Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-31
Iittle Gertie's
Ha1lorue'e1, night

Gertie was 6 years old, and she was
much excited over the approach OF
Halloween. She could not remember
of there ever having been a HalloW-
cen before. That was because she was
too young the year before to pay any
attention to Halloween, though her
brothers. Ned and Fred, had had
merry enough time then.
And Gertie knew what one ought
to do on Halloween, or at least, she
said she knew. Zone wants to disturb
flngs, don't they, mammal" she asked
of her mother a few mornings before
the arrival Of Halloween.
Mamma laughed. "Why, what do
you mean by that. darling?"
ooh, to do like Ned and Fred do"
replied Gertie. "They put fings where
they oughtn't to be, you know. That's
Halloween fun, isn't it, mammal
ST guess so.' smiled mamma, kissing
her dear little daughters dimpled
cheek. Then she left Gertie to her
play and went about the household
duties. And Gertie laid her plans for
the Forthcoming occasion. I'll have
Halloween all by myself she de-
clared. I'm little girl, SO, of course.
can't go out wifi Ned and Fred. put
ting flngs where they oughtn't to be-.
When at last Halloween. arrived
Gertie crept off to bed earlier than
was her wont, and after her mamma
had kissed her and tucked her in and
said good night, she lay very still till
she knew she was entirely alone.
Then she sprang from bed and ran
into Ned's and Fred's room and gath
cred up their books-all that she
could carry and logged them off to
the storeroom, big and dark. But
Gertie was not afraid not a bit of it,
and the dark. storerom held no ter
rors for her. After Sire had hiade1n the
books under some old rubbish she
returned and found Ned's school
shoes Che was wearing an old pair for
the festive EVENING" and Fred's nit
tens and ball These were hidden in
the closet of her own room. Then to
mammals and papa's room she went
getting papa's smoking jacket and his
box of collars and cuffs. And next she
gathered UP mammals morning wrap
per and slippers. These she carried
to the guest chamber, where they
were safely placed under the big bed
"Now I guess I'll have some fun
said Gertie to herself And off to bee
she went, as happy as any real lit
tie culprit could be.
But Gerties real fun came the mex
morning when Ned and Fred set W
a cry about their books, shoes, nit
tens and ball. Gee, where's oul
things gomez" cried Fred, under the
bed, looking everywhere for his books
"And somebody's stolen my shoes,
walled Ned, flying about the room
like hen on hot griddle.
well. that's strange" said man
ma: 81 have also had time huntin.
my wrapper and slippers. And you
papa can't find his smoking JACKIE
anywhere. The old Halloween witcl
must have been busy in the house las
night. Everything is topsy-turvy.'
Maybe if you look in the store
room. and under the bed in tn
guests chamber. and maybe in tn
closet in my room. you may find som
of the fings you've lost" said Gertie
"Ah. it's .Gertie. cried Ned. hi
: face lighting up. "While we were w
setting things out of doors last nigh
) she was busy inside. Well, who
have thought it,"
"Well," she said. 81 wanted to fee
what Halloween is like. An | had lot
of fun. | did
''Well. guess you did. Sis girl
!. ned Fred. ''But one thing nice abou
:. YOU you put people next to wher
you've hidden their things. So it
not so bad. after all
ooh, isn't that right" asked &c
tie. her face becoming serious.
"Well, maybe next Halloween
won't tell the next morning. I'll Il
you all hunt till YOU find EN-"