Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-18

grew uglier, and she pouted and pout-
ed refusing to smile at the funny
stories her father related to her. And
when her mamma helped her plate to
one Of her favorite dishes, she made
a wry face and said 1T was not good.
Mamma calmly rose from the table
and took Mary by the arm, saying:
go to your own room, daughter, and
remain there till you are in better
temper And-if you persist in behav-
ing in such a naughty manner, all aft
ernoon / shall be forced to punish
you"
Mary stalked off to her own room
upstairs, and threw herself on the
bed, crying in her anger, ooh, just
can't go anywhere that l want to-" she
sobbed. The truth was, Mary was an
only child, and had always had things
pretty much her own way, and now
that she was denied something that
she wanted, she 1t once began to
lament her condition in life. II just
can't go when I please" she repeated.
II wish I belonged to some other faith
er and mother. wish I belonged to
-to-old Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson"
Now, "old Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson"
were nice old couple living at the
outskirts of town, and when Mary
went to the country to visit her cousin
Adah she passed the Jacksons' house.
And the dear old couple would call
to her to come in and have glass Of
buttermilk, which Mary invariably did.
And now, in her fit Of temper, she
wished she belonged to the Jacksons
instead Of to her own parents.
Now, after seeing Mary In her own
room, Mary's mamma stood beside the
door listening for a minute, and over
heard her naughty daughters wish.
She went below and held consulta-
ton with her husband, after which she
went to the phone in the hall and call
ed I'D "old Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson"
After a short conversation, in which
Mrs. Jackson could be heard saying:
Eyes, my dear Mrs. Drew, certainly.
fetch the naughty little girl right
along. Well look after her for
few days-as long as she can be per-
suaded to stay. Yes, as you say, 1t
will be a good lesson to her. She'll
come to realize how much nicer her
own home and parents are than any
other home and people. So, we'll be
ready for her within an hour
Mary's mother hurried upstairs and
entered Mary's room. Come, dearie,
get your clothes packed in your little
trunk. I'm going to take you to Mr..
and Mrs. Jackson. They will be glad
to have you for their own. I over
heard your wish-that you belonged
to old Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson. So, |
don't want to keep my little daughter
against her will. Come, be ready I'M
mediately. I have ordered John to
hitch up the horse to the phaeton.
Your trunk can go in front. I'll drive
you out myself. have already asked
Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson to take you, ana
they have gladly consented. So hurry
my dear. It's going to rain, and we
must get there before the downpour."
Mary stood dumbfounded in the cen
ter of her room after her mother went
out. What did it all mean? She really
did not want to go to live with other
people. She loved her papa and nam
ma, and had the happiest home In the
world. What did it all mean? Yes,
CT course. she had made that naughty
wish, and mamma had overheard her!
And now-must she really go away
from her own homeland become the
child of the Jacksons?
Come, hurry up, Mary!" came her
mothers voice from below stairs.
THE phaeton is at the gate"
Mary, not knowing just what to do,
set to tossing her clothes into her
trunk She did not take the trouble,
to fold them. Even her best Sunday
frock and hat were tumbled In all IN
a muss. When most Of her things
were inside the trunk she shut the lid
with a bang, turned the key and call
ed out: I'm ready"
John, the man servant, ran upstairs
and carried her trunk on his shouldes
down to the phaeton. When Mary
reached the gate her mother was al
ready inside the vehicle, awaiting her.
How Indifferent her mother seemed,
and her little girl going away! ~
They drove out Of town at good
gait, for the clouds were thicken1ns
over the sky, and gusts OF wind were
coming up the road. Mary shlvered.
Soon she would be alone in the big
farmhouse with the Jacksons, and her
darling papa and mamma would be far
from her in their own dear home III
town. Oh, how Mary's heart throbbed
with regret over her ugly conduct OF
the hour before She sat quite still
beside her mother, and determined to
make the best Of the matter, though
It really might kill her. She felt that
she deserved this exile from home =
this being given to another couple.
Oh, how long could she live thus?
Just then they reached the gate and
Mr.. Jackson came to lift Mary down.
She walked into the house, followed by
Mr.. Jackson, bearing her trunk. Then
she turned about to see her mother
driving away without having said a