Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23
Bobby's Keep
Off"


Bobby Brown hurried home yerv
fast. He had thought of a fine plax
ana was quite anxious to carry it out.
he had just spied the Keep orr the
Grass signs that Mr.. Tyler had placed
on his lawn, and these signs printed
IN big black letters had suggested the
plan. ..g
When Bobby reached home, he
hunted around in the cellar until ha
found little can of red paint a small
brush, and some brand new shingles:
then he went to work. 1t was harder
than he had thought, for the letters
would run up hill in spite of all ha
could do, and he never could make
very good X. But he was through at
last, and several Keep Off" signs,
printed in big red letters, were placed
in the sun to dry.
There" Bobby said as he looked
at his work, now guess Billy Dix
and the other boys won't be borrow.
ing my things any more. It's no fun
having to divide with everybody else"
And Bobby felt quite proud of his
little plan. He went to bed that
night to dream of new bicycle that
was all hts own, and a cart that no
one ever dared to borrow. And the
very next morning his dream began
to come true. Billy Dix came hurry
ing into the Brown yard just after
Bobby had gone to school.
20, Mrs. Brown" he asked breath.
lessly, do you s'pose I could borrow
Bobby's cart to carry the clothes to
Mrs. Raynor in? There's big basket.
full this morning, and my carts
broke"
"Why, of course you can take it,
Billy; just help yourself guess you'll
find it right there in the cellar"
Mrs. Brown was very busy just
then, and she soon forgot all about
Billy and the cart.
Yes, Billy had found it in the very
darkest corner Of the cellar. He drew
it to the light and then stopped and
stared. There on the seat was big
Keep Oft" sign printed in crooked
red letters. What could it mean? He
and Bobby had always shared their
things before. But Billy didn't wait
in the cellar very long. He hurried
out Of the door and behind the lilac
bushes and home. Then he and his
mother spent two whole hours trying
to mend his old cart so he could use
it for carrying the clothes to be
washed. And Billy's little brother,
who had been promised ride in
Bobby's cart, cried and cried because
he couldn't have it.
Billy had been gone only a few
minutes when Roland, Bob b VS.
brother, came in from school saying
that he had to 60 on an errand for his
teacher, so he guessed he would bor-
row Bobbys wheel; but he didn't
When he saw the big Keep Off sign
in front of it, he turned away in dis
gust and went off down the road on
the run. He could think of many a
time when Bobby had borrowed his
things. And it took him three times
as long to do the errand as it would
| if he could have ridden somebody's
bicycle. He was even late for dinner.
That night and the next night
Bobby wondered and wondered why
Billy didn't come over to play ball
with him. For some reason there
didn't seem to be anybody who had
much time to play. OF course no
could ride his new bicycle up AMI
down the street, but there wasn't
much fun in that when there was no
one to be glad that you had it,
The third morning after the signs
had been put up, Father Brown,
whose hoe Bobby himself had broken,
went into the cellar intending to bor-
row Bobby's small hoe for few
minutes. But he didn't touch it; he
just shook his head soberly when he
saw the Keep Off" sign tied to It's
handle, and came out without it.
Yes, Bobbys fine plan had worked,
and he had everything to himself. But.
he wasn't happy, no, not bit, and hc
wandered about the yard wishing that
some one would come and play with
him. But no one came, so he went
and sat down on the bench under the
/ old red apple tree and began to think
and think.
| ooh. dear!" he signed, 81 guess
signs aren't so nice after ALL unless
ITS on lawns. It's more fun to have
an old bicycle that's all worn out and
! let the boys take turns in riding it
(, than q new one that nobody praises
at ALL" Then he came to sudden
decision. "Tll burn those old signs
up" he declared as he jumped up
from his seat Five minutes later the
"Keep OFF, signs had all found their
way into the kitchen stove, and Bobby
was halfway across the back yard In
search Of Billy Dix.
( 20 Billy" he called out from the
orcmhard gate, come on over and try
my new wheel. It's dandy. Inen
l &o1~ o,p$ nd after vOllr