Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-03-27
Paul and His
Airship
BY Alice e. Allen.

/
will it really fly, Uncle Paul?' ask
uncle.
said Uncle Paul gloomily. He didn't
tell Paul that his own wonderful aero
plane, by failing to make long en-
pected ascent, had just disappointed
him beyond words. He went back to
his car waiting for him outside the
yard and with a shrill ''Honk!" disap-
peared around the corner.
After Uncle Paul had gone his small
nephew stood for long time looking
at his new airship. 1t had been made
for him by his admiring uncles and
his own father, all of whom were so in
terested in aviation that they talked
about little else.
Pauls airship was really wonder
full toy 1t was quite large enough to
hold a very small boy like Paul. and
if you worked the steering-gear just
as Uncle Paul said, the big white sails
moved up and down and the little ship
moved with them.
"Of course it will fly" said Paul. He
drew deep breath and looked up, up.
up at the feecy clouds in the sunny
blue of the sky. 1T just can't help It,.
Paul had heard SO much about the
10y of flying like great eagle through
the clear upper air that it was no won
der he wanted to try it for himself.
He climbed into the airship and set
the white sails buzzing. The airshlp
sped a little way over the smooth lawn
but it didn't fly as Uncle Pauis did.
Little Paul had been to see his famous
Young uncle make trial trip once.
81 think" said Paul to himself, III IL
was high enough to begin with, 1t
would fly"
Then wonderful plan came to
Paul, At the end of the street stood
Aunt Marcia's house. On the side
which overlooked the public park was
q beautiful tower. 1t had an outside
stairway with landing about halfway
IN. Aunt Marcia was away just now
and her house was closed, but Faul
and Aunt Marcia were great chums,
and she had told him that ne m1gnt
sit on the landing whenever he wanted
to. If he could only get the alrshlp 10
the landing he was quite sure he coulo
make an ascent, and how proud ana
pleased Aunt Marcia would be some
day to think that the first ascent OF
the great aviator Paul Gordon hao
been made from her tower!
Just at this minute, down the street,
with a great clatter, came Marcia
drawing Lily in Pauls express wagon.
Marcia was Aunt Emily's little girl.
She was the biggest of all the cousins
who lived on the street Lily belong
ed to Aunt Lily Except for the
babies she was the littlest cousin. Lily
was a slender flower of a girl, always
dressed in dainty white things when
mustn't be soiled or torn. AS she and
Marcia ratified past, Lily waved her
hand at Paul. Behind the cart trotted
Sambo, Lily's big black cat
Lilly had a pussy cat,
His fur was black as ink;
And everywhere that Lily went,
The cat went too, think"
cried Paul, in teasing sing-song. Then
suddenly "Marcia!" he shouted.
Marcia dropped the handle OF the
cart and turned toward him.
IF Lily will get out Of the cart, he
said "and YOU and she will help me get
nv airship up to the stair-landing at
Amt Marcia's you can see me make
an ascent"
viii it fly-really-truly?' gasped
Marcia. >,
Paul. ~.
Lily was quickly emptied out of the
cart. Somehow or other, between tneh
Paul and Marcia got the a1rshlp 10
Aunt Marcias side yard, and, tugglng
and boosting, got it safely to the lano-
ing. o,
vety green, it's cool paths, its ginning
nond At the entrance, just below the
landing was peanut stand. Giuseppe
who tended it, was asleep in the sun.
Soon he, Paul Gordon, would leave
Giuseppe, the peanut stand, Marcia,
and Lily far behind, and would sail
away away up toward the f1eecy cloud
airships Of the sky.
81 can't take you, Marcia, cause you
are too fat for the airship,' ne SAID
land maybe Aunt Lily wouldn't IKE
me to take Lily, but I guess I'll take
Sanbo."
Sambo was sleepy and settled down
contentedly in the ship. One end OF
Iilv's blue sash was tied to his collar,
the OIl6T was ldSlChCo W SAAS
Of the ship The airship was pusheo
almost to the edge of the landing. Paul
took his place, pulled down his cap
firmly, and set the machinery going,
"Whir, whir, whirrity,' sang the
white sails. The airship moved along
the landing-left it; but instead of go
ing up, up, up, it was the green of the
park and the CLINT of the distant pond
which went up, and Sambo, the airship
and he himself went down, down, down
Sambo reared his back. His eyes were
like green stars. His tail was great
black fluffy plume. "Sp-zz-sz-zzz. sz-zz'
he sputtered. Somebody overhead-it
seemed miles overhead-screamed
wildly. Paul shut his eyes and gripped
the steering gear. The next he knew
q sudden thump sent him flying out of
the airship on some friendly soft sub
stance which turned out to be grass.
A kissing, splitting, soft black object
trailing yards of blue behind it flew
past him like fury. Showers Of small
hard things Melted his head and face