Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-19
The Magic Spec
tacles
Winifred Arnold.

| VINO never naQ any opportunities.
Other girls had chances to travel or to
become wonderfully educated, or to do
; something heroic for their country, or
to give away great deal of money, or
even to earn some-but she had none
at all She lived in small town
where the schools weren't particular
ly good; and she was too young to go
abroad and nurse the soldiers: and her
father hadn't much money to give
her. for he was poor country min
ister--anG worst of all. how could she
earn any? No. certainly If there was
ever girl who had no opportunities,
she was the one.
She was sitting one day on fallen
tree by the roadside, weeping about
this, when little old woman came
along. She was brown and wrinkled
and bent; but her eyes were kindly
and her smile was sweet and sympa-
'thetic, so when she stopped and asked
what was the matter, the girl told her
all her troubles.
Dear me, dear me- said the old
woman then" No opportunities at all?
That certainly is sad Why thought
everybody had some. Are you sure
you know them when you see them.
my dear?"
The girl was indignant at the mere
suggestion of such an idea. Why,
of course do!' she cried. Anybody
knows an Opportunity when she sees
one. The trouble with me is that I
never have any to see"
| WELL" said the old woman. and she
smiled very pleasantly as she spoke,
II have here pair of spectacles that
think are perfectly wonderful for
seeing Opportunities. Would you not
be willing just to slip them on and
try them out while we walk down the
street together? I'm curious to see
| whether they are good for everybody,
| or whether it's just my imagination"
"Oh, certainly. if it would be any
favor to YOU" said the girl politely,
| and she slipped the spectacles into
place and off they started
1t wasn't three minutes before she
was clutching the old woman's arm
in great excitement.
ooh, .ook!" she cried See that
man over there! There's perfectly
fine opportunity standing right beside
him and he's looking over its head
and doesn't see it at all. must run
and tell him"
But the man smiled patronizingly
as he shook the girls hand off his
arm
my dear young lady" said he, "Op-
portunities are like angels. They come
by their wonderful shining wings.
can't stop to look at you must keep
f,,rn I'd &c
he spoke, his own Opportunity slipped
back into the ground, whence it had
come.
Men are so stupid sighed the
girl. as she went on. Now If that
had been girl, l know she would
Oh, look, there's Eva Martin! She's
my friend who longs to be wonderfully
educated, just as l do: and there's the
Opportunity sitting right beside her.
Oh, why should Eva have that grand
chance when I have none?'
But suddenly the golden Opportunity
rose and began to move away. For
getting her selfishness. the girl sprang
eagerly forward.
"Oh, quick, Eva!" she cried, there's
your opportunity just going. Catch it
quickly, do! It's your chance to have
a wonderful education
But Eva only smiled languidly
Don't be excited about nothing, my ,
dear" said she. That's no Opportu-
nifty. That's the same old chance I've
had all my life-to graduate at the
school here. and read all of grandpa's
great bi. library full of books, and
perhaps take correspondence course |
or so, and travel little. You run
along and catch it, if you think it's so |
wonderful
1T isn't lily Opportunity" said the
girl.i Its yours, you know. r.
But before she had finished speak |
ing. a bright-eyed young foreign girl
ran out of a side alley and grasped the !
vanishing Opportunity with both ,
hands
"Oh, joy. oh, joy.' cried she, in
broken English "At last my chance
to get an education, it have come. A
night school it ees to start Daytimes
can work and nights can study"
"Oh. is that all?' said the girl, turn
ing away in disappointment II
thought it really amounted to some
thing"
1T ees my beeg Opportunity" smiled
the little foreigner. clasping it fondly |
as she turned away.
''Oh. of course for people like that"
began the girl: and then she caught |
sight of another friend. a girl who was
seated on her own veranda steps,
gazing sadly down the walk before
her.
"Oh, if were only rich" she
moaned. Only rich people have a
chance in this world. Oh, if could
only go away from here. so that I
could find an Opportunity to cultivate
my talents. | could be famous,
know"
"But look, May" cried the Girl. run
ming up the walk you don't need
money. or to 90 away. There's your
Opportunity standing right there in
front of you with a pen in its hand It's
a fine one
"Oh, yes answered May. That's
what they're always saving: Write
about your home and the things you