5-B
rMV5i c:
The Busy Bees
Their Own Page
THE CttfAHA SITXDAY HEE: JANUARY l, lHKi.
y
Br HEXR1RTT4 M. REEL
HIE other day a friend said.
T
"My lister wants to start her
children In muxle lesson
pretty Boon, but she hasn't
yet selected a teacher. She
thinks she ought to get ,a
on
teacher for beginners real cheap, and
then when they art more advanced she
will send them to a better one. M'hat do
you think about It?" I told her that I
thought her sister would make tlia mis
take of her Ufa if she held that Ides, and
chose tho teacher for the price. That
there were good teachers who charred a
moderate fee, but that a cheap teacher
for beginners was an expensive propose
tlon In the end. It la really In the be
ginnings that the foundation of the future
la laid, and even though one does not
aspire to the heights, they wish to know
correctly as-far as they go. Music 1
largely a process of packing away habits
into the subconscious mind. If ' In the,
beginnings of technio correct habits are
formed and practiced so thoroughly that
the active mind may go on to other dif
ficulties tt does not need to bother con
tinually with them. If correct habits of
practice are formed In the beginning,
pupils will go on working upon a sys
tematic plan without effort.
If something of the poetry of music and
expression la explained to the beginner
be will become more enthusiastic to bring
out that part of It, and learn to listen and
work for ths mus e Itself. If a poor teacher
Is chosen the pupil Is taught but a mini
mum of ths things that he should know.
He is told to do this or that. Technical
conveniences are not given or explained,
mistakes are Ignored, and lntsead of cor
rect habits working Into the subconscious
mind to be used under certain conditions.
bad habits are contracted, with the re
sult that the poor pupil loses Interest,
and will not practice, and when a better
teacher Is chosen, he has to work against
all the trouble which has been brought
about by "Just any teacher being good
enough for a beginner." All poor teach
ers can not be chosen by the price, but
any one thinking of starting their chil
dren in music should If anything use
greater care in the selection of the first
teacher than any other one. A seed put
into fertile soil and sunlight will flourish
and grow, but ono that is carelessly
placed In sterile soil and shade and given
no water, even though It la transplanted
later, will usually suffer from Its early
blight
. The program which Mr. and" Mrs.
Kelly will present at the Hotel Fontenelle
for the Social Settlement ths evening
of January IS, Is a revision of a program
which they presented at Chicago univer
sity several years ago, when it was very
successfully received. The former pro
gram was an outgrowth of several others
and the one which they will present
a week from Tuesday will be practically
an outgrowth of them all. Just as much
ancient Roman pottery 1,000 years old
and much sought after, has been dis
covered to have been mads In central
. New Jersey, so many of the songs mas
querading as original folk melodies are
not genuine. Mr, Kelly has been Inde
fatigable in his research and cars In the
selection of his present program, and
the numbers presented will bs abso
lutely authentic Irish musical antiques,
gems of historic as well as musical value.
Mr. and Mrs. Kelly plsp to do much
work In connection with these recitals
In Chicago, Mr. Kelly having specialised
for several years along these Unas,
With regard to the singing of folk
songs, Plunket Greene, one of ths fore
most authorities upon the art of singing
makes the following interesting remarks:
'Simple as tt appears, and simple as
It should sound, no branch of singing Is
o difficult as accompanied folk, song.
Woe betide the singer whose lungs fall
or whose rhythm halts. In a modern
song it can be forgotten. In a foil; song,
never. The Integrity of the phrase, how
ever long, is its very essence and be
fore its march, words and prosody values
and all else go down like nine pins The
accompanied folk song is the hardest
thing to sing in music the best to the
man who is master of his technic It de
pends upon the golden rule. You must
never break a phrase, however long."
Friends of Mr.TncfMra. Kelly will be
pleased to know that they will not de
sert Omaha entirely, when they move
to Chicago in the near future. An ar
rangement has been effected by Mr.
Kelly, whereby he will spend his week
ends in Omaha regularly, Mrs. Kelly
coming occasionally to aaslat him. This
Is principally because of the St. Mary's
Avenue Congregational church, where Mr.
