Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-20
T he Day After Moth.
er S Day

we CeleDTdCeQ MOtnef Is Lay III Tie
lovliest way" remarked Bill Stone, as
he met Miss Fowler, his Sunday schoal
teacher. ard walked proudly along be-
side her. I'VE gave mother present
How nice! | suppose you love her
very much, don't you?"
~ OTIS
""Well, my man." said Miss Fowler
stoppins g moment at the corner
where she was to turn off, don't for
get your lesson last Sunday. You
know what the Bible tells us about-how
true love shows ITSELF
Yes, Billy knew. He walked on,
thinking of it, and presently his round
face grew very sober
Yesterday we told mother that we
gave he. tie present with our love. To-
day is only day off. and wouldn't
get UP in time for breakfast, was late
at school, I made the twins mad, and
| sneaked out OF the back door so as
not to have to go for the mail. ! can't
see how anybody. by looking at the
way I've acted, could tell that I like
my mother at all"
It was beginning to rain when Billy
rea ched home. He end the twins, who
had been playing in the yard, all went
into the shelter of the kitchen togeth-
er. Mrs. Stone, at work in the next
room, looked out of the window with a
sigh. She had so much to do, and there
was liable to be trouble when the
children must stay indoors.
Billy thought of this, too.
The twins were hanging up their
caps with a shuttle.
81 say Robin asked Billy abruptly.
chow much do you love mother this
afternoon"
Robin turned and stared at him.
What a queer question; it was not a
bit like boy!
"Why?" he giggled. "Do you want
me to write some poetry about it?"
poetry" SMILED Billy. II want to
know how much-just plain how much
that isn't poetry is it,"
That's arithmetic" said Dora.
Dora was the eldest of them all. She
was bolstered up in big arm chair by
the fire; she had been i'll for a fort
night.
''How much?" repeated Robin. "How
can you tell how much you love per
SOM"
"In plenty of ways" said Billy, wise
ly. "IIl tell you one right now. love
mother boxful."
With that he picked up the kindling
box and marched out into the shed.
A light broke upon the twins.
"Oh-o!' cried Harry, that's what
you mean is it? Well, love her pail
ful," Selling the water bucket and
starting for the pump.
II love her scuttleful." said Robin,
and he plunged down the cellar after
coal.
Dora looked at the clock. She had
ooked at 1t five minutes before, and
;aid:-
81 do believe my darling mother Is
,oing to forget the medicine this time.
shall not remind her, that is sure!"
"But I guess" she said now, reach.
ny for the bottle with wry face. II
,uess at least ] can love her a spoon
ul!"
There was a shout of laughter as
he boys came back in time to hear
Ter. Mrs Stone heard and glanced
nxiously at the door.
81 hope there is no mischief on foot:
m in hurry to get this sewing DONE"
Kitty Stone had reused herself from
Ter book in the old-fashioned kitchen
window seat to listen to Billy and the !
est. So far she had said nothing. But |
1hen the kindling box and the pail and
cutie were full, the covers of Kitty's |
ook went together with snap.
Don't you think" she said, "that all
f us together, if we hurried could love
1other this room full before she came
n and caught us III clean out the
tove and blacken it."
They worked like beavers. The last
in was swung on the nail and the last
hair set back to the wall when Mrs.
tones step was heard coming down
he hall.
Dora, child, your medicine!" she
aid.
"Yes'm," said Dora, demurely, 81
ook it for pure love-to you not to it"
Her mother looked round the tidy
DOM, and when she saw how spick and |
pan ii was and when she saw the ring |
smiling faces, she kissed them |
very one, and her own face was as |
right as the brightest.
There's no other mother In the |
ountry," said Mrs. Stone, that has
UGH children as mine!"
"There, now, do you see?" said Billy |
o Robin Cant you tell how much
ou love person? We're going to
make every day Mothers Day!"-Se-
,cted by the Christian Advocate.
IT 49, Toonn~uoeeor