Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-08
Il Golden Morning

D. OTluk VI, duO tuCh SAioSN 'NN
and say, How refreshing!'
I walked Sweetheart by rolling her
up In her blanket and carrying her to
the window. go,
20 father" she said, her eyes still
dusked with sleep, us it review day.
mo, Sweetheart said. ut is
morning and you are going out to see
the sun rise. But don't make a noise.
Nobody will be up for hours yet and
We must go out on tiptoe!'
Sweetheart was dressed to the &C
compartment of little gurgles or
sound expressive Of intense delight.
Sometimes. when 1 had a safety pin
in my mouth she would give my arm
a quick impulsive hug and say,
''De-e-ear father" This for no par
ticular reason, except that she con-
sidered her own a particularly nice
thing in fathers.
When all was finished we began a
raid on the pantry, with enormous
caution indians on the war trail!)
and captured bread, butter and slices
of ham sufficient for half a dozen.
Presently We were outstde the door
and the dewy GOODNESS of dawn drop
ped upon us like the first dip IN the
sea-.
tits like having your face washed
without water!" said Sweetheart, as
we made our way up the garden walk
between the g]ooseberry bushes and
over the wall. Here l mounted
Sweetheart on my shoulders, for the
grass was long and dewy. Bees, big
and brown. were already booming IN
the fox gloves. and pearls sparkled
on the gossamer suspension bridges
that spanned the path. The sw1tts
were busily arranging their family af-
fairs in long, screaming swoops. "A
little breeze came to us, nltereu
through miles of dewy woodland. 1t
was a good breeze, and smelt OF many
pleasant things. Sweetheart on my
shoulders clutched my hair and gave
it little involuntary tugs, as n o
ed all round the horizon. We were
mounting the heathery hillside ana
there was no trace OF the u TO De
seen anywhere.
I think that, even at the last mo-
Sweetheart expected that ne
might outwit US. But no; the sun had
not stolen a march upon us this time.
Onlv away to the east there was a
kind of fire colored wash In the mol
low between two hills.
81 know" said Sweetheart, who al
ways explained everything, that
his bath getting ready for him. He,s
going to pop up just there" l think
she expected the sui to shoot sudden
" upward like a shuttlecock we'll nit.
At last we had climbed hifh on the
hill crest where the rocks were dry
and crisp for the feet. l set sweet
heart down. The wash ~of easterly
fire had grown rapidly larger. 1t
spread to the higher clouds, whlch
faxed with sea shell PINK. Bars
of crimson gathered across the suns
if the horrid things woulo
keep him down if they could" she
said. Then she grew a little trlgnten-
ed at the image she had conJured up:
But they won't, will they, father
. I treasured her on this o and we
waited. We had not, however, long TO
wait now. A red rim, a sort or husn
as the hilltop whirled into the wester-
Nv bound wave of light, our shadows
rushed gu thirty yards behind US. -
and he sun rose. At the same moment
q black cloud OF rocks was hung high
into the air from the woods about the
hall and drifted noislly away toward
the turnip fields.
Sweetheart did not say a word till
all was over. Then she drew a long,
long breath Of raptest pleasure.
How quietly he does it," h SAID
I could not help 1t. l v can
when Sweetheart speaks thus med1-
tatively. I am bound to improve the
occasion. It must be some OF the
westminster Catechism" In my blood
the reasons annexed" as 1t were.
"All the great things in the world
are quiet" 1 said very se~ntentiously,
dawn, spring, sleep, love-" Il was
going to add death bu retralned.)
But the birds sing out loud OBJECT
ed Sweetheart, in a cavalier manner:
"And, please, if you don't mind, so Will
I. didn't have time to say my pray
ers this morning, you see. So this Is
instead"
"You can say them now" I suggest
ed.
moo" Sweetheart gave the mat
ter due consideration, mo but l
shall sing a little song instead
"And what shall it be, Sweetheart?'
Sweetheart paused, finger on lip.
telling over, as I thought, her roll call
of morning hymns. .,,
81 think "Bonny Dundee is best
she said at last.
Alas. that such a thing should be In
q, Roundhead and Covenanting house
hold. But certain it Is that on this
morning Sweetheart's pray
ers were compounded for by the stir
ring strains of Sir Walters ballad:
"To the lords of convention twas Cla-
ver's who spoke,
Ere the kings crown shall fall, there
are crowns to be broke:
So let each cavalier who loves honor
and me
Come follow the bonnet O. bonny Dun
dee!'"
After all, it did not greatly matter.
The child's voice carried the intent OF
worship where many more orthodox
hymns do not reach.
"And now" said the Sweetheart,
a sharp change Of expression,
use hungry 5e. ~
We sat down by a crystal spring In
high, brave morning air, and