Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-19
Usef illness of Louisa

fully, while Bess and little Mary stood
below and looked up with admrine
faces. The top of the ladder rested
in the loft window, where hills OF
golden hay shone bright from which
Fan-top, the plaid hen, had just
flown with a shrill cackle.
"She must have had while nest
full of eggs" Archie said Watch me
get them for grandmother!'
Selling the ladder that leaned
against the wall a few feet away, he
pushed it into place and climbed up.
Bess and little Mary thought the feat
equal to a circus trick, and wondered
that he could be brave enough to do it.
When Archie had gained the top of
the ladder he clutched the window
iamb tightly, and looked back at his
little sisters. at wasn't hard!' he
cried "You could do it, Bess, and so
could Mary, if she could leave that
rag doll behind"
Mary looked sorry, and gave the
doll Louisa a gentle Pat.
Archie dragged himself across the
windowsill.
"Oh-ho!" he called down Dolls are
not bit of good"
Then Bess and Mary lost sight of
him, while he floundered through the
fragrant, dusty hay, and peered into
corners for glimpse of the creamy
wilderness that would mean a nest Of
eggs. "It's Just like riding the waves!"
he cried. "Now I'm up, now I'm down!
Murray! Here's old Fan-top's nest!
Ten eleven - twelve!"
The next minute he appeared at the
window, carrying the new-found treas.
ure in his hat "Step back, Bess," he
said 'T'm going to pull this ladder
straighter or 1t might slip
It did slip, and fell to the ground
with crash. while the girls scamp
cred to safe distance. Bess and
Mary pulled and tugged together at
the heavy ladder, but they could not
move it an inch, and of course Archie
could do nothing.
He disappeared again.
Don't worry" he sang out. give
found a way here on the inside to
swing down. It's all right"
But he found that though he could
swing himself down, he could not get
the eggs to the ground without break
ing them. He came back to the win
dow. It was supper-time, and how he
did want to walk into grandmother's
kitchen with the hatful of fresh eggs!
Cant you go back and get a basket
and a string?" he coaXed. "Then you
could pitch them up, and I'd lower the
eggs in fifty"
But Bess shook her head. Anxious
as she was to carry home the prize,
she could not, with little Mary and
Louise clinging to her skirts, face that
in the yard.
"That thing won't hurt you" Archie
urged. "Throw Louise at him II he
.ries"
But Bess would not move, and little
Mary shuddered.
He thought while. The barn was
4 long way from the house: calling
would do no good, and besides, he did
aot want to call. 1t was getting late.
There seemed nothing to do except to
climb to earth without his spoils. and
Archie frowned, for he disliked TOT
give up.
Suddenly little Mary came forward
With her precious doll. She'll help
you," she said. and offered her gen
She had no idea how Louisa
could help, but the doll had always
seemed to her very wise.
Archie laughed. Look here he
said. "T do believe | can make that
.ag baby help. Toss her up. Bess!"
Louisa was long and limp. and as
all as a child; she was made OF rag
rom head to foot. The dress she
wore buttoned UP behind, and bagged
oosely at the waist. Louise was not
stylish, but then she was afraid OF
not thing on earth.
Aiming carefully. Bess threw the
loll but little Mary drew sharp
breath of relief when Archie caught 1t, !
In all her long career Louisa had
surely never met with such an ad. !
,enture as this. But she was equal
o it. Three times she was lowered
md drawn up again by means Of a
AXE that Archie had found in the loft, !
md that be fastened into the collar
IF her dress Three times Bess re- /!
,eived her with upstretched arms, I'M
,uttoned the queer frock. and took ont .
he pretty eggs that Archie had stuffed !
nto it. At last the whole dozen was !
,afelv lowered to the ground, and the
Under of them let himself down to
he barn floor.
Louisa stared solemnly from Mary's
owing arms. From her expression
,on would not have thought that she
lad lust done splendid deed. But
3ess smiled and Mary was full OF
,ride when Archie picked mp his eggs
md turned to shake the rag doils
land.
az apologize to Louisa he said. -
Nancy Byrd Turner in Youths Com
,anion.
Hard James Grardfather-