Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-08
event of all others which afforded
them the greatest pleasure the

OF the ne1gnDOrnOOd would De ENJOY
Ing the day as usual. It was indeed
hard to bear. But Martha was not
given to complaining and when her
mother suggested that she invite some
of the neighboring children to spend
the day with them, having their Fourth
Of July spread in the big yard beneath
the trees, Martha shook her head.
"No, Mamma" she said, II couldn't
think of asking any of my friends to
stay away from the picnic to cheer me
up. It would bet SO selfish of me-"
Nevertheless, Mrs. Downs made
many preparations for the Fourth, all
unknown to Martha She baked chick
ems, cakes, pies, made fancy salads,
and devilled eggs, and other dainty
things to eat on hot day. "She
shall have a little Fourth of July
celebration all to herself" the good
mother had said. Papa and I will
be with her, and papa will read good
story aloud to us. Then I'll put some
records on the photograph and have
music. Well make her day as happy as
we can"
And Mr.. Downs, entering into his
wifes plan, made a special trip to
town, six miles away to get some fire.
works for the evening. He bought
several very fine pieces, among them
balloon that would ride In the air
for several minutes and would then ex-
plode and send forth hundreds OF
sparks, red, yellow and green. And
Roman candles and sky rockets and q
Chinese wheel, were included In the
assortment.
The morning Of the Fourth came,
bright and fine. At an early hour
carriages, wagonettes and automobiles
were seen hurrying along the big
dusty road, enroute to the picnic
grounds. Martha sat on the wide
porch and watched the merry throng
go past Many of the persons knew
her and would wave flags at her and
call out CHEEKY messages.
Towards noon her mother came to
the porch and told her she must go
in and lie down for half an hour or
so, as the doctor had said she would
recover more quickly If she did not
overtax her strength by sitting up too !
and was soon mapping quietly in her
own pretty cool room upstairs.
Hardly had Martha left the porch
when a great touring car came into
sight. It was coming from town, and
carried seven persons. When 1t
'eached the road in front of the
Downs gate it slowed down, then
came to a stop. A man., who was
irving the automobile, got out and
came to the door. Mrs. Downs saw
lim coming in at the gate and has
,ened to the door before he could
knock. She feared any such noise
might disturb Martha.
II wish to make some inquiry" the
man said. living and smiling pleas
antly at Mrs. Brown. SIS there a nice
grove near here where my little party
may have a picnic? We want quiet
place where we may celebrate the
lay in our own way without the pres.
ence of Others
There's fine grove just three
niles down the river" informed Mrs.
Downs. But about hundred peo-
pie will be gathered there today. All
The farmers in this end of the county
there on each Fourth.
We'd be there-my own family, II
1t not that my little girl |
has been quite Ill, and the excitement
Of the crowd would be harmful to
her. So we are stopping at home"
"Ah, that's too bad" said the man
in sympathetic tones. "The little folk
do love the Fourth of July. It's for
my own little son that I'm out today. /
have him and four Of his best |
boys and two girls-in |
he auto, and am hunting a quiet |
place for them to have q picnic. My !
Ia o. 3y,c
! little family party. Like your little |
one, my boy has been Ill, and while
ne is almost entirely well again, his
mother feared for him to 60 among |
he Fourth Of July crowds today.
That caused us to arrange this little
party of our own"
While the gentleman was speaking |
IN idea came to Mrs. Downs. At first
she hesitated about divulging it to the !
gentleman, but when he said his own |
son was just recovering from recent
Illness she made bold to speak out:
II might suggest something, she |
said, with smile and bit Of blush |
n her cheeks. my husband and I
nave arranged to have a little picnic !
Inner, under those big trees there, |
'or our little girl. She'll be alone, !
lnless some other children happen in |
20 share the pleasure with ser. Now
Il you cared to stop"
The gentleman's face frightened.
"A capital idea," he declared. my
wife will approve Of it, too, for she
Just said as we drew up to your house |
that those fine old trees in your yard
would furnish splendid picnic |
ground shall take pleasure In car
rying your invitation to the party In |!
he auto"
ooh. II only they will care to stop |
1ere!" Mrs. Downs clasped her hands
n evident Joy over the thought. my
title girl will be the happiest in the
this unexpected picnic !
party"
mo happier than my little brood,
IAN assure you" smiled the stranger.
Our name is Kingdom"
"And ours is Downs
"And now I shall go and fetch my |
party" said Mr.. Kingdom.
~ 49, 1