Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-17
w hen Little Mrs
O'Too1e Was
Kind

O'Toole the minute the dishes were
washed, the busting done and the
lamps cleaned. Perhaps the reason
Mrs. OToole was obliged to work so
hard on Saturdays was because she
had so little time to be Mrs. O'Toole.
Any mother knows it would take time
to look after nine children properly.
There was Aileen with broken
nose, who needed a new bonnet be-
sides new dress to wear to grand
mas on Thanksgiving day. Bridget's
rag arms had to be seyed on before
she could even be allowed to lean
against the plaything-box to have a
dress fitted. Norah and Katie were a
problem; they were china twins and
rather large. Large twins require
more material for their clothes than
other children, because twins must be
dressed alike. Mrs. O'Toole didn't
know how to manage two coats from
one small strip of pink linen. Maggie,
too, caused Mrs. OToole to feel bit
discouraged. A beautiful bisque
Maggie with real hair and eye-lashes
should have a white dress trimmed
with lace. There was plenty Of white
material in Mrs. O'Tooles treasure
box, but lace was nearly gone. Becky
and Nancy always looked we'll in left
overs, and Tommy, being boy doll
and rag at that. could get along with
almost anything.
We'll, Mrs. O'Toole, how are you
getting along with your sewing?" moth
er inquired, as she shipped dead leaf
from pink geranium plant and turned
the fuchsia toward the sunlight.
SLOWLY, I thank you, and shall be
glad when it is time for these children
to take their maps. It isn't easy to
plan clothes with nine children asking
question and humping their heads and
crying around"
At that moment the telephone rang.
Shall I answer it," inquired Mrs.
O'Toole, most politely
mo, you keep at work." advised the
mother. 81 have my little girls
clothes in order, stockings and ALL"
"You have only one," reminded Mrs.
O'Toole.
~ am sorry" replied mother, when
she came back in the sitting room after
talking with Aunt Emma over the
telephone. 81 am exceedingly sorry,
Mrs. O'Toole; but, if you wish to be
kind to your Aunt Aggie, you will
have to leave your sewing and go over
there on an errand. You could run
over there and back in twenty min
utes"
What for?" inquired Mrs. O'Toole
in tones that sounded like Aunt Caro-
lyn's little girl when she was cross.
Because Uncle Peters mother and
father are going there to dinner -
that is why Aunt Emma telephoned
She says if Aunt Aggie knew they
were coming, she would try to get her
Saturday work out Of the way and
get more elaborate dinner. Now,
Mrs. O'Toole, 1t would be such a kind
ness for you to run over and tell Aunt
Aggie-she wouldn't like to be sur
prised."
"Of course I'll co." agreed Mrs.
O'Toole; but I wish Aunt Emma
hadn't telephoned. I haven't a minute
to spare with nine children to get
ready for Thanksgiving dinner and
only one Saturday left after this one
but I'll go!"
The cat winked at Mrs. ORIOLES
mother. and Mrs. ORIOLES mother
winked back at the cat. Possibly both
knew that Mrs O'Toole would be good
natured again in a minute.
When Aunt Aggie glanced out Of
the pantry window and saw a red
checked little girl coming across lots,
she ran to meet her.
ooh, Mrs. O'Toole," said she (the
relatives all knew that Aunt Carolyn's
little Nellie was Mrs. O'Toole on Sat
urdays), 81 ought not to leave the
churning for a minute, but I have
been wishing that you would come
over this morning. Helen told her
music teacher about your nine chill
dren, and yesterday, when she drove
out here to give Helen her lesson, she
brought a big box full Of silks and
velvets and ribbons and yards Of
white lace, all for you!"
"Silks and velvets and white laces!'
exclaimed Mrs. O'Toole. ooh, I can't
wait to see them
"And I can't wait to show them to
you!" declared Aunt Aggie.
Mrs. O'Toole was so excited over
the contents of that box she almost
forgot her errand. That mother Of
nine said, ooh, OH" so often, it is a
wonder her mouth didn't stay round
until church time the next day.
II guess" observed Aunt Carolyns
little Nellie, at last. II guess l am
good and glad l came over here this
morning Ito tell you that Aunt Emma
telephoned that Uncle Peters father
and mother are coming here to dinner
to your house"
"Uncle Peters father and mother
coming here to dinner!' repeated
Aunt Aggie "Then l must go to work,
especially with Helen away. Why,
the house looks like the fair grounds
the day after the county fair! And I
wouldn't have Uncle Peters mother
catch me so upset for anything -
there is never a speck of dust in her
house! And I must have a custard pie
for dinner-they like custard pie! Oh,
you dea;, child, I am so thankful to
you for being kind enough to come
over here to tell me-"
$50 am l." agreed Mrs. O'Toole,
land wish | hadn't been a little
speck cross about leaving my sewing.
y ..... ... ~