Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-04

NOW run and bring IN the milk,
she said. So he ran.
Bring the basket with the cookies,
please" And he brought them.
"Oh, mother, what shall we do-our
lunch isn't ready" said big sister An.
ME, as she ran downstairs.
ooh, yes it Isl Leonard and have
just finished packing it,
Have you really! How ever did
you get time for everything?" said
Annie.
81 guess because Leonard did the
things told him so quickly" laughed
the mother.
At last they were off-baskets,
boxes, shawls, books, Leonard's tin
pail, shovel and all.
They reached the boat just in time.
"All aboard" shouted the captain, and
then the boat began to move.
There were lots of little girls and
boys on board, so the children were
soon all together.
ooh, look! The wharf Is moving!"
said wee boy.
"And so are the houses!" added n
small girl.
Its the boat that's moving" said
one of the men, laughing And so it
was. How blue the water was and how
CLASSY! how fast the boat moved! How
pretty the trees looked down in the
water! Soon they had left the town
far behind.
At last, Bump! bump" went the
boat, and then everybody began to
gather up boxes and baskets.
Mother, may l take off my shoes
c}N lit
mo, dear, not until we go little
ways up the shore. There Is a place
there with lovely, sandy beach just
by where we are going to have diuner,
and, while we big folks are getting it,
you little ones may all take off your
shoes and stockings, tuck up your
clothes and dig in the sand, wade in
the water or do whatever you like y
"Hurrah! hurrah" shouted Leonard,
and off he ran in a hurry to get there.
Mother, may l go in the water?"
said another boy, called Harry Satin
ley, as he united his shoestrings.
Not now, dear" said his mother;
and she told him just what Leonard's
mother had told Leonard.
In little while they heard Splash!
splash" and there was Harry lying in
the water. Such sight as he was
when he got out. drenched to the skin,
and his clothes all dripping with
water!
What could his mother do but stay
right there, hurry him under the rocks,
take off his wet clothes. dry him, wrap
her shawl about him, and spread his
clothes on the rocks in the sun to
dry?
Don't wait for me, for I'll just stay
here for while till his clothes dry
she said, in sad tone.
Poor Mrs. Stanley! I'm afraid her
day is spoiled" said Leonard's mother
IF only Harry had done what his
mother told him!" sighed another
lady.
II Well, in little while the rest Of the
folks reached the place for the picnic
such a beautiful, sandy beach, and
when the tide was low, just the right
place to dig for clans. Soon the little
folks, with their clothes pinned up
around their waists, with bare feet
and legs, were wading in the water
building castles in the sand, and some
we're away out with pals and shovels
digging for clams-doing all sorts Of
things, but having delightful time.
"My isn't Harry missing it," SAID
one boy
cts too bad, but I suppose It's his
own fault" said another.
+ After awhile somebody came to the
top Of the bank and shouted, Dinner!
din-ner!"
They were SO hungry that it did no
take them long to scramble out of sane
and water, dry their feet and rush w
the bank, and soon they were sitting
on the grass under the trees at {
: really, truly picnic. How good every
thing tasted: And wasn't it fun!
81 There mes Mrs. Stanley" saic
l someone. So they made a place TO-
her
Cant Harry come YETI" said Leon
ard.
His clothes are not quite DIR.
: enough" said his mother.
MAY I take him some dinner?"
eyes, indeed" said Mrs. Stanley.
At last Harry's clothes were dry, bu
1t was too late to dig for clans then
for the tide was so high, so the boy
5 had just to tell him about it.
After they had roamed about among
:. the fields and trees for while, tn
, men nlTeQ some DOdIS anu IOOk IHeu
for row-big folks, little folks an
;. all. Such fun! They sang, they toll
9 funny stories. and the children dippe
their hands in the cool water.
y "May l row while, please?" sal
Leonard.
). "May II" said Harry.
So the men put the big oars int
their hands-just for few minutes
and showed them how to row. The
:. were raher big for small boys t
: handle, so in minute one of the me-
J. said, "Tnat'll do now, boys"
s Gall right Thank you!" said Leor
:, ard, and gave his oar at once to tn
t man.
y LET me have 1t little longer" sal
Harry.
! Times up" said the man, with
smile; but still Harry kept trying t
5 move the big oar
Splash! Splash! went something
g 1t was the oar. 1t had dropped out {
e Harry's hands into the water. The
e tried the irbest to fish it out, but
t was no use.