Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08

they couldn't, it blew so hard; SO they
scattered this way and that way, and.
when the children looked, every one OF
the tiny white seeds were gone all
sailing on the summer breeze straight
toward the wood.
"Hurrah." shouted Margaret, II
three, co."
Away the little girls started down
the lane toward the big woods. How
cool and shady they were as they en-
tered them. and what tall trees! The
tops of some Of them could hardly be
seen. There we're graceful white
birches, green naples Cwhere our
sugar comes from, you know said
Nary, and pines, spruces, and clumps
of trees just like Christmas-trees.
They could hear the crows cawing.
and a phoebe's plaintive call in the
distance The pine-needles made SOFT
carpet for their feet. scarlet berries
clustered under the ferns a striped
chipmunk watched them with his
bright eyes, and red squirrel ran
chattering along the branch OF an oak.
They gathered acorns. and Mollie
showed them how to make chains or
pine-needles.
AS they went on, the path grew mar
rover and more twisted, shrubs and
bushes sprang up in their way, ana
rocks projected out of the ground. IL
began to grow darker, too; for they
had stopped to play so often and look
at so many things that the afternoon
was almost gone.
Lets not go any further said
Mary.
ooh, bark! l can hear a brook
gurgling. I'm sure there's waterfall
ahead" said Margaret. ''1f we go on,
perhaps we can find a drink. Hurry
up!" y.
"rm sure I would like a drink"
tired Mollie chimed In. I'm thirsty
and hungry, too I just wish we were
at the farm house playing house with
cookies and cambria tea in our dolls
dishes!"
"You foolish children" Margaret
exclaimed. "You act like babies. Come
on. do"
So the little girls went on, parting
the branches Of the trees that hung
over the path, stumbling over the
rocks, and ducking their heads TO
escape the masses of leaves. they
heard an owl boot before long, and
then a whip-poor-will began his even
ing song.
~ shall not go another STEP" cried
Mollie, as a sharp twig flew in her race
from a parted Dough.
'sNor I either" said Mary. 81 will
stay with you, Mollie dear, for we can
never find the way home" and the
two children sank to the ground, with
their arms around each other.
"Fraid cats!" declared Margaret
"Well, stay II you want to: I'm going
to find the brook
So saying, she pushed on, carefuliy
picking her way, and AFTER whlle'
creeping on her hands and knees, she
drew near an expanse Of cedar-trees,
their branches sweeping the ground.
Lifting them, she passed under, and to
her surprise found herself in small
mossy dell, surrounded by a fringe of
the trees in the midst OF which was
pool Of water. Tiny lights sparkled in
every direction, and, on tiptoe1ng up
to them, she found they were fiiretlles
circling about, each one IN his own
orbit. Under each light sat little
fiddle, and on smooth level spot
danced the queerest little creatures
in bright colored dresses! AS Mar
saret gazed in establishment, she saw
that they were torn and frayed at the
edges and were shaped like flower
petals.
There could be no doubt that they
were flower ADMINISTRATIONS, lark
spur, marigolds, feverfew-prec1sely
like the flowers she had been playing
with that afternoon and had tossed
aside,-all taking hold Of hands and
dancing happily in spite OF their frayed
gowns. Then she saw. moving on the
pool OF water, some opened peapods,
and in them were little creatures with
round heads precisely like peas. They
were bobbing them up and down, row.
ing the pod boats with blades Of grass
with all their might, and they were
coming straight towards her. Each
one had something white in his lap:
and. when they reached the bank OF
the pool, they fastened their boats to
pebbles and came trooping up the path
right towards her. firing the white
fluffy balls in their hands at her.
ooh, help! help" she screamed.
Mary, Mollie, comet
Her cries brought the children. VINO
brayely hurried to the aid of their
friend They were astonished at the
sight which met their eyes as they
crept under the charlottesville
bright spots Of light, the music. the
dancing flower FAIRIES. and the white
balls flying through the air.
Suddenly there was hush as a
faded rose fairy advanced toward the
stump of tree. and. followed by six
white daisies, each with missing petals
climbed to the top and sat down upon
a throne of yellow glfstening quartz,
waving a wand of goldenrod tip.
CRYING in a sweet voice, "Silence! At
tent n ALL"
Instantly the grasshoppers ceased
plaving. the flower fairies arranged
themselves in circle around the
stump, and the pea manikin's drew
themselves up in lines on each side OF
her. bobbing their heads in such
funny way that the children could but
smile. -,
This is great OCCASION" began the
No. o,,.a, in q ctato1v Way "Our