Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-18
PRUDENCE
OF THE PARSONAGE
THE FAMOUS STORY OF AHAPPY FAMILY
by Azbe/Aztesfo1z
AMOUS STORY OF AHAPPY FAMILY
Corv,,cu, 1918 brru. po,,s-k.s.... Ca.

herself.
"Etiquette!' she gurgled. Ell
quette! There's no room for such a
thing in a parsonage see that"
1t speaks well for. the courage of
Babbie and the attractions of Fairy
that he came to the parsonage again
and again. In time he became the
best of friends with the twins them
selves but he always called them 1.-The
adorables," and they never asked him
why. The punishment inflicted upon
them by Prudence ranked In their
memories for many months. Indeed,
upon that occasion, Prudence fairly
surpassed herself in the ingenuity she
displayed. The twins considered
! themselves very nearly as grown-up as
Fairy and the fact that she was a
young lady, and they were children,
filled their hearts with bitterness.
They never lost an opportunity Of
showing their independence where she
. was concerned. And with marvellous
! insight, Prudence used Fairy as her
weapon of punishment-in fact, the
twins called Fairy the "ducking STOOL
! for many days.
THE offense was against Fairy"
said Prudence, with a solemnity she
did not feel, land the PREPARATION must
be done to her. For three weeks you
must do all of her bedroom work and
run every errand she requires. More
7 over, you must keep her shoes we'll
!. cleaned and nicely polished, and must
| do every bit of her darning!"
The twins would have preferred
whipping thousand times. They felt
they had got whipping's worth of
pleasure out of their mischief But q
punishment like this sat heavily upon
their proud young shoulders, and from
| ly immune from their pranks.
But Prudence did not bother her
head about etiquette after that expert
ence. I'm strong for comfort" she
| declared, "and since the two can not
live together in our family, l say we
do without etiquette"
And Fairy nodded In agreement,
| smiling good naturally.
CHAPTER VIII.
The First Dark Shadow Of Winter.
! Prudence and Fairy stood in the bay
window Of the sitting room, and look
ed out at the thickly falling snow. AL
ready the ground was whitley carpet
ed, and the low branched peach trees
| just outside the parsonage windows
were beginning to bow down beneath
their burdens.
isn't it beautiful, Prudence?" whis-
J pered Fairy. Isn't it beautiful? Oh,
love 1t when it SHOWS"
Eyes, and you love it when the sun
shines, too,'" said Prudence, land
when it rains, and when the wind is
blowing. You have the soul of poet,
that's what is the matter with you.
You are nature fend, as Carol would
say"
Fairy turned abruptly from the win
dow. Don't talk for minute, Prue
Il want to write
So Prudence stood quietly in the
window, listening to the pencil scratch
ing behind her.
Listen now, Prue-how is this?''
Fairy had clear expressive voice, "a
bright voice." Prudence called it. And
as she read her simple lines aloud, the
heart of Prudence swelled with pride.
To Prudence Fairy was a wonderful
girl.
Good night. little baby earth, going to
sleep,
| uCheu III yput UldAhetS, oil "oolly
and deep.
Close your tired eyelids, droop your
tired head,
Nestle down sweetly within your
white bed.
Kind Mother Sky, bending softly
above,
Is holding you close in her bosom of
love.
Closely she draws the white coverlets
warm,
She will be near you to shield you
from harm.
Soon she will set all her candles
alight,
To scatter the darkness and save you
. from. fright, ISL. .....-.as
Then she will leave her cloud door
way ataA