Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
Batavia, Iowa.
MARION WRITES ABOUT A BOY
HERO.

Dear Junior:
I thought l would write a story
about a boy hero. He was only six
years DID,. little Tommy Brown. His
father was a pioneer out in Oregon
Look on the map as always and find
Oregon If you do not know where It
is. Pioneers have discomforts and
privations that the people in older
settlements do not dream Of. They
are often twenty miles away from any
store. If anything has happened if
they have not laid in a supply Of meat,
-four and sometimes these things give
out at home, 1t becomes very serious
business. If the roads are showed up
or If the mud Is SO deep as to make
them impossible there is chance
that the pioneers family may go hun
CRY, theys may even starve.
Provisions had given out in the fam
lily Of Mr. Brown. There had been a
deep soft snow, SO the roads were
very bad indeed. But food must be
had or his babies would have nothing
to eat. Mr.. Brown at once started to
the store with his wagon twenty miles
away. He was a long time getting
there for the road was so heavy.
Mr.. Brown loaded his wagon and
started back But tremendous fall
of snow came and blocked and blind
ed his way. The storm continued for
several days. The forlorl man stag
gered on as best he could but 1t
grew colder and he began to be chill
ed through. Nobody knew what final
ly happened to him in those awful
hours Or what he thought about. But
he never came home. When the storm
cleared away and the people went 70
look for him. they found him frozen
stiff and dead in the road. His wife
was dead. The two children were
left at home. What had become of
them poor babies?
1t was not very cold when he left
home. Nobody thought anything
would happen. There were two chill
dren Tommy and a younger brother,
four years old. The father would not
have dared to leave them only for a
beautiful and faithful shepherd dog.
This noble animal was used to take
care Of the children as If they were
two lambs. His name was Shep. He
watched and guarded them at their
play when the father was obliged to
leave them. The little creatures and
the faithful dog waited all day for
Mr. Brown. They went to bed and to
sleep. When they got up the next
morning he was not there. But an
other night passed and they were
very hungry indeed. They thought
they would go out and try and find
papa. They walked and cried bitterly.
1t was Sunday noon when they left
their cabin. They did not have warm
clothes. Shep Rugged to them as
| close as he could. They laid down
and went to sleep.
Toward morning it became warmer
and began to rain. How the poor
things suffered when morning came.
At last the younger brother said:
20, Tommy! o, Tommy! I'm freez-
| ing to death"
Then what do you think this big
brother did-big brother, only six
years old-took off his coat and wrap.
ped 1t around the younger brother.
The rain poured in torrents and Tom
my had nothing upon his shoulders
but cotton shirt. But he bore it all.
At last the people found them 1t
noon cuddled up together They will
find plenty Of friends now. But Tom
my Brown Is the bravest and noblest
| little lad I have heard of.
Marion Mincks, age 10.
OttumWa, r. R. No. 8.