Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-28
I'd gather nuts,

make any bother I'd gather nuts
| too.''
II don't think you're big enough
Kitty, to go on such firing jaunts
You see, you're such little mite
and couldn't walk as fast nor as fal
as the rest of us. guess you'd bet
ter wait till next year. Then you'll
be ever SO big and strong and can e
with u.s."
| But Lily and Fanny Jackson are
going" urged Kitty. please, brother
take me along"
"But, Kiddie, Lily Jackson is four
teen and Fanny is twelve. You are
a tot, only seven. See? Just be 8
patient little sis and you'll grow big
ger. Then you may go nutting will
!us."
But. brother" urged Kitty eagerly
would you take me If mamma
had said might go?"
! "Sure, wee one,' laughed Harry
putting on his cap. "But mamma die
not say it. BY the way, where lis
! mammal"
"She went across the street to Mrs
Thomas She'll be home in minute
Tell her good bye for me-" cried
Harry, rushing out Of the house IN
answer to Willis urgent call to hurry.
Kittie stood in deep thought for q
few seconds Then she ran across
the street to the neighbours house. As
she stepped upon the front porch her
mother came out. laughing and chat
ting with Mrs. Thomas, who came to
the porch with her.
"Oh mamma, may 60 with Harry
and Will to the woods. nutting? Mrs.
Bates is going to go with the party,
and they have wagon
Mrs. Granger smiled at her excited
little daughter. why, yes, dearie,
you may go if the boys want you.
But you must not get out of the
wagon, darling, for you'd get your
face and hands all scratched in the
brush and dead twigs. Let the boys
gather the nuts and You just ride
along. Now, dearie. I'm going on
down town to do little shopping.
Tell Harry and Will that mamma says
they must take good care Of you
If they take you with them And
also say that they must not stay too
late I shall look for them before
bedtime"
Then Kitty gave her mother the
messages from Will and Harry, add
ing: Goodbye, mamma, I'll have
to run fast for the boys are in such
a hurry and may get away from me-"
Mrs. Granger kissed Kitty goodbye,
told her to carry her warm jacket
and mittens and to remain in the
wagon while in the woods. Then she
went OFF down the street while Kitty
ran with all speed to her own room,
and ran out again. She looked in
the direction her brothers had gone,
but could see nothing of them. Doubt
less they We're just round the corner
Of the block. Anyway. Kitty knew
they were to go to Mrs. Bates home
first, where they would get into the
wagon. From there they would drive
to the mill, half mile from town
and would be joined by Jim James
and Chal Turner.
: She flew across lots to the big
road leading towards the mill, and
made the dust rise in little clouds
as she battered along. She carried
her jacket and mittens as the day
was too warm for her to wear them
with comfort.
Once or twice she glanced back,
hoping to see the wagon, with all
aboard coming behind her. But she
had no such good luck. However she
felt quite sure that she would reach
the mill in good time to meet her
brothers. who would be very much
on beholding her there, all
ready to join them on the nutting
expedition.
well, mamma said I might co.
she kept saying to herself "And
Harry and Will won't mind-so long
as mamma said yes"
Before the mill was reached, how.
ever, Kitty became very tired and a
bit uneasy. Suppost the wagon should
have taken another road to the mill
OF course, there was more than one
road from town to that place. She
had not thought Of that before. And
horses Travelled very much faster than
little girls do. Kitty hurried her feet,
running down a hill as fast as she
could go. On the other side of an
other hill flowed the great deep river.
and on it's banks stood the mill. Kitty
crossed the last hill, ran round the
corner of a high hedge and brought
up in front Of the mill. But no wagon
was there, and neither were Jim and
Chal to be seen waiting.
Kitty went timidly to man who
was all white with flour anud asked
him if Jim ard Chal had come yet.
The miller looked down into Kitty's
face with some surprise. well.
you're little tot to be running round
by yourself, aren't you? Chal and
Jim?-Yes, they were here awhile
ago, but party in a wagon came
along and picked them up. They
said they We're going nutting over in
the big woods
How long they been gomez" Kitty
asked the question with beating heart.
Maybe she could overtake them
"Oh, just a few minutes. Why,
they're just on the other side the river
by now. Guess you might see 'em
II you ran across the bridge. Was
you to go with 'em, little one?'
eyes, sir" replied Kitty. But she
didn't stop to explain who she was,
opd fho ,ri11or ctood 1nol,;n~ ~,