go-round rides. We got homo
about 8 o'clock. I went to bed very
tired that night.
Her First Letter.
Bv Kmma 11nn, Agivl Years. R. F.
I). I. Platte Center, Wlv Hlue Sl,le.
This Is my firt letter to this happy
page. I entoy the letter and Htorles. 1
live on a farm, three miles from the
city. I have two sisters, but no brothers.
Wa have chickens, geese-, pigs, homes,
cows, pigeon and cats. I will write n
Story soon. Goodbye.
Celebrates Fourth.
IieonS Walter, Wahoo. Neb. Blue Side.
I am going to tell you how I spent
the 'Fourth. I did not go any place,
but stayed at home. I had Jut as
much fun at home ss I would If I had
gone away. Monday afternoon we went
to Colon and got somo skyrockets, for
they did not sell them in Wahoo. Mon
day night we shot them. That was the
first Fourth I stayed at home.
Furnishes Nest.
By Helen O VcCormick, Agrd 1? Yearn,
Silver Creek, Neb. Blue Side.
I am going to tell you how I made a
tittle wren a happy home.
First ' I took a eoffeo can and cut a
hole In the ltd of It, Just the size of a
quarter. Then I nailed It up on the
smoke house so the lid would be In front.
In a few days I noticed a wren sing
ing around the smoke house and I saw
It taking some sticks In tha can.
It would get the sticks crosswise of
rather the house ot eat art and the gate
of hell. Two kegs of whisky were car
lied from tha house this morning by
Indians. They will trade their horses,
their guns, and even their blankets for
thta poisonous drink.
It was against tha law then, as now, to
sell liquor to Indians, but Nebraska was
far out on the frontier and the white
traders oould make greater profit by
selling whisky than In any other way.
In September, 1X36, Mr. Merrill moved
bis family to tha Otoe Mission on the
Platte river, about eight miles west of
Bellevue. Here the government built a
log cabin and a schoolhouse, which en.
abled turn to carry on his mission work
away from the evils of the trading post.
It waa a beautiful site, with an open
prairie sloping to the Platte, with rich
meadow for stock and gardening, and a
large body of Umber close by. Half of
the Otoe tribe moved there and made
their village at the mission.
Tha Otoes were very poor these years
and became poorer. They hunted deer,
eld and buffalo In the summer of U3
and brought home very llttla meat Their
appetite for whlaky waa greater than be
fore, and tha more bad luck they had
tha more wldsky they wanted. Many
were sick with fever tills summer and
Mr. Morrill gave them food and medicine,
oared for them and tried hard to have
them give up liquor and look after their
crops and families. Ha urged them to
keep away from tha place where whisky
waa sold, and this stirred up the traders
against him, as the whisky trade was
tholr best busluess. For a single tin cup
full of whisky tha trader would often get
$10 worth of furs.
When the people became sick and began
to die the traders told them that Ood
was angry with the Otoes tor having tha
missionaries among them. Two pupils In
Mr. Merrill's school died In tha fall and
tha traders said they were killed for
learning to read. As tha whisky habit
grew In the tribe the men became mis
erable and quarrelsome. The fulled
States had sent a farmer snd a black
smith to teach the Indiana bow to farm
and to make tools for them. These men
and their families lived near tha mission.
Drunken Otoe shot at the farmer, and
both ha and tha blacksmith moved their
families back to Bellevue, lealng Mr.
and Mrs. Merrill alone among the In
dian at tha village.
Two of ltan' wives ran away wilh
two Otoe young men. ltan was in a very
great rsga and said that he would .kill
tha young men when they came back.
New wa brought that these braves
were In the village and Itan took his
gun'' and pistol to kill them. When he
passed tha mission house Mr. and Mra
Merrill went out and begged him not to
begin a bloody fight. He wa wild for
revenge and went on. The two young
men came out to meet Chief Itan singing
their war sung. The chief fired his mus
ket at on of tha young men and missed
him. Then one of the chiefs friends
fired at the same young man and he
fell. Ha rose, however, and shot the
chief through tha body. A brother ot this
young man then shut Itan a second time.
