Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-10


from generation unto generation
Well, l didn't mind it at first-when
was the biggest But all of sud
den Fairy grew up and out and around
and one day when was so nearly out
of clothes I hardly felt that l could
attend church any more, she suggest
ed that cut an old one of hers down
for me! At first I laughed, and then
was insulted. Fairy is three. years
younger than I and before then she
had got my handed-downs. But now
the tables were turned. From that
time on, whenever anything happened
to Fairy's clothes so gore had to be
cut, out, or the bottom taken off
they were cut down for me. I still
feel bitter about it. Fairy is dark
and dark blues are becoming to her
She handed down this dress-it was
dark blue then. But was not want
ing dark blue, and l thought 1t
would be less recognizable if I gave
it contrasting color. l chose laven-
der dyed it four times and this is
the result
do the twins dress alike?" inquired
Mrs. Adams, when she could control
her voice.
"Yes-unfortunately for Connie!
They do it on purpose to escape the
handed-downs! They won't even have
hair ribbons different And the result
Is that poor Connie never gets one
new thing except shoes. She says she
can not help thanking the Lord in her
prayers that all Of us outwear our
shoes before we can Outgrow them.
Connie is only nine. Fairy is six
teen and the twins are thirteen. They
are very clever lot of girls. Fairy,
as I told you, is just naturally smart,
and aims to be college professor.
Lark is an intelligent studious girl,
and is going to be an author. Carol
is pretty, and lovable, and kind heart
ed, and witty-but not deep. Shells
going to be Red Cross nurse and
60 to war. The twins have it all plan
ned out. Carol Is going to war as a
Red Cross nurse and Lark Is going,
too, SO she can write book about it,
and they are both going to marry SOL
diers-preferably dashing young gen
erals! Now they can hardly wait for
war to break out Connie Is a sober,
odd, sensitive little thing and hasn't
decided whether she wants to be a
foreign missionary or get married and
have ten children. But they are all
clever and I'm proud of every one Of
of them"
"And what are you going to be?"
inquired Mrs. Adams. looking with
real affection at the bright sweet face.
But Prudence laughed. "Oh, dear,
Mrs. Adams, seems to me if just get
the others raised up properly, I'll have
my hands full. l used to have aims,
dozens of them Now I have just one,
and I'm working at 1t every day"
clared Mrs. Adams you're just
girl yourself" 0,-
81 don't want to go to school,"
laughed Prudence. mot any more.
l like it, just taking care Of father
and the girls, with Fairy to keep me
balanced! I read, but do not like to
study-No, you'll have to get along
with me just the way am, Mrs.
Adams. It's all can do to keep
things going now, without spending
half the time dreaming Of big things
to do in the future"
Don't you have dreams?" gasped
Mrs. Adams. Don't you have dreams
of the future? Girls in books nova
days dream"
Yes, dream" interrupted Pru-
dence, II dream lots, but it's mostly
Of what Fairy and the others will do
when | get them properly raised.
You'll like the girls. Mrs. Adams I
know you will. They really are gift
ed little bunch-except me. But
don't mind It's a great honor for me
to have the privilege of bringing up
four clever girls to do great things,
don't you think? And I'm only nine
teen myself! I don't see what more a
body could want"
st seems to me-" said Mrs. Adams,
that l know more about your sisters