Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27

pAS'~SoiS " uol loI III vi q hAohiiAi
and blow through the grass and trees
and make them rattle and shake,
frightening the early insects and the
little nesting birds. And then as he
grew-and he did grow tremendously
fast-he became holder and would
rush down the road, kicking up the
dust and causing It to fly into peo-
pies eyes, making them cry out: "Oh,
this terrible March Wind"
Then he got to playing with the
school children, pulling at their hair
and Jerking off their hats and bon
nets, carrying them off down the town
street Of the country lane, making the
youngsters race after him to recover
their possessions. But the children
SO enjoyed Master March Wind that
he grew very fond of them for they
never cried out against him and al
ways loved race with him. Even
the little girls delighted to have him
blow their curls about wildly, and to
take away their little shoulder capes
and bonnets. They would laugh mer-
rily, declaring they loved Master
March Wind. and wished he might
stay with them always.
But pretty soon Master March Wind
got to be a very big, strong fellow,
and he would go about the country
blowing down fences, young trees and
small houses. And he enjoyed ripping
the clothes from clothes lines as soon
as the washerwoman had hung them
up to dry. Oh, he did make himself
troublesome at times!
One dav while he. was resting, his
dear, fond mother came to him, say
ing:
"son. wish you would be less
stormy and bothersome. You create
such disturbance everywhere you go,
and people are afraid of you Why, I
overheard dear old farmer talking
to his son the other day and he was
complaining that you had blown the
chimneys from his house, and that on
the same day you had blown the
ricks Of hay from the fields, causing
him much trouble in gathering it up
again. Now, I know you love to frolic,
but you should not do harm to the
of people or to the people
themselves"
But Master March Wind only
laughed and laughed till his mother
declared he had no consideration for
either herself or others.
well, gentle mother" smiled the
March Wind, IT can't help my disposi-
ton. 1t is my nature to be rough
and noisy, and to play prsnlks on peo-
pie and things. But why should you
bother about my doings? I help you
in your work every day. You cause
the grass to grow, and come along
and blow against it, causing it to be-
come hardy and self supporting. Were
to be mild and gentle the grass,
the weeds, even the trees, would be-
come SO weak that they would not be
able to hold up their heads. I blow
against them, and they. in self pro-
lection, lift up their bodies and brace
themselves against me. It's battle
for strength, you see, and it makes
them strong to hold out against me-"
Then Master March Wind smiled at
his mother, whom he loved very, very
dearly, waiting for her reply. She
sighed gently and said:
Maybe you are right, my son, In
regard to the flowers and trees; but
what excuse have you for having
blown down certain houses and hay
ricks? That was doing real harm to
property"
Again Master March Wind laughed.
Then, with a more serious face. he ex-
planned: you see, mother dear, I do
these things to make men more care
full. Khy, the houses I blew down
with mere weak, wooden frames, and
not houses fit for people to live in.
Men throw up these useless structures
and put their families therein to live.
That's an injustice to the families. So
come along and throw down the ugly
and frail shack, and then the man has
to build better home, for his fam
lily. So, my mother, you see there's
method in my Madness"
well, I'd rather you used more
method and less madness. my son.
a gentle turn of mind that any rude
ness or loudness irritated her and
made her unhappy.
well, 1 have purpose to fulfill in
this world" laughed Master March
Wind, land since it is not a pretty
peaceful duty, but a rugged, fierce,
fighting one, must do it with will.
and not allow myself to worroy over
the consequences. DO you ever stop
to think of the good I do by starting
little hurricanes, mother dear? Why,
blow sickness and disease out Of the
land. I find old heaps Of filth piled
up here and there, breeding disease
germs. What do l do about them?
don't trip past and leave them to
smolder and ferment. I just go to
blowing, and I blow them to pieces
scatter the debris and SO dry it and
purify it by opening 1t to the suns
rays, thus removing from humanity a
very grave menace. That's why l
blew the hay ricks away from the
old farmers field. Those ricks were
rotting and old, and all beneath them
was moisture and heat, and that was
causing disease. So blew them down
and scattered them, and made them
healthy again
81 believe you are right, after all,
my son. confessed Dame Spring. 81
never thought Of the good your mis-
chief does at times. I shall know that
from henceforth your motives are
good, no matter how you work to
accomplish your purpose. I have heard
so much cOm DlaiDt ahOut Won that T