Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-03

often got into mischief for mad ne
possessed p sister or brother it is
very probable the Finger Family
would have been kept SO busily en-
gagged with play that they would have
behaved themselves very nicely But,
of course. there can be no good ex,
cuse for g Finger Family's bad be.
havior. even though their owner has
no brothers or sisters to keep him out
of mischief.
Well, this is the way it all happen
ed One day Little Jack Arrows
mamma said to him: Sonny, I am
going shopping, and shall be away
from home all afternoon. AS cook is
very busy in the kitchen, and Jane
has an afternoon off, you will be your
own master during my absence. Will
you behave very nicely while mamma
is away? l shall question you closely
on my return, and l hope you will do
nothing you will be ashamed or sorry
to confess. Remember how eager
Finger Family Is to get into mischief,
and do your best to induce them to
be good" Then mamma kissed Lit
tie Jack goodby and was off on her
shopping expedition
After mamma had departed Little
Jack sat by the window for several
minutes, watching the passersby. But
soon he grew tired Of this and deter
mined to "go exploring" in the library.
Now, Little Jacks mamma never de-
MED him the liberty of the whole
house, and he felt free to visit any
room whenever his fancy prompted
him to do so.
Once in the library he fell to exail-
lining various great volumes which he
found piled upon a table. Some of
them contained very interesting pic
lures, but Little Jack thought these
might be improved by some color. He
ran to his own room and got his box
Of water colors and a brush. Then
he went to the dining room and pro-
cured glass OF water
But on returning to the library Lit
tie Jack heard a wee small voice say
ing to him: Watch the Finger Fam
lily. They might ruin the beautiful
pictures in the fine books" For mo-
ment Little Jack listened to the wee
small voice, and remembered what
his mother had said to him about the
Finger Family. But the Finger Fam
lily conquered, for five of the members
held the box Of water colors, while the
other five members clutched the paint
brush. And on the floor rested the
glass Of water. So down sat Little
Jack on the floor, dragging one Of the
huge books beside him. Then the Fin
And before Little Jack hardly knew
Il of tn, l,o >s1f,, ~,
one Of the books had been gayly col
ored And more than that had hap
pened. The cover Of the book had
suffered an accident. Once while dip
ping the brush into the glass Of wa
ter Little Jack tipped the glass and
some Of it's contents went on the floor,
running under the book and staining
the cover very badly.
From one book Little Jack went 20
another, and the Finger Family kept
the paint brush busy till the illustra-
tions had been colored in a very crude
way in three great handsome volumes.
Then the Finger Family became tired
or maybe Little Jacks stomach
made a profess against further work
by the Finger Family, insisting that
it perform some work on its own ac-
count. So, putting the books on the
table again, and removing his paint
box, brush and glass of water, Little
Jack strolled out of the room and
went in quest Of food
At the kitchen door he was met by
a very stern face, for Cook knew by
instinct what the little boy visited
the kitchen for, and she had no time
to be preparing lunches for anyone
Just then. There was a cake in pro-
gress Of making, and chicken to be
dressed for dinner. So her face was
not inviting when little Jack looked
into her realm.
What do you want, Master Jack?"
The question was sharp.
,''Sumthin' to eat Little Jack made
bold to inform her.
well, YOU must wait till I've done
my cake and dressed that chicken"
replied the queen Of the kitchen and
pantry. mo time to be fixin' stuffin
for small stomicks between meals.
Besides, it's bad habit"
Little Jack understood the cook, and
knew there was no appeal after she
had passed her verdict. So he marched
d
to the big dining room, where he
hoped to find cracker on the table.
But the table was already set for din
ner, and not so much as crumb re-
manned on it. Little Jacks stomach
gnawed and he went to the pantry,
walking on tip-toe SO that the cook
might not hear him. On a top shelf
Little Jack could see many small jars
and glasses Of jam and jelly. Also
there were big mouthed bottles full Of
pickles. and many other fancy edi-
bles Little Jacks palate knew and
loved.
Then the Finger Family became
restless and ached to get hold Of one
of the glasses of jelly and bottle Of
pickles. So Little Jack, in obedience
to the Finger Family (Which was no
doubt Influenced by the greedy stom-
ach), climbed upon a chair, then upon
a Shelf and then got upon the bread
box, which lifted him still higher, and
found that he could Just touch the
row Of Jars and glasses with one mem