Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-17

within an hour, and mono Of the Pic
mic party had observed them till Mrs
Littleton spoke of them.
We'll not have to 60 before we
have dinner, will we?" cried Mary
eagerly.
1--WE can't go till the wagons come
for us, can we, Mrs. Littleton?" asked
pug.nosed, freckled-faced Tommy
Rogers.
well, my dears, it looks as though
we'd have to 90 as soon as we can get
our things together" informed Mrs.
Littleton. I'm awfully sorry I did
not think to tell the men to come for
us directly they should see signs of a
thunder shower. But as the day
promised to be so perfect, it never oc.
Cured to me that pile OF thunder
clouds were hidden away beyond the
hills, ready to come believing forth
and give us sky-ducking."
The children laughed at thought OF
"sky-ducking," and funny Tommy
Rogers declared he'd like one. Il
don't mind getting wet" he Dragged
boldly, "but I'd not like my best sun
day clothes to get spoilt. Shucks!
Why must it rain now
"Oh, could just cry said Mary
with tears in her voice. 1T Is so dls-
appointing to have our picnic spolled
by a thunder shower"
Eyes, it is too bad" agreed several
little girls.
Then all hurriedly got into their
jackets and hats and helped to take
down the hammocks. The swings
have to wait till the men with the
wagonettes came In the late after
noon. The hammocks were tied up
separately and given to two OF the
larger boys to carry. The other chill
dren shared the weight of the lunch
baskets between them, two at a bas-
ket. When Mrs. Littleton had insist
ed on carrying one Of the baskets, the
youngsters had demonstrated: NO
Mrs. Littleton, you shall not carry any
of the load. You shall just 90 ahead
and lead the way"
And laughingly, Mrs. Lttleton had
to do as told. She led the disappo1nt-
ed, almost weeping little band up the
long sloping hill to the broad dusty
road leading into town. But once on
top the hill Mrs. Littleton paused for
breath, looking about her. Just at
the bottom OF the hill, opposite the
pond and wood, there stretched the
flne valley, and in the very center OF
this valley stood q rambling old farm
house with great red-roofed barn
in the rear The place had such
comfortable, homelike atmosphere,
even at q distance, and Mrs. Little
ton quickly thought Of something.
"Say, children" she began, pointing
towards the farm house in the valley
which was only half mile away, Il
believe It best to 90 down there and
ask the good farmers wife to let US
shelter in that big barn till the storm
is over. And IL our wagonettes do
come before we look for them, we
can signal them from there" .
"Oh, yes, mamma, let's go there,
cried Mary, who had 50 reluctantly
started homewards. afoot. Yes, we
can go there and have picnic IN the
barn."
This made all the little ones eager
to go, and they joined their voices OF
consent to Mary's. Very well, come
along" and Mrs. Littleton hurried the
children off through the prairie grass
till they struck a road leading to the
farm house grounds. They reached
the place just in time, for as they
turned in through the big gate few
heavy drops of rain fell, and gusts
of heavy wind were dashing things
to the earth, laying the grass fiat.
When the party Of fourteen stepped
up to the door smiling woman met
them. And as good luck would have
it, Mrs. Littleton knew her. She was
q good customer at Mrs. Littleton's
store in town, and Mrs. Littleton often
saw her there, buying drygoods.
well, do believe you are Mrs.
Brown" said Mrs. Llittleton, introduc-
Ing herself.
Eyes. and was quite sure l knew
you," smiled the farmers wife, asking
the band of picnickers to enter. Then
all was confusion for q few minutes
while Mrs Brown, Mr.. Brown, who
then came hurrying in, and their
woman of-all-work put down windows
and shut open doors against the COM
ing storm. And then, as daylight
seemed blotted out, lamps were light
ed, and the whole crowd, including the
Browns and their hired man and
woman, went into the big, long din
ing room. And the picnic dinner was
spread on the long table, a table quite
spacious enough to admit of twelve
working men during harvest time. So
the picnickers found plenty of room.
and to spare.
And Mr.. Brown was SO jolly, telling
jokes and cutting up FRANKS with the
town boys till the little fellows
thanked their lucky stars for the op.
perfume storm which had sent them
to this jolly place. And Mrs. Brown
was here, there, and everywhere, smil-
ing and chatting and helping to lay
the spread. Never had the children
had such a good time as they we're
having now. The storm ragged, rain
beat like wild furies against the closed
windows and doors, lightning glared.
to be followed by peals Of terrible
thunder, but the picnickers did not
mind. Indeed, they enjoyed the sense
of safety while the storm ragged with
out. IT,.
Seated round the long table, at pre-
cisely one o'clock, the little crowd had
their picnic dinner. And Mrs. Brown