Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-10
Robin S Generosity


Robin came in from school. A big
frosted cake stood over on the dresser
and four lemon pies beside it.
Mother was making cookies at the
table-rhe loveliest cookies, with lots
of raisins in them. and spice. and all
sorts CT good things! Robin peeped
into the big jar to see if there were
any baked Yes. indeed, it was nearly
full
"Oh, goody.' he exclaimed, as he
reached for a crisp one with fat
raisin sticking half out. May | take
some to school this afternoon, mother?
Just this once?"
Robin, don't care to have you eat
much sweet stuff; but you must have
"a few Mother carefully loosened a
yellow bear from the cooky cutter
put 'em in this new paper bag and
I'll have a tea party at recess and We'll
have more fun than anything" For
Robin hadn't found out then, as he
did later on, that tea parties are for
girls" with a scornful emphasis on
girls
THAT will be lovely" agreed moth
err. You can put two of those big
golden pippin apples in your pocket.
since you are to be generous and
divide your refreshments. Now run
and wash for lunch. I'll fix your
cakes in the little bag and set them
on the table ready for you. After
school ! want you to take a bagful to
old Mrs. Smith"
Lunch was ready by the time Robin
got his hands wiped, and mother I'M
tied her apron and took the last pan of
cookies out of the oven and filed the
teakettle and closed the stove draught,
and Robin didn't know what else, be-
cause before that he was in his chair
and had his napkin unfolded.
At school time mother was busy in
the sitting room with Miss Helen. who
had come in to ask about pattern.
Robin went for his cookies. On the
table stood two paper bags, one partly
filled. the other filled to the top with
only little rim Of paper left to screw
into tiny handle.
Robin stood and looked. Which
was for him? Conscience said: Take
the little package, Robin,' You know
mother meant it for you"
Then another voice urged very
loud: mo, the big one is yours, Rob-
in. Mother wants you to be gen.
erous."
Then conscience again: Mother
said a few -
The other voice declared: There
are not many. That little bag couldn't
hold enough to hurt fellow"
Conscience: "Prob'ly the big one is
for Mrs. Smith. anyway
Other voice: There are plenty
more for Mrs. Smith This isn't
enough for her. Mother always sends
her lots"
Robin decided it. II shall take the
most. SO can be generous" he said
aloud. And then he gathered up the
full bag and sped away down the
street as fast as his little fat legs
could go. Once at school he put his
treasure away without glance and
went slowly to his seat. His heart be-
gan to feel uncomfortable. He tried
to cheer himself by thoughts of the
tea party, rumors of which he had al
ready set afioat.
Recess time came at last and with it
many guests to the fiat stone under
the big elm, where complimentary
school feasts were always spread.
The apples were carefully divided
with Robins new jack knife. then the
paper bag lifted and the top untwist-
ed. He didn't stop to look in, for the
cookies didn't seem as interesting as
they had at noon. He turned it upside
down over the paper napkin his teach
err had given him and poured upon it
a pile cf-egg shells!
How they all laughed and leased!
Nothing but the remembrance that he
was a boy kept back the tears. Had
it been done purposely? Mother would
never, never in this world-yet there
were the empty shells. and there were
no refreshments to be generous with,
only the scraps of the golden pippin.
Crestfallen and mortified the poor
little host went back to his seat to
puzzle over problem that was only
solved when he got back home.
''They were to throw away, Robin.
Mother had used a good many eggs
and dropped the shells into the bag to
get them out of the way. Mother new
err gives you as many cookies as that
And mother stroked the disappointed
little head with gentle hand.
Il did know" confessed penitent
voice Il thought | got Mrs. Smiths"
Next day the boys and girls in pri-
mary class No. ! had two luscious
crisp cookies apiece to atone for their
But Robin, who pass
ed them round, saved none for him
self. He and his mother had decided
that the only way to still the voice
that had led him into trouble was to
punish it very hard indeed. so the
family emptied the cooky jar that
week without Robins help. But it
never had to happen again.
l,n1y nd