Kelly has been musical director for sev
eral years, and which was loath to part
with him. The plan is gratifying to
many others as well, for it will enable
Mr. Kelly to teach Saturduys and Mon
days, and to continue as director of the
Mendelssohn choir of Omaha, which
thanks to his efforts in the psst has
made a marked influence upon the nvisl
"cal life of our city, and won for Itself
an enviable reputation elsewhere.
The San Carlo Opera company, which
will return to Omaha under the manage
ment of the Tangier Temple (Shriners)
January 27, 28 and 23, Is now double Its
former numerical and artistic strength.
The four different productions which will
be staged at that time are: Thursday,
Verdi's "Alda;" Friday. "Rlgoletto;" Sat
urday matinee, Donizetti's "Lucia Dl
Lammermoor;" evening. "Cavalleria Rus
tlcana" and "Pagllacci." Three different
casts of principals will sing the four pro
ductions, aided by a splendid singing
chorus of forty, a symphony orchestra of
thirty selected players and a beautiful
ballet section. The latter is headed by
the distinguished premiere danseuee, Sig
norlna Margheiita Petxatinl, acknowl
edged the youngest and most beautiful
of all operatic ballerinas.
Artists of more sensational reputation
may have been announced for Omaha
this season, but it is safe to wager noth
ing to date has aroused more Interest and
anticipation than the joint recital to be
given by Frances Nash, pianlat, and
Oeorge Hamlin, tenor, at the Boyd thea
ter on Sunday afternoon, January 30.
Referring to Oeorge Hamlin's success
with the Chicago Opera company on
Christmas day, Felix Borowskl says: "So
far as general vocal excellence was con
cerned, the honors fell to Mr. Hamlin,
whose singing was of admirable quality
ind whose enunciation was a model qi
what enunciation should be." On the
tame occasion the Chicago Jpurnal says;
"Mamlin is sinKlny better this season
than he ever sang before. He gae his
-n rTr "
WILL SING AT BOYD ON
THURSDAY.
t
w.
' . ' . i
Sr .' - - -
i
t
J At
i.
NzncLouiseBomer
role considerable distinction. He looked
well, acted well and sang very well."
Another opportunity will be given the
New York public to Judge of the combina
tion of colored lights and music this week
when Modest Altschuler and the Russian
Symphony society, which presented Scrla-
btnes "Poem of lire" that way last year,
will present Ltadow's "Enchanted Lake
in a similar way. Mr. Altachuler has
persevered in the idea and studied
changes in Its presentation, so the out-
coma will be awaited with interest.
More than the usual amount of Interest
is centered In the appearance of Ignace
J. Paderewski at the Auditorium next
Monday evening. Mr. raderewakl has not
been heard In Omaha for several years.
For many years he has been acclaimed
as the world's greatest pianist, and press
and publio alike have been lavish In their
enthusiastic praiae at his recitals in the
larger musical centers this season.
Mme. Louise Homer will appear at
the Boyd theater on the evening of
January 13 Instead of January 16, under
the auspices of the tuesdsy Morning
Musicals' club. Mme. Homer is one of
ths best known and weli-oeloved of great
contraltos, and her appearances at the
Metropolitan -Opera In New York are al
ways of Importance. Her program for
Omaha la:
I.
Aria: "Che Faro Bena Eurldlce."
from "Orfeo et Eurldlce" Gluck
II.
(a) O, wle Itebllch 1st das Madchen.
Schumann
(b) Rotschaft
(c) Mlt delnen blauen Augen.
(d) Elfenlled
Brahms
,.Straus
... Wolf
III.
(a) Sing to Me, Sing
(b) I Send You Roses (new)
(c) Sheep and Lambs
(d) The Stormy Evening. ...Sidney Homer
IV.
Aria: "Mon coeur," from "Samson et
Del 11a" 8alnt-Saen
V.
(a) A Ballad of Trees and the Master
I Chadwlck..
(b) When I Bring to You Coloured
Toys r
(c) Don't Care J. A. Oarpenter
(d I Know a Maiden Blanche Oooile
(e) Bendemeer's Stream Old Irish
(f) Milkmaid's Song Parker
Mrs. Edwin Lapham at the piano.
Musical Nates.
