Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-27
When Father Ran
Away

ing makes him tired sometimes.
Grandma knows great many inter-
esting stories, but the most interesting
Of all is one about what happened to
my father long. long time ago, when
he was only three years old
Grandma Burritt has picture of
father the way he looked then. He had
long yellow curls and little suit with
a skirt, but you would know he was
boy, because his hair is parted on one
side; besides. he doesn't look like a
girl anyway. My fathers name is Rob-
ert, but they called him Bobbie then,
and sometimes Grandma Burritt calls
him Bobbie now, though he's a grown
up man.
The story is about how father went
to see Gen But mustn't tell the name
till l get to 1t, because that the sur
prise.
This day my father ran away, but
guess now he's glad he ran, for if he
hadn't run away this story wouldn't
have happened.
It was like this. He had been play
ing out in the yard with his little dog,
Trouble-Grandma Burritt named him
that-and people kept going by and 60
many people were going. By and by
he was tired Of playing with Trouble
and went to sit on the steps. AS he
was sitting there, suddenly he heard
the sound of a band playing. It sound
ed beautiful. Father thought maybe
it was circus. Grandfather Burritt
had taken him to see parade little
while before, and this music sounded
just like the circus bands.
Father ran down to the gate. He
thought perhaps the parade would
come by the house, but 1t didn't come.
Then he thought if he went down to
the corner he might see 1t from there,
so he slipped out of the gate and went
along the street the way all the people
were going. Trouble tagged along be-
hind. When they came to the corner,
there wasn't any parade, but father
was so excited that he kept right on.
The music kept getting louder and
louder until finally father came to
big building with flag in front and
some soldiers and policemen by the big
doors. Crowds of people were going
up the steps. The band was inside.
Father picked up Trouble and the lit
tie dog snuggled under fathers Jacket
Then father went right up the steps
with the rest of the people. He was
behind big man and the policeman
must have thought he was the mans
little boy, for they didn't stop him or
ask any questions. They didn't see
Trouble at all, or probably they would
not have let him go in.
Inside the building the band was way
up in front on kind OF platform and
all the folks were in single file march
ing up toward the front, the way we
march in school, only they went very
slowly and every once in a while the
line would stop.
Finally father peeked around the big
man and way up in front of the building
he could see a man sitting in chair.
He was behind some ribbons fixed like
a fence and there were lot Of flags
back Of him. People were shaking
shook hands they marched on.
The man was short and rather stout,
and he wore beard. He didn't smile
Or say anything, but just kept on shak.
ing hand and looking tired.
When the big man in front of father
came where the man was sitting, !
father heard him say when he shook
hands, How do you do, General
7rant?"
Yes, sir! That's who it was, GEN |
1RAL GRANT! He was President CT
he United States, and he was there !
or political rally.
Father held out his hand, too. He |
ooked up at the President, and he |
said, just as he had heard the big |
nan say, How do you do, General
5rant?'
When General Grant shook hands
with him. there was funny look on
lis face not exactly smile, but
most one,-and he said to the big man, !
is this your boy?"
The big man said, mo" Then what |
10 you think! General Grant reached J
light over the ribbons and lifted father |
lp and set him on his knee He didn't |
say anything, only kept on shaking |
hands with folks. Father didn't say i
anything either. He just sat there and |
ooked at the folks marching by. Trou- |
ole stuck his head out from under |
fathers jacket and pricked up his !
ears; then he just wiggled around and |
vent to sleep. When the President |
saw Trouble. he patted his head, and |
Trouble opened one eye and liked the |
Presidents hand.
After time way down the line, !
father saw grandpa Burritt coming.
He seemed worried and he kept look
ing ahead. All at once he caught sight |
If father sitting on the Presidents
knee. Then grandpa looked astonished,
glad too for he had been afraid father
was lost.
When he reached the place where !
he President was sitting, he shook |
hands with him: then he said, "I'll re-
ieve you of this young man now, Mr..
President. His mother is anxious to
see him. ard the President nodded
Come, Bobbie said grandfather, !
and he swung father and Trouble to
lis shoulder. Trouble wagged his tail,
because he knew grandpa.
Father leaned down from grandpa's
shoulder and held out his hand
"Goody-by General Grant, he said,
I've had a nice time"
This time the General really did