Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-13
How a Little Boy
Became a Big Boy :

I
Mother, the other fellers don
have their kid brothers a-taggin,
around all the time. Jim Sturgis get
some fellow to hold on to his, an,
then he runs or" Edwin locke,
scornfuly down at six-year-old Law
renee, who was trying so hard to b.
a big boy.
1 I'm glad you don't treat your lit
tie brother that way" mother said. /"
should be very much ashamed Of 20,
| il you did,
Edwin's face turned red. He hat
never asked another boy to hold hi
chubby little Lawrence. 1t is true, but
he ran away and left him ever 81
many times! Jim thought that wa.
being smart" but Edwin felt sure
mother would not agree with Jim.
Did you know I was the fastest run
ner In school?" asked Edwin, after a
few moments of thoughtful silence.
No" answered mother. "but need
a boy who can run fast. Fathers new
hat blew down into Abbott's Gully in
the storm last night. He didn't have
time to get 1t on his way to the shop
this morning, so he asked me to send
one Of you boys after 1t this noon.
think boy who can run fast will
have time to get that hat before one
O'clock"
"All right; I'll get IT." and Edwin
pulled on his coat.
Away he ran with his longest
strides, turning now and then to make
sure that mother and Lawrence were
watching him from the window.
When he reached the center Of the
bridge that spans Abbott's Gully, he
peered over the railing. looking this
way and that. He crossed to the other
side, and peered again. He saw ice,
snow, slush, leafless bushes, and trees,
but nothing that could be fathers
good hat, SO he turned about and ran
for home.
Back SO soon!" exclaimed mother
"Why, you've been gone only twenty
minutes! But where's the hat?"
1T isn't there" promptly answered
Edwin. Il guess somebody stole it, or
maybe the wind blew it away"
AS soon as school was out that after
noon all the big boys started off to-
gether. Lawrence and some Of the
other small boys wanted to follow.
but Jim sturgis called back. "All you
kids get along out Of this" and they
dared not disobey jim!
Lawrence, dragging his sled behind
him. was trudging home all by HIM
self when he remembered fathers
good hat, which he still felt was down
In that gully, Just waiting for some
boy to come find it, and he made up
his mind to try what he could do. Law
renee was so short that his chin barely
the railing over which Edwin
had looked so easily. 80 he went
around to the end and leaned over as
far as his arm would reach.
Cant see it." he said to himself;
''but guess It's there, all right. I'm
going to be sure.''
Then he lay fiat on his sled, and
went shooting down over the snow
and ice. The sled did not stop 1T the
foot Of the hill, but went part way up
the other side OF the gully, and then
slid back and tumbled poor Lawrence
into clumb Of bushes. Some of
them scratched his face, but he did
not cry, not he! He might be a little
boy. but he was no baby.
Scrambling to his feet, he began to
look about for the missing hat, and
before very long his bright eyes spied
Il, wedged between the trunks of two
Young trees.
away down under the bridge, where
| couldn't have seen 1t at all, even II
I'd been big. enough to look over the
railing" laughed he, as he pulled the
The hat from its hiding place and
punched it into shape.
To climb out of the gully without
again denting that hat. or for mo-
nent losing his hold on the sled rope.
was not easy for plump boy Of six.
Several times he stumbled, and once
ne fell flat, but finally hat, sled and
BOY all reached the top Of the hill.
Where have you been?" asked Ed
win, as the little brother appeared in
he sitting room doorway, his face
happy under the scratches, and both
lands held behind him.
Down In the gully after the hiatt"
.ried Lawrence. "And here 1t is!"
Thank you. Lawrence, smiled
mother. "Once had just one big boy.
)ut now nave TWO; dig, long DOy, !
md big, strong boy"
Edwin said nothing, then. He Just
rept his eyes on his book and looked
-ery sheepish indeed.
But that night when the light was
blown out and he was sure mother had
losed the door into the sitting-room.
le whispered. Say, Bub. how'd you
ike to be one Of the big fellers?"}
"Id like it," answered Lawrence,
agerly.
II don't believe the Others will
mind II ask EN-" Edwin assured him,
With the lordly air Of the nine-year-old.
And I'll do 1t tomorrow. sure pop"
Maxine Marquet - A New
Junior and Writes a