Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-20

i To them it seems this little fish
i Caught by an anglers snare
1 Is soaring in small balloon
Up through the open air.
WHAT THE BROWNS
| DID FOR THEIR
MOTHER
The Browns lived in pretty coun
try twon. There were SIX IN tn
family-the two parents; Billy, eldes
child, aged 16; Madge. eldest daughter
aged IA; Lily, second daugh
ter, aged II. and Babe, aged eight. 4
lovely family, as you will agree Will
me after you have read this story.
It was during the fine month O.
May that Mrs. Brown was called cas-
| to see her aged mother. The dear ole
grandmother was quite Ill, and wher
the letter came, asking her daughter
Mrs. Fanny Brown. to come to her, the
Family Brown sat down to talk II
over.
How can we afford it," asked
anxious Mamma Brown, her own deal
mothers letter lying open on the table
before her. Mother needs me, I'm
sure; at least, the dear old soul wishes
to see me. Sister Grace IL with her to
give her every attention. But-moth'
er's like all mothers, wants to see each
of her children, when she's ILL.,"
Eyes, Fanny, you must go to her
So spoke Mr.. Brown. II know I'm q
bit hard-pressed for money just now.
It's the season when I have to carry
the farmers over till the crops are In.
But Wen have to arrange some way
for you to CO." (Mr. Brown was q
country merchant, and was always
close-run for money till the farmers
to whom he sold all sorts Of merchan
disc, shoes, boots, hardware, etc.-har
vested their crops. And his bills came
due every thirty days, thus calling out
all the ready money he had in the
bank.)
Say, mamma, you may have my five
dollars" said Madge. Il can wait fol
my summer hat little longer. My
spring sailor is so pretty and becom'
ing, that-wirh an additional quill at
the side-w1ll look quite dressy
enough for most occasions. So. take
my five, please"
ooh, thank you, DEAR" said Mrs
Brown. Guess III have to accept
your offer, daughter. But don't
like to make you wait for your sum
mer hat. You wanted 1t for the Sun
day school picnic next week"
"And might get it spoiled, did
have It," declared Madge. 80, It's
as we'll for me to wait till In June"
well, momsey, I've got about ~
said William, always known as Billy
II don't keep my cash like Madge
does hers. I spent all my allowance
last month and have only about two
bones left out OF this months. But
I'll be mighty glad to let you have
that, Momsey."
"0h, take my allowance, too, ma
mma." This from Lily. "I1l do al
Madge does about summer hat
Just wait till in June"
What, children!" And Mrs. Brown
looked the love she felt for each o.
her unselflsh brood. BLESS you
dear, little 'uns."
"An'. mamma, take this" Ant
Babe took from q little playable II
the corner of the living room her toy
bank. She shook 1t up and down. "1t't
got three dimes, four nickles an lots
an lots Of pennies in 1t. Here, nam
ma, darlin', take 1t, please. (Babe
was not yet old enough to be put on al
lowance, as were Billy, Madge ant
Lily.)
y guess my children-God bless
them!-will see that get whatever
want" said Mrs. Brown, smiling
through her tears. Let's see-the
fare to mothers Is SIT. Madge,. Lily
and Billy offer me $12 of it. That's
big help, isn't it, papa?"
Indeed it Isl" agreed Mr.. Brown
"And I'll rake together the money fol
you to come home on. And you'll
have to have some new things, won't
you-a hat and gloves, and such?
mo, dear; I'm pretty we'll equipped
so far as clothes are concerned. So
I'll get on without spending any money
for new things. My first anxiety is FOL
mother, and the second for you and
the children during my absence"
Then everybody got busy helping
Mrs. Brown to get off for her visit to
the east. She left on the next morn
ing's train But before going she had
said to Billy and Madge: THE spring
housekeeping must wait now, indefi
nitely. You know, had Mr.. Ja-kson
order full line Of lovely paper for the
dining room the spare bedroom and
the parlor. But I could not possibly
think of asking papa to have the paper
hangers and the painter to come to do
| the work when every dollar counts in
| his business till midsummer"
Then Mrs. Brown had gone, and the
Brown home seemed very, very lonely
without her. She was such home
body-always there when the children
came from school and when her hus
band came from his store. The motto
of what is home without a Mother:
might well have been hung in every
aroom of the Browns house and an