Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-21
The Tin BOx-By Ada
McCreery

l thought | would write and tell you
about the tin box.
Harry Gilbert Is very poor boy. His
job is to work on Saturdays at the
stores. His father is dead. Harry is al
ways glad for Saturday to come.
He always says good by Mrs. Gil
bert said to herself, as Harry drove out
Of the yard to go to Mr.. Mead's sroc-
cry store where he has been employed
for six months. Mrs. Gilbert was a
widow OF a sea captain. Captain Gil
bert had left no property except the
small cottage and small sum OF
money in the bank. Fortunately for the
widow about the time this sum gave
out Harry obtained a situation at Mr..
Meads grocery store with salary OF
four dollars q week.
He was now fifteen years old. about
the average height for boy of that
age. The part he liked best was to
drive the horse. Soon as he got to the
store Mr.. Mead said Harry, here are
some groceries to carry out"
Harry said "All right sir" cheerfully.
Just at the narrowest part Of the road
Harry saw approaching him an open
buggy Of rather pretentious char
acter, driven by a school mate, Phillip
Ross the son of Colonel Ross, a
wealthy resident of the village. Philip
had been a school mate of Harrys
Still Harry did not call him a friend
Harry sa id to Philip "Why don't you
turn out?' Phillip said "Why don't you
turn out yourself?"
THAT is what I am trying to do"
said Harry.
"Then turn out MORE said Phillip.
II have turned out my share SAID
Harry. do you expect to keep right in
the middle Of the road?"
YES. if 1 choose" said Phillip.
IF you do not hurry l will pass
DO you say YOU will?'
Yes, sir. Il will count ten if you do
not turn out l will CO.
Il do not believe it. anyway I'm not
going to give in to you, the working
boy. / won't do it,
Harry said lone. two. three and
counted ten. Then gathered up his
reins and said go long Dobbn,' was
Harrys reply and Harry went.
Once Harry was out in the woods
and Phillip and Congreve were out
there too. Congreve said Wont you
join us?" So they went on and they
met Phillip and Harry said "Probably
you won't want me, not since you met
Phillip
Yes, come on
They went on walking and they came
to big tree and Congreve and Phillip
took out rope and tied Harry to the
tree and then they went away. Harry
was left there all night. About morning
Harry's friend came and let him out.
Harry thanked him and went home. On
his way home he saw two boys coming
and thought it was Congreve and
Phillip. So he climbed up in a tree and
watched them. He saw it was not them.
So he kept watching and finally he saw
them digging hole in the ground and
put a tin box TN the ground, and then
they left. He went home and told Uncle
Obed. This was an old man, an uncle of
Mrs. Ross. the mother Of Phillip. Uncle
Obed said not to say anything to his
mother about it. Uncle Obed said
'Who was the boy?'
81 think il was Ralph Temple and
the other one | am not sure Of"
Well, have some coupons to be
taken to New York and you can tell
your mother I am going to send you
and then go and see about the stolen
box So the next morning he got ready
and went away to New York.
He met a farmer on the train he
knew and so they talked together and
this farmer said What are you coming
to New York for?'
Harry answered. II brought some
coupons to town for Uncle Obed. That
is what I came for"
After while man came round and
said Have you any coupons to SELF"
Yes I have" said the farmer.
well can buy them. 1t will just
save You running around in New York.
So the farmer sold them.
Are you going to sell yours Harry"
mo sir That man is beggar.' and
Harry said to the farmer Let me see
your money
"Why?" asked the farmer Because"
lust because I want to see tn en."
The farmer took them out Of his
pocket and gave them TO Harry and
Harry said Look, these are not money
at ALL"
Why" asked the farmer because"
answered Harry. wait and ask the
conductor and see" "All right
He asked the conductor and he said
"Why no. who gave them to you?"
Harry got to New York and sold the
coupons and got the money and then
went to see about the tin box. He told
tn, man and so Harry said 81 will be
back pretty soon. While he was gone
Ralph Temple came in and said Did
you loose some money!" Just as he
was talking Harry stepped in and
nodded his head that was he. They
caught him and the other man
and Harry went out and got the
tin box Harry got the two hundred and
fifty bonds. SO Harry was the best aft
err all.
Ada McCreery. age II,
Batavia. Iowa.