Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-18
Uncle NEEDS
Museum

For days joel Denman had looked
forward to Uncle Ned's taking him to
the city for the opening Of the new
Harrington Museum. And now, the
day before they were going, notice
had been received Of a postponement
OF the opening for one week.
"I-I wouldn't care SO much, SAID
Joel, disappointedly, "about not going
tomorrow; but now can't 60 at all
not with Uncle Ned, for his visit
ends Wednesday. and so he won't be
here, when the museums opened. to
take me. And Uncle Ned's the best
guide fellow ever had. He knows
everything about natural history"
"But some one can go with you,
JOEL" suggested Mrs. Denman. IT
won't/be as though you couldn't 60"
81 know" replied Joel, but that
won't be Uncle Ned"
whats that?" and Uncle Ned
pushed open the dining room door.
ri was Just telling how disappoint-
ed am, Uncle Ned, that we can't go
to Paxton, and see all the things yon
PROMISED to show me in the new
lauseum," said Joel, dolefully.
ut ia too bad" and Uncle Ned
looked thoughtful But" after mte
ments reflection, I'LL tell you what
Wen do"
go somewhere" was Joel's eager
question. ITO Paxton?
aNo-o, not there smiled Uncle
Ned, Lets visit our own museum TO-
morrowl We've a splendid one, which
I don't believe you ever thoroughly
went through"
"A museum, .ours?" exclaimed Joel.
incredulously. I'll didn't know De-
fore that we had museum"
1--WE certainly have" insisted uncle
Ned, mysteriously, zone of the nnest
in the world"
"That's something never knew pc
fore" unused Joel, as he went to the
barn for some eggs "A museum on
our own farm! 1t doesn't seem pos
sible! But, Of course, there is If Uncle
Ned says so. He wouldn't say 1t II
there wasn't"
early after breakfast, the next
morning, Uncle Ned came downstairs
with a small butterfly net, some TIN
boxes, and several other things that
Joel had never seen before.
"Where are we going f1rst! asked
Joel. and he waited curiously Tor
Uncle Ned's reply.
e1,e4 me see. it hardly makes any
difference" quickly.
"But aren't we going to the
nuseum?"
aCertainly, but that's all around us
everywhere"
~But you said
."Snppose we begin here" Inter
11pted Joers uncle, and he set down
the things he carried in his hands,
and began to inspect closely an ant
hin. "How many legs has an ant
JoeI?'
aI-I don't know" replied the boy.
$50 there ia one thing in our mu-
scum that you haven't examined!
and Uncle Ned drew from one OF his
pockets microscope
Then Uncle Ned explained a dozen
things about the busy III.
tie insects, many Of which Joel could
have found out for himself, had he
known 1t to be possible.
envy! I didn't think just q common
ant-hill could be 80 Interestingly! ex'
claimed Joel, in surprised oehsht'
after they had finished their inspec-
ton. eve could stay here all day.
and still there would be more to
learn. begin to like our museum.
Uncle Ned, it's great! Better. I be-
lieye, than the one at Paxton.
ut certainly Is larger" declared
Uncle Ned, ''and the beauty Of It 1s
that we can 60 to it any day we
wish"
"And not have to pay any admis-
sion, either" added Joel, enthusi-
ast!cally..
II guess we'd better go into the
bird department now" decided Uncle
Ned. h,>,.
And there they remained till din
uer time, counting the different kinds
Of birds that summered In the Tc1n1ty
Of the Denman home, and Distinguish
Ing each ones particular note.
seemed to Joel that he had never
passed 50 delightful a forenoon.
"And we haven't begun to get
through our museum" said Uncle Ned
TT will take oil summer to see all
the curious things in 1t, and then one
couldn't get through.
mo and that's what I'm glad o.
announced joel, happily. I'll nave
a place to go whenever l want TO see
interesting. 1t was awtuliy
good Of you. Uncle Ned. to take me to-
our museum. If you hadn't, don't
believe I'd ever know we mad one. ana
such big one, too"
Little Hunts Finds a Blue