The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-26
TIE RED COTTON UMBRELLA.
ny nos.rIn aLGER, JR.,

..f.Cz..
The ,;ler day as | was walking mp Wash
ington street, my attention was drawn toward
an object which seemed 10 receive consider
able notice from The passers-b by. and especial
ly the boys, of whom large company were
in close pursuit.
Looki " more narrowly, discove' ed it was
man witha red cotton umbrella hostrd above
his head. He presented an appearance so
stranges,ha Idid not 1t all wonder at The vo-
ciferou. greeting of the boys. Say, old feller
sssshat'li yon take for your umbrei.'' "I.ook
here, stranger, what do won call that ere?o--
.Do they raise them down East, where you
come fro,n?''
Iwas surprised however, when in the hear
s.cr of the umbrella, irecognised my cid friend,
ones. +
Il Why said ], as got within hailms dis
tance, do sou carry about such = thing as
that!'nf ae & sis,s .7r r7sasB
III rather odd looking answered Jones
n,editativeIy, you are righ; there
Then why do you carry iia' Iasked impa-
tien.ly.,3 s sR tR
DD yOu tHtHh, Suiu dHy U'e-n "outA W
tempted to stealit?' ...s h a,,s.
.Sieal it! Not the lcas, DANCE. of that; but
why don't you answer my qnestion?'
because, to do It, | must give you 4 leaf
from my experience. l thL,k will on the
whole. 1t will relieve me 10 unbur,el my
sorrows. You will stop me whensyou get
fired?'
sCertsinly! Proceedr
From early bcyhood,' resumed Jones, mus
inCly, 4 was ambitious to own an UMBRELLA
Watches, breastpips and rings, such as boys
generally are desirous of possessing, cared
aothiDg about. But was determined not to
have one until could get good one. AT
length, when sixteen, the desire of my heart
was fulfilled. ! became the owner OF silk
umbrella. II was proud day for me. ! was
never, tired Of looking at and admiring my
umbrella. How ardently longei for rain,
that might have an opportunity to display il.
.One Wednesday evening there was Lyce-
um lecture to which Twas engaged to escort
nNsrs lsdy--a cousin of mine. To my great
leiight, AZ the hour approached it began to
raia little, but not enough to prevent our go-
ing. ~. 5e-il 49, m
sIwalked to the, hall door with happy
0sart, car. fully shielding my cousin from the
Vain with My umbrella. In the pride of my
heart could not help asking her how she lik-
amy umbrella, but my Mdor was checked by
her indifferent reply bs
svery well, what did you give for it?'
Il was about to carry it into the lecture
room. but The door tender told me this was not
allowed accordingly hid it behind the door,
in what Imagined safe place. There was
huff one other one with tia Faded coarse cot
ton umbrella-which, in its palmiest days,
now long gone by, might have cost ffty
cents.
Though under some apprehensions, man
AGED TO sit quietly through the lecture Atthe
,iose / darted out in search Of my treasure.--
Alasl was too late. Mine was gone, and the
faded cotton one left! Picture my consterna:-.
,;on--my dismay. But was forced to put
rn with the loss, orrsthes exchanee, and, hor-
,or bf horrors! escort my cousin home, ss Il
wa. still raining, under the odi.us cotton
one. sgsfkA &c EA4issN 1aaIs els. a ~ frs
sThus was my first boyish dream rudsly bro.
900 upon.l I need not Say that did not set
.ves On nv umbrella seain. As for the one 4
-, N exchange, l hated the sight OF it, for it
T.ealled the memory Of my loss. ] took the