Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-24


ooh, granny, dear, do you know that
the day after tomorrow is my birth
day? Papa told me 50 this morning.
Both papa and l nearly forgot it, for
when mamma Is away we forget most
everything, 'cept to eat and take our
Saturday bath"
All, and so the day after tomorrow
is my baby's birthday" said grand
mamma, musing. Surely, and SO it
lis. Well, I had almost forgotten it
myself Well, we'll hope to see your
mamma at home on that day. She
would be very sad to spend her little
Rosie's birthday away from home"
Then Rosie and grandmamma fell
to planning some little entertainment
for the forthcoming birthday, grand
mamma promising to look after every
thing In mammals absence.
Half an hour later Rosie was walk
ing slowly homeward, musing thus:
"If mamma doesn't come home for
my birthday it won't seem like birth
day at all. I'd rather put it off for
10 week-or longer-and have mamma
here. Grandmamma would make a
NICE party for me, but not like NAM
ma would make it. Nobody could
make anything half as nice as mamma
can. Oh, l do wish auntie would
hurry and get well so my mamma can
come home"
The mornin~ Of Rosie's birthday
dawned, and with the breakfast came
a telegram from her mamma saying
that she would not be home for two
or three days but wished her little
grille happy birthday. After Rosies
papa had finished reading the tele-
gram, Rosie's appetite vanished and
she couldn't taste o mouthful Of the
breakfast. In answer to her papas
anxious inquiry Rosie explained that
she was Gust homesick for mamma"
Her papa laughed and said that she
must be cheerful on her birthday and
that in the afternoon her party would
make her forget her loneliness and
that within very short time mamma
would be with them again.
After her father had gone to his
store Rosie went to her. own room to
dress her dolls for the afternoon
party. But her heart was not in the
preparation for the coming event,
which, had her mamma been at home
would have held such happy anticipa-
tons for her 81 just don't want q
party at all while mamma is away"
she declared. stamping her foot en-
phatically. Il can't enjoy birthday
when mamma Is away"
Then Rosie let fall the doll she held
in her hands and began to think AS
an idea flew through her mind her
eyes grew round and sparkling and
a happy smile crept to the corners of
her dear little mouth. After a few
minutes she sprang from her little
chair and ran to look at the clock in
the hall, "I'll have lots Of time" she
said to herself "And I'll not tell a
soul about it. Papa won't come home
for luncheon and when the children oil
come to the party they can have the
cake and ice cream and all the good
les same as though I was here. And
I'll telegram to papa when get
through"
Just es the clock struck 10 Rosie
passed out through the front hall
door, going off at a ruin toward the
railroad station. She carried tightly
clutched in her hand tiny gilt purse,
one which her papa had given her at
Christmas. And in the purse was a
silver dollar which grandmamma had
given her on the same festive occa-
sion. She had watched her oppor-
tnnity to slip out from home while
the cook was gone to market.
Reaching the railroad station. Rosie
saw the train standing beside the
platform. A number Of people, heav-
| lily laden with luggage. were going
aboard, and Rosie, asking no ques-
tions. entered one Of the cars. She
possession Of the end nearest the
window. Hardly had she become
comfortably seated when the cars be-
gan to move slowly out Of the sta
! ton.
After few minutes Rosie found
herseluf flying across the country at a
very rapid speed ooh. I'm going to
mamma she whispered to herself
smiling happily Wont mamma be
surprised when she sees RE coming
| into auntie's house? I know the way
| there, too. All I have to do when
4 get off the train is to Jump on q
street car and ride till come to the
park, where the fountain with the
| flying doves throws water about all
day long. and there I will tell the
street car man. who wears blue suit
and brass buttons, to let me off. And
across the park Is auntle's house
And I'll run up the steps and ring the
door bell and mamma will say to
auntie, wonder If that's the doctor
or a caller?" And the maid will let
me in and I'll run upstairs to auntie's
room and say, Here's your little grille
on her sixth birthday, mamma On
won't that be happy surprise foI
mamma? And then she'll say. What
about the party this afternoon? And
I'll ask her to telegraph to papa and
grandmamma that I am in the city
but to let the party go right on an(
to let Estelle Johnson take my place
and look after everything and put my
birthday presents away for me-"
Tickets" said big voice in the
aisle behind Rosie. and, looking back
she saw the conductor taking up the
passengers tickets. Not having
bought ticket, Rosie took from hel
purse the silver dollar. Once wheT
49, Ia