Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-26
MILDRED,s THANKSGIVING.

Mildred Brown, was little girl IL
years DID, She lived on a farm OF one
hundred acres. raa
The family consisted of the father,
mother, brother Gilbert, and sister.
May.
Gilbert was nine years old and May
was four
Mr.. Brown kept a hired man, who
lived in a little house of Mr.. Browns
on his farm.
~ AS Thanksgiving drew near Mrs.
Brown was planning large dinner as
she had invited relatives.
Thanksgiving day dawned at last.
Mildred rose from her bed that morn
ing and after thanking God for caring
and helping her through the year, she
dressed for church. After breakfast
was over, all the family went. After
service was over they came home.
Soon the relatives came. Mildreds
uncle and family from the west came.
AS Mildred had not seen her. uncle for
two years she was very glad and sur
prised to see him. He brought many
presents for all the relatives, especial
ly the Brown family. M
n, The people talked and the children
played games and told stories until
dinner time It was soon ready as some
of the relatives and the hired mans
wife helped to cook it. They had
every thing any one could wish for
in the line of food, for dinner.
AS big snow had fallen the night:
before, and the people came in sleighs,
they all got ready to take sleigh ride.
They had splendid ride.
. After they came home the children
played they had a war. The boys made,
forts and snow balls for themselves
and then helped the girls make, theirs.
They chose captains and Sides The
girls were on one side and the boys on
the other At a shout from the cap
tains the war began. The girls 'f1red
the first SNOWFALL, hitting the captain
of the boys team. One Of the boys at!
tracted the girls attention while, the
rest. of them stole all the girls snow
balls from the fort; The: girls then
made some more, giving as fast as res
oeived. In the midst Of the hottest part
Of the battle Mildred's Uncle Ned came
out AS Mildred was the captain OF the.
girls, she had to fight against her I'M
Gle, as he was elected captain as soon
as he appeared! He worked and shout
ed and urged on the boys, trying hard
to beat the girls, as he was good
fighter in his time.
Some of the girls fought while the
others made snowballs.
Mildred told one of her girl chums.
whose name was Eloise, to be captain
q few minutes. She did 80 and Mildred
disappeared This caused quite a stir
in the boys fort and Captain Ned
thought he would beat now, so he
urged them on.
All this time Mildred was not idle.
She hid behind few trees and bushes
on her wayto the boys fort where the
snowballs were. She arrived safely and
without being noticed, carried all she
could to her fort. She carried and car
ried until she had q large pile in her
fort She then appeared and used the
snow balls to good advantage. Soon
the boys were out of ammunition and
wondering what had become of their
snowballs. they raised white hand.
kerchief. The girls beat and still had
a large pile of snowballs left.
Her uncle bought her beautiful
pony and sleigh because she beat him.
The visitors now all went home ex-
cept the beaten Uncle Ned, He visited
with them two whole weeks.
In her prayer to God that night Mil
dred told him that this had, been the
happiest Thanksgiving she had ever
had and that she thanked him very
much. @
She rode her pony many times.
read the Junior and eniOy the let
tiers and stories very much,
Your Junior friend.
Etha C. Leinhauser.
Ottumwa, Iowa. r. F. D. No. 8.