Mr. Freemantel is making arrangements
to return and reopen his vocal studio,
about February 1. During hia absence
from Omaha, M)r. Freemantel has been
soloist with the Minneapolis Symphony
orchestra and leading musical organisa
tions throughout the middle west. During
Mr. r rneiuantel s former residence here
he was for several years director of musla
at the First Congregational church, and
was frequently heard in recital work.
Miss Alice V. Davis has been appointed
Omaha correspondent and business repre
sentative for the "Musical Leader," a
weekly musical magaslne published In
Chicago.
The 'weekly recitals by pupils of Ajlcs
Virginia Davis and Cecil W. Berry man
have been resumed at their studio. These
"classes" take place on Saturday after
noons at 1:30, after which Mr. Berryman
and Miss Davla play for the pupils. Thorfe
Interested are invited to attend. '
Two student concerts will be given dur
ing the coming week, one Tuesday even
ing, January 11. at g o'clock at the Miller
Park social center, the other at the CflS
tellar social center at the same hour on
Friday evening, January H. Those taking
part at Miller Park Social Center are:
Miss Grace Northrup, pupil of Mr.
Thomas J. Kelly, and the Misses Helen
Bennett, and Irma Podolak. pupils of Mr.
Duffleld. Those taking part Friday even
Ins at Castellar fctoelal center will be
Misses Anna Iaf, and Charlotte Abrams,
members of Mr. Landsberg's solo p'smo
class, and Messrs. Joe Herman. Fred W,
Krederlcksen, Phtnehas Wlnthrou. Mere
dith Kenyon and Miss Clara Schneider,
pupils or Mr. frank Miach. These con
certs are srlven bv the board of recrea
tion of the Board of Education. E. I'.
Graff, superintendent of achools; O. H.
English, superintendent of recreation.
The Immanue! Lutheran church choir
will give its regular monthly song service
at the Immanuel Lutheran church. Nine
teenth and Cass streets. Sunday evening
at 8 o'clock. The soloists In the anthem
will be Rudolnh Helgren, Wlldur Wlc
strom and Stlma Jerpe. The offertory
will be a trio for violin, cello and oraan,
"47th Psalm" Mendelssohn plav-l by Miss
O'Ba Elmer, violin: H. P. Po .ell cello.
and C. W. Coolldpe, organ. Mr. Cooltdge
la the organist of the church: Bernard
lohnston, choirmaster, and Rev. P. M.
Llndberg. acting pastor.
' Puolls of Luells Allen's violin school,
ralsted bv Miss Gaines, reader, will give
a program at Kellom school auditorium
Wednesday evenin. The following will
tske part: Miss Wilson. Miss Leaverton.
VMss Ketineckenburger, Joe Harding arl
Robert Mlckel.
The Omaha Conservatory of Music, In
weekly recitals, presents pupils of the
expression department st the Conserv
atory theater. Sunday, January D. at 4
o'clock. The program will be furnlhed
bv Edith Miller, Frances Baetens. Floyd
f'erry. Haxe Tetrr. Marjorle Pkldmore,
Gertrude Varka. Florence L'oMerlH. Bes
sie Cotterill, accompanist. The second
part of the, program mill be devoted to
nlav. "The Workhouse Ward." by Td
Gregory. wth R"dolph Bremers. Floyd
Perry and Haxel Yetser in the cast.
I A "For Sale" or "For Rent" Ad placed
I In The Bee will accomplish its pur-
lose.
)
sw -a v i v 4 s t x yTsBSr
HOW many of the Bury Rpcs made New Year's resolutions this
year? "I did! I did!" you all chorus.
How many are nolo to keep their resolutions? It Is a
fainter chorus of "IV that I hear.
Have any of the Busy Bees already broken their New Year's
resolutions? "I have," respond Johnnie and Mary and others, with hang
ing heads. And so tt goes.
Here is a New Year's thought for some boy, hut whether it Is at New
Year's time, or any other time, tt is worthy of consideration.
In a certain twelve universities, 2t0 men tried for positions on the
foot ball teams. Some of them smoked ctgarets, some did not. Of the
men who did not smoke. 65.8 per cent succeeded In making the team. Of
thjse who smoKed, only 33.3 per cent were able to get Into the game. If
you don't smoke you have two chances out of three; If you do smoke you
have only one chance out of three.
