Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-04

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trim the edges Of my lawn"
He led Paul into large room, filled
with such a variety Of vases and pic.
lures, queer old chairs and other oh.
jects of interest, that Paul felt as II he
had wandered into some curio store
The man pointed to one slender chair,
the legs and back Of which were curl
ously carved and inlaid with mother.
ofpearl.
<"Sit down in that chair" he com
mand ed. THAT came from France"
Paul was not accustomed to sitting
on such beautiful chairs. He was
afraid his clothes would soil it, so he
sat down very carefully on the edge
OF 1t. He had no sooner done 80 than
his attention was taken up by the
sound Of music. A mnsic-box. some
where tn the room, was playing the
sweetest music Paul had ever heard
The man laughed as he saw the little
boy gaze wonderfngly about the room.
roo and find IT," he urged. Find
where the music is and will give you
that" He took a shining quarter from
his pocket as he spoke, and twirled it
upon the table.
"a Paul sprang from the chair to be-
gin his search, but the music stopped
as suddenly as it had began. Sadly
puzzled, he dropped back into his chair
to think. He had no sooner done so
than the music began again, sweeter
than ever. He jumped up to hunt for
IT, but once more the music stopped
He sat down for the third time, and,
when the music started at once, a sud-
den understanding came into his face,
and he began to examine the beautiful
chair on which he was sitting.
The man tossed him the. shining
quarter.
i ITS the chair" he nodded THAT
chair was made in France. There is
a music-box concealed in the seat.
Whenever person sits down on it,
that releases q spring and 1t begins to
play"
The little old man showed him many
other curious ind wonderful things,
but all the time thought was running
through Pault mind. His hour was
nearly up before he found courage to
ask the question he wished
Excuse me. sir he began at last,
"but how much would a chair like that
COST"
about three hundred dollars" the
man answered carelessly.
Paul caught his breath. He had
been thinking that, If he worked hard
enough and long enough, he might
some day be able to buy chair like
that for Helene. The little boy was
not easily discouraged, however. Be-
fore he left he had another idea.
Please, SIR" he said bravely. when
his host came out into the hall with
him to open the front door," how much
would you charge If I brought my sis.
ter here and let her sit. on it to hear
the music!-I mean. would you rent 1t
to me for an hour - 49, s
The old man looked 30 cross that
Paul's heart sank.
81 don't know" he answered. "I
never rented my furniture before. Tell
me where you live" he finished. so
sterenly that Paurs voice nearly
trembled as he gave the address and
watched the man write 1t down..
Come tomorrow and fix the walk
in the back yard" was all the old man
said, as he put the book back into his
pocket. -
Poul was on hand the next morning,
but his hope that the man would rent
his music box chair was not very high
He worked away steadily. Once he
looked up to find that the man was
watching him: from one Of the back
windows. Late in the afternoon, as
Paul was about to leave, he came down
the back steps and motioned to the
little boy.
Tive decided not to rent it." he be-
gan. II never did such a thing in the
seventy.two years have lived, and
I'm not going to begin now With
that he turned abruptly and went back
into the house, leaving a heavy-hearted
little boy to trudge home to his sister.
He was so downcast that It was
hard work to begin his usual CHEEKY
WHISTLE DIS ne uTeW near LHo Smdll
house where he and his mother and
Helene lived. He knew Helene would
be at the window watching, and TO-
night he dreaded to see her tired, pa
tent little face.
He was much surprised, therefore,
10 flnd her reckoning to him excited
" as soon as he came in sight. She
could hardly watt for him to open the
IGOR.
see what's GOMEZ" she cried,
pointing to bulky object covered
with great sheets Of wrapping paper.
open it, quick!" she commanded.
Mother says my name Is on it, but I
wanted to wsat"
Paul undid the wrappings. feeling
Is If he were in a sort Of dream as
1e did so. He blinked his eyes in as
enlistment when at last he beheld ,
he wonderful French chair. There
vas card tied with a blue ribbon to
he back of the chair. 1t read:
This chair is an heirloom in our
amily, so it can neither be rented |
lor sold nor given away; but, being
he last of my family, I hereby loan