Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-30

anu TAKEN TO GrandlaLl6r simpsons
in search OF q name. Grandfather and
Grandmother and two aunts were at
the door to receive him.
What is his manner" they all cried
in breath.
WELL" said Hannah, "Jesse wants
one name and l want another, and
you shall decide.
well, well,'' said Grandfather
Simpson; ''let us vote for the name.
Bring pen and ink, and write the
name you like best on slip Of paper.
We will then put the ballots into a
hat and shake them, and the one
drawn out first shall be the baby's
name"
The smiling old farmer held out the
hat and the ballots were dropped into
it. Little did he think that his grand
child would some day be made pres
ident of the United States by votes.
The hat was shaken with will,
and then slip of paper was taken
out: "Ulysses!" said Hannah. cts
just the name wanted"
When Ulysses was nearly a year
DID, his father moved to little vii
lage not far from Cincinnati. He built
a house near creek which empties
into the Ohio river, and established
a tannery to make skins into leather.
Ulysses grew very fast and was
petted by everybody. One day, when
he was two years old, there was a
celebration Of some kind in the vii
lage. Many people were on the streets.
Jesse Grant held Ulysses high up in
his arms to see the procession.
Hello, UlyssesI" said boy with a
pistol in his hand. Want to shoot?
Let him fire it, Mr.. Grant"
The father put the baby fingers to
the trigger. Bang, went the pictol.
The women screamed; but Ulysses
did not wink or bulge.
Elk it again! Fix it again!" he
shouted in glee, and again the report
of the pistol rang out
He'll make general sure" said a
| bystander.
Ulysses often played in the tan
bark near the mill. He saw trading
flatboats float down the Ohio river
loaded with apples, cider and corn;
and family barges carrying settlers
farther west. And sometimesa steam
er passed by, with loud whistles and
a great deal of smoke.
| When he was older he ground tan
bark for his father by driving around
in a circular path horse hitched to
a bark mill He learned to swim and
dive in deep hole in the creek. He
skated and trapped rabbits in winter;
and he amused himself all the year
round much as other boys do.
He was not very brilliant at school
He was by and slow, but because he
was diligent he always succeeded in
what he attempted to do
believe that you can and you can,''
said Ulysses. Il
He was never known to tell lie
His honest blue eyes looked straight
into the eyes of his playmates, and
they believed whatever he said
He sometimes brought his young
friends home with him to spend the
night The boys would gather about
the kitchen hearth, where the fire
blazed high, and play checkers or tell
riddles, while they ate apples or
cracked hickory nuts. Then, after a
game of fox and geese, they would
go to bed In the loft overhead.
The first book that Ulysses read
was a Life of George Washington. y
One time he came near being punish
ed because he defended the name of
the Father of his Country.
1t came about in this way: His
cousin John, who lived in Canada,
made him visit. Because Canad .
belonged to England, John was loyal
to his king and he thought the United
States ought to be an English pro.
vince.
He said to Ulysses, "Your boosted
Washington was traitor when he
fought against King George
"You say that again and III thrash
YOU shouted Ulysses.
81 do say 1t again." said the little
Canadian.
Both boys had pluck. Coats were
off in an instant, and the battle wax.
ed fierce between the American eagle
and the British lion.
In the end John lay spraying on
the ground. When Ulysses went into
the house, his mother saw that lie
had been fighting. So she made ready
to punish him with bird rod
But his father said: II do not think
you ought to whip him. He has
never quarreled with his cousin be-
fore. He fought in defense of his
country, and he ought to defend his
country" And SO the boy escaped
punishment.
4 From. the time he could walk
Ulysses showed great love for horses
When he was about seven years old
he climbed up into the manager, put
a collar and harness on young colt
and then made the animal haul brush.
wood all day long.
At ten he drove a team of horses
with some leather from Georgetown
to Cincinnati, and brought passengers
back in the wagon with him. He would
ride bareback standing on one foot
while his horse ran at full speed.
Once there was much excitement
among the young people about trick
pony that came to town with circus
1t was said to go round the ring like
lightning and throw any one who
tried to ride it. Ulysses sat among
the boys looking quietly on as the
pony was led out into the ring.
"Will some one step up and ride
this pony?" asked the Jockey, smiling