Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-13
Barbara's Beads

1t was an out-of-doors wedding. un.
der the big elm trees. Barbara was
going to carry the wedding ring. in
the heart Of rose. And mamma
said she might wear her new pink
beads-the beads Barbara herself
helped make Of cornstarch and salt
How that salt would sparkle at the
i wedding
Twas always the best good time OF
the year, anyway, to g. to Cousin
Caroline's, though Barbara was afraid
Caroline had been too busy for pets
this year.
As soon as her travelling hat was
of she tiptoed to tho brides door
did you have time for pets, Cousin
Gardiner Barbara asked doubtfully.
"Oh, yes said Cousin Caroline
"A cosset lamb. It was SO weak and
chilled that father brought 1t into the
house and kept it in box behind the
stove. fed it milk from a bottle.
just like baby, for a long time"
"Oh-ee!" cried Barbara rapturous-
ly. May see it?"
"It's In the pasture now. Run out
and find 1t; but be sure to latch the
gate tight behind you, because tho
lamb is used to following me every
where, and might come to the we'd
ding!"
Barbara rushed OF. She crossed
the brook and climbed the farther
bank, crushing spicy spires Of penny
royal. She stopped and picked
handful. On the crest she found the
lamb, white and woody and friendly.
1t shifted her bunch Of herbs and
didn't like 1t. Barbara hunted white
clovers so hard to tempt it to eat from
her hand that she even forgot the
wedding Not until she heard NAM
ma calling across the field did she re-
member. She mustn't be late. Why,
maybe they couldn't be married with
out her!
Barbara raced back to the house and
hurried into her white dress. The
long, glittering string Of beads hung
round her neck. Last Of all, she took
in her hand the rose, Just the color of
her beads the gold ring almost hidden
in its pink petals. Then Barbara step
ped to her place next the bride, and
the procession started.
Barbara bore the ring very care
fully. She set her feet down ginger
ly. lest her white slippers trip over
an uneven spot in the lawn and jolt
the ring out Of the rose. She was
glad when the march ended under the
elms, and that danger was past. But,
oh. my! how big thorn in the stiff
stem did prick! She didn't dare to
unclasp her hand for fear she might
1. ~ =;
the ring into the grass and be lost.
With sigh of relief she saw the
ring safe on the brides finger. She
dropped her tired hand at her sire.
and eased it from the sharp prick
of that thorn.
"Tll press the rose and keep it al.
ways to remember the wedding by.
thought Barbara. 1T will be keep
sake"
Neither Barbara nor any of the rest
heard the soft thud of little feet over
the thick turf. But Barbara felt a
tug at her hand She looked down.
The lamb! And eating her rose!
Barbara opened her mouth-and
shut it. She mustn't interrupt the
ceremony in the very solemnest part
She ierked her hand away, but too
late. Every one of the fragrant pink
petals was eaten. The lamb stretched
up it's neck for the big, juicy green
leaves Barbara lifted the leafy stem
beyond it's reach. The lamb leaned
against her, but she only thought how
quiet and good it was now.
Suddenly she felt pull on her
neck The lamb was eating beads
her beautiful sparkling beads! 1t
liked them better than rose leaves.
That was why it had kept so still. 1t
was swallowing more and more of the
string, and dragging her head down.
The minister's voice stopped. Every
one moved. my beads!" said Bar
bara. "The lamb is eating my
beads!" The bridegroom sprang to
help. He broke the thread that
strung the beads and freed Barbara
from the lamb.
The rest Of the beads slipped on
and rolled into the grass, where the
lamb hungrily nosed them out and
swallowed them.
.It was the salt in the beads ex-
planned Cousin Caroline, wiping away
Barbara's tears. ''You know there's
nothing sheep love like salt. Once
the lambs tongue tasted that, it
wouldn't let go. But how did that
lamb ever get out of the pasturss
she wondered.
Barbara's face grew as pink as her
lost beads.
I-Pm afraid forgot to latch tho
gate" she faltered.
"Never mind" said Cousin Caroline.
"I'm glad my little cosset lamb came
to the wedding after all. Too pad
about the beads but here is bride
rose from my own bouquet for your
keepsake