Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-02-23
The Tar Baby - School
Composition by Faith
Harrison
Dear Juniors:

bcdT JulllOIS.
This is the first time have written
TO the Courier Junior.
| I will write school composition
Once there was goat and rabbit
lived in the same neighborhood, not
far from each other. One day Brother
Goat called on Brother Rabbit.
Brother Rabbit" said he. 81 have a
fine idea. Come with me-" said the
goat. Let us dig well between our
homes. We can have all the water
we want without taking that long
journey to the river"
mot so," said the rabbit "Why
should I work to dig a we'll? At day
break l drink the dew from the
flowers. There I find all the water J
need"
81 will 60 dig the we'll alone and !
will drink the cool water" Brother
to dig his well. Soon the well was
finished. The cool water came bub-
bling up. Brother Rabbit will like to
, have drink of this water, but not
a drop shall he get.
Brother Rabbit was hiding behind a
bush nearby. Brother Rabbit said,
cha. Ha! How foolish Brother Goat
| is. l shall drink all the water want. p"
That night Brother Rabbit made his
way silently through the thick bushes
until he came to the well. There he
drank all the water he wanted. The
next morning the goat went to the
we'll. Brother Goat saw the rabbit
footprints in the soft mud. "Ah Hal
said Brother Goat to himself, s'that is
how you drink the dew from the
flowers" Brother Goat hurried home.
He made doll out of wood. When he
got it finished he covered it with tar
When the sun set he took it out by
the well. BY and by Brother Rabbit
came hopping through the bushes
Brother Rabbit saw the tar baby He
sat straight up on his launches and
looked at it. What can ii be? He
saw that the tar baby didn't move
Brother Rabbit spoke to it, "Who
are you?" The tar baby said nothing
"Why don't you answer me?' he said
The tar baby said nothing. "See
here" he exclaimed. "if you don't
answer ne I'll hit you. Who are you?"
he said The tar baby said nothing.
Brother Rabbit raised his right hand
and hit her. His hand stuck fast.
whats this?" he cried. Turn me
loose If you don't I'll punch your
woody head The tar baby said moth
ing. He hit her again. His left hand
stuck fast. ''Listen to me. you rascal!
If Won do not let me go I'll kick you"
The tar baby said nothing The right
foot stuck fast. Brother Rabbit
z4l,o. +, x,o,, wit n
lit YOU will think that thunderbolt
| has struck you" The tar baby said
nothing. The left foot stuck fast.
: Next morning Brother Goat came
and found Brother Rabbit there. Il
thought you drank the dew from the
flowers. Now I will punish you for
stealing my water from the we'll"
ooh, don't hurt me, am your
friend"
Brother Goat ran to the woods and
got some dry brambles and made
great fire.
ooh no." don't throw me in the
brambles They will tear my flesh
and scratch my eyes out. Oh, beg
YOU, rather throw me in the fire.
"Aha, Brother Rabbit" chuckled
Brother Goat, you don't like
brambles. Well, then go and laugh
In them" And the pitiless goat threw
Brother Rabbit as far as he could:
Brother Rabbit fell in the midst OF
the brambles, then leaped to his feet
and began to laugh. ''Ha, Ha! Brother
, Goat, / never had a better bed be-
! fore"
Faith Harrison. age TO-
Ottumwa, Iowa, r. r. /. Box 80.