Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-16
Surprises

|
been crying. Robert disdained such
weakness, but his little, round face
was very sober.
Its too bad" said he. Papa might
have told us before he went away"
What good would that have done?"
asked Rosa, GROSSLY. He knew we
wouldn't like it."
'They all promised not to tell" Rob-
ert went on, in an injured tone, but
Aunt Maria forgot and let it out. She
told us he was going to bring us home
new mother, and now she won't say
another word about it. She might tell
us her name, if she couldn't tell us any
more"
THAT wouldn't do any good" said
Rosa "Step-mothers are hOrrid
things"
mot always. Jimmy Lanes STEP
mother is a dandy. She makes him
such jolly lunches to bring to school.
He likes her, and she likes him."
81 don't want a stepmother."
But we'll have to have one" said
Robert, resignedly. mo use to cry,
Rosa"
She'll be awful, I know" cried
Rosa. "Oh, dear! If only Auntie Joe
hadn't gone
Auntie Joe had been dear friend
of the children's mother. She had
cared for them since the mother left
them and they were very fond OF her.
She had gone back to her own western
home a month or two before.
But she has," said Robert 80 she's
no good now. There's Richie Dodd
| beckoning goodbye
| How can he play?'' sighed Rosa
but she wiped her eyes What was
the use of crying? The stepmother
was already on her way. Nothing
| could save them now.
! She listened for Roberts footsteps
on the stairs. The footsteps were very
slow. How queer" she said to her
self, for Robert usually took three
stairs at bound But before she had
time to think about 1t she heard him
coming back. He burst into the ROOM
his face all aglow with pleasure.
"Who do you think is coming home
with papa?" :,
our new stepmother, of course" y
answered Rosa. disconsolately.
Yes. but who is she? Give
guess
"Oh, can't" answered Rosa. "Ho"
do you know?"
WELL" said Robert, II was just
ready to give jump on the stairs
when I heard Aunt Maria and Counsln
Jane talking Aunt Maria was saying,
They'll be here this evening" and
Cousin Jane said, And the children
are breaking their hearts over it, and
their father to make US all promise
not to tell. He wants to give them
a pleasant surprise, Pleasant sur,
prise.' Cousin Jane put IN. Rosa IL
! cry her eyes out before they get mere.
Why shouldn't they know that IT IS
Josephine Evarts"
Josephine Evarts!" screamed Rosa,
"Auntie Joe?'
eyes Auntie joe" and the children
danced rapturously around the room n:
But how did you hear so much?
asked Rosa. You didn't stop and u.s.
! ten?" :, =,
"No, didn't stop, but I just walked
slow. Gee. Isn't it fine?"
yes" answered Rosa, "and we
must do something. Well surprise
them. Let's ask Cousin Jane
Cousin Jane happened to come IN at
that moment The sight OF the radiant
faces was a pleasant surprise to her.
They rushed up to her, pinning her
down with loving arms.
ooh. Cousin Jane! We know. we
know. Oh, we're so glad, SO glad !:
We want to do something. Cant we!
Well surprise them. Won't it be
splendid! Can't you help us?'
| I'll try" said Cousin Jane. Let
me think. Don't speak to me now, till
I open my eyes"
She shut them tightly as she, spoke
The expectant children waited silently
At last the eyes opened.
do you remember those large alpha
bet letters that came in Cousin Lees
Christmas box?'
Eyes, yes"
well, l have some lovely gold paper
and supposing you cut out the letters
for some words of greeting, like
1--WE might have Welcome, Aunttc
Joe,' said Rosa.
"Just the thing. Well, you cut out
the letters, and l will paste them on
some dark blue cambria, and we'll
tack it up over the mantel, where they
can't help seeing it. How will that
dor
splendid" cried Rosa, ooh, Cousin
Jane, you are such a comfort"
Cousin Jane went downstairs, laugh
ing.
"They've found it out said she to
her mother.
"I'm glad of it, said Aunt Maria.
They're going to surprise them with
welcome in elegant gold letters
Jane went on Il must 80 and get the
parer," and she went.
That was a busy day for everybody.
1t was an undertaking for the children
| to mark out each letter from the pat
tern and then cut it out neatly with
the little scissors which Cousin Jane
lent them. But they worked with a
will. and st 4 o'clock the welcome,
Auntie Joe" looked down 1T them from
! the parlor mantel
They'll be here at six, said Cousin
Jane, as they stood admiring the re-
suit of their labors. "The train stops
!