Ona of Ilea's friends shot the brother.
A third young roan shot Itan again and
was at onoe ahot himself. The three
young men snd Chief Itan died that vcn
Ing. Two of them were Mr. Merrill's
pupil. This happened on April 28, 1837.
The whole Otoe tribe was Vrn into fac
tion by this tragedy. Soma wanted to
kill tha friend of the young men. other
to avenge their death. The bloody feud
ovar tha fight lasted for many years.
Attar 1 tan's death Melhunca, the second
chief of the tribe, came to take breakfast
with Mr. Merrill. H wanted presents
and said that the traders told him It was
bad for the teacher to live near him and
ne. er give the Indians presents or fine
clothes, and sugar and coffee, aa the
trailers did. :r. snd Mra Merrill tried
to show him tnat they were poor and
the hole, so 1 put some slicks In the
can and It seini-d to le very thankful for
my help.
When It had enough sticks In II neat
It bevnn to put hair In It. so I put some
hi tsc hair tip b Its box and the bird
took I. and lined the nest with It.
It has the tival all lined and tha
mother wren Is setting now. I will wrlie
iHler and toll you how the eggs hatch.
Also, erch morning 1 put food near by
on n post so the bird gladdens the day
by Its merry notes.
Enjoys Page.
Hv Helen 7.i pi'n. Aged II Year. Vrt
IViliit. Neb. Hlue Side.
1 enjoy loading the pace every Sunday ;
and dnldcd t would Join.
1 go to public school and am In the ,
. . l I.I 111... Inlil t
Sixth A n scnooi. I nwniu " .'
the lllu... Side, as It Is my favorite color.
I lll close, and writo a story net
time. I hope to see my Utter In print.
Adventures of Nickle.
l:y Catherine Haugherty. Age 14 Years.
Blue Side.
One day n I was walking to school
a lady sin) pel me and asked: "Will
you ph'ase go to the store for me? I
wasn't In a hurry so I went to the stora.
in,., i returned shs handed me a blight
new nickel. Of course I didn't want to J
take it. but she insisted, so I took It
and walked to school. Arriving at the
school house I found I waa In need
of paper and I looked In my purse for
the nhkel. But alack, and alas, tna
nickel was nowhere to be seen. Look
ing closer I observed a small hole
through which the nickel had slipped
out. SO I went that day without paper.
In the meantime let us see what was
happening to the nickel. It lay In tha
grass for some time before a tramp
spied It -ind cried "HI. ho. It's a nickel.
Who ever said Friday was an unlucky
dny must be crasy." Well. It wasn't vsry
pleasant being in a greasy pocket and
believe me the nickel didn't like tt. Tha
tramp sauntered Into a cigar store and
bought a cigar. Us did not pay for It
at once, but the owner didn't object,
thinking he could make mora money out
of the tramp. The tramp finished tha
cigar and looked for 'the nickel, roof
tramp. His dirty face became pale
and he tried to explain, but the owner
wouldn't listen and the tramp was pulled
to the police station, and all this on
account of a poor llttla nickel which lay
on the sidewalk. A boy cam and found
It and bought marbles for It Tha next
day I was sitting dreaming over a book
of Ijongfellows poems when I heard
mother calling me. Sha wanted ma to
go to the store and gave me a quarter.
: Dy A-E' ShMoa
bad no means of making great profits,
aa tha traders bad selling whisky. They
urged him to keep away from liquor. H
soon became angry and said he wa
going at one to the trading post to
trade horee for whisky. On the next
day the school children, who were given
bread for lunch every day, began to
complain loudly and said thst they would
not read any more unless they were
given a full dinner every day.
