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

scheme"
good-naturedly. us it something Il
which may be OF service?"
Sure" said Billy. II always lool
to you to help me-when Mamma
away. It's regarding the house
cleaning. As came past Jackson
store this evening he called out t,
tell me that the wall paper Mamma ha,
ordered had arrived. Now, can't W
devise some way by which we ma.
have the papering done during
Mammals absence? I can do the paint
ing myself. I helped to do all tn
painting and granting OF Papa's stor'
last year. And the main painter sait
my work was as good as his own. So
I'll go at tho woodwork. sandpaper 1
of and paint 1t. Mamma has told you
Of course, what color she wants in thu
different roms."
EYES," said Madge. "She and
planned the decorating together. Oul
color scheme Is written down II
Mammals notebook. But-as for hav
ing the papering done-I can't see how
we can manage that. Bubby. Wish W.
might, though"
1--WE got scheme" said Billy. "And
here 1t Is. You know Mr.. Franklyn-
the papcrhanger-has an invalid daugh
ter. The doctors say her lungs. Well
Mr.. Franklin has been hiring livery
rig each day for his daughter to &c
riding in the open air. Her mother
usually accompanies her, but being
afraid of horses, especially of hired
horses, sheacannot do the driving. So
q paid diver from the stable goes
along to handle the reins."
II still fail to see your scheme
laughed Madge. What can the poor
sick girl and the hired driver have to
do with paying q paperhanger for his
work?"
I never thought you obtuse," Sis,
grinned billy But you don't seem to
see through an open window tonight.
Maybe it's my own stupidity, however.
So I'll be palmer. Here it is in primer
letters; I'll take our horse and phaeton
to Mrs. FRANKLIN and offer them for
her use. She can drive old Peggy, for
babe could do that"
II now smell a mouse" smiled
Madge. "And the price they pay for
use of horse and phaeton might ap-
ply on the work of paperlng our
house? Am right?"
Never Fighter declared Billy.
"And the Franklyns will make by the
bargain, for they'll not need the paid
driver. Beside, it'll afford the sick
girl more pleasure to swing along in
our low basket phaeton, berind per-
fectly safe horse, than to go in a
rickety old livery buggy with q
strange man stuck In to hold the
reins."
Madge clapped her hands. "Oh,
that's fine, Bubby! Good for you! Well
get the house all done while mammals
away and spare her the work. I'll see
to everything mornings and evenings
when out Of school. And all day on
Saturday. Well get through finely,
I know. Mary is good domestic, too,
and will carry out any order may
give her."
so far, so good" said Billy. And
tomorrow morning bright and early
I'll hitch up old Peggy to the phaeton,
drive to the Franklyns and strike a
bargain"
And Billy was as good as his word,
and that forenoon friends Of the
Franklyns were pleased to see Bessie
Franklyn. very Ill girl, taking the air
in a comfortable phaeton, with only
her mother beside her holding the lines
for not even the most timid person
would be afraid to drive good old
Peggy.
Two weeks later wire came from
Mrs. Brown saying she was enroute
to her home. The family gathered at
the depot to meet her on her arrival.
Then as happy as they could me they
hurried home. Mrs. Brown brought
the good news Of her aged mothers
complete recovery, and that added
to the good cheer Of the reunion OF
mother and family.
But all were waiting till the mother
should enter the house. And when at
last they were assembled in the light
ed parlor, Mrs. Brown looked about
her in dazed sort of way. why, my
dears, this is-is-Fairyland! HOW d1o
you have the decorating done? Bless
me, everything is as had planned IT
before went east"
."Oh, mamma, 1t was Billy and
Madge," cried Lily. "All DID was 10
help brother sandpaper the woodwork
of evenings-befoer he painted II"
can carried the paint buckets
about for him." cried Babe. "Once
failed and split myself In the paint.
But Bubby didn't scold me- He said:
Accidents will happen in the bes' reg
ulated family specially when the
mamma's away'"
After everyone had stopped laugh
ing at Babe, Mrs. Brown said:
"But l want to know how 1t was all
managed. Can you tell me, papa?
1.-THE children we're the instigators,
laughed Mr.. Brown. Let them con-
fess."
well, brother did the paintings
Lily and Babe have explained In their
own way. And-old Peggy and the
phaeton did the papering. So there
you are, mamma" laughed Madge.
"Such children as have!" declared
Mrs. Brown. "Why, believe they
could move mountains-if 1t were to
help their parents in some way to
have the mountains moved"
'sNot without the assistance Of Peg.