Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-18
4 Good Day for Calls

llLLle DlOOkS VI heaven were HOWluS
earthward. Betty watched it. slipping,
sliding down the pane. peltins the dead
blossoms in the garden, and yelling
THE end of the street in silvery mist.
Then she turned away with happy
little chuckle.
"Goody." she cried, every body'll be
at home. It's just splendid day for
calls
For staying at home, you mean"
said Sue. looking up from her book.
| Don't be goose. Bettiken. Get an
apple and story and toast your toes
by this comfy fire.
II don't want to be toast" laughed
Betty. Il want to be sunshine cake"
Then she put on her stormy-day hat
and her rubbers and buttoned herself
in her raincoat, until it would have
been hard for the most inquisitive
rajndrop to make its way in. With an
umbrella and a mysterious covered
box she sped away down the street.
Quite to the other end of the village
rhc won't 10 the cottage, SO pretty in
summer and so lonely in winter where
little Miss Dressmaker Fits lived
with her mother.
i he uoor flew open at her lightest
tap and Miss Fits, her cheeks as rosy
, as two crabapples, hustled her into the
kitchen.
BLESS me-" she cried, Here's the
Raindrop Fairy come to visit. Bless
you, Betty. you are the first person
that's come to this house. besides the
postman, for week! And mother fat
on her back with the rheumatics! Do
you suppose you could cheer up bit?"
I'll try" Betty answered, slipping
out of her coat
Then out of her box came book of
| funny stories that made grandma for
get her aches and pains and giggle like
| a schoolgirl. Afterward Betty played
on the little parlor organ the old.fash-
toned hymns the dear old lady sang
in her girlhood.
| You're better than medicine" said
grandma. "You most made me forget
the sun wasn't shining. Here's Belindy
with turnover apiece for u.s."
| When the turnovers were finished,
Betty rose to 60. She knew just where
she ought to call next. Yet she hest
tated. If only Cousin Carol hadn't
ouarreled with her that last day before
she came down with tonsillitis, it
wouldn't have been hard at all.
! I'll never speak to you again." said
Carol.
IN never come to see YOU" Betty
flashed back.
For one miserable week each had
kept her promise. Even now, when she
had a pot of Carols favorite jelly in
/ her box and red rose from her very
own rose-bush. it seemed the easiest
thing in the world to drift by Carols
house like a brown autumn leaf in the
| wind. For fraction of second she
hesitated. Then glimpse of Carols
face at an upstairs window sent her
flying up the steps like a small brown
whirlwind
Betty said Carol, opening the door
almost before the bell had ceased to
ring you dearest dear" and she tried
to hurry, her. raincoat, umbrella. and
all. I'm so glad you came. Mother said
l might make candy but it isn't fun to
do it alone"
1t was the jolliest afternoon. When
the deepening shadows warned Betty
that she must hurry home for supper,
she took with her box of Carols very
special candy to leave on her very last
call This was on little lame Jimmie
down the street, whose mother worked
in the noisy factory Jimmie's eyes
shone like stars when he opened the
box, and Betty thought he'd never
stop stammering his thanks.
! How'd you we're guess it was my
birthday? l thought nobody knew but
mother and-and God" he finished
softly.
You look as II you had had good
time said Sue. yawning over her
book when Betty came in.
II did, was the reply. "a perfectly
splendid time. A rainy day is lovely
one for making calls Pearl Howard
Campbell. in Sunday School Times.
THE WILEY BOYS.
i L. LII