Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-21
The M0stHonor-
able Mention

ing one of their twilight talks. 1t wa!
Saturday evening.
How about the essay, Dot? Die
you finish it?'
Yes" Dorothy sighed a little. eyes
Uncle Ralph, l finished it,"
And will it take the prize?"
Uncle Ralph" Dorothy's voice wa.
reproachful and protesting. ut ism
fair to make fun of me; and you know
very we'll I never dreamed of takint
the prize for anything. But I'll te!
you - this confidentially 49, 81 die
rather hope l might succeed in getting
honorable mention You and father
would have been just little PROUD
of that. wouldn't you? But
"Well?"
Nothing, only it did seem as II
there were nothing but Interruptions
from the moment I sat down with my
paper and pen. First, there was Nora
to ask something about the puff tartS
as if any other dessert wouldn'
have done just as we'll today. Their
Clarice came with her dolls bonnet
strings in a knot that must have
taken at least ten minutes to unite;
and directly after her Fred, with q
button off his coat. Before had fin
ished the second page little Kitty
Conrow ran in to ask my advice about
the trimming Of her hat; and Harry
to see if could do something for his
kite, and-oh, can't tell you half OF
them! Even mother had to come
once. Poor mother!-she was so sorry
to disturb me; but L, don't think one
Of the others thought it mattered a
bit Positively felt quite cross some
times. Now, what kind of an essay
could girl write under those circum
stances-a girl like me, you know,
who isn't very clever any way? I did
my best. but there'll be no honorable
mention for Dorothy Evans!"
81 don't know, Dot Uncle Ralph
spoke reflectively. Having to stay in
this corner, that's the bother Of a
broken leg, you know can't help
hearing good many things. | heard
Nora. for instance. saying to herself,
as she came away from the library
door this morning: Bless Miss Dor
othy's heart for rale LADY, And I
heard Clarice singing her doll to
sleep in the little rocking chair yon'
der. The tune of her lullaby was
Sweet Galilee,' but the words were
just Dear Dorothy! dear Dorothy!
over and over. And it must have been
your neighbor Kitty whose voice
heard under the window. telling some
one delightedly that Dorothy had
given her just the loveliest idea for
her hat! At any rate, 1t was Harry
and no other. who was declaring SO
emphatically to his playmates, I tell
you, fellows, our Dots a brick! Fred
too-Fred said to me. as he was go
Ing out to the office this afternoon:
Have you ever noticed what pretty
hands Dorothy has, Uncle Ralph? !
have thought Of the very thing for a
graduation present for her!'"
Its a silver thimble!" laughed Dor.
othy, who is an October child, and
was longing for an opal ring.
cts no such thing. But I never
tell secrets. I was only going to saw
that the best of all the things I heard
today was the ring in your mother
voice when she said, Dorothy is such
comfort Won't that do for honor
able mention Dot?"
IT should think It would" There
was a little culver in Dorothy's low
voice, and the brown head went down
on the arm Of the invalid's chair.
"Why. Uncle Ralph. it's better than
the prize itself, if only"-and then she
could say no more at all, but Uncle
Ralph understood.
What do you think about it, girls
This, at least, is the kind of Honor
able mention that every girl can earn.