Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-14
Douds-Leando, Iowa.
1.-THE HAPPIEsT EVENT OF NY
LIFE IN 1e10."-VIDA WHALE.

It was on Thursday, during the
Christmas vacation, that went over
to my Aunt BRIDES home in South
Ottumwa. Mother and sisters went
also. We we're on the car just a
minute when it stopped to take some
passengers on. Imagine our surprise
when we saw, Aunt Birdie, get on the
car. We helped her carry her bundles
when we got off of the car. hurried
on ahead anG. when arrived at my
cousins house she, was very mucn
surprised to see me, and wanted 10
know where the rest of the folks were
but before 1 had time to answer, they
arrived. I was there Just little
while when the door bell rang. Aunt
Birdie went to the door and who do
YOU think it was. 1t was Uncle Chris.
NV older sister had told him where
I was, and he had brought the buggy
over and wanted me to go home with
him. Mother hated to let such good
opportunity slip by. so she finally con.
scented. She bundled me up good and
warm and cautioned me about going
out of doors for fear would take cold.
Uncle Chris let me drive all the way
out. Aunt Esther was very glad to see
me. Uncle Chris's little niece, Varla
was there. She is twelve years old.
The folks kept calling Verla, Vida, and
me, Verla. They do sound pretty much
alike. Verla and her grandma went
over to Uncle Johns to spend. the day
so l didn't get acquainted with her.
When evening came, Verla came
back and then we got acquainted.
After supper we played several games,
played the piano and sang. Before we
knew it, it was time to go to bed.
The next day, in the afternoon we
went over to the mine, where one OF
the girls keep books. We drew pictures
on some tof the states, which they had
over at the mine. Uncle Chris came
over in the latter part of the afternoon
and he asked Verla and If we wanted
to 20 in the mine. OF course we wan
ted to, so we went with him. The
name Of the mine is the "Star Coal
Mine" We walked on the tracks,
which the cars go on.
We saw the big machinery which
makes the cars down in the mine, come
up and the furnace which makes the
water boil. asked Uncle Chris ii we
could go into the mine, that is, the big
tunnel. He said that we would get our
clothes all dirty and dusty but one OF
the men opened the door and we went
inside. We couldn't see anything but
utter darkness, but pretty soon | saw
dim light away back "The car is
coming" cried, but was mistaken,
for it was just one of the men coming
up, and it was the little lamp, which
was attached to the mans cap which
| I saw. We went outside pretty soon,
for Uncle Chris said that the air would
blow, the mems lamps out. We heard
bell ring, or rather one of the men
just pressed BUTTON, and then we
thought that the cars would come up.
The men in the mine signalled back
that the cars could not come up to-
night. Part of the roof had fallen in,
so we missed seing the cars come up.
One of the men showed us way they
signalled so that the men in the mine
who were about half mile away, could
hear. He took file and rubbed it
back and forth across an electric wire
Little sparks of fire few out when the
file touched the wire.
The next day was Saturday and
Verla and helped, and l suspect
hindered Aunt Esther more than. we
helped her After dinner Uncle Chris
said that he was going down to the
store to get some groceries for Aunt
Esther and we wanted to go too. He
said yes so we hurried through the
dishes. He was ready long before we
we're, but he waited for us. He let me
drive down and Verla drove back. We
got back earlier than we expected to,
but Verfa and read awhile. One of
the girls was going over town, SO
went with her. Although had had a
splendid time, and wished that the
days had been prolonged, yet l was
glad to get home again to see mother.
think that taking my visit al
together it could be classed as an
event.
Your loving Junior,
... Vida Wahle, age 10,
HOE. Court st, Ottumwa, Iowa,