Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-05
How The Boys
Camped Out

Pound, pound, thump, thumpi A little
camp was being made In the hemlock
grove halfway up the hill, while two
excited little boys watched the prepar-
atoms and did their best to help What
/ 10Y to sleep on a bed Of fragrant.
springy boughs, while tho cool night
wind blew round them They could
hardly wait for the time to come.
You see. father and Uncle Frank had
just returned from a camping trip in
the Adirondacks, and as soon as Dick
and his boy friend Tom White, heard
the delightful experiences they were
most anxious to have . camp Of their
own, and sleep In the big out doors,
far away from any cottage Mother
herself made them some warm wooden
sleeping bags. that were to be drawn up
10 the sunburned necks, leaving out
only the curly heads.
That same evening Uncle Frank
! walked to the camp with the little boys,
to see that they were comfortably nxed
for the night. He spread the spicy
boughs evenly, gave flnal pat to the
FOLLY bags, and, blowing out the Ian
tern. left them with only the bright,
i far, or stars to watch over two happy
little lads.
Presently something stirred lightly
the green carpet: soft sound broke
1
singing over the pebbles. Then it be-
came plain purr. and behold there
were three campers. It was the black
kitten, which had followed Uncle Frank
rom the cottage, and now settled down
very comfortably between the sleeping
bags, not meaning, evidently. to desert
his two goods friends
Did they lie awake long, listening to
the noises Of the wood7 think not, for
the very first thing they know It was
daylight, and the east was Frightening
with the glory Of sunrise, They
straightway hurried to their separate
cottages, where they awakened their
sleepy friends to tell them they had
slept splendidly, ana want to spend
most every night" out Of doors.
Sure enough. the very next evening,
soon after sunset. two little figures
might have been seen making their way
up the hill toward tho woods.
"Pooh!" said Dick, in very big voice
I don't care II Uncle Frank couldn't
| come with US tonight. guess we know
everything about camping by this
time
"Oh, yes" replied Tom, ~ hs strobe
along, swinging his lantern. Tn sur&
there aren't any strange Animals in
these woods"
"Tom," continued Dick, boldly, 1T
takes good deal to frighten me. You
couldn't tell mo story that would
make me afraid. When was eight, last
summer. I wouldn't have como way up
here to sleep. You see, I'm nine now.
Longer grew the shadows. The LIGHTS
began to twinkle In tho cottages ut the
foot Of the hill. The little camp became
strangely quiet: 1t had grown quite
dark. In the silence the two boys crept
into their sleeping bags. Queer how
n oy1f "a Pc
the bright sunshine this morning IL
| seemed so very near home; now there
was such long. dark space between
their friends and themselves.
II keep thinking. Tom said Dick,
about that book had for Christmas.
Wild Animals I Have Known-som1
kind Of frightening stories In there. DO
you own that book7"
No answer from the little form at his
side. Tom had fallen asleep, to dream.
perhaps, Of wild animals he did not
ever go to sleep? Dick shut hts brown
eyes tightly and listened to the lonely
murmur Of tho wind in the trees. Whist
strange crackHnGa came from tho deep
or woods above theml o for the So
ciable black pussy
Well, it would be morning very soon.
They must have been in bed hours al
ready. What was his mother doingr
Perhaps thinking Of her little boy
perhaps. A strange choking feeling
came into Dicks throat. He turned and
shook Tom vigorously.
Tom" he said in an uncertain vo4cA
tom, don't feed good. don't. Tve
got queer pain In my chest, and
when I have It must always SEQ my
mother"
lis it very bad?" asked Toms sleepy
voice.
Awful" In a horse whisper. TIN go
ing home"
$50 am then" chimed IN the other
sleeping bags and pulling on sv.aters.
they lighted the big tin lantern, and
were soon stumbling over sticks and
stones on their homeward way. They
separated at the grassy lane, Tom turn
ing in, and Dick, minus the lantern,
keeping on down to his cottage.
Softly opening tho front door, he en-
tered the hall. But what did this mean
The living room was lighted! Was
baby sick? And there sat mother, read
ing by the open fire. looking dearer
why, my little camper! she exclaim-
ed. Home again?" And Dick, with both
sturdy arms around her, told her all.
0 wise mother! O understanding
mother! How comforting to q small
son to learn that she had been thinking
and wishing for him just at tho time
that he had been thinking and wts41ing
for her! 1t was we'll that he came back
to this lonely little mother of his.
Just as she tucked him up in his oW4
soft bed Dick opened drowsy eyes to
ask:
And isn't it most morning, mother -
And smiling, mother answered:
No, dear, no. It's nearly nine
o'clock. Thorn
ViOla's Pets One White Rock