In August, 137, a band of fifty loway
Indians came over from tha Woeplng
Water to trade wtth the Otoe. Thuy
brought fifteen kegs of whisky. Mr. Mer
rill held a great tennpiranoe meeting that
day. The next day the whole Otoe vil
lage was drinking whisky. One Otoe had
hla ears, out oft and another was stabbed
and died. Tha Iowaya left, taking with
thcin six Otoe ponies, paid for In whisky.
In m Mr. Merrill went with tha Otoe
on their buffalo hunt. By this time he
had learned to apeak their language and
had translated portion of the Bible and
several hymns into Otoe. Ths Otoe
hymns had been printed In a book with,
the name:
Wdtwhtl Wdwdklha Eva Wdhonetl
and was tha first Nebraska book ever
made.
In spite of all Mr. Merrill oould do the
Otoe men cared more for whisky and less
for good things every year. They no
longer, loved their old-time game and
exercise. They longed tor the White
man' fire-water and tha vision that
danced before their brain whan they
drank It mora than for all the giepel
messages and Christian hymn brought
by the missionary. All they oould get
wa spent for liquor and food wa begged
from Che mission. The young men be
came Impudent and pretended to be
flloux In order to frighten tha missionary
family.
It wa six years since Mr. Merrill and
his wife came to give their live In
teaching and saving one tribe of Ne
braska Indiana. A baby boy, Samuel
Pcarce, had been born to them In 183S.
Ho became a Baptist minister and Is
today ths second oldest whit person
born in Nebraska, the oldest being Major
William Clark Kennedy of St. Louis,
Mo, who wa born at Fort Atkinson,
November t, 1S24. Mr. Merrill lives at
Squirrel Island, Msln. They had built a
large log mission house with a great
stone chimney, which could be seen for
many miles. In this they held school on
week daya for tha Otoa children snd
heie they held their Sunday services.
A new and deadly enemy to tha mis
sion appeared. Mr. Merrill became the
vlotlm ot consumption. Exposure, over
work and giiof hastened Its ravage. He
was deeply discouraged and wrote In hla
dairy at this time: "Formerly Mra. Mer
rill felt perfectly safe day and night,
but it Is not so now. The Otooa trample
upon my property and rights unreproved.
They occupy my pasture with their cat
tle and hore when It suit their con
venience, often leaving the fence thrown
do a. They steal my potatoes, pumpkins
and corn by night. As we ars alone It
would not be prudent to resist these
tlicfu. How long ww shall be able to
live quietly In our own habitation ia un
certain, lnleed we are disturbed often
now. My family fear these vagrant
Otuss. These Indians do not feel friendly
townrd whit people. They are ungrate
ful for favors received."
Mr. Merrill grew worse rapidly. He died
on February . 1S40, and wa buried on
the east bank of tha Missouri river, oppo
site Bellsrue. The Otoa called hltn
"The-One-'VS ho - Always - Speaks The
Tnth."
On a Nebraska farm In Sarpy county,
sloping gently to the Platte river, la a
grove of giant Cottonwood over SO year
old. In their midst a-tands an old build
ing with a great stone chimney. This
is the monument and wltnen today of
the Ufa and labors of the first mlshlon-
i tne i
'sile
to Nebrssk
After receiving the thins I wsnted the
man gave nic two nickels In change. I
K la need at one of them. There, could I
believe my -ee. was my long-lost
nickel. Well, 1 dldn t rare about spend
ing It after that, an I put tt Into a
l-ox wlih some Canadian pennies. But I
certainly think the nickel had some ad
ventures. Pon't yoi?
Characters in Story.
By Karl Babbitt. PlaMsmonth. Neb.. R.
F. I. No. I He.l Side.
Before sending any stories 1 wlrti to
Introduce some rhara-tera thst will be
In my stories. They sre:
John t'pstsrl. aged 10, very qvilet and
sensitive.
Fred Standstill, aged 13, very Impctu-1
ous.
