Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-06
OR THE CHILDREN
In Quarantine

Mother Fielder. got the idea when
little jamie had the diphtheria and
was shut up for days and days in the
dig front chamber. upstairs. So we'll
was the room guarded that none Of
the other children took the disease,
and when at last the playthings were
burned, along with the articles used
for the little girl, the big clean room
was safe and opened again. Those
hard days taught them all many
things. and some Of them will last all
their lives; but there were sons
pleasant lessons also.
How does it happen. Martin, that
you get over your pout SO quickly?"
asked Aunt Mary, as she saw her
little nephew put back the tears when
the kitty upset his block house that
had cost him so much work. ''You
are very brave little fellow. I have
seen boys and girls older than six
years cry for an hour over smaller
happening than that. Tell me about
it,"
I'm not brave" said Martin, mop.
ping his eyes, "but I'm afraid of get4
ting in quarantine"
I'm what?" asked the lady, in surs
prise over the big word.
In quarantine You know When
folks are sick and may give the sick.
ness to somebody else, they shut them
up all alone till they're we'll. l don't
want to be shut up"
"But you aren't sick, are your
Mother says it's worse than being
sick to be naughty, and she's always
afraid one of the other children will
catch the naughty. tell you don't
like to be shut up all alone. It's nd
fun
All the children ran to show Aunt
Mary the quarantine room, and she
smiled as she saw the bare little place
that was the hospital for naughty
children. There was a little stool in
the room, but not single plaything,
or picture, or kitty, or anything just
the bare walls. the little window and
the little stool.
Does it take very long to get well
In here?" asked Aunt Mary soberly.
mot very long," said all the chill
dren at once. "We don't have to take
any medicine, but we all get well in
a hurry
"And nobody ever catches the
naughty said little jamie. Mother
hurries us in here as fast as anything
and lots of times nobody knows we
were naughty until we get out. !
haven't been in here for two weeks"
'Well," said Aunt Mary, Il think IT
Is very good plan, and when / get
home I'm going to try it. If ever 4
get cross or naughty in any way. I'm
going into quarantine myself
How the children laughed! Moth
er was never cross or naughty in her
life,'' they said, "and we don't believe
you ever were. Only children have to
go into quarantine"
'I don't know about that said
Aunt Mary, "but I'm going to tell the
mothers of some little children know
about this little hospital think IL
is a lovely idea to keep the naughtl-
ness from spreading, for there is too
much of it in the world now. But I'm
going to have little quarantine FOR
my very own self, so if ever get
naughty can get away from every
body" In
"Save it till we come visiting said
Martin. 1--WE might need it. you
know"
So Aunt Mary promised, but, though
the children have visited her many
times. the little hospital has never
been needed Aunt Mary is thinking
of turning it into playroom, put the
children say they would much ratner
have it as it is The thought OF Is
keeps the naughy away so 1t Is reaily
good for something.