Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-04
Madeline Madigan's Com
position, "A Sad Story"

Dear Juniors:
' I will write one of my school compo.
sitions. The name Of it is "A Sad
, Story"
One summer day a rich family was
sitting on their lawn when a message
came. Mrs. O'Leary tore 1T open ana
read it's sad tidings:
Milwaukee, Wis, July "a, 1896.
1874 State st.
Mrs. O'Leary:
Your sister is very sick; not expect
ed to live. Come.
Friend Ada Merton.
Mrs. O'Leary did not know what to
do as her husband was at work and
they did not expect him until night.
last he appeared. Mrs. O'Leary handed
him the message which he read. He
told her she might go and the maid
would take care Of the children until
she returned. Mrs. O'Leary started the
next morning, leaving her children IN
sorrow.
The maid prepared the children for
school and they were soon ready n
soon busy studying their lessons.
Their mother had a long trip which
was very tiresome for her.
At last she reached the home of her
sister, who seemed better.
A few weeks later she wrote to her
husband telling him that she would
have to go to the south with her
sister. A trip which woul take about
a week and then she would come home.
The children hearing this We're very
glad because their lear mother was
Mrs. O'Leary vas getting ready to go
to the south with her sister. After a
few days they started. 1t took about
three days to arrive at their destina-
ton.
After they were there and her sister
was settled in a very nice place she.
turned her steps homeward. After a
long trip she reached home.
Her children were very glad. Every
thing seemed to tighten up now be-
cause their dear mother was home. Her
husband had been at work all day
and had just returned from work. He
was very glad to see her.
He told her that everything seemed
dull while she was gone, but now she
brought sunshine into the house again.
A few months after this Mrs. O'Leary
became very i'll. Her husband had to
neglect his work in order to remain
with her. For several weeks she linger-'
ed between life and death.
One morning Mr.. OLeary came In
to see his wife and she was on the
point Of leaving this world. He sent for
the doctor who came Immediately. He
told the grief stricken man that
she would not live to see the day end.
Mr.. O'Leary went and brought his
children in to their mothers room. She
told them that she was ready to die
any minute Of the day. At three o'clock
she passed away, leaving the two chill
dren. After the poor mother had been
laid in her last resting place the father
sent his children to an academy, a
place which they liked very well.
After a few weeks when they were
there they wanted to come home, but
their father would not let them. He al
most cried to see his poor children.
AS the years passed on their father
was getting old. His daughters were 16
and 20 years. They came home and
took care of their dea father.
One morning they came into waken
him. He would not move, sc fearing
that something was wrong they
sent something was wrong, they
man was dead. And now these two
girls had all they wanted. They did not
care for the world any more. One
joined the Sisters of Charity and the
other the Sisters Of Mercy. Now living
In a poor convent all for our dear Lord
who had given them to drink so deeply
from his chalice Of sorrows.
Madeline Madigan, age 10,
81 West Mill ST., Ottumwa.