Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-15
Gemila, the Child of the
Desert - BY Alma
MuldOOn

Dear Juniors:
AS have not written to the Junior
page for long time I will send in one
Of my school compositions. The name
Of this one is "Gemila, the Child Of the
Desert"
1t Is evening in the desert and Abdel
Hassan, an Arab. has just come out Of
his tent to enjoy the cool evening breeze.
The evenings in the desert are very
pretty. The deserts are so sandy and
bare that when the moon and stars
shine on the sand it makes it look very
pretty. .a.
Gemila. Abdel Hassan's little daugh-
ter and her little brother Alec are
bringing their father drink Of the
cool water from the spring. which runs
through the oasis where they live.
Their mother is in the tent getting
their supper. Instead of sitting on chairs
the Arabs sit on little mats. In the
middle of the day when the sun gets so
hot they can not work they sleep.
Their home Is not a house like we
live in, but Is a tent which has par
tition to mark off two rooms, one for
the men and one for the women and
children. It hasn't any wooden door to
close but the laps which serve for a
door are closed, and the tent is turned
with its front away from the sun.
Their home is in grassy place in the
desert called an oasis. which has a
spring running through it, with tall
palm trees standing around 1T. Their
food is of dates, bread and butter. They
do not eat off of dishes as we so, so
they don't have any dishes to clear up
and put away.
In the morning before the sun is up
A. ~fo ~t
across the desert, to find another home.
They pack their tent and things and
put them on the backs of the camels.
= The camel is very patient animal.
It is used to carry things across the
desert, because it can drink enough
water before it starts that 1t does not
have to stop on the way for more. The
Arab servants fill bags made Of camel
skins full Of water and bags made or
goat skins full of milk. These they
hang on the side of the camel Soon
they are on their way across the
desert Abdel Hassan is at the head
with his beautiful black horse, His
wife, little daughter Gemia and little
son Alec are on the back of camel,
while the servants are walking bare
foot in the hot sand, driving the camels
and goats.
On the first day when it is along IN
the middle of the forenoon the men,
women and children pull their large
lace edged handkerchiefs down over
their heads and shut their eyes to keep
out the binding sun. At noon they
stop because it is so hot. They put up
their tent and Abdel Hassan, his chill
dren, his wife, and his beautiful black
horse all 20 into the tent, while the
servants, camels and goats have to
- Sv,1 hn rNN A
time they have mot seen man Of any
kind. .t... ..
Along in the evening they eat their
supper and start again. AS they are rid
ing along they see a long legged bird.
It is an ostrich. We might not know
what it was if we were to see one, but
Gemila has seen lots Of them and
knows what 1t is. The ostrich Is very
long legged bird with very beautlfui
feathers. People catch ostrichs for their
feathers to use for plumes for hats. The
ostrich can run os that man on
horseback cannot catch it. But 1T Will
run a little way and hide it's head In
the sand, because it thinks that If 1t
cannot see you, you cannot see it. Then
the men will run and catch it. Abdel
Hassan hasn't time to go hunt for lts
nest, but he sends one of his servants.
Gemila watches with delight when all
at once she sees the servant stoop and
pick something up. You would wonder
what it was but Gemila doesn't. She
knows that he has found nest OF os-
trich eggs. Gemila. is glad because she
thinks they will have fresh eggs for a
while. One of the ostrich eggs is
large enough for a good meal for a
large family.
1t is evening now and they are ready
to start. They go until about the MD
die of the night. Then they stop and
rest. 1t is morning now and they are
ready to start again. And today they
see row of black dots They are
camels and men. They ride on until
they meet the man and his camels. he
is Sheik Hassien. He has just come
from the city with a lot Of goods. Abdel
Hassan rides forward and taking the
hand Of the Sheik presses 1t to MS
mouth saying, Peace be with YOU"
Abdel Hassan tells about his journey
and Sheik tells him that he has JUS,
left an oasis and that he can reach II
in days journey. Then they start on.
AS soon as the camels and goats
smell the cool water they start on 6
run and the servants have to hurry tt
keep up with them. They unpack thell
things. put I'D their tents and are soor
at home.
Alma Muldoon. age IL.
Ottumwa, a., r. NO. ..
Mamie Suckers Grand
n W.