Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-13
many heroes today as there were in

ana set out to find call for heroism
He turned into Side street, not Sc
ltcting any quarter of the city, but
following involuntari;r wherever his
feet might turn. He was too busy
thinking to notice his surroundings
and had passed tumble down old
clothes shop when a child's sob caught
his ear. Turning quickly, Tommy en-
tered the shop, for the child's voice
came from there.
Crouching close to the counter and
sobbing bitterly, was a little girl
about years of age. Upon Tommy s
entering she quickly rose to her feet
and rubbed the tears from her wan
face. Her great gaunt eyes looked up
into Tommy's face inquiringly.
What's the matter, little girl?'
asked Tommy his heart filled with
pity at the child's APPARENT distress
my papa is sick an won't speak to
me any more explained the child.
He got sick yesterday an couldn't
attend to the shop. He went to bed
an told me to watch the shop, an I
don't know how to sell things. Two
men came in an took coats and ran
off without paying for them, an my
papa and | are too poor to lose any
thing" Again the little girl sobbed
bitterly.
Where is your mother?" asked
Tommy, thoughts of his own dear
mother coming to his mind A mother
could always look over everything. he
knew. and wondered why this little
girl should have to mind the shop if
she had mother
MY mamma died year ago, an
I've been alone with my papa" she
explained. tits very lonely, but my
papa is very good to me and sends me
to school when he is we'll"
Let me see your father" said
Tommy, his pity for the child growing
since he learned that she had not a
mother
The little girl led Tommy to dark
unkept room in the rear of the shop,
and there he saw poor man tossing
about on wretched bed In the same
'oom were a cooking stove, cup
board containing a few coarse dishes,
/ plain deal table, few chairs and
he child probably slept. All spoke
poverty. Tommy went to the man.
Ind. bending over him, asked ques
ion but the sick man only stared at
lin, not replying Then he began to
oss and to moan.
That's lust the way he does when
speak to him" sobbed the child.
An he got that way last night. But
before he got so he wouldn't talk he
'aid he had great pains In his chest
md head.
He must have DOCTOR" said Tom
ny, his voice decisive He felt that
lie must look after this Door sufferer,
he little girl and the poor shop. Ell
or our DOCTOR" he explained. "And
'ou lock the shop door, so that other
hieves cannot come in and steal the
,oats and other things while l am
gone"
The little girl did his bidding seem
ng to trust him completely and know
hat he was her friend in time of
rouble.
Within an hour Tommy returned to
he shop, accompanied by his own
lear, good hearted mother Tommy
appel on the shop door and the little
girl opened it for him. In another
minute he and his mother were at the
sick mans bedside and the mother
said she knew from the sufferers
that he had pneumonia.
And 1t Is good thing you found him
at this stage of the fever" she de-
dared. turning to Tommy. "He must
20 to hospital But our doctor will
De here shortly and give us direc-
ions"
And the doctor, summoned by Tom
ny's mother, did come, and declared
The sick man to be suffering from
pneumonia. HE must be sent to the
city hospital at once" he said. OF
he gave the patient some med
cine. then the hospital was communi-
Gated with by nearby telephone and
IN order for the ambulance given.
After the sick man was taken away
o a place where he could have the
oest of attention and medical care.
Tommy and his mother decided to
AXE the little girl to their own home.
where she should remain till the poor
,ather was well enough to resume his
business. And the rent Of the shop
was to be paid for out of Tommy's
OWN bank account, for otherwise the
goods would have been seized for the
lebt. Then the key was turned in the
ock to await the owners return to
open 1t for business again.
On their way nome Tommy's
mother pressed his hand, saying
And HON does my little hero feel
low? Isn't there a demand for hero
SIN at the present day, dear?"
Tommy's face flushed with pride.
Mamma" he said, softly, Il had for
gotten that l was out hunting for a
chance to become hero. I was so
;orry for that poor man and his little
girl that l forgot my object in wan
lering about in this part of the city"
And that's just why you are real
Zero. dear SON." declared the mother.
And throughout life you will find
many acts of heroism, such as this
me, to be performed, and know
5ou'll never shirk your duty"
If this Is being hero said Tom
ny, earnestly, everybody ought to be
l hero or heroine for to help one
another in trouble or sickness is only
ust and right"
"Weu Won are as great a hero to