Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-02
T,Do Braue Boys

"You haven't forgotten Jimmy. have
YOU Edward?" asked mother.
Edwards look was very interesting
] and he kept On reading.
| edward, it's almost nine O'CLOCK.
yon haven't forgotten Jimmy, have
vou?" repeated mother little louder:
! Edward looked up half guilty. ts
lot of bother, mother.
yes. but you promised, Edward. and
Jimmy watches for you every morn
ing" ,o,,
Edward flipped the pages OF his book
| hack and forth THE day he was hurt
7 thought II would be easy to go over
every morning and now l-somet,mes
it's an awful bother. How much longer
will he have to stay in bee? III,
I'm sure l don't know, replied MS
mother. , 49,
| He doesn't even sit up yet. Inc w.
tor comes every day to fix his leg, ana ti
II hurts him like everything after all
this time WHY it may be weeks before
he's really we'll I--I-mother, l wish
hadn't promised What is the use In
! going every morning.
| : "Yol promised to go every morning
| during vacation, Edward, and a prom
Use should be KEN always, unless you
| have very good reason for preahlls
it. There is nothing to excuse you from
| made by a kind hearted boy to his pest
churn. and of course it must be kept.
Edward closed his book slowly, put !!
on the table, picked up his cap anu
started to make his morning WISH "
Jimmy. Mothers right, OF course ne
said to himself as he walked along, ou'
7 wanted to finish that book this morn
inp T had to leave that brave boy fight
ing the bear. N.Y. wouldn't have run!
F, 7 uyiSh 7 was brave enough to tackle a
| bear" r.,
! "Come right in, Edward" said jim
mv's mother We're waiting for you.
| r want to go down street on an errand.
and ii you're here with Jimmy won
worry bit. III not be gone long.
She hurried away. and EDWARD SAT
down beside the bed and began to tell
him about that brave boy and the pear
| in the story-book
THE door opened and the doctor came
in. "We weren't looking for you until
after dinner" said Jimmy, land moth
err went down street ;,
''Well. we'll get along all right, sald
the doctor, cheerily. Edward can help,
and we'll have it done before you can
say scat. ;"
| without mother?' Jimmy faltered.
| "Why, YES, Jimmy. Let's surprise
mother. Just think how happy she'll be
when she comes back and hnds tnat
| your sore leg has teen dressed ana
| that / said it was better, and that you
were SO brave, and all that. Why, she'll
sing Yankee Doodle the rest or the
| day. Edward can take your mothers
| place g :.
| Edwards heart thumped just as II IT
| would break clear through. he Ielt
weak and shaky, but there was the doc-
tor telling him what to do and taking
cheerfully to Jimmy between times. Ed,
l hut NC nara
and grip the edge of the bed, but ne
heard no sound. eff Jimmy can do MS
part, l ought to do mine" he thought:
So he braced up and was very careful
to do Just what the doctor said.
Now, Edward" said the doctor, you
can talk to Jimmy for a little bit. Tel
him something very Understanding
most wonderful thing you ever heard
Of"
| Edward could think of nothing more
! exciting than that brave boy and the
| bear-the story he had begun to tell
| Jimmy Just as the doctor came In. 1t
was very thrilling. Edward talked as
| fast as he could, and the tighter Jimmy
held his hand the faster Edward talked
and the more exciting the story grew.
''Wouldn't you like to be as brave as
that, jimmy" asked Edward. Brave
enough to walk right up to bear,
double up your fists, shut your teeth
tight, and tackle him?'
| II couldn't I'm not brave enough.
I'm coward" Jimmy's voice was
| jerky. Gould you?"
| Edwards voice was jerky too. He knew
Jimmys leg was hurting. mo, I could
not he hurried on. I'm not Draye,
either. I'd run as fast as l could. I'm a
dreadful coward, Jimmy. / guess were
both towards"
There boys, it's DONE" said the doc
tor. Getting along fine. l believe that
the worst is over. Jimmy. Lucky you
! happened to be here, Edward. I really
don't know what we should have done
without YOU"
Edward comes to see me every
morning" said Jimmy.
/ Every morning." asked the doctor,
raising his eyebrows.
Yes, he hasn't missed single lnorn-
ing replied Jimmy.
well, now call that fine declared
the doctor. smiling at Edward. What
if you hadn't come this morning"
| The doctor put one hand on Jmmy's
| head and the other on Edwards Shout
der as he stood beside the bed. and say,
let me tell you this-I think you're the
bravest boys l ever saw. I'm proud to
| know you. You're away ahead of that
| boy in the story book. The bravest boys
are not always found in story books
just remember that; and they're not al
| ways found fighting bears, either.
| Thank you for helping me, Edward, I'm
| glad you were here"