Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-20
Little Lott;e's
Boomerang

son.
Lottie Damer was. in fact, a very
obliging little girl. She waited on the
others and gradually grew to be recog-
nized fletcher and carrier for the whole
family, but she had begun to realize
lately that, as she put it on this hot
June afternoon, she was always being
put upon"
But her impulses were so generous
that the very next day she cried, "Ill
do It," when somebody had to go to
the store if there vas to be any bread
for supper, and she came back with
the large loaf.
"Oh," pretty Doris cried, when she
had finished one slice, 81 do wish I
could be Winifred G%reene!"
The family was quite accustomed to
this wish. Winifred Greene was Dor
ISIS twin, so to speak, having been
born on the same day, but in the big
red house on the hill, where Senator
Greene lived. Winifred had a great
many things that Doris knew she was
never likely to have, such as a pony,
and an automobile for her outings,
and other luxuries.
1T must be nice to be the only one.
and not have to share things" said
selfish Miss Doris.
"What's W1nifred got now" teased
her brother. "A new doll?"
"She's to carry a bouquet OF flowers
to the Governor when he speaks in
the court house on Monday" said
Doris. "Just because we're not sena'
tors daughters, We can't"
"But," reproved Lottie. gently,
"we're all to have seats-reserved.
too! All the school children are to
carry flags, and sing, My Country,
tits of Thee
"Well, if we're put in the front row,
that won't be SO bad" admitted Doris.
while Jane said, 81 should think not!
But the front row is for the singers
The next day everybody laughed at
Dcris's joy when she heard that n
best singers were to sit in a little spe-
cial. reserved place on a small raised
platform, and that she was to be
among them. So were Katie and Jane.
Poor Lottie, who could not sing a note,
and whose hair did not curl, was to
be among the rank and file. But she
did not mind.
The children were assembled out
side the school door, all in white, and
gay with flags to wave; and then, as
they were about to march out, teach
ers and pupils gave a cry and a gasp.
and said, "Oh!"
A little girl in white, very thin from
a recent illness, and very w1stful look
're. rot them at the gate. She, too,
held . flag in her hand.
"The doctor says l may go, too,
Teacher she said.
She had been away i'll for FIVE weeks.
No one had thought Of her in connec-
ton with the reception.
ooh. Mary. my DEAR" said the teach
er, I'm afraid there is no seat for you.
The place will be so crowded. Every
chair, even every inch Of bench. Is
taken"
IT don't take up much room." plead
ed Mary. The doctor says I may CO."
well" said the teacher, looking
over her flock. IF n of you Will
give up your seat. and sit with your
own parents, l think Mary can be made
happy"
But no one volunteered.
"Why can't Mary sit with her father
and mother?" suggested Doris.
"They won't come" said Mary.
Fathers zone away, and mother nus
mind baby. I don't want to sit alone
The teacher looked from the pale
child, whose life held so few pleasures,
to her healthy. romping, r%ollicking
throng. But no ayes me hers.
Then the something that had tugged
at Lottie's heart since she could re-
member, whenever she saw that others
wanted what she could give, tugged
again, and quite hard. She stepped
forward.
"Ill go back, and go with father and
mother" she said.
Teachers pat on her shoulder was
like mothers smile, or fathers There
is my comfort" and 1t consoled her a
little for the ache that almost brought
tears to her eyes, as she fell behind
the others. Mary, with a flush on her
pale, thin little cheek, took the vacat-
ed place, and the procession went for
ward.
Lottie turned for a brisk run home.
She had none too much time, as she
knew. It seemed as If she would nev.
er reach it, but Lottie reached her
own door at last, to find It locked!
They had gone.
On she hurried, this time to the
courthouse, but the guardian shook his
head.
Every seats taken" he told her.
Don't see how I could squeeze even a
little one in"
This time the tears quite overflow
ed.
"I-I wish I hadn't been SO accom-
modating," she thought, and, for the
first time in her life, an ugly temper
crept into her heart, but it made Lot
tie so horribly uncomfortable that she
turned it quickly out.
Whats all this?" said a CHEEKY,
pleasant voice at her side. "a little
girl crying!"
Lottie looked up into the kindest
face she had ever seen, except her
fathers. A tall gentleman was look
ing down at her. Next to him was a
lady, all silk and feathers and the
CLINT of sparkling things, 1t seemed to
Lottie's confused eyes, and beyond
her a little girl, in white, with a large
bouquet in her hands. She smiled at
Lottie with friendly eyes, and said,
'PerhanS she's lost Father"