Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-22
OTTUMWA, WAPELLO COUNTY, IOWA
Jamie S Shopping

that his mother had laid out for him &c
put on before going on an errand loi
her. -,
Mother, are all my blouses blue?
he asked.
why, yes, dear, believe they are.
his mother said. "All except the White
ones that you have for best -,
jamie slipped his arms Into .ne
blouse sleeves and went over TO tne
mirror to fasten the front buttons.
why do you want to know, DEAR
his mother asked.
II was thinking" said jamie. OF the
pink stripes in Harold's new blouse-a
big pink stripe with tiny one Gloss
beside it. Oh, they're just beautiful!
And they go round the other way doWr
at the ends of the sleeves"
Jamie's mother looked at Jamie foi
a moment with a little smile. "Wner
you go down to the store for my
thread" she said. how would you like
to choose the material for a new
blouse?"
Choose Just what I'd like" CRIED
jamie, turning swiftly from the mirror
"Oh. do you suppose they would nave
something with pink stripes?'
I" I think So" said his mother. Yes
you may choose just what you like, anc
l will make 1t up for YOU"
Half an hour later jamie stood 1r
front Of a counter In the dry-Eoodf
store. and looked at the rows OF soods
on the shelves. He saw piece OF clotf
that might have been the very one from
which Harold's new blouse had beer
cut There were the pink stripes, biz
and little: Jamie could see how they
would look going round at the ends OF
his sleeves.
what will you have this morning
Jamie?" a girl behind the counter
whom Jamie knew as Miss Proctor
came over to ask.
Il want q blouse-I mean some clotf
for blouse" said Jamie, backing ava,
a little from the hand that Miss Proc
tor tried to put under his chin.
"Oh, doing your own shopping" are
youc" said Miss Proctor, laughing
Well l happen to know. what little
boys like for blouses, particularly lit
tie boys with blue eyes. There, isn't thai
pretty?"
Miss Proctor had reached up while
she talked, and lifted down piece OF
goods that she spread out for Jamie tt
see. The cloth was blue, as blue as the
bluest of Jamie's blouses.
Dent you think that's pretty?'
Miss Proctor urged.
cS IL 10, JaIlllc o6lSOO poliSiSAJ.
But perhaps your mother told you tt
get some special piece" Miss Proctor
said as she lifted her scissors.
"Oh, no." jamie said hastily. "She
said 1 might get anything I liked"
That's lovely" Miss Proctor ex.
claimed. We'll, I'm sure you'll like this
See it exactly matches your eyes! Ant
she leaned over to hold a fold Of the
goods under JAMES chin.
She was standing directly between
jamie and the pink striped goods
jamie did not know what to do.
This blouse that have on is blue,
he murmured.
Eyes. I see," said Miss Proctor, smil.
ing. How many yards does it take tc
make you blouse, do you know"
Mother said two yards and a half,
said Jamie. II have several blue blouses
at home he added, a he saw Miss
Proctor lift her scissors again.
Have you?" said Miss Proctor. arb.
sently
Snip! Jamie did not know that scis-
sors could go through cloth as fast as
Miss Proctor's scissors went though
the blue piece-there was only a bright
streak. And then there was Miss Proc.
tor sticking them into her pocket
again. and folding up the two and q
half yards Of goods. while she said il
business like way Anything else"
Jimmie swallowed hard. MOO" he
said. "Oh, yes there was! I want two
spools of white thread. number sixty
And mother said to please send the
slip inside the package"
Jamie stood still while Miss Proctor
went to get the thread. He could SEE
again the pink-striped goods on the
rI, " ~ s~11 A~i@ -
eyes andother way, but they came
back. He jumped when Miss Proctor
spoke close to him. What are 20,
looking at Janice
why. only that piece Of pink striped
CLOTH" Jamie confessed.
Miss Proctor stood tapping her lips
with the points Of her scissors. die
you say" she asked. with queer little
smile, that you have another blue
blouse at home?"
And then all at once it seemed not t.
matter that the piece Of blue cloth hat
been cut-at least Miss Proctor sale
that it did not matter-and here wa:
another quick flash Of the scissors. ant
Miss Proctor rolled up the thread in
side two and a half Yards Of the pinl
striped cloth. while she laughingl!
agreed that the big and little stripe!
would be beautiful going round at tn,
ends Of the sleeves.
Jamie Rugged his little bundle clos,
and stood still by the counter for
moment with Miss Proctor's hand un
der his chin. He did not try to turf
away as he had done before.
II think" he confided. that I mus
have had hundreds Of blue blouses
Maybe not that nanv" he corrected
himself "but all of them except thu
white ones have been hlue-till now
Stella Dysart in the Youths Compan
iCn
NV Rest Friend Reatrict