Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-15

pie OF comfort into my old bones"
The tea was bubbling merrily and
the nice brown cake just ready to
take out OF the pan, when there came
a knock at the door.
"Bother!" grumbled Grandam Peck
er, such luck! My cake will be cold
before get a chance to eat 1t. Who's
there?" she called harshly. You
would hardly have thought such a
thin little woman could make such a
big noise.
Open. in the name of God. and
give me fare Of your good cake,
Grandam. I am nearly persisted for
the want Of food and fire to warm
me- replied a voice without.
Grandam stopped to light her candle
and snuffed it until it burned it's
brightest. for she was wary of strang-
ers and she would see what kind Of q
wanderer this was before she unbar-
red the door. She had stout bar ar
ranged 80 that she could slip It a
notch and open the door crack with
out unfastening 1t,
Grandam fiared her candle in the
face Of her visitor. There stood an
old man in tatters which fiuttered all
ways when the blast struck him, and
set him to shaking. Bless mel" cried
Grandam, setting down the candle and
pushing back the wooden bolt She
opened the door gingerly, just enough
to let the beggar in, and shut It quick
ly to keep the cold out. poor folk
should be under cover this time Of
day. The cold spell is nearing and
the nights are getting searching.
There's a storm brewing, / feel 1t in
my bones-they have been creaking
all day."
The old man walked feebly to the
bench beside the fire and sat down
and closed his eyes. Now I am 60
ing to tell you secret. The old man
was no other than good old Saint
Peter, who, as you all know, goes
about seeing what folks are doing; If
they are being good and kind, giving
them his blessing, II they are doing
Ill, teaching them lesson And no.
body knows when he comes, for he is
always in disguise.
So Grandam never mistrusted: she
looked a the old man with his eyes
closed, and he seemed SO weary, she
said, muttering as she was used to
do, since she had no one but herself
to talk to: 'I must bake him a cake;
q nice little cake"
She put the pan over the fire and
dropped in spoonful of batter, Just
enough to make very little cake,
which she thought was big enough to
give away.
But the batter swelled and spread,
and swelled and spread. ooh, OH"
muttered Grandam under her breath,
"but this is as big as that one on the
hearth which baked for myself l
can't think Of giving away such big
cake. I must bake another"
SO Grandam dropped into the pan
another spoonful good deal smaller
than the first, but it spread and swell
ID and swelled and spread until it
was almost as big as the other one.
'Oh, OH" sighed Grandam, this Is
much too big to give away"
She looked again at the old man,
whose eyes were closed. She had half
! mind not to give him any cake; but
lis head had dropped on his breast,
and he looked SO feeble, she decided
o try again. And it spread and swell
I'd and swelled and spread, until it
was two-thirds the size Of the first.
Dear, dear!" cried Grandam, II
shall waste all my meal and have to
eat cold cakes a week just for being
so generous to strange old man who,
or aught I know, may"
Grandam Pecker reached for her
BOWL of batter, but dropped it in
alright. It fell on the hearth and
cracked into two pieces, and the bat.
;er ran out into the ashes.
And this Is what frightened her;
he old man had suddenly opened his
ayes and leaped to his feet very
straight and tall, and the tatters dis
and there stood Saint Peter,
he fire flashing from his eyes and
lis finger pointed at her. Grandam
Iuaked with fear and stood trembling
before him.
His voice was very sorrowfu1 when
lie spoke. "Your heart has grown so
small and black" he said, that when
look I see only dark hole where
t ought to be. You are not fit to
lwell among men. have sent my
messengers to soften your heart, but
still 1t has kept growing smaller. To
light, If you had fed me, you would
lave had another chance Now I am
going to give you body small
enough to At your poor little heart.
You have pecked around for yourself
Ill your life and have cared for no
,ther; now will give you chance
o peck for yourself SO long as you
will. You can never return until you
earn to love to peck for others better
han for yourself.
Grandam fell in heap Of rags and
bones beside her broken bowl, tremb-
ing and groaning.-Mildred Norman
n the Children's Magazine
ErTERS :.