Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-25

have another friend among them. Oh
l am glad I asked about hat<quicksil
ver" and Ethel settled down on foot
stool at her mothers feet.
This is the story Mrs. Brown told
Ethel:
I'm the days when the earth was
young, little baby lay alone in It's
cradle in beautiful cave In noun
tain side. This baby was Mercury.
His mother had left him because some
one had called her away for moment,
but for some reason she stayed an
hour.
"As soon as she had gone, this wee
baby turned over, lifted his head, and
seeing the door of the cave ajar, put
out his hand Touching the sides of
the cradle, he sprang out like boy
ten years old. Slipping through the
doorway, Mercury ran quickly down to
the river near his home. A river tor
toise was in his way. His tiny toes
tripped over it and he fell. Vexed to
be stopped by such slow, clumsy
creature. Mercury dashed 1t on rock
and killed it Then he threw it into
the river and watched the fish feed on
it's flesh. 1t seemed but minute be-
fore the empty shell drifted to his feet
Mercury picked it up and felt sorry
for what he had done.
"'1 will make this shell live farever,'
he said. 4 do not mean to be cruel
to earth's creatures
Quick as thought he bored nine
holes in each side, and taking the lac
ings from his tiny sandals, he split
them and str ing them into the holes
in the shell.
Drawing his little hand across the
strings, there came the sweetest
sounds, and the first harp on earth
was made. He was so pleased that
he hid it under his white dress until
he came to some thick reeds by, the
river, and there he laid it safely away.
Running swiftly homeward, he
came softly through the narrow open
ing, back into his own room, and,
creeping into his cradle, he cuddled
down and went to sleep"
why, mother, he was so little!
Only a baby; how could he?"
"The old myth says he was only
three days old when he did this, but
this is like fairy story,
and Mercury was the son of the great
Jupiter. But let me tell you the rest.
When his mother came back, she was
frightened to think he had been alone
an hour, but he was sleeping so sweet
ly when she looked at him that she
felt he had not been harmed. The
mother never dreamed when she saw
the open sandals that he had been
away"
"But the harp, mother; didn't she
ever find that?'
mo YOU know the little rogue had
hidden the harp in the reeds by the
river. Another day he ran away and
got into worse trouble than he expect
ed, for he dared to steal some Of
Apollos cattle. They were beautiful
creatures, feeding in the
violet meadows OF the sky. AS he
saw them drifting slowly toward him,
the mischief in him made him drive
these gentle creatures into the sea,
and, being tired and hungry, he tore
the last one to pieces and fed on 1t. ,.
{ Though this mischief-maker walked
backward to his home, trying to de-
ceive any who would hunt for him,
Apollo found him out. When the sun
god saw him lying there, a helpless
baby In cradle, Mercury almost made
him think that he had not done the
wrong. But at last even Mercury's
mother believed him guilty, for the
proofs brought were many, and Apollo
came to take him away. Then the littel
wind-god took from under his cradle
cloths the harp which he had hidden
there, and breathed upon 1t. Apollo
was charmed by the melody and could
only say:
"'Give me that, and I will not ask
for my stolen cattle
THAT was just what Mercury
wished. He quickly handed him the
tortoise she'll In Apollo's hands 1t
made still sweeter music, for every
thing Apollo did was best.
80 nimble Mercury was free. When
The child was faw months older, Apol-
[c choose him for his messenger. He
gave him a cap with wings at either
side. and winged sandals. In his
hands he always carried a winged
wand with two serpents crossed and re-
crossed upon it. You have surely
seen his picture, Ethel?"
"Oh,yes Down at the art store
here is little statue OF him. can
remember this story always"