Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-20
What Squared
Toms Accounts

Tom sat by the library table, work.
ing over his arithmetic lesson. He
was trying to find ont how much
seven yards Of calico would cost if
one yard cost eleven cents, and his
paper was covered with figures.
Finally he took a new piece, and be.
gan again:
To yrds. calico at II cts. :. SIT
And, as he finished the las steven.
his father looked over his shoulder.
Bills, Tom?" he asked. That's right.
I only hope you will never get as
many as I have" And he dropped into
the arm chair by the fire, tired with
the days work and glad to be at home
again.
Tom came over and leaned against
his fathers knee, for the few minutes
talk before dinner that they always
had together.
Papa" he asked, when a man
does any. work, oughtn't he be paid
for it?"
Certainly" was papa's reply. III
he asks fair price,
Then they began to talk of some
thing else, and papa forgot the ques'
ton and his own reply long before
dinner was ready.
The next day was Saturday, but
Tom stayed in the house, working
busfly at his arithmetic. Mamma was
quite worried: she had never before
known the boy to study on a holiday
or refuse to go skating with Ned and
Jack. He worked all the morning,
lying in the cushioned window seat;
and not until after lunch did he give
a thought to the new skates. Mamma
told Kate that she was afraid Tom
was not we'll, and she really looked
relieved to see him flying down the
hill in the afternoon. Wonder of won
ders! he was not late to dinner, but
came in early, and slipped into the
dining room before any one else came
down He looked little conscious
when a note dropped out of each
napkin, and waited impatiently to see
them unfolded. Kate opened hers first
and glanced through 1t, breaking out
into merry laughter. Tom looked
cross. Kate always laughed at him.
He wished he was sixteen, and she
was twelve: he would laugh at her
all the time
"Why, Tom," she was saying. what
perfect nonsense! Mother, did you
ever see anything like this? Tom has
sent me a bill for helping me yester.
day."
In the mean time mamma and papa
had opened their notes. and had dis
covered that they, too, had received
bills from Tom.
Papa's ran this way: ........
Mr.. E. w. Ellis in account with Tom
Ellis .-s... ... 81. s.~.
To two runnings up stairs at 1c SOP
TO three bringing Of papers at &C.. 06
To one finding slipper at SC ...... .05
Sum total ................ .$.13
Mammals was a little different, but
these were the items
To one going to tell Bridget some
thing at &c wv
To three hurrying up when l didn't
want to at sc .............. ID
To two errands at Jones store
at .10c ................. ~
Total ................... .$.5f
Kate had the worst Of all. This Is the
way hers read ME-.
To four goings to Mollie Brown at
SC ........ p.1o
To one taking note to Professor
at 10c ............. Nv
To one holding wosted (cause /
hate it) at Csc ............. 20
To two taking books to library at
&C ................. ...'.'' 40
Total ................ ....$.oo
Papa put his down without saving
anything; and mamma looked to- Tom
with queer little smile, Remaining:
"Well, Tom, 1t seems that the family
owes you more than dollar"
eyes. ma'am," said Tom, cheerfully;