Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-31
What Little
Nell Did

daughter; and Dick Long cobbled
shoes for time in the village, two
miles from the Philbrick farm, and
then went away to California, never
to be heard from again, and good Mrs.
Philbrick opened her motherly heart
and arms to Little Nell, and took her
in
Her real name was Henrietta; but
Miss jackson, the dressmaker, VINO
read Charles Dickens stories great
deal, called her one day Little Nell
and it chung to her ever after
1t was Saturday afternoon; and, as
| told you, Will and Jack and Polly
and Little Nell were going hazel nut
ting. They each carried basket, and
each basket held flaky apple turn
over. They got their baskets full OF
nuts, with their prickly coverings, and
ate their turnovers-all but Jack. That
is to say, Jack ate his turnover with
the rest: but he had not filled his
basket.
He had spent too much of the after
noon in chasing the little red squirrels
and in balancing himself on the
smooth log which spanned the brook
Now the sun had gone down. 1t was
growing late and chilly.
Jack kicked GROSSLY at decayed
stump.
"You should have worked more and
played less" laughed Will looking at
his own heaped-up basket.
Little Nell slipped her hand softly
into Jacks.
Come home now, Jacky' she said,
"and I'll give you half of mine.
Jack laughed and gave the old
stump parting kick A cloud OF
dust flew up. Jacks foot had ham,
mered it's way through the rotten
wood. The stump was hollow. Jack
pulled his foot out; and after it rolled
and ratified rich brown stream OF
nuts-three quarts. at the very least!
"Hooray!" shouted Jack, capering
wildly about. Il don't want any OF
nuts now"
Then he seized his basket and began
to scoop in the treasure by handfulls.
Little Nell looked on with wide
omen ewes. "Who put 'em there?'' she
asked.
Its squirrels storehouse,' an
swered Will.
Wasn't he a jolly little fellow?
And isn't it lucky | kicked?' cried
Jack, briskly digging away the decay
ed wood to look for more.
The big brown eyes ran over with
tears. as Little Nell began to under
stand.
Don't take them, Jack!' she plead
ed. "I'll give you all of mine.
"All of yours amt half as many as
there is here; and why shouldn't take
them, I'd like to know? Finding is
having, Little Nell
you didn't say SO when found
your ten cent piece said Polly, swing
ing her basket.
Jack Redeemed, remembering what
a time there had been about that same
ten-cent piece. ''You keep still, Polly
Philbrick," he said. 81 amt emp
munk. an ten-cent piece isn't nuts.
Amt there lot, though?"
It was quite in vain that Little Nell
begged him to put them back.
She walked home beside Polly,
silent and sorrowful
I'VE might give him ours, Polly,
she said. Turn them down In llttle
heap side of the stump, you Know,
where he could find them easy
Polly, what will he do when he goes
to his house, and finds they're all TAX
en- away?" ,,.,
Polly laughed at her. -You little
goosey!" she said. ''The squirrel won't
mind, and don't you think about 1t any
more" :.
But she did. She could not help it.
AT the supper-table that night
Mother Philbrick counted noses.
There was one missing-a little
nose, under a pair of brown
eyes. ~,
"Where is Little Nell, children
II haven't seen her since we came
home,' said Will.
Nor t. said Jack.
81 haven't either said Polly. But
T believe I know where she's gone.
Jack robbed a squirrels hole To-Day
and Little Nell cried about 1t. she
wanted to give the squirrel her haze-
nuts an l wouldn't wonder II thats
where she is"
whats that?" said Mr. Soule.
Mr.. Soule was a drover, who had
come TO buy Father Philbrick's cattle.
He had very sharp black eyes, and
snappy voice. 80
Polly jumped oh" said she, ana
upset her tea.cup. Then she had to
tell the story all over.
well. I never" said Father PM
brick. while the drovers eyes WINK
led with delight.
Presently the door opened; and
Little Nell crept in, GREATNESS, with
red cheeks, and soft hair blown about
her face. She put her empty basket
down gently.
Did Mr.. Chippy make a bow, and
COW .Thank zee. NUMB asked Jack,
with a laugh.
"Don't tease the child! ordered
Father Philbrick.
Then Little Nell had her supper
After that Mr.. Soule took her on MS
Ian and told her stories until ped
time.
went TO the spot where Little Nell mad
1aft her hazelnuts, but they had all