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

bells shoulder. would you like to 60
home with me and remain till Sunday
EVENING"" she asked in such sweet
tones. III you should like to go-and
your mother could spare you-it would
afford me great pleasure 10 take you
along with me. Ny husband is as fond
of children as I am, and we'd try to
make you enjoy the time spent with
u.s."
ooh, how should love to go!" cried
Mabel. And so would t. put in Jack,
eagerly. He had come up in time to
hear the lady's invitation to Mable.
So after little talking and planning
lit was agreed that Jack and Mabel
should accompany Mr.. Brown (that
was the good lady's name) to her
home, which she told them was away
over on the hills, far from the river"
And that was Just what Jack and
Mabel wanted. How they had longed
and longed to see the country beyond
the river, far away among the hills.
Mrs. Grey wrapped up Jacks and
Mabeps nighties and gave them their
combs and hair brushes and other
little toilet accessories to carry along
with them. And the children We're
quite happy, for it seemed like taking
long Journey.
On the way 10 MI. Browns farm
Jack and Mabel got we'll acquainted
with Mr.. and Mrs. Brown and enjoyed
the conversation so much. And once
at the farm Jack ran about helping Mr..
Brown with his evening chores. Mean
while Mabel was assisting Mrs. Brown
in getting supper and was shown the
three rooms of the house. While the
place was cozy and as clean as pin
it was poor indeed when compared
with the children's own home, which
was nice two-story stone house con-
tanning six big rooms. And Mf.
Browns barn, was only half the size
of the Grey's barn, and his fields were
on hillside, rather, poor in soil. And
the country, which had been SO beautl'
full at a distance, seemed common
enough when brought so near to one,
and Jack began to- understand what
his father meant when he said; DIS
lance lends enchantment." But JACK
enjoyed every minute at the Browns
and SO did Mabel. But they soon saw
that their Fairyland of fancy was not
on "yonder side of the river. but
really at their own dear home.
.sYou see my dears, said Mrs.
Brown. 1--WE farmers of this side OF
the river have harder work to get a.
living from the soil than do you OF fne
lands across the stream. But
we manage to be happy, and get all
there is to be had by hard work and
economy. Some day we hope to have
such house as your father has on MS
farm. 1t Is so complete and beautiful.
"Yes and your fathers whole farm
reminds one Of Faryland almost,
Mr.. Brown. Ellis fields are so
rich. his garden in such fine soil, that
It seems mere play to till the place.
It's one of the richest and prettlest
places I have had the pleasure OF
seeing"
And on Sunday evening at Jack and
Mabel rode homeward and looked
across the river at their own pretty
white stone house peeping through
the trees all bright in their last
autumnal leaves and saw the red barn
in the rear and the dove house on lts
roof and saw the great pasture nlled
with lettering cattle and the horses
running in their lot. with the Wnlte
pailing fence about the wellkept YARD
full of the last hollyhocks Of the season
and the arched gate-its autumn vines
still covering it they grasped each
others hands and whispered, there's
real Fairyland-there at home" And
40 It was. too, and while they had
ALWAYS loved their home they saw 1t
from q new point of view and began
n love II more. Thank goodness for
that bridge" said Jack that evening" as
thew sat around the supper table IN
their own home. "It brought us into
FARMLAND all right. but first we had to
20 away into what appeared from
distance to be so superior to our own
surroundings and to be brought back
from distance to see 1t as the word
passing by-sees 1t. we've lhe
finest home on the river, Daddy
"And the finest boy and girl IN the
world" smiled Mrs. Grey. For they
are so pleased with their own nome.
"And with their papa and mamma.
nut in Mabel, her mouth full OF apple
dumping. sUgh, it's good to be home
again-in sure enough Fairyland.
"But we certainly had a fine time
with Mr.. and Mrs. Brown" exclaimed
Jack.
"They are lovely neighbors, and now
that we have the bridge we can invite
them to our Fairyland often.
(Which we shall be happy to DO,
son." agreed Mr.. Grey"
n