11 B
The Busy Bees
Their Own Page
THE OMAHA SrXDAV REK: APRIL CO, 1017
M'
' AY basket day is almost upon
alded here since the busy bees have been working after school
and on Saturday's (or several weeks on the pretty baskets which
they are planning to fill with flowers and candy and hang on the
door knobs of their little friends the first of the month. One
little girl has fifteen lovely ones ready for May day and if she cannot find
enough flowers to fill them all she is going to put candy hearts in them.
Like numerous other customs we have inherited this one from our Eu
ropean cousins, who, ever since the middle ages, have ushered in the first
day of May with some form of merriment. Whether it sprung originally
from a Roman festival or merely from the spontaneous joy of people over
the arrival of spring camiot be told.
English boys and girls among the peasant classes arise before dawn on
the first morning of May and go to the woods to gather wild flowers and
branches having foliage, with which they adorn the doors and windows of
the houses and the May pole. Then the day is spent dancing around the
May pole and crowning the most beautiful maiden in the village queen of
the May.
In Germany they choose the wittiest and handsomest youth for the
rount of the May and imitate in a carnival given in the streets the life oi
ttic court.
Danish children celebrate by having a sun dance at sun rise.
The new Busy Bee queen and king will be annouced next Sunday, so
those of you who have not sent in your votes please do so at once.
Write r.s what you are doing these spring days to have a good lime or
to be useful. Perhaps your suggestion may inspire other Busy Bee readers
to write to our page.
Do any of you take hikes after school? Tell us what you see on your
walks, and if you do not as a rule sec anything interesting, cultivate the art
of seeing. One may see only a bleak hill and a meadow by the road side,
while another, while talking of his delightful ramble, will tell of the birds,
the different kinds of trees, the people with interesting countenances and the
glorious sunset he has seen. Whatever your impressions are, write them to
us. We are all so different and want to learn new ideas from the Busy
Bee family.
The prize this week was won by Alvcna Engcl of the Blue side. Helen
Crabb of the Red and Grace Moore of the Blue side won honorable mention.
tori&
(Prize Story.)
"Liberty Bell Bird Club."
By Alvena Engel, Aged 14 Years. Me
Clelland, la. Blue Side.
I will tell you about our club. It is
called "The Liberty Bell Bird Club."
There were twenty-two members and
we meet every Friday afternoon. 1
am president; Irene Steffen. vice pres
ident; Albert Ernst, secretary, and
Roy Ernst, treasurer. The object of
the club is to protect the little feath
ered songsters. We kept track of all
the first birds we caw in spring.
This spring I have seen robins,
meadow larks, bluebirds, warblers,
crows and a little bird, whose name
I did not know. It is a kind of gray
color with darker wings and a tiny
little bill. 1 did not get a very good
look at it. so I do not know if this is
the exact description. I think the
birds are far to pretty to kill, don't
you?
- The club button has a hell and a
bluebird on it. I think it is' a pretty
badge,
'; We also made .bird houses last
. spring for prizes. I w'qn. .first prize.
. a box of candy. My- nous was all
; trimmed and covered with bark.
1. should like very, much to have
some of the Busy Bees write to me.
, I will gladly answer their letters or
cards. - -
(Honorable Mention.)
May.
By Grace L. Moore, Silver Creek,
Xeb. Blue Side.
May is just a little way beyond. I
am looking forward to the apple trees,
with their blossoms all white and
pnik, crowned with chattering, busy
birds. I feci the thrill of expectancy
even now as I. look to barren
branches, for I. know that they but
sleep, awaiting the touch of the south
wind.
It is true in the spring that the
whiff of freshly turned furrows, the
sweet grass faintly green all about,
the violet venturing the first bit of
blossoms of -blue above the earth,
make these dream days.
It is a wonderful month, one I
shall not fail to live as broadly and
richly as I can.
The bird homes must be up, for the
martins will be here soon and pass
us by if there is no place prepared
for them. And if. you like the cheery
notes of the bluebird bore a hole in
a post on the top and maybe this fav
orite early comer will make a home
near you.
It is such fun to watch the new
things push up to daylight now. The
tulips and daffodils and jonquils arc
braving it. Buds are swelling and
rows of new things in the garden,
such as lettuce, potatoes, beets, rad
ishes, onions, salsify, parsnips and a
few peas we put in the earth March
30.
