Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-05

ed at the news. indeed, going to the
fall fair had been the great event of
his life for as many years as he could
remember-which, Of course, were not
many, for Teddy was only 10 years of
age.
''Why do you look so sorrowful,
SOM" asked his loving mother, seeing
the gloom on Teddy'sbrow
4 wisht we could go to the fair"
Teddy explained AN don't see
why can't go. even If you and papa
don't
"Why, dear child. you couldn't go
away off to town-flfteen miles dis
tant--without either papa or mama!
Aud. as You know, am too Ill to try
to make such journey, and papa
| would not go away under the circum-
stanoes. No. We'll all have to miss
the fair this fall. and hope for better
luck uext year. And l. was anxious.
too. to go to the fair. for have some
Of the finest preserves and Jelly that
were ever put. up, and I'm sure I'd get
the blue ribbon
But his mothers jelly and preserves
did not interest Teddy at all, for he
wes too young yet to care much about
the displays and the prizes and their
tell tale ribbons He was only think
Ing of the fun be might have with the
dozens and dozens of farmers sons
who would be there. and who would
hring dead loads of fun with them,
Pretty soon Teddys mother fell
into a restful sleep and Teddy crept
softly from the room. He went ont
under 9 big shade tree and stretched
n ir,,c oil he
ttating sorrowfully over his disap-
pointment. And as he lay there a
email voice whispered to him: why
not go to the fair without your parents
CONSENT You are a big boy. and
should be old enough to take cays of
yourself Why not run sway and get
in with some of tho farmers going to
town." It was the wicked vuice of the
temptars. who win always whisper in
the ear of boy or girl whn wishes
him to do 40. And Teddy was only
waiting for someone or something to
induce him to run away. So he glad
ly listened to the tempter's voice, and
turned the wicked advice over in his
mind. And then, rising, he said 70
himself: It'll run away to town and
stay for the fair III be gone three
days. One day I'll be going, one day
thare at the faip and one day rrturn-
ing home.
He went softly lnre :hs house, peep.
ing cautiously into his mothers room,
to find her still asleep. Then he went
up stairs, changed hin every day
clothes for his Sunday suit and hat
and shoes. Then he took some pen
MES and two nickels from his iron
bank that stood on the mantel in the
sitting room, disappearing into the
big corn field that stretched north Of
the house. and did not emerge again
till he was fully quarter of mile
from home. Then he stepped boldly
into the road and pursued his way.
And no one had seen Teddy leave
his home, for the woman of all work
was in the garden getting vegetables
for dinner and Teddy's father was in
a distant field Thus Teddy made
good his escape and was not missed
till almost noon, when his mother
awoke and called for him.
Then the woman of all work began
looking for the missing boy. but no
Teddy could she find. And when Ted
dy's father came in from the field ha
was told of the child's sudden dis
appearance and asked If he had sent
him on an errand anywhere But. Of
course, the father was as much in the
dark regarding Teddy's whereabouts
as were the mother and servant. And
good deal of anxiety was felt over
him, the father declaring that he
would go at once to the neighbors and
| make inquiry If he had been seen by
any Of them
Meanwhile Teddy was trudg1ng
| along towards town as fast as his
little legs would carry him But he
was pretty tired and kept close
watch out for teamsters driving his
way. At last he saw great lumber
ing, covered wagon. drawn by two
hind him. well. now I'll get a ride"
Teddy promised himself Then he sat
on the roadside and waited for the wa
gon to come up
After a few minutes the wagon
| came alongside and Teddy saw q man
and woman and several frowseled-
haired children inside. They were all
Of foreign blood. But he did not no
tice that. The wagon stopped and
Teddy asked in very polite voice, If
he might have lift" to town The
older people looked at one another and
spoke a few words III foreign tongue
then the driver replied to Teddy In
very broken English that they were
going to town and would take him
along. He was told to climb in at the
back with the half dozen dirty chill
dren. He did SO bit reluctantly after
seeing those with whom he was to
keep company for eleven miles. (Ted-
! dy had travelled about four miles on
foot).
After he was seated in the bottom of
the wagon the man and woman car
ried on an animated conversation In a
language all Greek to Teddy, but from
their manner Of taking side glances at
him while they conversed he knew
he was the topic Of talk. and began to
feel bit uneasy. And to exaggerate
his apprehensoins he saw they had
turned into road which led westward,
! and the place of Teddy's destination