This applies to many other things than foot ball, hence it's Im
portance. Belated votes for Belle Robinson of Tekaniah, Neb., for nuepn of the
Busy Bees were received.
This week, Frances McDonald won tho prize book. 1011a Thode and
Magdalene Glandt won honorable mention, all three being from the Blue
Bide.
Little Stories
(Prise (Story.)
Feedi Squirrels.
Uy Frances McDonald, Ane, 13 Years,
Tilden, Neb. Blue Hide.
I stn going to tell you about the
8(tilrrels.
There are many squirrels In Tilden
and there sre about three living around
niy home.
We have one row of walnut treea at
the south side of our house and wa do
not get very many walnuts, because we
let the squlrrela have them.
This year they took quite a few wal
nuts, but they did not last long, we got
about a Jar full for ourselves, so we are
fording them to the squirrels.
Ono day about two weeks ago I took
a very heavy paate board box and put
a whole lot In It and put it up in
a tree which had frozen apples on
it, because they were so hungry they
would go up the tree and get these frosen
apples, but the squirrels did not go near
It because they were afraid of it. So
one day it fell on the ground and then
they came and ate them, but soon they
were all gone, so I put another pan full
In the box. Today they get In the box
and duck their heads down and all you
can see Is their tails.
The chickens and squirrels play to
gether. The squirrels will chase each
other and then they'll chase the chickens
and the chickens will chase them.
I like to watch them and to feed them.
I am going to feed them all winter.
(Honorable Mention.)
Bv Magdalene Glandt, Aged 9, Benson,
Neb., R. F. D.. Route 6. Blue Side.
The Sprained Ankle.
Harry has been a long, long time at
the window, watching the boys as they
go past on their sleds.
It Is a bright afternoon, and they are
enjoying the coasting very much.
Harry draws a long sigh, which makes
his mamma look up from her work, and
-n t vmaw Its t.ai4 fnr vou. darling:
kt' .htnv .ht mlrht havs happened to
Johnny If you had not saved him."
w,.i nu. n know what It Is
whlch keeps Harry Indoors, while there
la so much fun outside?
Well, while he Is counting the sleds
sa they go down the long hill In front
of the house, I will tell you.
It was on Saturday afternoon, a week
ago.
He was out coasting with the other
boys.
Johnny Ware, a little fellow only five
years old, was with them.
Harry and several other boys were go
ing very swiftly down tho hill, and
Johnny was coming up.
"Get out of the way!" shouted one.
"Look out, Johnny, turn to ths right,"
cried another.
But the little fellow did not know
which was right, and, being bewildered,
stood still.
The sleds were almost upon him, and
It seemed as if he would be run over, when
Harry caught him, and threw him on one
side, but not in season to save his own
ankle.
It was badly sprained, and ha had to
be carried home.
But when Harry remembers ths dan
ger, and how near jonnny came 10 vm
run over, he does not complain.
I hope this story will be In print, and
would like to Join the' Blue Side.
(Honorable Mention.)
Telli of Dog-.
By Ella Thode. Aged It Years. 2611
Hamilton street. Omaha, Neb.
Blue Side.
Ws had a black Newfoundland dog
named Bismarck. We got them from my
mother's uncle in South Omaha. His
eyes were brown and he was vesjr gentle.
He was 7 years old when he died and
two and a half feet tall.
He could carry a piece of meat home
In his mouth and come down to meet
me when I came home from school. He
used to watch the house and would bark
If anybody came up the street at night.
He could shake handa and he would sleep
mostly during the day. He only bit one
person. If he saw a cat he would run
It up a tree. He would bite people who
wouM hit my brother, when lie was
around. He dug a deep hole under the
porch and slept in It because It was
coot there.
We fed htm meat, potatoes, bread and
bones.
He was killed by coal wagon In
front of our house, when he was cross
ing the street
Mining Salt.
Walter Preaton. Jr. l(tt South Thirty
Fourth Street, Omaha, Neb., Red
Side.