(Honorable Mention.)
A True Helper.
By Helen Crabb, Aged 10 Years.
Omaha, Neb. Red Side.
The life of a real true Busv Bee is
iseful and helpful or else ail we learn
Torn our stories in the Busy Bee page
in d from our parents is wasted.
We should he iust as proud of the
feeds of the Busy iiecs as the Boy
icouts are of theirs, and they arc
proud indeed.
Let us all try to help at home as
much as we can.
Jfy sister, brother and I try lo help.
We do as much in the house as we
can, and help papa make garden and
take care of the lawn.
Making garden is great fun. The
beds are. all prepared :.nd then the
planting comes. It seems strange that
i vegetable will grow from a little
aard seed.
Papa said that great deeds ofkirld
aess and goodness often begin from
ieeds and words that seem even
imaller than tbctinicst seed.
Cat Loses Life.
By William Tuma, Aged 10 Y'ears,
Elba. Neb.. Box 74, Red Side.
I Jini a big cat, but I can remem
ber when I was a small kitten. When
I was lying in a box s. boy came and
took me into the house. He fed me
some milk and one day I found a
bucket, in which was some milk. I
felt so hungry when I saw the milk
that I licked it all up.
Then the cook saw me and the
first thing she could pick up was a
broom, and she threw it after me.
It hit me on the back and gave
ne such a pain that I could hardly
Ivalk. I crawled under the porch and
tere I heard the cook say, "Y'ou old
us, although it need scarcely he her
By Litfcl Fdks
Rules for Young Writers
1. Write plainly on one side at the
paper only and number the pngea.
2. Cite pen and Ink, not pencil.
S. Short and pointed articles will be
g-lven preference. Do not use over 350
word.
4. Original ttortee or letters only will
bo used.
0. Write your name, age and address
at the lop of the first page.
A prise book will be given each week
for the nest contribution.
Address all communications to Chil
dren's Department, Omaha Bee Omaha,
Neb.
cat, you will see when you crawl out.
You won't get anything to eat for a
week."
The next day I felt so hungry that
i I had to go and hunt food for my-
self. While I was-in the barn a cruel
horse kicked me and then a moment
later a boy found me. lying half dead.
He Told the cook and she fainted, for
.she loved me. - .
I am half dead and hope I will die
soon. : ,
J hope I will go to .the war zone, r
The Little Snowbird.
By Henry Tuma. Aged 7 Years,
Box 74, Elba.. Neb., Red Side.
One day as I was going home from
school I found a little snowbird. He
had a broken wing, so I took him
home with me. As soon as I reached
home I fed him some crumbs, then
I put him in a box, where I left him
overnight. In the morning I fed him
again, and I did not go to school
until the next day.
When I was in school my little
brother, Charlie, and sister, Lillian,
took him out of the box and wanted
to play with him, so they let him fly
about the room.
As they trie.1 to catch him they
killed him, and when I came home I
found the little birdie dead.
I could not bury him. because the
ground was frozen, and I had to wait
until the next day, when the ground
had melted a little.
The "Wait a Minute Boy."
By Augusta Stephens, 4311 South
Twenty-sixth Street, South Side.
Omaha. Blue Side.
I am going to write another story
to you.
fine time there was a little boy
who w-as very rich and used lo having
his own way.
His mother was kind in her riches.
She went away to spend two weeks
with her sick friend and left him and
the nurse alone.
His mother came .home unexpect
edly on account of her friend's rapid
recovery. She came in the front door
and hid in the closet in order to run
out on him when he came.
John (which was his name) was
out in the back yard. The nurse
called: "Come in now, Johnny."
lie answered: "Wait a minute."
A few minutes later she, "Conic in.
j Johnny," but still he replied, "Wait
, a minute."
! She called him a couple of more
1 times, but he always said, "Wait a
: minute."
His mother heard the nurse and
went out and called him. She talked
to him and he was glad. His mother
said: ' Johnny, it everybody said wait
a minule.' nobody would ever get any
thing done."
Johnny held his head in shame, but
thought he would never do it again.
The Cow's Accident.
Bv Gladys Pearce, Aged II Years,
Arnold, Neb., R. 1. Blue Side.
