Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
Limitation Is The
Sjncerest Flat
tery''

1"
| Nancy's warning voice recalled her
Nancy was much older than Betty
| in fact, almost thirteen--sO Betty had
to stop and listen.
where are your rubbers, Betty?"
Betty looked down at her patent
leather clad feet.
Il don't know"
Mother said you weren't to 60
out into the snow without them, you
know"
Betty slammed the door shut and
rushed upstairs. Then she whirled
things round her room for some little
time, and finally emerged from her
closet with rubber in each hand.
I'm putting on my rubbres. moth
er DEAR" she said virtuously, as she
met Mrs. Darrell in the hall
Run, child, or you'll be late" said
her mother, kissing the rosy face;
land tomorrow's holiday
Betty found the girls in her class
planning great things for the next
days respite from study. They were
all feeling very friendly to the father
of their country, to whom they owed
WELL I don't mean their country,
though of course they did, In a way,
but their holiday.
Miss Wilson, their teacher, took
the occasion more seriously. She was
a hero-worshipper, was Miss Wilson,
and George Washington's portrait,
handsomely framed, was on the
schoolroom wall, flanked by smaller
pictures of minor celebreties, such
as Emerson, Washington Irving, Bry'
IT
"Shes going to give US that cherry
tree stunt again., murmured Betsy
to Hilda Clark, her desk mate, as
they settled down for "Literachoor,
as some of the class termed the last
lesson for the day. well decide on
cocoa, don't you think, for supper?'
But for wonder Miss Wilson did
not give them "the cherry tree
stunt" Instead she asked them to
suppose what might have happened
/ if George Washington had denied
having performed the stunt" in
question The class sat up. They us.
ually did when Miss Wilson asked
them to "think what would have hap
pened" which was one of her favorite
ways Of teaching. ...
Various suggestions were offered
"He'd have caught it from his faith
er when he did find out"
He'd have felt so mean Ia.
He'd have said something that
wasn't true the next time, because you
get into habits like that
II think" said the teacher, that by
speaking the truth, he just climbed up
to a plane that made speaking truth q
very easy habit, and truth in word led
on to truth in deed. Think what truth
in deed means, girls! Doing the right
thing, which Is the wise thing and"
as it always the successful thing?"
demanded Clara Bird. Clara's ques-
tons were generally admired by her
friends, for they sometimes posed Miss
Wilson. -...
THAT depends on what we under
stand by success, replied the teach
er Sometimes an apparent failure
leads to later, and bigger success. |
think history teaches us that IN the
long run George Washington was al
ways successful. But the point want
to make today Is this. The habit of
truthfulness helps you up to plane
where truth in deed follows truth In
word. So, girls, why not climb?"
Between a critical discussion Of the
merits of the lesson and an alteration
as to the respective virtues Of cocoa
and hot lemonade as beverages, Betty
forgot her rubbers AS the snow was
very dry, however, it happened that
her feet did not get wet, and, when
her pretty patent feathers were wiped
quite dry, and she had warmed and
put on her house slippers, she gave
the lost rubbers no further thought.
Betty had to be extra careful, owing to
a predisposition to sore throat that
she was fortunately outgrowing.
The next day drew a great many re-
gretful "Oh's" from great many
young people. The snow was melting
fast, light, drilling rain was falling
from densely cloudy sky, and the out
door sports seemed doomed, Betty s
class had settled on paper chase with
tvs home.
'You can't go, DEAR" said Betty's
mother, gently, but firmly, mot unless
the sun comes out"
Rather to Betty's surprise, the sun
did come out. So she stopped her
mother just as Mrs Darrell and Nancy
were starting on on a round OF AFTER
noon calls with little packages for
some invalids, including four children
at an adjacent hospital.
"See? It's shining quite hard! So
] can go?'
VERY WE'LL" said her mother, turn.
ing on the doorstep. Wrap up well,
and don't forget your rubbers. Good.
bye"
Not till the door had closed did Bet
ty remember that her rubbers were
safely locked up in the deserted school
house!
For a few minutes she stood, tears
gathering In her eyes.
Then she began to feel very angry
Why should her whole afternoon be
spoiled-the very last holiday until
Easter-for a pair Of ridiculous, I'M
necessary, TRIVIAL, empty rubbers!
Her cheeks grew so hot that he'll
tears were dried, as she determined
that she would go on that paper chase!
First she made really conscientious
search for somebody else's rubbers
There might be an old pair Of Nancy's
in the attic. Alas! The attic had beer
tidied by Nancy herself, in the fervo1
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