Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-23

expenses dI preparatory SSHooA
when he should arrive at the age to
attend And as that age was not far
off Watson was exerting nerve to get
the necessary sum. He had a small
bank account, and it was drawing in
terest. This made Watson feel en-
Outraged. His father helped him all
that he was able, but his small bust
ness did not allow of his doing much
for his son other than giving him a
good home and an abundance of love.
Soon after the Greys had moved
into the little cottage at the edge of
the village, and found themselves
neighbours to the richest man in all
that part of the world-"Old Grumps"
Brown, they tried being neighborly.
Mrs. Grey was good-hearted, kindly
soul and went to pay young Mrs.
Perry Brown visit. While the lat.
ter was cordial, and seemed to enjoy
the formers call, she did not come to
pay her respects at the Grey cottage,
and time went on without a contin-
uance OF social intercourse. But Mrs.
Grey did not mind. IF they don't
want to be friendly" she said, Il can't
help 1t. But we'll always do our part. :
+ One day in the early spring, Wat.
son convinced the idea of making a
large garden. The land attached to
the cottage in which he lived land
which his father rented) was too con-
fined to allow of more than few small
vegetables and flowers. And Watson
wished to garden on big scale. He
knew there was good market IN the
city twenty miles distant for his pro.
duce, and that good prices were paid
for good vegetables. So he talked the
matter over with his parents and they
approved 1t. But where should ne
find the land? That was the question.
After some thought tbver the problem
of land, Watson hiH upon this. He
would go to "Old Gfumps" Brown and
ask the privilege Of renting an acre or
two of some old wheat land which was
lying fallow. AS he could not AFFORD
to offer moneyfrental he would make
an offer of certain amount OF the
produce raised on the land.
tits a good scheme. son." declared
Mr.. Grey. "The Browns haven't a
garden of their own and depend on
the village market, which is pretty
poor except on Saturdays when the
farmers come in with some garden
truck. I'll venture to say that Ola
Mr.. Brown (the Greys never calleo
their rich neighbor "Old Grumps
will be glad to let you have the small
piece of land in order to get 1resn
vegetables for his own table"
r. So it had been decided that Watson
should go and beard the lion In MS
den" He went, and the result was
that he came out with bit of hard
ness in his heart. 1t was the first
time in his life that he had been
treated so harshly. On entering the
presence of "Old Grumps" Watson
had smiled in his sunny way and
bowed respectfully. eve come to see
about renting a garden spot from
YOU. Mr.. Brown" he began. But ne
went no further. "Old Grumps'' slowly
arose. waved his long bony hand for
silence and said in a grating voice:
az never have business dealings with
Youngsters. What do they know about
business? They haven't q thimbletul
Of brains and are as lazy as nlggers.
None. my young Teller, you can't
graft me for an inch of my land. Ia
sooner let it lay idle than have PACK
of Young rascallions playing round
over it-pretending to make garden
There'd be patch of weeds, a whole
herd Of good-for.nothing kids round
the place all the while and no pront
So you'd best look elsewhere lot your
land, young feler."
"All right, Mr.. Brown" replied
Watson, his face brilliant RED. II
hurt him to have this aged and crap
bed man misunderstood his 1nten
tons, which were only for the gooo
of both landlord and tenant. But I'm
sorry. sir, that you would not listen
to my proposition. I'm quite sure
you'd have entertained it,
"Nope. not word Of it," replied
the old man. Then he waved Watson
from the room and the pretty-faced
sweet-mannered young Mrs. Perry
Brown let him out at the front door
She stopped on the porch to chat 9
hit with Watson, asking about his
mothers health and other friendly
questions. Just at the moment, she
glanced about the yard and said
"Why. where'd little Sally go? she
went out into the yard to play just
ten minutes ago and instructed hel
not to go outside the gate. The mer
with the big wagon must have gone
out and left the gate open. Sally never
could have opened it herself" :,
II found it open when ! entered,
explained Watson, "and I left 1t as
found it-supposing you wished It SO
But 1 did not see your little girl II
the yard. Neither did ! see her II
the road
Mrs. Brown became anxious ant
ran out into the big fenced yard ant
began calling loudly to her little
daughter But no answer in childish
voice came back. Soon the entire
household was astir, aiding in tn
search. There were two house ser
wants and several farm hands. be
sides Mr.. Perry, Mrs. Perry and "Olt
Grumps." When the latter saw Wat
son still about the place he frownet
and said in cross way:
IT gave you my answer some tel
minutes ago, young Teller. What'r'
YOU still hanging around for?"
Again Watson blushed. The IN
sulting manner of the old man hur
him. II wanted to know that the
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