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

askin' too much Grace needs 'em a
part Of the time, you know"
well, l callerlate yes" said Uncle
Amos. "If they was ours, Nan, we'd
think we needed 'em all the while. And
l reckon we'd think about kerrect,
too" BY Annie James.
in the bridge before you come to it..
Them little chaps may be jest like
youngsters used to be when you and
me was young. Leastways, jist hold
your bosses and wait til they show up
their colors. When will they git
here?"
Then the date of the letter was con-
suited, and after busy half-hour of
calculations Aunt Nan and Uucle
Amos concluded that their grand-ne-
phew and neices would arrive the next
day about 10 a. m.
"Waal, I'll hitch up old Jen and trot
down to the station to meet EN-" said
Uncle Amos determined to make the
best of a matter which, after all, might
not be SO bad.
Let 'em walk up-it's only half a
mile" said Aunt Nan, swapping her
lips together. Cant take time from
our work to buggy-ride city-youngsters
about. They have feet, let 'em use
EN-
But the next morning Uncle Amos
could not be persuaded to let the chill
dren find their way up from the
station, and hitched old Jen up to the
big, numbering, covered buggy and
drove to the station full hour too
soon.
After he was gone Aunt Nan, not
wishing to be thought without pride,
carefully smoothed her thin gray hair,
put on new blue calico wrapper and
stiff, shining white apron with broad
sashlike strings. after all,' she
unused, eft wouldn't be so bad If the
young uns were like their mother used
to be, for their mother was me over
and over again."
A few minutes after the loud whis-
tie Of the train sounded as it pulled
out of the country station Aunt Nan,
standing on the big front porch, saw
a strange sight coming up the broad
country road. Old Jen was coming at
brisker trot than was her usual gait,
and running beside the road, racing
with old Jen, was strong, long-legged
boy, bareheaded and laughing. In the
buggy sat Uncle Amos, laying the lit
tie boxelder switch across old Jen's
back. while his sun-burned and gray
whiskered face was wreathed in happy
smiles. Beside him sat two pretty,
laughing, red-cheeked girls, holding
their sailor hats in their laps and al
lowing the wind to toss their brown
curly hair.
"Well, never!" said Aunt Nan.
amos Fisher must be losin' his
senses, to race old Jen like that" But
her self addressed remarks were
stopped by the buggy and racing boy
dashing up the lane leading to the
porch. In another minute two 1mpul
sive, warm arms were thrown about
her neck and her jolly granddaughter
Tom, kissed her soundly on the cheek
"Howdy, Auntie Mani" he cried, also
hugging her like a bear. In spite OF
her determination to keep stern face
Aunt Nan unbent and smiled back
The boys deep, earnest blue eyes were
too much for her. Then two pairs OF
sentler and softer arms took turn In
embracing her about the neck, and two
sweet girlish voices said, 'Howdy, do
dear Auntle. we KNOW you dlleduy
Aunt Nan never said word to Uncle
for mamma has told us so much about
you"
Amos about racing old Jen. She
hadn't the heart to do So for there
was the old man, as gay as boy, talk
ing and laughing as hard as he could
He took Tom to the barn with him
and a little flutter of sympathy wen'
through Aunt Mans breast as she saw
how Uncle Amos eyes dwelt admir-
ingly, fondly on young, handsome Tom