It Is very interesting to study about
salt. In soma cases salt is mined like
coal. A deep vein Is struck by sinking
a shaft, and then getting at It with
pickaxes. The salt Is then taken to the
surface In a cart, and taken to a re
finery. The fine part is used for tha
table, cooking, etc
Another way they mine la to drill a
hole until they strike the vetnt then they
run water down, and It soaks the salt
and carries tt along with it, The water
la then drawn out, and evaporated, leav
ing the salt.
Visit MotherTt Hoipltal.
Thelina Campbell, A red 11 Years, Mal-
i vern. la. uea viae.
We live on a farm of 10 acres and
'my pspa farms TOO acres. This fall after
'school began my mother had to go to
jthe hospital at Council Bluffs. After she
by Little Folk
KEARNEY'S PRIZE BABY IS THIS
LITTLE MISS.
Helen Ch&pnimi
This Is the prise baby of the Kear
ney Baby show which closed Its doors
New Year's night. To her was swarded
the sweepstakes and It was a popular
i,rnoico, ror mere are lew Kearney peo
ple who have not seen the happy face
of little Helen Chapman and answered
her cheery prattle. The prlxe baby is
the 2-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
John II. Chapman of Kearney. She not
only took the prize In the 1 and 2-year
class, but was awarded the sweepstakes
over all. In the 6 to 12 months class
Harry Crawford's child got first award.
, een up there a week my two broth
er "d my step-sister and I went up to
1 the hospital to see her. It was on Hatur-
We went on the Burlington train
a ii u i vjgiuiiTTt tiicro Hi ii u wiui n. a. )'
wm right there to meet u. We went all
by ourselves. Wo got off the train
and took a street car and went a little
way and then papa took us and bought
my oldest brother a new suit. Then we
took a street car and went to the hos
pital. When we got there mother was
eating her dinner. She laughed and
talked to us. We stayed there a little
while and then we went Just across the
road to where pspa boarded to get our
dinner. After dinner we went back to
the hospital and we went all through
It. Then we went back to mother s room
and stayed a little while. And then we
went home. I would like to see,my letter
In rlnt.
The Old Mine.
By Warren Blskely, Aged It Tesrs,
Phoenix, Ariz. Rod htae.
Once upon a time there lived a boy
In Mexico named John. His father was
a white man. He was prospecting In ths
mountains while John and his mother
stayed down in the little village at the
foot of the mountain. In a mountain
near the village was an old mine, old
indeed, for no one knew how old. Ths
mine wss supposed to be haunted, for
every night there appeared a brilliant
light that shone like a star on the moun
tain side.
John wanted to go, and explore the
mine for hs wss a brave boy. At Isst he
it? c
W.- & ortaaa; wiMtinwka:; j. riaiA ' ' w- - ''' ' w-yiJ
Stories of Nebraska History
fBy special permission of tne author,
Tho Bee will publish chapters from the
History of Nebraska, by A, 13. Sheldon,
from week to week.)
Great Storms
Nothing Is more terrible during the
settlement of a new country than a great
storm. A long severe winter is full of
danger even to the gravest and hardiest
pioneers. Thousands have died of cold
and starvation In the settlement of this
country. Every state haa Its stories of
great storms and the hardships and suf
fering which they brought o the people
Three great storms stand out above al'
other storms In the history of Nebraska.
The. first of these began December 1,
1866, with rain from the southwest, but
soon the wind changed to the northwest
and become fiercely cold. The snow fall
which followed was the deepest ever
known since the settlement of Nebraska
It was five feet on the level and In
drifts far deeper. This first storm lasted
three days. Htornt after storm followed
during the winter. As one writer of that
time says: "A terribly cold winter set
In December 1. 1HM, freexlng Into ninety
solid blocks of Ice all the days of De
cember, January and February."
There were very few settlers in Ne
braska in those days. Most or them were
In the counties near the Missouri river.
