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

common part OF the COWH, place
where congregated sailors. fishermen
armourers, smiths and workingme1
Of all kinds. Canni Fretti was the
name of the barber, and his wife
! was Meme. Their one child was named
Toney. He was ten years of age at the
beginning of this story.
One day little Toney sat looking out
across the blue waters of the bay
which Tapped the very edge of the
street on which his fathers shop stood
And Canni, observing the wistful look
| in his sons eyes, asked: what would
you like, son? You seem unhappy"
Eyes, father, am unhappy. There
are the three princes-the kings sons
who have everything their hearts
crave. And the best of tutors are
employed to give them learning. But
they say the princes will not apply
themselves and do not care for study
Now I should love to have an oppOr
tunity to learn all that is contained
in the great books that one sees In
the book shops"
Canni's face became grave. He
loved his son very dearly and would
have loved to give the child advan'
tages of education, but his means
would not allow. Books were very
expensive in those days, and a tutor
would ask as much money to instruct
little Toney as the poor barber earn
ed So an education for his son
seemed out of the question.
II had meant to make you a bar
ber-like myself" exclaimed Cannt.
"But you do not seem to care to fol-
low my poor trade. Well, l would
love to see you gentleman, son. But
how can I afford to make you one?
"Ah, father, do not think that 1
despise your trade" cried tender
hearted little Toney. ut is not that,
father, dear. Neither do I wish to
become a gentleman-to spend my
days in hunting and pleasures. 1
wish to become great scholar, IA
Their"
Then gentleman of quality en-
tered Canni's shop to have his fine
beard curled and his hair trimmed
at the ends. (Men wore long hair
and full boards in those days.) Cann1
bowed low to the gentleman and pre-
pared the chair for him. Then, the
gentleman, seeing Toney sitting be-
side the door, said to Canni: "Your
little son, my good Canni?' Where
upon Canni proudly said that Toney
was his only child. And to Toney's
embarrassment the proud father re-
peated all that Toney had said about
wishing for an education.
"Ah, I see. The little one wishes
to become a scholar" And the gen.
tleman smiled indulgently on Toney.
'3Well,' he said. again addressing
Canni, what shall do for your son,
my good fellow? have as fine a
library Of books as is to be found
in the kingdom. Shall allow your
son the privilege Of the library? Can
he read?"
Canni shook his head, whereupon
Toney sprang to his feet. Eyes. IA
Their, can read. Uncle Jacobi
taught me how to know the letters
and to pronounce the words they
spell. Yes, I can read quite we'll"
"Ah, and I never knew your good
old uncle was teaching you to read
declared Canni with surprise. But he
also showed pleasure. Then he turn
ed to his patron. "If you will be SC
NCIy 6OOu do ~ cA1OW A1y OWL ASASJ
to read from the books in your II
brary, shall be your debtor for life
And you shall pay me nothing when
you come to my shop"
"Nay, nay, Canni, my good fellow.
said the gentleman, putting up his
hand, 81 shall pay you in the future
as have in the past, and shall moi
consider you indebted to me because
your son reads in my library. 1t will
be good for the volumes, for they
need airing"
Then the gentleman paid Canni ant
arose to go. At the door he gave
Toney a button which he had fell
lying loose in his pocket. "It's a sill
yer button with gold-mounting," HI
explained. "It came off one of my sill
waistcoats, and dropped it into tht:
pocket. Just by chance found i
there in reaching for coin for YOU
father. I shall tell the servant II
charge of my door to admit the little
boy who presents to him a butto1
bearing my coat of arms. All my
servants know the peculiar design o
my buttons. So If you keep this buttol
carefully put away. and use 1t onl!
when asking admittance to my palace
it will stand you in good stead:
The following day Meme, Toney''
pretty little mother, dressed Toney II
his best Sunday clothes and let hin
sally forth to the palace of the noble
who had promised him such riches
in the way of reading. At the doc
of the palace Toney was admitted
when he took from his pockfet tn
button and showed it to the seryan
in charge.
Then Toney was conducted alonl
splendid hall to the library which
opened to Toney the greatest hope
and possibilities. 1t was lined ant
lined with splendid books.
All that week did Toney read from
the books in the great library AM
each night he went home to tell MI
mother wonderful things. He wa
learning all about the stars, the moon
the sun. He also head much philos
ophy, which he understood we'll for
boy of his years. The world was re
vealing her great secrets to him. H
was happy. :.
One evening as he han homeward
from the mobiles palace, he fell II
with a sailor who often came to hi
e. ..h1,, T0h1 sailor cnN1zn n3Cn1,