Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-07

CullQTeE-yOur own uedi SloIoi
grandchildren.
1T seems an age since saw the
old place, for my life in the city has
been too full for me to get down there
since-as you remember-little Tom
was baby. You will not recognize
Tom, he is such a fine, big fellow Of a.
And my dear twin girls, Madge and
Mabel, you have never seen. They will
be - in September.
"T want them to hunt, fish, romp in
the new-mown hay, drive the COWS to
water, ride the horses-in short, do all
that we have done on the dear old
farm. You will love my children
your grandnephew and nieces-as they
already love you from having heard me
talk of you so much.
"tWith ever so much love, l must
hastily close, for the children start to-
morrow and have world Of work to
do to get them off.
"'Your loving niece,
"Grace Andrews"
AS she finished reading the letter
Aunt Nan laid it in her lap with an i'm
patient slap and looked over her
specs" at Uncle Amos.
WAL" drawled Uncle Amos, what
you takin' it SO to heart for? You used
to be powerful fond of Grace when she
was little shaver. I'd calkerlate
you'd be glad to have them younguns
of hers fer little SPELL"
"Now Amos Fisher, you know can't
abide a youngun, specially three of EN-
at once. OF course, was fond OF
Grace when she was a little girl, she
was such little lady. and everybody
said she was the livin' likeness of me
with my manners But, lawsy, you
know how people changes! Of course,
she's got city-fed, and she's prob'ly
got three of as bad spoilt younguns as
ever lived. Me for one won't 'umor
'em. You can put your foot down on
that, certain an sure. She says she
wants 'em to romp in the new-mown
hay. Ugh! Wonder If people thinks
at we've nothin' to do but grow blue
grass, cut an stack it a-purpose for
spoiled city-brats to tumble down into
mess! No, sir, Amos Fisher, eff them
children wasn't on their way here this
mint I'd stop 'em by a telegram mes
sage; sure I would
Aunt Nan led Madge and Mabel In
to the house, and after putting their
travelling bags and suit cases away in
the guests chamber, she told them to
make themselves to home in the set
tin'-room while she went to the kitchen
to get dinner
ooh, no, Auntie," demonstrated Ma
bel; we don't want to be company Let
us 20 to the kitchen with you and help
with the dinner We always assist
mamma at home" !.
Eyes, indeed, Auntie Nan" said
Madge, Eve wouldn't think of being
waited upon Let us help you all we
can Sister and are pretty good cooks
now, and mean to be better after leav-
ing you, for mamma declares you are
the best cook and housekeeper she
ever saw-since dear grandma died.
Aunt Mans heart thawed out at
once. BLESS you, children" she said,
LAYING hand on each curly head;
"you are genuine little women, amt
you? Come right along to the kitch-
en- with me-"
After awhile Uncle Amos and Tom
came to the house, and as Uncle Amos
stepped to the kitchen he was happily
surprised to see Aunt Nan seated by
the table whipping cream, with her
face all lit with smiles as she related
some incident of their mothers early
girlhood to Madge and Mabel, and
both girls were listening intently While
one shelled the peas and the other pre-
pared a tomato and cucumber salad.
Everybody works but yer uncle,
the dear, jolly old man sang out as he
walked into the kitchen and seated
himself by the door, where 1t was cool
AS the girls laughed heartily at this
Aunt Nan, also enjoying the innocent
old mans POPULARITY, said: mo, you
don't get out of work quite so easy
Amos Fisher. You go to the wood
house and bring in some dry chips tc
make the fire burn quicker. We're go
ing to have short cake for dinner
and it takes a hot oven"
Nope, not IT, grinned Uncle Amos
What got that young giant for but tc
do nv chores?" And he nodded to
wards Tom. who ran off merrily to gel
the chips.
That night, in the privacy Of theil
own room, Aunt Nan said: Amos, Il
everybody could raise such chlldren az
Grace's are I'd be in for big families
Wish 1 could keep them gurls-thej
make my sour old heart young ant
sweet again. There's no use talkin'
old folks do get queer unless they have
young folks round 'em. And that Tom
MY, oh, amt he whole team in him
self. And that lively he'd make
rock fence laugh. I'll confess I'm aw
full glad Grace sent 'em, now that I've
seen EN-"
| Som l." said Uncle Amos. THEY'RE
: like tonic to you an me, Nan. Why
t jest to hear Tom talk of sports, games
|, books and politics is caution. He's
: walkin' incyclopedy. Knows all 'bou
: farmin' and crops and stock, too. But
say, come to think of it, maybe you an
; the gurls would like to go with Ton
/. and me fishin' tomorrow. Can't d.
, much in the garden now till 1t rains
. and the corn don't need attention, 81
Tom and me have planned to fish to
I morrow"
: 'Lawsey, you mustn't think Of goin
: off and leavin the gurls," declare
q Id NSo,N 10 Ity,