Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-12

the opening of this story. And no.
once had Jack and Mabel been on the
opposite of the river, for no bridge
spanned 1t within ten miles Of theil
home.
ooh, how 1 should love to cross the
river" sighed Mabel. 81 think it must
be like fairyland over there"
eyes, see how blue and misty it is
over those wooded hills" said Jack
"How beautiful it must be when one
really gets quite into them"
Maybe some day we shall &C
across suggested Mabel. ooh, II only
there was a bridge over which we
might walk to Fairyland!"
Then Jack and Mabel had to go theil
way, but they told each other OF the
many curious and beautiful things that
they fancied were to be seen "yonder
side the river"
Well, can you imagine the surprise
of Jack and Mabel, when. one evening
as they were returning hom from
school. they saw many men with sur.
veying instruments walking up and
down on the river bank about half q
mile from the very spot where they
so often stopped to look across the
stream to the blue and misty country
beyond? And when Jack told his
father shout the men surveying the
land about the river, he said, Yes,
q new road is to be cut through from
the other side and bridge built close
to our farm. Then the farmers living
on the other side can get to market
without going away down the river to
the bridge at Halls Mill. 1t will In
crease the value of their land, too, this
bridge being built for their USE"
"But," faltered Jack, isn't their
land very, very valuable already! IL
looks SO beautiful from this side the
river"
Jacks father smiled. eyes, dis
lance lends enchantment, my son. But
could you see the farms on the other
side of the river you would not ask
that question. Poor, rocky soil that
is fit for little, can tell you. looked
,p and down both sides of the river
before buying here. This side OF the
river Is like Fairyland when compared
with the opposite side"
But Jack. who had fancied so many
beautiful farms on the other side.
could not believe that his father had
really seen the better places. Doubt
less he had sought only the land
adjacent to the river and had found
the stony and barren soil there. But
beyond away among those misty
blne hills, covered by splendid timber,
The land must be fine and the farms
ike perfectly kept gardens. ANYWAY
20 fancy had led Jack and Mabel to pc
lieve. .f
And during many weeks the men
on the bridge and Jack and
Mabel would stop on their way IRON
school to watch them placing the great
beams and iron rods and strong
boards Of the floor. And they counted
the days till the bridge should pc com
pleted. and when they might 80 lntO
the Fairyland beyond. -,
The official opening OF the brldge
was a gala day for the people OF ootn
sides Of the river. Before the sun was
an hour high in the heavens farmers
wagons. carts, carriages and buggies
were lined I'D to cross the great bridge
which had brought the families OF op-
nosite sides into close communication.
Formerly the people living on oppos1te
sides of the river had been as strang-
ers. and few Of them had been &C
uuainted at all. But now neighborly IN.
tercourse would be possible and would
bring much social happiness to the peo-
BILE on both sides Of the stream.
And among all that crowd OF farmers
farmers, wives and farmers children.
eew were so happy and excited as JACK
and Mabel. Indeed, it was Mr.. Grey's
wagon that had first drawn up TO the
bridge on the morning OF the great
onenfng' and the bridge men, dressed
for the gala occasion, smiled and bowed
n lack and Mabel like old acquaint-
ances, for they had become quite sooa
friends during the building OF inc
bridge. And before others came JACK
was shown the bridge from buttresses
to handrails one Of the builders ex'
planning it all to him.
z When the crowd had assembled anu
the county commissioners. looking
very important, told the workmen VINO
were watching the entrance to the
bridge. to open it for use, there was q
great hurrah, and one by one the We
-
hicles Crowded to their capacity
rolled slowly across the bridge. which
seemed to open into other worlds.
; AS the day was very cool, the re-
ioicing farmers could not hold picnic
in the open and Mr.. Grey invited them
to come and make merry in his big
new barn. The floor was swept clean
for the crowd, table set and fine old
style barn spread was soon enjoyed
Each good wife had brought we'll
filed basket OF provisions and the
table was loaded with good things to
eat. In the afternoon dance was en-
ioyed by the young folks and even
Jack and Mabel took turn at the Old
Virginia reel. Oh. such fun as all the
good folks had on the day Of the Off.
cial opening of the new bridge.
1t was a Saturday. and all this
happy time was held and late in the
afternoon the crowd prepared to take
their leave. for farm chores must be
looked after.
"What a fine time we have had
declared one nice motherly-looking
1odv cnnakino tn Mrs Grew "And how