One day the cow fell in an old cis
tern when papa was at the neighbors
helping shell corn. Mamma received
word that his mother was sick and
sent for him.
When papa came home he heard
the cow bawl and knew that she was
in the cistenj by the sound.
The cistern was near a bank. Thcv
dug at the lower side and tried to get
the cow to climb out. She tried once,
but after one attempt she laid down.
They had to put a log chain around
her neck and pull her out with a
horse.
The True American.
By Agnes Kelly. Aged 12 Y'ears,
North Bend, Neb. Blue Side.
He believes in liberty, but with a
fine regard for the liberties of others.
He believes in5 laws for the mutual
benefit of all his people. He believes
in humanity, but will fight, if neces
sary, to maintain the humane prin-
COMING YOUNG VIOLIN
VIRTUOSO.
(i
r r-S
SJJJO
MURIEL THOMAS
Muriel Thomas, aged 10, comes to
Omaha each week from Randolph,
la.t to take her violin lesson. She is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. W.
Thomas. Muriel is a violinist of un
usual talent, possessing wonderful
technique and surety of tone for one
so young. At a recent contest in Des
Moines Muriel won first ho-ior.s and
received flattering press comments on
her work. She will be heard in re
cital here in the near future.
ciples by which he would live and
let others live.
He believes in the destiny of his
country to become a great world
power, by reason of her high ideals,
her broad reason and her unswerving
ense of right.
rie believes in American people
folk of many lands united in one com
mon brotherhood and owing loyalty
to but one flag the Stars and Stripes.
The Eagle, Symbol of Liberty
Why the Great American Bird Came to Be Adopted as the Emblem of Our Republic
i; By GARRETT P. SERVISS.
There are two animals which are
natural kings, according to human es
timationthe lion among the quad
rupeds and the eagle among the birds.
These two stand apart from all oth
ers, on a level which belongs only
to them. They owe their distinction
to the majesty of their looks and
bearing. They seem always to have
imposed upon the human imagina
tion, for from the beginning of his
tory they have been foremost among
the heraldic emblems of states and
nations. The British Lion; the Amer
ican Eaglel Truly, as a national em
blem, the eagle seems the nobler
of the two. Its empire is broader,
for it inhabits every continent. It
sat bv the side of Zeus on Olympus.
"He clasps the crag with hooked
hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands,
Ring'd by tlu azure woi'd, he
stands.
The wrinkled sea beneath hint
- crawls,
He watches from his mountain
walls,
And like a thunderbolt he falls."
There are two principal species of
eades the aolden. or mountain
! eagle, and the sea, or white-headed
1 (bald-headed) eagle. The latter was
I adopted for the emblem of the United
Statei m 1785. the golden eagle
often attains three feet in length, with
a spread of wings reaching seven feet.
The bald-headed eagle is about the
same size. Both have the curved beak,
the steady eye, the dignified bearing,
the heavy neck, the powerful legs and
claws, and the great deliberately mov
ing wings which characterize their
race, as the lion is characterized by
his mane-crowned head and his
mighty chest and limbs.
Even the sea eagle loves to build his
nest and make his home on lofty trees,
or high on some towering crag or
rock or beetling precipice, while the
name of the mountain eagle indicates
his chosen dwelling place. The eyre
of the eagle is as universal a symbol
in human speech as .the great bird it
self. Tell a general "You have the eye
of an eagle," and he will understand
that you have compressed a bookful of
praise into a sentence: say to the own
er of some castellated dwelling "Y'ou
have built an eagle's nest!" and his
look will show that no other phrase
could have flattered so much.
To be accurate it is necessary to say
that the sea eagle of the British Isles
is not exactly the same as the Amer
ican white-headed or bald-headed
eagle, but they are both fish-eaters
and prefer the neighborhood of the
sea or of lakes and large rivers. So.
too. the mountain eagle differs in spe
cific traits in different countries, hut
these differences are for naturalists
an eagle would recognize an eagle
wherever they met, just as a man
knows his kind under all disguises of
color and haircut.
All eagles, whether they live near
the coast or the mountains, love
lambs. The sea eagle turns from fish
to chops whenever he gets the chance.
