Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-12
A1n1a's Picnic

Alma had never been on picnic
picnics not being the fashion in hel
part of the town. But, when she wan
dered up to the other part that morn
ing, and saw the four.horse wager
hitched In the public square, its bot
tom covered with hay and the horses
gayly bedecked, she knew perfectly
what It meant. She had seen such
wagons 60 by her door on othe,
Fourth of July mornings, crowded
with laughing girls and boys bount
for the Cool Spring Woods, three
miles out Of town.
She had never been to Cool Sprint
Woods either, but she fancted that
from it's name, it must be very at
tractive place indeed. Town today
was very hot and stufry, and she
could almost hear the Cool Sprint
gurgling in her ears. She was hungry
too-and the smaller vehicle, tiet
near the wagon, was stacked with
tempting baskets. Moreover, she YVES
lonely; for her companions dowr
town were for the most part sc
rough that she was little afraic
of them, and kept to herself
The fat black horses shook thei1
heads, futtering bright flags and tink
ling silvery little bells. "I'1l climb II
q minute" Alma said to herself, land
make believe I'm going too"
She clambered cautiously over the
wheel and sank into the fragrant
straw. Back under the drivers place
there was safe little retreat, where
linen buggy robe hanging from
the seat made a sort OF curtalned
cubby-hole hidden entirely from the
rest of the wagon "I'll crawl back
here" said Alma, where nobody
can look In and laugh at me-
She dropped the curtain and curled
herself into comfortable position,
her eyes on level with crack, SO
that she might watch the street
ahead, up which the party would
come. IT can see them in plenty OF
time to get out" she decided.
For long time she stayed under
the seat, happy and content, pretend
ing that she wore trim bingham,
and shoes and stockings, instead OF
her own shabby array, and fancy1ng
herself bound for Cool Spring, bag
and baggage. But 1t was very warm
indeed in the wagon, especially that
part of it, and after time the wide
open eyes glued to the crack began
to droop slowly the tousled head
sank lower and lower, and presently
Alma was asleep.
. She walked, with violent start
The horse bells were tinkling brisk
~, and all about her were voices
and chatting. The children
had come before she knew It.
Poor little Alma had never been
in such state In all her timid. quiet
lifetime. Should she move, or should
she stay where she was? And, while
she was trying, with wildly beating
heart, to make up her mind, the
wheels began to turn, the harness
creaked, and they were of. Laughing.
cheering, rollicking, the Jolly crowd
rolled down Main street, faces set
toward the country. When thew
passed her fathers house, Alma won
dered what the family would think
to see her tucked away, hidden,
That well-dressed crew. She
knew she would not be missed, for
the home people would think her IN
the park, where she often spent tho
lay with q biscuit or an apple for
lunch Oh, to be In the park now! For
what wonld thore young people say
and do when they discovered her, q
shabby shrinking unlimited guest?
It seemed ages that she lay there,
cramped and miserable while her COM
panions in the wagon made themselves
merry. But at last the suspense came
to an end.
whats under the seat?" a voice
asked. Good thing, know, without
looking. Find out, Bob-you're
nearest!"
Then a face peered suddenly around
the corner Of a 1ap-robe and blinked
into Alma's scared eyes. 'sWhy, it
isn't either" cried the owner Of the
face, 'it's-it's girl" He lifted the
robe and showed them the frightened
child. It seemed to Alma she was
looking into hundred pairs Of eyes.
She shut her own, quickly, and pushed
farther back into her prison.
"Why, the poor little thing!" ex-
claimed a sweet girl-voice. Miss
Hale, do look at this child wedged un-
der the front seat"
One or two giggled, and the boy who
had made the discovery stared hard;
but Miss Hale leaned forward and put
a gentle hand on the small shoulder.
"Come out, dear, in the cooler air"
she said, "and tell us about it.
When Alma's shy story ended, there
was no more giggling. Each one. In
his or her way, began to make the
little stranger feel at ease, crowding
closer to give her room, and smiling
into her bashful eyes.
That was wonderful day that FOL
lowed! The cool spring in the dark
green woods was cooler and more
crystal than Alma had dreamed; flow
ers and MOSES and ferns grew as
thick az in fairyland, and the marvel
was you could have them for the pick
ing. There were delightful games,
and long swings hung from tall trees;
and little past noon Miss Hale spread
white cloths on a fiat table-rick, and
such a feast as Alma had never
imagined was served the happy frol-
ickers. ....
That evening at sunset, when the
4. NI tl