Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-19
Saint Valentine On
Stills

as she tlattened her nose against the
window pane in vain attempt to dis
cover the postman's horse coming uT
the street.
1t was indeed unfortunate to have
such furious storm set in on the day
before Saint Valentines day. Judith
looked about ready to cry as her moth
er said she didn't see how it was pos
sible for the rural delivery team to
plough through the drifts that had
piled up during the night.
perhaps the postman will leave his
horse at the postoffice and use stills:
have seen it DONE Uncle Ben re-
marked.
"A postman on stills. Why, Uncle
Ben, who ever heard of such a thing"
exploded Cameron.
Il have just said that I have seen
such a postman,' Uncle Ben replied.
1T is common thing to use stills in
certain sections Of France. These
postmen grow to be very expert on
their stills and can get over the
ground quite rapidly with them"
How do they carry their mail?''
queried Judith.
IN large bag slung over one
shoulder. They carry long cane in
one hand with which to steady them
selves: for their stills are somewhat
crude affairs strapped to their legs
just above their knees. with notches
for their feet to rest upon"
What lark it must be for the post
man, burst forth Cameron. Most
as good as snowshoeing," he declared
The anxious watch for the rural de-
livery team still continued. Although
the gale seemed to be somewhat abat-
ing. no attempt had yet been made to
break out the roads. which remained
an unbroken blanket of white.
The street upon which the Mere
diths lived was rather unfrequented,
and it was useless for the children to
think of sending their valentines
around as long as the mail service
had disappointed them.
Suddenly Cameron slipped quietly
out of the room. Ruth and Judith
continued to fondle their valentines,
vainly hoping that Mr.. Peters and old
John might at the very last minute
be seen plcughing their way through
the snow as they had done so many
times before.
Just as Ruth was craning her neck
for the hundredth time, it seemed, the
sitting room door was flung open. and
a startlingly tall figure stood grinning
just outside. Too tall to enter, the
81 scfsI Il
and said in voice copied from their
obliging letter carrier: Anything for
the mail. young misses? Any valen-
tines, for instances, that you'd like to
send OFF,
Cameron Meredith, what have you
been doing?' Judith fairly flung the
question at her brother in her aston
"Oh, rummaging around in the at
,ic. Don't you remember the summer
hat l wandered around on some stills
hat Uncle Ben made for me after he
got home from abroad? I wonder |
hadn't thought of them when he first
mentioned that old French postman.'
well, what are you going to do
race around the house on them?
There isn't much prospect of your get
ting anywhere else with them, just
now,' Judith retorted.
Pm going to mail your valentines.
if you'll allow me to-" Cameron fired
back.
ooh, Cameron, do you think you
could?'
Judith had instantly dropped her
fippant tone. If her valentines could
only reach their destination, stills Or
anything else might get them there,
she thought.
"Of course I can. What's to pre-
VENT"
Mother might object. You know
you had fall that summer, and hurt
your head cautioned Ruth.
"Oh, well, that was because | was
careless. Besides, you can't hurt your
head in SNOW" Cameron confidently
asserted.
When consulted, Mrs Meredith con-
sented, and Cameron started forth
with his mail bag, slung by strap
over his shoulder.
A passer-by on day like this was
sure to attract attention. Faces alive
with curiosity adorned many win
dow when a couple of tall sticks sur
by a boy were seen plough
ng through the snow, and when this
unusual apparition stopped at a gate
and strobe boldly up the walk and
knocked at the door, why, then curios-
ity was at fever pitch.
It's Cameron Meredith, sure as you
iye!' Clara Hicks asserted. ell bet
he is carrying around Ruth's and
Judith's valentines!" she cried, rush
ing to the door.
Cameron had learned SO well the
art of stilt-walking during that long
summer of practice that it was readily
taken up again. From house to house
he plodded until his stock of valen-
tines was exhausted. But for every
one taken from the bag he was given
one to put into it, so that it was as
full when be got home as 1t had been
when he started out.
1t was by far the most interesting
rural delivery outfit that had ever
been seen in that section of the coun-
try. The children in the houses
round about all declared that they had
never before enjoyed a Saint Valen-