Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-25

that the blue calico had been to her
so long ago..
That thought hinged on other changes
and hurt her motherly heart. John,
did you ever think, with all the
changes in the n~eighborhood. 1t would
be a good thing to move to a gutter
placer" she asked her husband, that
evening.
We've had such a long struggle to
pay for this place, I'm just beginning
to feel settled" he said, slowly. But
do you want to go, Nannie?"
NO." she answered, quickly, realiz-
Ing that her desire to change was the
direct result of her own cowardice;
mo, for | don't believe any other place
would be quite as much like home;
but things about us have changed
she went on, quitely. "We are living
more among people; girls are old
er and have new friends" She
paused, significantly.
I've seen this thing coming, Nan
ME-" Mr.. Cameron quickly responded,
"and | knew you would, in time.
Fortunately, the new friends are nice
girls; | am satisfied of that from the
way they behave in Sunday school,
the only place | see them; but that's
a pretty good test. Now you've raised
the subject and given me a chance,
I'm going to tell you what troubles
me. You've always kept the girls neat
as wax, and now, maybe, | oughn't
to say a word, when you work so hard
for them-but they look prim as nuns
among the other girls. Can't you frill
them a little?"
Mrs. Cameron's laugh astonished
her husband. 1--WE been worried over
finding the trouble, and you knew it
all the time!i" she said, a little catch
in her voice. For oh, John! l haven't
grown up with the children. l never
realized until lately, but I seem to
have stopped in their childhood, and
now -"
Now, take n big jump and catch
up" her husband laughed. But Nan
ME, l want you to remember this and
have no regrets; you have done every
thing you could. But now the girls
are older. they can't be shut-ins;
they've got to take their place in the
world as we'll as the home, and they
need mothering more than ever"
Mrs. Cameron's jump began with
new dresses, selected by, the girls
for themselves, and made according to
their own ideas. Their mother stitch
ed many a new thought into the max
ing, and found herself enjoying the
variation In color.
II eve want to see navy blue
again!" Madge had declared, as she
made her selection Of rich brown.
Il had got more tired in seeing you
and Ida in it than I did for myself, ;
Emma laughed. "And now, oh, green
it shall be for mine!" she cried.
The girls called us a charity school
because we always wore navy blue to
school,, Ida enlightened their mother.
MY, won't they stare when they see
me in red-red just the shade of the
dark roses by our gate" she added,
finding her color with unerring In
stinct.
Dresses led to other things-nothing
extravagant or costly, for Mrs. Cam
eron's rebound Kept within good judy
ment, while it INDUCED the individual
taste of her girls. Her reward cams
in the entire confidence they gave her,
as they realized her sympathy with
their frank delight in each new pleas
ure.
In the sudden opening of her eyes
Mrs. Cameron discovered many things.
Turning her wall roll, she came to
these verses:
The Lord directed his steps,
Prov, 1858.
D 1t Immediately,
Do it with prayer,
Do it reliantly,
Casting off care;
Do it with reverence.
Tracing His hand
Who hath placed it before thee
With earnest command.
Stayed in omnipotence,-
Safe meath His wing,
Leave all resultings-
Do We nexte thynge.'"
Her next thing led her among the
new neighbors, and as her list in
cluded those whose daughters were
companions of her own, she laughingiy
insisted upon their going with her.
Mothers lots nicer to go with than
any of the girls" Ida declared, at the
dinner table. IAN she sees all the
funny things, too, like Mrs. Belts
little boys peeking in the door an
begging for cookies. Oh! they die