Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-27
Mary s Secret

DCSIOlICe.
! "Oh, goody!' exclaimed Mary, jump
/ ing up and down. Let me drive, won''
you, Grandma? know how to turT
to the right. Now, Tommy, you watcN
the chickens, and don't let then
! scratch my moss while I'm gone Take
this branch, and, if any of them come
nearer than that tree, you ny at then
and scare them all to pieces
This was work after Tommy's oWN
heart; and he obediently took the liiaf
branch which Mary offered him, anf
sat down on the doorstep to watch
| Marys rockery was the pride and JOY
of both the children. 1t was a llttlf
pile of stones which they had carefully
collected from the roadsides, and Gov
cred with moss from the woods. In
the centre of the heap was leaky TIN
pan, also carefully covered and lined
with moss, which to the children's
imagination represented beautiful
lake. and which they patiently nlleo
with water as often as they found II
empty-which was many times day
But eternal vigilance was the price o!
the rockery: for the chickens were
constantly attracted by the green moss
and the fresh water, and very few
vigorous kicks of their yellow legs
made havoc which Mary and Tommy
could repair only at the cost OF hours
of tell.
Mary went skippirg round the cor
ners of the house, where, upon bench
near the kitchen door. was tin basin
and some soap, while long roller Tow
Ell hung conveniently near. Al nome
in their city house the children were
no more fond of washing hands anu
faces than children usually are; out
at Grandma's, where they might 40 IL
out Of doors. pumping the water them-
selves. and emptying it afterward up
on the roots of the grapevine ana rose
bushes, the process was always oe-
lightful and interesting. so mary
washed herself with praiseworthy zeal
and thoroughness, filling her basin sew
eral times, and going through rinslnss
enough to cleanse the busiest tramp
on record.
A little later she stood by the gate
under the maple tree, In clean White
apron and shady hat, and, climbing IN
to the buggy beside her grandmother,
rode slowly down through the orchard
to the big gate. There Mary jumped
out again. and, unlatching the gate
stood on the lower bar and. with
push of her foot, went swinging out tii
the gate stood wide open, and OLD hlt
marched solemnly out to the road.
How beautiful was the June morn
ing, The hills and fields were flooded
with sunshine, and now and then the
shadow of a fleecy cloud went gliding
across The birds sang in the oak and
maple trees, and the air was sweet
with the fragrance of young leaves anu
blooming orchards. II | should "rlte
the very first words that come 10 niy
mind as | recall the feelings WIN
which used to ride along that roao'
coming from the city for summer
visit. they would be these, "As rest IS
sweet to the weary, and the coolins
stream to him that is athirst." MARY
would not have used just these WORDS
I suppose, but she felt the same peace
and ioy. For some time they rode on
in silence, till, meeting a Loaded Wae
on. old Kit turned to the side OF the
read to give it room to pass.
"That was very good said the
grandmother. 81 see you do know how
to turn to the right"
"Why." said Mary, suddenly slttlns
up very straight, II never ola a tnlng;
I forgot all about driving. Old Kit olo
it all herself .,..,r;,
about" said Grandma, smiling, tnat
made you forget everything else. Olo
Kit knows Just where we are going
and this road is safe and quiet; put
good driver should be watchful and not
forget" - +e,,
Won" said Mary, gravely. I'VE have
great secret, Grandma: nobody KNOWS
+ hut Tommy and me; and now am
going to tell you, and that Will ii"Ne
three ., ~,od
well" said Grandma, II am gao
YOU like to share 1t with me. VIII hoAp
YOU keep it as we'll as can"
This is the secret" said Mary. Al
this world belongs to Tommy ana me
this whole world"
Does it really?" said Grandma, en-.
tering Immediately into the spirit y,
the occasion. well, it is a beautllu,
world. and l hope you and Tommy VIII
enjoy it for great many years. no"
long has it been yours?' .,,o
81 don't know" replied Mary. we
only found it out since we came mere
to The farm. But, Grandma, we don't
want it to make any difference; we
want to have things go on just inc
same. You can drive Kit along TINS
road to the store, and keep the calves
in the pasture, and use the apples
only we shall want to eat all we can
Of those that get ripe before we 90
home c.,na,,,
Yes of course assented Grandma.
"rm very glad you told me, for now
shall feel like taking better care OF
things than I ever did, because they
arc all for you. And I'm very glao,
TO that YOU do not wish to make any
changes: for I'm so used to things ]us1
as thew are that l am afraid shouia
not know lust what to do If you shoulo
want Grandpa and me to go ana taAe
care of Mr. Somers's farm instead Oh
this one" I'll, not do
"oh, no." said Mary, I'VE viii not 90
awning of the kind. If you VIII Just
take care of this farm, tnats YOU
share. The world is full OF people
Won know: and every one can Jake
care of the part where he happens 70
- oil will come out r1Rnt.