Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-15
The Little Man - BY Waldo
Beck

once knew a little man who grew
| twenty-four hours older every day
without growing any larger. This vexed
him very much. One day bright idea
came into his head. He would go to the
shoemaker anG have pair or hlSh
heels put on his boots.
Master Crispin,' for that was what
he called the shoemaker; Master Girls
pin, want pair Of high heels put on
my boots. SO people will stop calling me
little man.
The shoemaker very kindly set to
work and when he had finished his
work and been paid for his work he
said:
Il hope I have pleased you. so we'll
you will call again. Good by my little
man."
The little man hurried away thinking
tho shoemaker had no zespect for his
feelings. He hurried on down the
streets. Finally he came to q hot shop.
He just got into the door when the hat
ter greeted him with, Good morning.
my little man; what can do for you
this morning."
Il want hat" said the little man,
so people will stop calling me little
man."
The halter gave him a hat large
enough for q grandee. Then the hat
ter said, "Goou uay, my ltIlc man..
1T will BE different at the inn." he
said as he hurried away to the inn.
When he got % the inn the in-keeper
greeted him with Good morning my
little man."
The little man turned around and
hurried away He went OFT on the
street and asked the people why every
body called him little man. But no
one would tell him why.
What dumb fellow am" he said.
7 will go to the city and ask the gov
ernor. He knows everything"
So he packed his valise and started
for the city On his way no stopped at
a country tavern. The tavern keeper
said Where are you going at this
pace?"
Il am going to the governors to ask
him why everybody calls me little
man."
II believe will so too. want to ask
the governor why everybody calls me
poor tavern keeper Then lie called
to tho hostler. Hey there, you lazy
bones. pack my valise, am going to
the city 70 ask thu governor why every
body calls me a poor tavern keeper
Say" said the hostler. Il Should like
to go too I want to ask the governor
why I am called lazybones."
When the three came to tho city
they went straight to the governors.
The servant showed them into large
room where a large mirror wac. The
governor talked with thom wnile and
then said: Turn your back to the mir
ror and look over your left shoulder
and tell me what you see. The tavern
keeper came first. He turned him back
to the mirror. why what do 1 see? l
SEQ table with ladies all around it
drinking ten and talking. And sure
enough, there is my wife"
WELL" said the governor. AS long
es your wife spends her time in this
way you shall not be called poor tav-
ern keeper, but you will be a poor tav-
ern keeper"
The hostler came next. II see two
dogs chasing horse but they will
have to get Up earlier IN the morning"
We'll. if every time you arc given
an order, and you run as fast as this
horse people will stop calling you lazy
bones"
The little mans turn came next
What do l see? Why see nothing but
myself"
DO you see yourself any larger"
asked the governor.
mo 7 see myself just as am
well. people will still call you lit
tie man." said the governor.
The little man went away, not as
| well pleased as he thought he would be.
Waldo Beck, ago s,
, Hedrick, Iowa.
P. 81 would like to exchange let
ters or postcards with som eof the Jun
iors.