Rut this is, perhaps, the only serious
indictment that can be brought
against the eagle in a human court.
The stories of eagles carrying off ba
bies are probably all apochryphal, al
though there is no doubt that the big
bird has the strength to perform such
a feat, and, under sufficient provoca-
He believes in their gre.il hearts,
their open hands and their quick sym
pathies for those in need.
He pledges his support to those lead
ers, chosen by the American people
who arc endeavoring to solve great
problems with wisdom and foresight
tor the ultimate benefit of all nations.
He counts politics, creeds, ancestors
as nothing beside the fact that hi is
an American and is proud of it, too.
The Frightened Camp Girls.
By Helen Strong. Aged HI Years,
Stromsburg, Xeh. Blue Side.
lr was in the month of May when
a party of girls went camping. On
the second night they heard a rustle in
the underbrush just below their camp.
The girls got their rifles and. look
ing out, saw some eyes peering at
them out of the darkness.
One of the girls said. "We must
light the lantern to see what it is."
So the youngest went after it and
the rest of the girls went to find
the matches. They looked for a
match, but suddenly a girl found one
in her pocket.
They lit the lantern and went out,
one of the girls screaming and faint
ing, the others looking -anxiously at
what was before them.
All but one who shot struggled to
get in the camp. Something fell for
ward and a shout of' joy was heard,
for she had shot a bear.
The girls went home the next day
telling of their experience in camp.
Our Car Ride.
By Alice Schwantje, Columbus, Neb.,
Route 2, Box 8.1, Blue Side.
The man who threshed for us last
summer had an old Ford. He left it
at our house; for he had to take the
threshing machine home. My broth
er brought it from the field and put
it in our shed. It remained there for
several days.
On Saturday we decided to take a
ride in it. My brother could not get
it started at first. When it did start,
it stopped again, .but he toon auc
ceeded in getting it'started.
There were six of us who went In
the car. We went about a mile from
home and then turned around. In
turning around the car stopped ind
we alt started to walk home except
l
:'P4 111
Photo Copyright, 1917, by Glenn Palmer.
This photograph of the nest of an American eagle was taken near Camp
f-'-ogardus. fifteen miles south of Mackinac; Mich., by a member of the engi
neering camp of the I'nivcrsity of Michigan. The nest, built on the top of a
pine snag, sixty feet from the ground, measures eleven feet across. Several
summers ago the engineering students, who have their ramp on the shore of
1 akc Douglas, braced the eagle snag with guy wires, as it was in danger of
falling in the high winds. The eagles have been using the nest almost every
summer in the memory of the oldest residents.
tion of hunger, he might have the
will also.
On the other hand, the eagle is an
enemy of hawks and other terrors of
ing my brother, who was trying lo
get it started.
After we hat! walked quite a dis
tance we saw him coming. When he
caught up with us he told us to hurry
and put my two little sisters in it, and
as I had a sore foot and had only one
shoe on, he told me to get in, too.
Before we were in it it stopped
again, but this time it stopped never
to start again. We walked the rest
of the way, having to rest once in
a while, for my little sister got tired.
When we reached home mamma
asked what had happened. We told
her and she said that was what we
got for taking someone else's car.
My brother walked home and he
took our car and with my sister went
to get the other one. He did not
know what the matter was with it and
paid no further attention to it until
the next day, when we found that the
gasoline lank was empty. We all had
a laugh over the joke and hope not to
have a ride like that again.
The Tale of the Gold Fish,
by Leola Matthews. Aged 12 Years,
2045 N. 18th St., Omaha, Red Side.
This is the first time I have writ
ten and I hope to see this in print.
A long lime ago there litcd a fam
ily of fish who could fly. One day
i.s King Rudolf of No Man's Island
was counting his gold these lish Hew
into the room and took it away.
Then they flew in the water and went
home. Down, down, they went.
The gold began to melt when they
had been in their home about an hour,
and they were all gold. That's how
the gold fish became gold.
Easter Day.
By T.ucile Frances Tuma, Aged 12
Years, Box 74, Elba, Neb.
Red Side.
The day before Easter I colored
ten eggs. Then I put them in nests.
In the morning I told the youngsters
to go and see if the rabbits had laid
any eggs. They all ran out to see
and they hunted all over and soon
came into the house bringing them in
a little basket.
