Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-06
Betty, BILLY, Bruno
and the Little
Blue Bowl
(By Minnie L. Upton.)


In cozy-looking little brown house.
cheerful looking littlA blue bowl, and It
belongs-or belonged-to a round.
cheerful-loking little girl named Betty
Betty Brown.
Betty's Grandmother Goldsmith
brought the little blue bowl to her when
she was q very little girIbrought 1t
from far across the sea to the little
and mother and little brother Billy, and
big, bouncing Bruno. the old New
foundla..e.s
Betty always had her cereal in 1t at
breakfast time, and her soup at noon,
and her bread and milk at night. This
little blue bowl has queer looking trees
on it, and oddly dressed people, with
funny caps. and their hair down their
backs in braids, and there were blue
bridges over blue water, and blue birds
flying here and there. So you see 1t Is.
indeed, a very cheerful looking little
bowl 1t did not match the breakfast
dishes, or the dinner dishes, or the tea
dishes very we'll, but Betty was so sur>
that everything-cereal and soup and
then bread and milk-tasted so mucn
better in that bowl than in anything
else that mother always let her use It.
Betty Is very generous little girl,
usually, but she did not like to let any
one else use the little blue bowInot
even baby brother Billy, whom she
loves so much that she Is always ready
to take care Of him, even when the 9TH
or girls want her to come and play. Yes.
Betty was willing to lend anything but
the little blue bowl.
On spring day, when Betty was nine
years old and Billy was three, she was
amusing him beside the brook that ran
through the pasture and grove away
down back OF the house. Suddenly two
bluebirds flashed by, and flew out OF
! sight among the trees. Betty was eager
to see where they went, for she thought
that then she could tel where hey would
build their nest. So she told Billy to
stay right on the big flat rock where
the rock-ferns grew, and not go one bit
nearer the brook. Then away she ran.
She did not expect to be gone more
than minute. but the birds flew. and
flew, and she followed on so eagerly
that she forgot all about Billy till she
heard him scream. Then she heard
Bruno bark. But it sounded far away
from the brook.
| Oh, how fast she ran back over the
knobs! It seemed to her that she would
never get back to Billy! Finally she
| could see the big flat fern rock-but no
Billy! She ran toward the brook, which
flowed deep and wide with spring rains.
There, In the deepest place many
rods below the big rock, was Bruno,
starting for shore, with Billy held high
above the water. .s. ~
7 20 Billy! o Brunei" cried Betty; and
that was all she could say. She took
Billy in. her arms, and she and Bruno
ran all the way across the pasture 70
the house. ~
20 Billy. o Betty" cried mother:
and that was all she could say.
Billy was beginning to cry. which
was very good sign. Probably his
thick coat had held him up 50 that his
head was not under water. and Bruno
had reached him just in time. Between
them, Betty and her mother ,lndressed
Billy, and put him in hot bath. and
rubbed his chubby arms and legs and
coaxed him to drink hot broth, and
soon was laughing and playing again.
""But, OH sobbed Betty, IF 1t hadn't
been for Bruno-dear, faithful Bruno!'
| Then, without saying word to any
one. she ran to the pantry. and soon she
came out with her little blue howl.
Mother" she said, Il want Bruno to
have it," a
So now Bruno drinks his warm milk
in the precious little blue bowl, and
Betty enjoys seeing him use it very.
\ very much better than she ever enjoyed
using it herself.
! One dav visitor from the city saw
Bruno drinking his milk.
why" she exclaimed how can you
i let a dog drink from such valuable
bowl? That bowl is worth fully five
dollars!"
IT didn't know it was worth so
much" said Betty. but it makes no
Indifference. I wish it were worth then
times as much! Then it would not be
I half good enough for dear old Bruno"
u mo, indeed" said mother. 80 I
When the visitor heard the story she
agreed with them