Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-12
The Cheer-Up
Club

There were five of them, If YOU
counted the baby: and they formed a
club, the Cheer-up club. or course,
mamma began it--mamma began all
| the nice things that pleased every one:
What shall we do now, mammal
| Debbie had asked one rain stormy DAY.
And mamma had looked down the scale
of four dubious little faces, from Aus
| tins down through Clients and Debbie's
to Jessc's very best writing, and you
paid your fineS-when you were sol
emn and there wasn't any need OF 1T,
you know-into the funny little TIN
trunk of mammals bureau. When the
trunk was all kinsly with pennies. the
club was going to cheer somebody up
with them, somehow.
"Oh, my" cried Debbie between the
third and fourth bites of her johnny
cake. I'm 'fraid this is going to be a
dreadful busy day!"
We'll, maybe. but ! can't think OF a
single person to be cheered up" said
Austin, thoughtfully.
cam" he said There's lots Of folks.
First of all, there's mother nature: the
dear old lady looks all out Of sorts"
The cheer-ups Laughter.
But who else, papa" asked Debble,
eagerly II want case"
well then, Uncle Nahum Trott. he
always has rheumatism on days like
this. and his poor old muscles almost
tie up In hard knots.
"Tll try to tend to Uncle Nahum
Debbe said, with her round little face
full of compassion.
Mamma laid down her fork with a
sudden little click I've thought Of a
case" she exclaimed. "for one of you!
Let's see. first
ME, mammal" cried Jesse, excited
''Well, you, dear. Mrs. Butterworth's
lame Christy went to the hospital yes
terday and she couldn't go with him. II
almost broke her heart.
ooh" murmured Jesse, pityingly;
but I'm most sure I'm too little for
such big cheer-up-ing as that,
mamma"
You can do little, dear I think 1t
will help" said mamma gently.
Austin's face was creased with little
crisscross thought lines. Pretty soon he
spoke slowly There's Kent Bishop
he's a case too. He's got bad sore
throat, and prob'ly 'twould cheer him
up to play checkers
Eyes, dear" mamma said. She knew
very well that Austin thought checkers
were stupid"
WE'LL III take henI, guess, lulSh~
ly decided Austin.
"Nobody's got me case" Glen an
nounced suddenly, such a dismal look
beginning to dawn on her face that
mamma jingled the spoons In the
spoonholder to remind her Of the tin
trunk and the jingling pennies for fines.
80 Glenn she said quickly, there are
so many folks for you to cheer up 1T
will keep you busy all day. First there's
baby, you know with his little toothies
trying to cut their way through his
poor little swollen gums. He's brave,
but he needs helping out. And Nora had
bad news In her Ireland letter this
week-her old father Is sick And Kitty
Glover has lost two of her babies. and
wants cuddlng."
And I am sure I need cheering
said papa, trying to make a very SOL
emn face II shall come home tonight
worn out with the cares Of the day, and
need little girl to put some sweetness
into me-
Why" laughed Glen, II guess you
better scuse me- mamma, so I can go
to work! I'm going to begin on the
baby: but l will be ready for papa
when he comes Come, baby, we'll build
beautiful new three story church"
That night mamma tucked a tired
but happy little Cheer-up Club into
bed: and don't you wonder how many
Of their eases" had little warm, cheer
ed-up spots in their hearts?-Annie
Hamilton Donnell.