Every one of those counties has its old
settlers' stories or the "asrd winter' ot
1H7. n Richardson county the first De
cember storm drove twenty head of cattle
Into a valley and walled them In with
drifting snow. When they were fourd
by their owner in February most of them
were d"ad, the few survivors having f -d
Brother aud Sister
I ' 1
TRANKLW p f "! J
'j&KOADriZLD V A
i w;
ft . .is Si
r I -;x usjsv ' , i
A: ':-S V
av . V v' v. : .f .. . m. m ...'
started out with Ills faithful companion,
Pedro. When they reached the mlim
John lighted hia acetylene lamp and went
In. Thfy had not gone far before a
woman's voice called out, "Is that you
Don?" The boys gripped their guns and
stole around the corner. There lay nn
old Mexican woman. When she snw the
boys she muttered something about "Dis
covered." "Then," said she. "I might as well give
up."
"Have you heard anything of a boy
named Don Carlos?"
"Yes," said Frank after a paue. "He
waa killed last night."
"I will have to give up," she said, "go
ten paces back and turn off on a Ultln
sldo tunnel, there you will find gold and
plenty of It."
John hurried back and there was a pllo
of free gold from the rocks. When he
had his pockets filled he went back where
ne left Pedro. He found him in a great
state of ruind. The old woman was dead.
They hurried back and reported their
dlsoovery to their fathers.
Will Write Story.
By Mabel Gelser, Aged 10 Yesr. Colum
bus, Neb. Route 2, Box 6. Blue Hide..
This Is tho first time I hsve written
to the Busy Bees. I live on a farm about
a mile from town.
I go to a town school. I am In the
Third grade. My teacher's name Is Miss
Rhea. I will write a story next time. I
will close now. as my letter Is getting
long. I hope Mr. Waste Basket Is out
calling.
New Bniy Bee.
By Margaret Ellen Donohoe. Aged S
Years. M17 California. Blue Side.
I am a girl of 9 years. I would like to
join the Blue side. My name la Margaret
Ellen Donohoe and I live at SS1T Cali
fornia. Receive Prize Book.
By Viola tHedricksen, Aged 10 Yeara,
Route No. 1, Marne la. Blue Side.
I thank you for sending me the prise
book which I got yesterday. I like the
on the branches of trees. In Otoe county
deer ran through the streets of No
breaks City pursued by the hungry
wolves and many settlers lost their lives.
In Dodge county tho sun failed to show
its face for two months. The ravines,
thirty feet deep, were filled with snow
A settler was lost In the December storm.
His funeral was held In April after the
snow hsd melted. In Burt county snow
fell for six days and nights without stop
ping. Settlers would have starved were
It not for the game which tbey caught
In the snowdrifts. In Cuming countj
the creeks and rivers were burled by
the snow. The settlers traveled on foot
to the Missouri liver and hauled bark
upon hand sleds goods to keep their fami
lies from perishing. All the ravines and
hollows were drifted full. The timber
along the streams waa filled with deer,
elk and antelope, driven In from the
prairie. One settler killed over seventy
with an ax. The cruet of snow would
bear the weight of a man, but these
with their sharp feet cut through, were
helpless. On the Oregon 'trail the snow
lay two feet deep from October to May
between Fort Kearney and Fort Iaram'e
and the valleys were filled with the
drifts. The general testimony of all the
old settlers and the records Indicate that
the title "hard winter" belongs to the
winter of iVit-67, In no winter since has
'the snow been so deep, so badly drifted
or remained so long as In that winter.
The second greet Nebraska storm came
rt the end of winter, instead of the Be
ginning. It had been raining on Easter
Sunday, April 13, W.i. Just before dark
the wind changed from the southwest
to the northwest, the rain changed to
Who Are Busy Bees
hook. It looks like It Is a very Interesting
book (o read. Well, I think this i a
father short letter, but I don't know
much more to write. If this letter Is In
print I will write hmhIii pretty soon and
try to win another prlxe,
Ill-Mannered Children.
Bv William L'nton. Aired T Years. Clay
Center. Neb. Red Ride.
"Give me another piece of pie," that
was what Ruth said.
"ThaA Is not the way to ask," said her
mother.
"You cannot have pie unless you say
'pleasa.' "
Then Ruth left the table and went Into
tho bedroom.
"(llvo me another piece of pie," sa'd
Charlie, who slways did what Ruth did.
"No," said his mother, "Charllo can
have no pie unless he says 'please.' "
Then Charlie got down from his hlgh
Clvalr and, ran after Ruth.
