Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-22
BDFa;rf;eld's
Promise

when Billie took the milk to Mr..
! Seiden one morning, and she asked him
ne would bring another quart that
night. he said "Yes'm' promntiv "a
then never thought of it again ,,.,,;, "iIu
was in bed. 1850 uti'ii no
puMeh, | can't take it now" said
Blille; but he could not 90 to siaa,.
tnoush ne turned and tossed anpj
twisted TIL he was tired. Al last ha
s Wem, 70 the head Of the stairs, and
Mrs. Fairfield had just threaded bar
needle and stretched a stockins ,,, iss
. pis mole In it over her hand She
salu, On, dear!" but she Went o
what Billie wanted. - see
dou1 nave to 60 now" she said
qu!eny' when he had told her.
tbesn IN. mother! can't go away IN
fnr P,i ntone. Mrs Fairfield knew that.
LIZ Sllie was never out alone at nirht
MS rather had gone to bed downstsirs
WIN the baby: and if they walked htr,
o.aDy would wake, too. So Mrs Fair'
sieiu thought minute. Then She
SAID: Well see. I'll have the r ,Ie
Wy Wnen you come down.
r,oth neh blllie got into the kitchen. his
ana shawl on. Billie began ~ faaI
ashamed. He wished he dared r. 30
atone; but ne did not. for II wos
lonesome road. He took the milk ana
, ,ney tramped over the snow IN tho
h lJng NH without word. The wind
, unew IN thelr faces, and Binie's ears
were cold; but he had the mill 20, -
one hand. and pulled his sled wifi An IN IN
o ts' so there was no way to warm
lnem. He was ashamed To asL hia
mother to take the milk. ''iS
WIS. Selden exclaimed when sbe
opened the door: why, what mad ada
Won ton NV away up here tonight? And
YOU, 100, Mrs. Fairfield. It's too badi
out the milk" "l'h-
billie promised YOU, Mrs E.;r
Held answered. And Billie wished NJ
body would look at him. 'eo no
WASH any matter, she said
nlotner,s ne urged. when thew had
started for home again. nav
The wind was in their hacLs 49,
ana Blllle,s ears We're warm
Buy the truth and sell Il NOT y 80,
MS mother The matter was vo,r
poInise Billie. Would YOU sell the
ruin Just to set rid of walking m ~
Mrs. Seldcns." ,'s "p "
bllhc made no answer. He w.s
ashamed again.
would slide down hill Mrs r, irfi, ~
laushed: but she was a small WOW,
an. and she tucked herself IN on ~.
front or the sled. while Billie stu,k ~,
,penlnd, and they slid down the low
M 70 their own yard, where Hill .
s SIS steered in. His mother praised
u, ,ne way ne managed his sled. but Ril-
lie was still uncomfortable
why don't you do semethin1 n mo
mother"' he said" while they ware
warming themselves at the big coal
stoNe In the sitting room. Il b'lieve I'D
~ hetter to have good whipping"
It's mother smiled at him.
would be pretty hard work for ma
to Whip big boy like you are. Don't
you want to help instead of making n,s
90 more? I'll tell you how YOU viii he
punished Billy. she continued. Us
100 late to finish mendinr these
mem tomorrow when l was foing to
make a cottage pudding. and therein
ee no pudding for dinner"
Cottage padding was B,lly's favorite
desert, and this was a blow thar he
laid to heart. IS
He and his father would saw cot
tage pudding" to each ether for = lnnp
tlme afterWard, if anything was in
uanger or being neglected or forgotten
AND when Billy had grown to be q
man. and people said, Just give mo
want sobcmfwypththt tn tn tn tl,hh
Billie Fairfield's word: that's ali !
wal" want Billie would smile and say.
es,. my mother taught me to keen a
promise" "