Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-05
Pretending

steps of the porch watching some little
birds taking their bath in the fountain
he himself had helped father make
They were qharreling and fighting to-
the best places. "See here said the
boy, remember you're birds and no,
pigs and stop your fighting.
Just then the front door opened and
lady stepped out and said pleasantly
"Mr. Piper, there are some weeds thai
must be pulled this morning. Will you
be ready soon?"
ooh, but you know, mother, Mr.
Piper has gone away on his vacation
HAS he? I don't know it,-but
John-o, my son, the wedding must be
done and the sun is getting higher and
higher and it will soon be too warm
to do it"
ooh, but one day won't make much
difference with the weeds, will 1t,
mother?" he asked. But mother had
gone into the house.
If there was one thing more than an
other that John-o hated to do, it was
to pull weeds. John-o's really truly
name was John, and mostA boys with
that name are called Johnnie. but
when John-o was tiny baby the first
sound that he made was TO-" and
when he began to talk every sentence
began with an co." SO they called him
"John-o.". 1t sounded queer until you
got used to it. His other name was
"Mr. Piper" Mr.. Piper was the man
who did odd jobs for the family every
now and then, and as John-o loved to
play he was somebody else than just a
little boy he said one day, 20 mother,
may pretend I am Mr.. Piper when l
am doing things for your
"Why, yes, If you would like to. but
Mr.. Piper is always glad to do every
thing I ask him to. You will have to
be like Mr.. Piper"
That was some time ago. This
morning after John-o's mother lett
him he sat looking at the birds little
longer but he knew those weeds ought
to be pulled, and soon started for the
flower-garden. He thought the flowers
nodded to him as he watched them,
and John-o did love flowers. "Oh, yes,
he said, 81 know what you want, and
you're going to get it, too. These sell
fish old weeds are drinking up half the
water that belongs to you. I'LL soon
stop that"
1t was hot work wedding in the sun
shine, and John-o soon went into the
house for drink Of water. His olderi
sister, Mary, loked up and said,
"Good-morning. Mr.. Piper, it's fine
morning." John-o nodded his head
gravely, Just as the real Mr.. Piper did.
Then he saw his sister coming toward
him with a glass Of notwithstanding
cold lemonade, and he liked lemonade
so much.
"You must be very warm, Mr..
Piper" she said. won't you have some
lemonade?" Then she suddenly re.
membered, and turned away, "Oh. !
forgot, Mr.. Piper Is on his vacation.
John-o was SO disappointed. and ne
didn't know what to say. Then he
smiled and went over to the window.
"Why, Mary, here's Mr.. Piper coming
up the walk. He's just got back from
his vacation, and he is going to finish
wedding that flower-bed this morning"
Then he looked at his mother 20
Mrs. Allen" he exclaimed. II am Mr..
Piper. I've just got back from my
vacation, and if y6N please would
like that glass Of lemonade.
His mother smiled as she gave 1t TO
him. Certainly, Mr.. Piper, am glad
to have it for you" John-o went back
to his wedding very happy little boy.
That afternoon John-o was helping
his mother wipe the dishes, as 1t was
the maids afternoon out. He was
thinking what dear mother she was,
she always understood him. and she
liked to play pretending" just as ne
did. Pretty soon he looked up and
Mother, I was just thinking that when
God gave out the mothers. I'm 80 glad
l got you!"