"I am going to grandma's to live,"
said Ruth.
"I've my nightie In the bag and t
shan't stay here. I'll go too," said Char
lie, and off they started. When they got
to grandma's house they felt rather
ashamed, hut the desr old lady was glad
to see t.hom.
"Are you going to stay for tea?" she
wanted to know.
"Wr are going to stay sll the time,"
said Charlie, "and we won't say 'please'
when we want pie."
Then grandma looked grave and told
them they must go home, for they were
naughty children.
Trip to Platte Center.
By Helen Dorwart. Aed Years, Friend,
Neb. Red Side.
We started to riatte Center Saturday"
morning at 6:30 aud got there at 11
o'clock that noon. We were Invited for
the farmers' festival. It was going on
when we got there. We were going
home In our own car Monday morning,
but It rained from S a. m. to 7 a. m. and
then the roada were muddy. So at 4 that
afternoon w started for home snd when
we got about eight miles from Columbus
we ran off Into a ditch. Just when we
got Into a house tt poured down rain so
By A. E. Sheldon
sleet and the sleet to fine snow. At day
break on the 14th the air was filled with
what seemed solid snow. It wan so wet
and driven so swiftly Iwfore the wind
that It was Impossible to face 1t. All
day Monday and Monday night, Tues
day and Tuesday night, the storm In
creased In fury. Dugouts, sod houses
and stables wero burled iln snnwdrlft'i
There were many cases where settlers
took horses, cows, pigs and chickens Into
their houses, where all lived togethoi
until the storm passed. One settler re
members that the snow waa as fine as
flour and was driven so fiercely before
the wind that It found every crevice and
filled the stables until the cattle, tramp
ing to keep It down, had their backs
forced up through the roofs. Many set
tlers perished In this storm. How many
we do not know, for no perfect record
was kept; but nearly every county had
Its trtlius.
fine of the true stories of this storm
' thnt of the 'ooH'r family, then llv.
Ing shout ten miles from St. Paul, How
ard county. Tho mother and two daugh
ters, IJzile and Kinma. were the only
ones at home Sunday when the storm
came, the father and son being away.
Mrs. Cooper was not well and went to
bed early. The two girls sat up keeping
fire In tho fire plare. The wind blew
fiercer every hour, sifting the fine snow
Into thu house. Then came a furious
blast which blew tho door open, scat
tered the live coals about the room and
set the house on fire. While tho two
girls were putting out the fire another
fierce gust tore off the root and l ft
them. In darkness with the snow filling
the room
e hsd to stay there all night, and
then Wednesday we got home. I am a
twin to a boy and then I have two
twin sisters. They were 3 years old Oc
tober I. Well, I will close my letfca. hop
ing the wsste paper' basket Is asleep when
my letter gets to joit.
A Good Resolution.
By Hnsslla Herts. Aeed II Years, V.
South Seventh street, Omaha.
Red Side.
A long lime neo there lived a girl who
ass ery pretty. Kverjrrcne loved her un
til she wss old enough to understand that
she wss pretty. Of course, when she
found th's out she thought she was far
more beautiful than she really was and
then she begHn to boss everyone. Her
friends grew less and less and finally she
hsd not a friend left encrpt her mother .
and father.
When sll her friends were gone It being
near New Year time she decided to gain
them again, so as to start the new year
out good. At last New Year's eve came.
While alio was In bed she began to
think. This is what she thought: "When
1 get up tomorrow morning I will eat
mv breakfast and then wipe the dishes,
dust, wash the hahy and make the beds.
That will be starting the new year out
good. Then I will go over to my friends
and try to gain their friendship again.
In the afternoon I will go over to Made,
line's house and take her out for soma
fresh air. Poor girl! She always has to
stay In the home, and sne has been lame
such a long time."
New Year's dsy came at last. She did
all as she had planned to do the night'
before. She ualned her friends and made
life much easier for her mother.
As New Year's day Is soon here don't
you think that It would be a good thing
to start the year as this girl did? Mayhn
you did not do the same thlrusi this girl
did, but whatever you did do, try to bet
ter It and soon you will be a great fa
vorlte among your friends.
