Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-10
A Ride With Old
Billy

with their dolls around them.
Many who passed along the shady
country street smiled and nodded at
the little girls, who seemed 70 happy
and contented.
"Ruthie," said Dolly, there comes
Miss Serene. It's Missionary day;
and she'll leave Old Billy here and
walk to meeting with ma-she always
does-and I've thought of something
perfectly splendid. Let's dress up in
those funny old things of Aunt Han
nah's and go to ride. Well play we
r city ladies'"
I'm afraid maybe it wouldn't be
| right said Ruth.
Miss Serene wont mind" said Dol
ly, land pa says Old Billy needs exer-
else. Well have plenty of time; for
they always call on Miss Eunice after
ward, and talk about her spine, and
then go to the ministers They never
get back till supper. Come, now, SOS
to be all ready when they turn the cor
ner by the church. It'll be sue fun!'
Two quaint little ladies came from
the house soon after, dressed in long
dresses, with very short waists, white
silk shawls, and big poke bonnets, and
climbed into the old fashioned chaise
with yellow wheels.
Il guess we had better 60 this road"
said Dolly, turning the horses head
tow ard the country road: "it's s o very
quiet that we won't meet SO many
people. It's quite a pretty place here,
don't you think, Miss Warren?-
there is sch a breezy wind"
Eyes: we brought all my children
to spend the summer, so to have EN-
get full of health" said Mrs. Warren.
Il don't see what makes folks all laugh
so, but maybe they do in the country
cause they're so happy
Il most b'lieve that man Is the min
lister, but he laughed 50 I couldn't tell
I think he isn't very polite said Mrs.
Dutton.
Just then a load of gay young people
from the hotel drove past them.
"The dear little grandmothers!' said
one lady. Such sweet, innocent faces
1 doubt if they could do anything
wrong" Y
Dolly and Ruth heard and blushed
under their big bonnets. They were
already wishing down deep in their
guilty hearts, that they we're under the
big elm at home.
81 guess we'd better go back now"
said Mrs. Warren; maybe the chill
dren will cry. Ny baby has got the
mumps so she can't eat any pickles.
She cries after 'em d%readfully, but l
have to say NO"
poor thing" said Mrs. Dutton. my
baby has mumps most every week.
Well have to keep on this road, cause
I don't know how to turn round; but
maybe il will come out by our house.
Don't you s'pose you can turn
round?" asked Ruth, after a long ST.
lence. what will Miss Serene say?'
ooh, dear!" said Dolly. 81 don't NOW
but she'll have us shut up in jail. |
most know I never can turn back, and
I always was afraid of her. What shall
we do?"
rLet's get out and run home, and tell
'emr all about it! It's most dark now"
81 don't dare said Dolly, just ready
to cry. "Why, Ruthie!! There is the
church this minute! Didn't | tell you
we'd come out all right" And Dolly
wv "a
laughed ~gleefully.
"Who is that coming?' asked Ruth,
family. ~ b'lieve It's Miss Serene"
Eyes" said 1a.,v. land Tn going to
own right up and have it over"
Miss Serene had stopped, and was
gazing at them with an astonished
face.
"Who in the world she gasped.
"We are playing we are city ladies'"
said Dolly, talking very fast; but 1t
isn't nice at all, cause we didn't ask
YOU about it. Do forgive us, lear Miss
Serene. 1t was all my blame-every
bit"
Miss Serene laughed until h nae
to lean against a tree for support. Her
spectacles dropped off, and tears ran
down her face. :,
When she could speak, she said
sweetly:
.Well, dears, I guess there isn't M
harm done. I forgive you, and Will try
to remember that little girls like to
ride. I'll take you home, and tell your
mothers not to scold you. OF course,
it wasn't quite right to take the horse
without leave; but I am sure you
would never do it again"
mo. indeed! We never WILL said
Dolly, gratefully.
They never did, but Dolly and Ruth
had many delightful rides after that in
the chaise with Miss Serene behind
Old Billy.