(Jeorge Blarkstnne, aged IS. hard wtlled,
bad tehiper.
I.loyd WU'lains, aged , quick to think.
with good character.
i an Inderal, agei i has large nose i
which he protects from ridicule. j
Brown Knox, tough and good fighter.
Art Top. aged 10, rough and Irregular.
Robert Turnip, aged IS, friend of Max
Otwell. i
Harold Runaback, aged , always lack
ing but ever true.
Olrnn Forward, aged h. very hot
headed Max Otwell. axed II, "slang leader."
Mary Utile, a'jed 12, any and quite
sensitive,
F.unlce Blnckstonr, axel 1.1. hearty,
cheerful nhd robust: and
Visa Uluck. aged 24.
Their nlrkmunra In the order above given
are: "I'py 1'per," '-Slopy," "Sloney,"
"Willie," "Nosey," "Stuble," "Topy,"
"Nlpy." "Minlce," "Red Top" and "Oty."
The girls have no nicknames.
Catherine's Wish.
By Mary J. 1V11. ted 15 Tears. Walnut,
la. Had Bide.
Catherine was a little girl who was
always wanting to do something. She
most always had her way aa sh was the
only child.
One day Catherine was thinking about
the good time aha oould hava If sha
lived In ths country. Sha knew that
they could not move, for her father oould
not farm. Then she thought that sha
could go camping with her father and
mother.
She asked her mother If she might. Her
mother said. "You cannot go Just now.
as I am not very well and your father
Is busy Just now and could not get
away. Perhaps w can go after I am
well, If you father can get away then."
"I don't see why I csn't go alone. I
was Just thinking thst I could have lota
of good times If w lived In tha coun
try. ' said Catherine.
"Why, Catherine," said her mother,
"would you want to sleep alone In a
dark, thick woods, where there might
bo wild beasts T"
"Oh, 1 could sleep near some house
and If I was In troublo tha people could
help me out." said Catherine.
Her mother wa greatly surprised at
this answer, for Catherine wsa very much
afraid In the dark. However, ah thought
she would let her go and get on of liar
llttla friend to go with her. That night
Mrs. Wood told Mr. Woods about Cath
erine' wish and he said, "That will b
a good plan. Maybe that will teach her
a good lesson and then sh will not be
so foolish."
Mr. Wood took Catherine and her
friend out to a nice camping place about
three and one-half mile out of town.
He set up tho tent and got thing ready.
Ha knew that they would scon b tired
of It. So he went to a place a llttla
ways off, set up a small tent for him
self and put on a mask so they would not
know him.
That night ha came up to their tent
and wanted to give them a soars. Ha
aald, "I want some money and some
thing to eat." Thay were very much
afraid and gav him soma food and all
of tha money they had.
After he got hi food eaten he pocketed
the money and went to listen to what
tha girls would say.
Catherine said, "I am awful fright.
aned. I wish I was safe at home In
my own room." "So do I," said Helen.
"I will never go camping again, unlea
mamma and papa are along."
Mr. Woods then took hi mask off and
took them home. Ha told them that ha
Just wanted to sea what thay would do.
Catherine wished that ah waa safs
MAMMOTH
Tractor Plowing
DEMONSTRATION
The world's greatest exhibit
of power farming machinery
INCLUDING- s
80 Tractors
WJLL BE
j Fremont, Neb., August 9-14
Under th Auapicei of
i
i
i
Farmer, Omaha, and Fremont Commercial Club.
1,000 Acres of Stubble
Located just west of Fremont on the Lincoln Highway,
wall be plowed, harrowed, disoed, etc., at the rato of two
acres each minute.
This ih the mot important agricultural event in the
state outaido of the State Fair.
A very valuable tractor ehort course will be eon
ducted free each morning nt headquarters. Interesting
lectures Accessory exhibits. Public plowing demonstra
tions each afternoon. Kedpath cbautauqua in city of Fre
mont each morning and evening. Many other features.