I received the prlxe book a few weeVf
I ago and 1 was very pleased with It. Will
write often If I ran think of a good story.
Helping; Others.
By Mary 1C. Grevson, Aged 14. West
Poh.it, Neb. Blue Side.
One day while In town, I noticed a
small hoy between the age of 7 and
walking along the cold street with only
a torn coat and trousers, stockings, with
boles in them, and a pair of shoes,
which were much too large for him.
When he was passing me, my licmt
w,ns touched with the thought "Will ho
have a nlco Christmas dinner, and will
he have warm clothes?" I now remem
bered that we had clothes that wen
too small for my brother, and would
fit him very nicely.
On arriving home. I asked my mother
about the plan, and she consented.
The whole week I was busy fixing
up the clothes, and also a basket ot
goodies. I wrapped them up In hollv
Paper, and put It in a large basket, ami
then put In a card, saying from "S.ints."
On Christmas eve I went to the hoire,
knocked at the door, and then ran to
hide. When the door onened. I saw
the little boy. and heard him say, "Oil,
mamma, Santa has come.;
This Is a true story.
The Fox and the Crow.
By Henry Mahl-ndorf Aged 13 Years
Anoka, Neb. Red Side.
One lovely summer day a large flock of
coal black crows were soaring through
the air. They were calling, "Caw, caw,
caw," to everyone they met. They had
not the least thought of anything hap
pening to them. Nevertheless, there hep
penej to be a bunch of rough boys out
hunting. They were killing any kind of
bird they saw without having any use
for them.
it happened that they shot at this
bunch of crows and wounded a large,
handsome one. They then went on their
way, leaving the poor thing lying suf.
ferlng on the ground for some animal to
feast upon.
Boon a sly, old, greedy fox came run
ning along, looking for his dinner. To his
great delight, he found the poor wounded
crow. He sprang for It very suddenly,
but this time his wisdom proved wrong,
for the crow saw him and jumped away
Just in time. After the fox bad madn
several attempts to get the crow, a little
boy came by, scaring the fox away. The
boy took the crow home. The crow be
came tame and Its wound healed snd h
stayed with the little boy who had saved
his life.
The Naughty Boy.
By David Sher, Aged Years, fine Web
ster Street, Omaha. Red Side.
Once upon a time there was a boy
named Tom who did not like to be washed
and combed. Whenever his mother wanted
to wash and comb him he began to cry
and kick.
Once hia mother took a washtub full
of water to wash his face and comb hie
hair. Then Tom began to cry and kick.
Then Tom's mother quieted him by tell
ing him a story sbout a boy who did not
like to be washed and combed. And his
hair began to grow together.
Then enmo the thousand-loggers and
pulled his hair. And then the boy began
to cry, "Mother, mother, save 'me."
And the wind came and blew dust in
his mouth and he couldn't ery.
In the meantime Tom's mother cleaned
him up. When his mother was through
Tom began to cry again, but it was too
late, for he was combed and washed
already.
Gets Arm Broken,
I'fina Walter. Afed 1 Years, Wahoo,
Neb. Blue Side.
One evening about 5 o'clock I took my
niece, cousin and brother along with me
to go rlldng on tho merry-go-round.
My cousin went ahead with my brother
and my niece and I stay behind. Be
foro I go on I will tell you how old my
niece is. She was 3 then, but now she is 4.
As we were crossing the street Char
lotte ran ahead of me. There was a tesm
of hursea coming at full speed. Charlotte
fell and the horses, frightened at the
inutile of the merry-go-round, kept on
going and stepped on Charlotte's ami.
and put part of lis hoof on her leg.
She got a broken arm and her teg was
badly hrulued and her hand and fingers
were cut a little. She waa taken to IJn
coln several times before her arm was
well. She wore it In a sling a long time,
too.
Interested in Work
By fllen Gardner. 26 North Sixty-see-
oiij Htret't. Kenton, Neb. Blue Side.
I am very much Interested In the work
of the Busy Buea, so I thought I should
like to be ono too. I would like to be on
the Blue side, as that la my favorite
color. I am 13 years old and am in the
seventh B. Next week I will send tn a
story. I hope to see my letter In print.