Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-04
Grandpa's Birth
day Present

breakfast and make believe that she
was happy, but it was useless. A big
tear got the better of her and splash
ed down on her plate. 1t was grand
pas birthday, too and SO eager hat
she been for it 10 come that she hat
counted the days Tor weeks and weeks
But now that it was here she was JUS
as miserable as little girl could be
when she had expected to be so gay
and all because of Jacks selfishness
Perhaps you have been selfish
too whispered little voice; but
Resale would not listen to it.
Uncle James and Aunt Elizabeth had
come down from the city with cunning
Baby Ruth who was just beginning to
toddle. They would all go to grand
pas farm in the big touring car. All
the other uncles and aunts and cousins
would be there, too. There would be
wonderful dinner, then some uncle
would make speech congratulatins
grandpa, then they would all give him
their presents.
This time she and Jack had made up
their minds to buy something very fine
indeed, because he was such splendid
81 ohupd, always iCduy " Jolll Ill IhCiI
games, and he told such capital stories
without being teased. So Resale had
saved all her nickels for two whole
months to help buy pair of velvet
slippers. Not once had she even bought
a sack of popcorn for velvet is expen-
sive. Once she had thought that she
would have to borrow a lot from her
missionary box, but Aunt Ella said:
"Oh, would not do that Let me see!
When entertain my club, would like
to have little girl to open the door
and to help me serve; l think that
would be worth quarter. And an
industrious boy might make several
dimes digging the dandelions on my
lawn"
How hard they both had worked. I'M
apiece! But when they went to buy
the slippers, Jack insisted on getting
pair with pug dogs head on them,
just common dogs head, when there
was pair with a perfectly beautiful
bunch Of pink roses on them.
Jack said that it was such splendid
dog just ready to grow, and that grand
pa would not want bunch of roses
on his slippers like sissy. And when
she had declared that she would not
buy that horrid ugly dogs head, Jack
had called her spoiled baby who al
ways wanted her own way, right be-
fore Mr. Brown.
Finally the salesman had suggested
that they take one of each and let
grandpa decide for himself. This they
ho1 oIt M IF fhnno
left very happy over it.
Resale had taken her slipper and
run home by the back street; she was
too angry to wish to meet any of her
little friends. When Jack asked her
to take his, too, so that he could go
to the ball game, she walked right
past him with her chin in the air, and
she would not even look at him.
SIS my little girl sick this morn
ing?" asked mamma. when she had
pushed her plate away without touch
ing her waffles.. Resale only shook
her head; she was too unhappy even
to smile back at mamma.
But when she was dressed and all
ready to start. she took package out
of her drawer and slipped out the
side door.
Papa was just running the car out.
and she knew very well that he would
have to spend some time getting it
ready. 1t was only three blocks to the
shoe store and if she ran all the way
they would not miss her.
Sure enough. when she got back.
papa was vigorously pumping a tire.
She slipped into her place and was
soon having romp with Baby Ruth.
It was very happy little girl, after
all, that started for grandpas. The
clouds Of the early morning had all
passed away.
When their turn should come to
present their gift, they had planned
to take grandpa's shoes Off and put
the slippers on before letting him see
them. So when Uncle Jack motioned
for them to come forward, Resale
quickly removed the left shoe and
triumphantly drew on a slipper of
royal purple velvet on which was en-
broidered a perfectly splendid pug
dogs head In yellow and tan while
Jack, too proud to look at either Rosa
lie Or her gift. awkwardly fitted on
the other foot blue slipper decorated
with lovely wreath of pink roses.
Grandpa placed his feet on the fen
der proudly. to exhibit his present.
why. children" exclaimed Aunt
Elizabeth. who always does everything
correctly. What an odd combination,
Why didn't you get mates?"
Grandpa eyed them curiously over
the top of his glasses, then looked
from one blushing face to the other,
inuuiringly
You changed yours accused Jack.
You changed yours, too" declared
his sister 81 thought perhaps grandpa
might like dog best after all, as he
was once boy"
Then the whole story came out:
their quarrel. the unhappy night, and
how finally they had felt so ashamed
that each one had slipped back to
change the slipper and surprise the
other! ...
After that it wasn't a bit hard to
make up.
"Nathan Hale" - Gladys
Myers School Composition