Watch Later Announcement for Special Days.
t home snd her wish rhall com true,"
said Helm.
"Oh. y.-s'" sstd Catherine. "I believe
that Is the only wish I ever wanted to
come true very badly. '
When they weie safe at home once
more, they went to bed, hut could not
rep ery much, for they thought of th
dteitlfu! things that mls-ht have hap
rened to them.
Riddles.
By Vera Bradley, 1010 Center ftreet,
Omaha Bhi Plde.
Here are a few riddles I know and I
would like to sc them In print:
' Flower of England, fruit of Spain.
Met together In a shower of rain;
Put In n bag tied 'round with a atiing.
If you tell me th rl.ldlo. 1 11 give you
a ring."
Answer A plum pudding.
"A riddle, a riddle, as I suppose.
A hundred ryes, snd never a nose."
Answer A cinder sifter.
"Hlggledy. plggledv. here we lie.
Picked and plucked and put In a pie."
Answer Currant.
"As soft as itllk. a white as milk,
As bitter a gnll. a thick wall
And a green cost rovers me all."
Answer A walnut.
"When can a fisherman be generous?"
Answer When h I not sel-flah.
"Spell dried graw with three letters."
Answer Hsy.
"Spell frosen water with three letter."
Answer Ice.
The king ran touch It no more than ths
oueen:
The ope In the room can touch it as
soon.
Come tell me this riddle tomorrow by
noon.
Answer Rainbow.
"A houae full, a yard full.
And not even a bowl full."
Answer Smoke.
"As I went over Uncoln bridge,
I met Mr. Rustlcan,
Pins and needles on hi back.
A-going to Thornyfalr.
Answer A hedgehog'
The Dovei.
By Alice KTlvIra Crandell. Ag-en 11 Tears,
chapman. Neb. Blue Side.
A T waa walking down the road.
One summer afternoon.
I was looking for some birds.
And I saw on very soon.
I waited, waited till It flew
fp In the tree above.
And then I h-ard the "Peep, peep, peep,"
As from a llttla dove.
When mother blrdl flew away,
I then climbed up the tree.
And cam upon a little nest.
And then what did I see?
Three little hungry dovellngs.
As small as small could be,
I-ar nuglv In the tiny neat
In the great ash tree.
I onlrklv scrambled down the five.
And when I touched tha ground,
I dug until f found a worm.
Very smooth and plump and round.
Then I climbed up the tree again.
And srav It to the dove,
When I heard a fluttering
That cam from up above.
I looked and there sat mother bird,
Aa frightened aa could be.
And then I softly hurried down
From that great ash tree.
PRETTY BIRD AROUSES
FEAR IN SWITZERLAND
(Correspondence of th Associated Press.)
GENEVA, July J4.-Th Swiss papers
report that a beautiful bird. Strang to
Fwltserland, whloh ha appeared In lim
ited number In tha Engndlne, has caused
apprehension among superstitious Swiss
folk. It I traditionally believed that th
bird visited Switzerland In 1&70 when there
wa a famine, in 1574 whan there was
great Internal political disturbance. In
lass when th country was afflicted with
peat and lastly In UT0 during th Franco
Oerman war. Bo far aa known It ha
not been seen In Bwluerland slno then.
Bird students bel leva thay hava Identi
fied the visitor as tha "bombyetlla gar
rulua," popularly known as th silk
tailed starling, which ts supposed ta have
It habitat In Tplaii
Priaea glsTlsasaaa I .
(Correepondeno of th Associated Pre.
KIEL, Germany, July 14. Prtao Blgis
mund, th Moond on of Prtao Henry of
Prussia, who at th agw of IT rats red th
nary In aotlv servtoa at th outbreak
of tha war ha Jaat pa seed th examina
tions for ensign and baa beea promoted.
H ha been attached to th marta oorp
and assigned to Flander.
si 80 Plows
HELD AT
the Twentieth Oentnrr