Then we colored some more eggs,
and that day mamma and papa went
out to visit, as James, William and I
the barnyard, and a tame rayle might
he an rlhiicnt guardian against ma
rauders of that kind. lie will eat jack
rabbits, and that should recommend
" "ew
Qilthdaiook
Six Years Old Tomorrow (April 30) :
. Clay, Robert M Central Park
Coren, Henry L Cass
Eastman, John Webster
Turner, Louise Druid Hill
Seven Yeara Old Tomorrow:
Armstrong, Margaret. . Miller Park
Miller, Gordon Miller Park
Omstead, Ortrude Saratoga
Salmon, Katherine. .. .Brown Park
Eight Years Old Tomorrow:
Hgermier, Anna. Edward Rosewater
reterman, Charles Kellom
Nine Yeara Old Tomorrow:
Allen, Elizabeth Kellom
Barrett, Edwin Madison
( ooksey, Frances Farnam
Evans, George . . Howard Kennedy
Jacobsen, Otto Jens. .. .Miller Tark
Johnston, Marion E... .Druid Hill
Macaitis, lenmc West Side
Magee, Marshall Columbian
Oclke, Mary Lothrrjp
Rae, lU-ulah Train
Reeves, Olive L Druid Hill
Strieker, Vincent ....Walnut Hill
Wosik, Edmond St. Francis
had to stay home to watch the incu
bator. We played games and rode on bi
cycles. Ranger is the name of mine
and William's, and Brown is the name
of James' bicycle. At night we played
on the graphophone.
I am glad Florence Seward la tht
queen of the Busy Bees.
I love to read the Busy Bee's page.
Caught in a Trap.
Rv Katherine Jensen, Aged 13. Valley,
"Neb.. R. F. D. No. 2. Blue Side.
1 think most of you Busy Bees
think I am dead or gone. Well, I
had the scarlet fever, but I had a
light case. None of my sisters or
brothers had it until we had started
to school again. We had to be shut
in again.
Two weeks later papa had a run
away and broke his leg. We children
hini lo farmers and gardeners. That
eagles can be trained to hunt like
lalrons is proved by the fact that the
Kirghiz 1 artars use them to capture
loxcs, wolves and antelopes. 'I hey
put a hood over the huge bird's eyes,
and carry it on a perch supported by
I w o men on horseback. When the
intended prey is sighted they unhood
die eagle and send it m pursuit, ihese
hunting eagles arc said to be very
highly prized by the Tartars, and
nnc i.f them is worth as much as two
camel-.
uliures and buzards are related
lo the eagle, hut they belong to a
nt sub-fannlv, and the true
eagle would not associate with
tliem. He inav not he as noble as
he looks, hut he would not be guilty
of their deeds at least not openly.
As we have already intimated, it is
public behavior, dignified and ma
jestic carnage before the eyes of the
world, that has given the eagle his
prestige: and this, no doubt to
gether with the fact that he was
found maintaining his state among
tin- featcred inhabitants of the At-
intic mast ami owning a high de
gree nt respect from the Indians
led lo the ottn-ial adoption ot the
bald eagle as ' the bud of freedom"
and the emblem of the great republic.
He is a rare bird now, keeping far
from human habitations, traversing
the sky, when he changes his place,
at a great altitude, swiftly yet with
slow, unhurried undulations of the
broad wings. And, while he may have
liltle reason lo ftar a shot, only a
brutal or very thoughtless man would
tire at him.
The eagle's nest is usually placed
high in a great tree or on steep
rocks, and consists ot a mass of
sticks, in the midsi of which is a
grass-lined pocket for the two, three
or four eggs.
had to do the chores until we got a
hired man. We liked to do the chores
at first, but we didn't like them all
the time.
I haven't much to write, but only
wanted to let you know that I am
well. I think what helped pass soma
of my time away was when Monday
came with the Busy Bee page full of
stories. I liked the funny page, too.
I hope you are well, too. So, good
bye. An Unexpected Bath.
By Alma VanBuren, Aged 12 Years,
121 West Twenty-seventh Street,
Kearney, Neb. Blue Side,
One bright day last summer when
the violets were in bloom two of my
cousins, Esther and Gertrude, my sis
ter, Evelyn, and I went out to pick
violets. We were picking violets along
the creek when Esther exclaimed.
