Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27

school fifteen minutes late.
Four mornings had he received
tardy mark with a consequent pen
atty of remaining after school, all of
which he had borne quite meekly
But on this fifth morning Miss
Smiths wrath descended upon Bus
ters curly head.
Have you any excuse for being
late every morning. she asked Sc
verely.
Buster nodded.
well, what is your eXcuse?'
N II can't tell" wept Buster all of a
sudden.
Il shall go to your mother and find
out, then" decided Miss Smith, look
ing very pretty in her just indigna-
ton.
Buster made no reply and the other
children looked rather fearfully at
one another Of course, Miss Smith !
was "a comparative newcomer in
Greenville, and she could not know |
the history of all the families She
was a lovely. warm-hearted little
woman, but strict disciplinarian.
The next morning she left her
boarding house an hour earlier so
that she might call upon the Peter
bys. who lived in little cottage over
on Valley Hill Mr.. Peterby kept a
little shop in the village; Helen had
heard of the little place with its
scanty stock, but her purchases had
been confined to the larger and more
prosperous store next to the post
ONCE.
buster said he had two sisters and
baby brother" unused Helen Smith,
as she climbed Valley Hill, in her
crisp summer attire. Still there is
no reason why a child should be so
regularly late every morning. Why
cant he be regularly early?'
Spinsterwise, Miss Smith pondered
those questions until she turned into
the little white painted gate of the
Peterby home. There was garden
crowded with flowers growing rank
ly. and the draperies at the windows
hung awry as If pulled by childish
hands.
"Careless." commented Helen Smith
still spinsterwise.
Her knock at the door brought Bus
ter Peterby, who turned first pale and
then red at sight of her.
Good morning, Buster" said Helen
pleasantly, as your mother in?' /
Come in, please" quavered Buster.
opening the door into disordered
/ kitchen.
Helen stepped inside and paused. ,
N In the middle of the room was a =
washtub Over the tub, scrubbing 9
! valiantly at bits of children's gar {
ments, was big, blond man, whose :
blue eyes met hers without embar- -.
rassment at being found In this fem .
mime employment. baby chuckled
\ on a rug; two little girls were eating .
at the table and Buster had been
I laboriously washing dishes 1t was
8sa busy scene. ,
place a chair for the lady, Bus !
ter said Mr.. Peterby, as he deftly i
wrung out a pink frock.
Its my teacher" whispered Buster :
In an agony of embarrassment. Il =
heen late every morning and she .
wants to see-mother!'
Busters mother went away when :,
the baby came" said Mr.. Peterby :,
gravely, as he resumed his duties with
out apology. II am afraid am poor
somehow Dishwashing and bedmak- 5
ing come awkward to little boy of =
eight" S
Il should think so!' cried Helen
contritely you see, I didn't know r
about it, Mr. Peterby.' +
He nodded. That's the trouble in
this world-folks don't take the trou- E
Bile to understand each other v
II know it: this has taught me a /
lesson. Oh, Mr. Peterby, don't think a
you should pour boiling water an those h
flannels!" protested Helen.
"No?" He hesitated over some mites a
OF white flannel baby garments. 81 g
rotiood uhof my wife naoi to
do" His voice trailed off rather
pathetically. t
sLuke-warm water and white SOAP" c
explained Helen. Then they won't
shrink. and you don't have to starch
be in agony"
Then Horace Peterby took lesson
IN washing clothes that he never for c
got. He stepped back in respectful
admiration before this little lady who {
did not hesitate to risk the daintiness Y
Of her attire in his wifeless kitchen.
When she had finished the lesson
Helen Smith and Horace Peterby were o
fairly we'll acquainted. She could not a
help but like the big, blond, blunder- c
ing young man who was trying to be "
both mother and father to his chill t.
dren. While Buster was In school 1t
was his custom to trudle the baby +
and the twin girls down to the little "
shop, where they remained until Bus S
ter came from school. a
'.Of course the business suffers" IL
sighed Mr. Peterby, as he shook
hands with Miss Smith. p
Helen Smith hurried into the school r
room, quite forgetting that Buster had a
gone on ahead long ago. 1t was half Il
mast nine and she found room full Of Fl
whispering, idle pupils.
She, the dictator, was late herself S
and without excuse. Before the round n
eyed wonderment of her scholars, Miss "
Smith called the room to order and be- O
gan the days lessons. it
Blotting out the rows OF youthful b
faces, Helen Smith saw the Peterby
.lxi4alaar with its nathetic masculine q