Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-27
Giving Before Getting

his round little head.
sit quietly by the fire, then, till
come back" she said.
! Here, let me have that stool; you
know it's my turn" Bob spoke rath-
er roughly. Telling Auntie Lou you
were shivering. just to get the best
place! It's my turn!"
There doesn't have to be turns"
Florence chung to the stool with both
both hands and all her weight
"Auntie Lou can say who sits here"
ooh! O-o-h!" Bob appealed, voice
and eyes horror struck, to Katie and
Billy and Jack. who opened their eyes.
too. Just bark at that! There
doesn't have to be turns!"
"O-oh!" they all said, for Florence
had broken their agreement to play
fair about the stool by the fire, next
Aunt Louis chair, as we'll as about
some other things. To carry the case
to a grown-up court was what no one
had ever done before. You're a
sneak, Florence Grant! That's what
you are. We won't play with you any
more!"
NO chorused the others, always
ready to follow any strong lead, I'VE
WON'T"
Florence's lip quivered, but she sat
still on her STOOL
Now, don't any of you go back on
that" Bob went on, sternly. she's
he's-ostercized, that's what she is.
1t means no ones to speak to her, not
for weeks and weeks and weeks!"
This was more than the culprit
could bear.
"You can have it, Bob" She rose,
shakily. IL was only-playing-|
that was all"
"You don't get off as easily as that"
said the still aggrieved Bob; you're
ostercized, for weeks and weeks and
weeks!"
Florence burst into tears.
I'm sorry, Bob" she pleaded, land
and l did shiver!"
was rather rude. II say you cant be
spoken to-"
"Now I'm coming to tell the story"
called Auntie Lou. quite quiet?"
"Sit down." Billy and Katie pushed
Florence back into the chair, saying
to Bob: 1--WE had to speak to her! If
Auntie Lou sees she's been crying.
she'll ask questions"
And there won't be time for a
story added Jack.
Then Auntie Lou sat down and slip
ped her hand on Florence's head. but
Florence, knowing this would vex
them all, shook it off, which must
have puzzled Auntie Lou.
Once upon a time"-they all drew
closer with anticipated pleasure
there lived a king. He was a good
and wise king, but for reason he sell
dom let his subjects see him. Once a
year, however, it was his custom to
appear in the great golden temple, to
which every one might approach
say approach for none might profit
until they had fulfilled certain con.
1ition, which they had to learn when
hey reached the temple grounds
For weeks before this great year
Y festival, people from the farthest
confines of the kingdom journeyed
oward the city of the king. They
stayed at the large inns if they were
.ich, in simple lodgings if they were
Door.
Now in the crowd was beautiful
yirl named Asra. She went eagerly ,
o one of the keepers of the temple
gates and said:
I" What is that the king bestows"
1.-THE gate keeper answered:
I" Pearls of great price, O maiden;
,ut to those who keep such pearls as
hou have, he gives not
"Now Asra looked doubtfully at a
string of pearls she wore. 1t would
,e hard to give them away Yet--for
pearl of great price-perhaps she
night. Still, when her little brother.
Aro, asked her for them, she refused
hough he had none, and it was the
custom for boys also to wear them.
However, when the time came for
Ter to take her place in the long pro- ,
ession. she did so, and her pearls !.
we're hidden under her robe. L
"On the throne sat the great king. !,
His face was of a wonderful beauty, =,
nd sweetness, and strength. BY his !.
ide was a chalice of gold, curioMs!y /,
and filled with great, glim- !
nering pearls. The chalice was not :
arge, nor had II need to he, for AS
asst as one pearl was taken out an
Their miraculOusly filled Its place. :
inc by one, the members Of the pro-
ession knelt before the king. To .
ONE, with smile that seemed to
ne new born with gladness, he gave
pearl. To others he said, while his q
yes grew stern:
:. Thou keepest thine own, there
ore it cannot be that ! give thee a
line!'
when Asra knelt she grew very
frightened for it semeed to her that h
er robe became TRANSPARENT, and she
erself, through the folds, saw the
Ister of her own poor jewels. How =
aint the luster. beside the milky a !.
heen of those others in the chalice! q
he kings words seemed 10 burn in
} her soul: S
+" Thou hast kept the pearls where =
t thy brother hath need; how, then, >
an | give thee mine?'
"She slipped out of the ranks when e
ne rose, and went to the exit gates,
nd paused under an olive tree, O
utching her pearls. She had now