"Oh, there is a long grapevine. We
can swing on itP
"We can swing over the water," I
suggested. But at first we were afraid
to. We became braver and swung a
little ways over the water.
"I am going to awing clear out
over," I shouted.
"Watch Alma," said Gertrude.
I gave a jump and swung over the
water, but, alas, just as I got in the
middle of the creek the vine broke
and I fell in the water, I scrambled
to the bank and got out, I had to put
on aome of Esther's clothes (as she
lived near there) to go home in. I
have not swung on a grape vine since.
Studious Busy Bee.
By Viola Beierle, Aged 11 Years, Da
vid City, Neb., Red Side.
This is the first time I have written
to the Busy Bee. I always read the
stories, and enjoy them very much.
I go to school every day and like
my teacher very well. Her name is
Miss Miller. I am in the fifth grade.
In my last month's examination I got
100 per cent in spelling, geography
and grammar, hut in arithmetic I got
ninety-seven. 1 think that is a good
grade.
I hope to sec my letter in print.
A Fishing Trip.
By Frederic William Hufsmith. Aged
8. Hartington, Neb.- Red Side.
One day I went fishing with mv
friends. We stayed by a bridge for
quite a while till one of the boys
said, "Let us go on." Pretty soon we
came to a sandy place, where we made
many castles. One of my friends
caught his line in a bunch of weeds.
He pulled, but his fish line 'broke.
Then we ate our lunch and went
home. '.
An Accident on the Farm.
By Dean Hokanson, Aged 8 Y'ears,
3003 Chicago Street. Red Side.
I live in town and one Sunday I
went into the country. There was a
barbwire fence near the house and
as I did not know it I ran through
the barbwire fence and hurt muself.
I cut' a hole in my head. It bled pretty
bad. My papa came out of the barn
and took me into the house and ban
daged it up.
We went home after supper. I did
not need to go to the doctor next
day.
fet Dog Playa Games.
By George Claus, Plattsmouth, Neb,
Red Side.
Once upon a time we had a pet dog
ivho would play "hide and seek" with
us. We would make him be it and
he would put his nose down to the
ground and hunt us. Thtjn when he
found us, he would run to the base
and stick his nose up to the base.
When we were it he would run and
hide and we had a hard time finding
him.
After a while he was killed, so a
man found him and buried him.
The Eleven Little Chicks.
By Carol Strong, Aged 9 Years.
Stromsburg, Neb. Red Side.
This is my first letter to the Busy
Bee nape T am 0-ninor ffi t11 ..At.
about my eleven little chicks.
1 ney were horn April 13. My birth
day was March 24, so father gave
them to me for my birthday present.
If I see my letter in print I will
try to do better next time.
Bluebirds.
By Fern Peterson, Aged 11 Years,
Route 5, Kearney, Neb. Red Side.
Ten little bluebirds sitting on the line;
One got stoned, and then there were
nine.
Nine little bluebirds flying to their
mates;
One got shot and then there were
eight.
Eight little bluebirds in a row so even;
One got frozen, and then there were
seven.
Seven little bluebirds all in a fix;
One got drowned, and then there.
were six.
Six little bluebirds sitting by the hive;
A big bee stung one, and then there
were five.
Five little bluebirds sitting by the
door;
One got stepped on, and then there
four.
Four little bluebirds flying on the
sea;
One fell in and then there were three.
Three little bluebirds wondering what
to do;
One flew away, and then there were
two.
Two little bluebirds eating a big bun;
Got into a quarrel, and then there
was one.
One little bluebird sitting in the sun;
It got cooked, and then there were
none.
Haughty Master Cecil.
The waywardness of Muster Cecil, a boy
of years, sometimes made It necessary for
his mother to use her slipper. Thla usually
resulted In a hauxhtlness of manner and ex
presnlnn for some hours after Master Cecil
hn'l been "attended to." One evening his
father rnme home, to discover palpable
liroef of the fact that Cecil had been hav
Iiik s prlvHtn Interview with his mother.
"W'.-u, Ceell, what's the trouble now?"
asked his father.
"Your wife has been licking me again,
sir!" was the reply. Chicago Herald.
