Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-30
Myrtle Hall Calls Her Story
brownies Visits"
Dear Juniors:
AS I have never written to the
Junior before thought l would write.
The following is a story l made up.
Brownies Visits.

Brownies Visits.
Squeak, squeak, squeak"
Kitty, kitty" l called, because
thought Prince had a mouse. But a.
no meow" came for an answer,
started to look for him. l looked
under the table, behind the stove, bu
as | didn't see him l concluded h.
was not to be found.
Here l am" cried the same squeak,
voice in the same high tone.
Where are you?" I asked, for
saw nobody.
Fright up here before your eyes"
/ looked up, and sure enough Their,
was a small, brown, wrinkled fac
peeping from behind the clock. HI
was capped in a small red cap which
looked like one that the children Wea,
in the winter time.
who are you?"
"My name is Brownie. At least, tina
is what everybody who knows me call
me. l could not help wondering VIII.
dressed in red from head to foot, will
small red shoes that looked like Dutct
skates.
"Why, you talk as II few people
knew you. Who are the people thai
know you"
Well they are mostly children -
children that are always happy, ant
can run and play. Not grown folks
that can't run and play. Take fol
instance the Day children. They're
as jolly and playful as the wind on
winter day, and yet they're good, too
Oh. 7 Just hate mean children"
, I sat all this time with my mouth
open wondering where he came from
"Where do you live?" I inquired al
last. :,
Fright up here in the clock. Didn't
you notice the other day when the
clock struck elem, the second strike
made a queer noise, INT h thlrn
didn't strike at all?"
81 wondered what was the matter,
but wasn't here and she told
me never to bother the clock" :
"My gracious, it's 10 o'clock now.
I'll be back to see you soon"
Brownies Army.
"Rub-a-dub-dub. rub-a-dub-dub. rub-a.
dub-dub, rub-a-dub-dub. rub-a-dub-dub,"
What on earth is that?" I thought.
Out from under the sheet peeped
who but - Brownie.
81 told you I'd be back soon," he
piped in his same squeaky voice. See.
I've brought somebody with me-" With
that he blew a tin horn that hung by
his side. Out from under the pillows
and sheet came little men the same
size as Brownie himself. and dressed
the same except they wore caps col
ored according to rank In the army.
We'll. who are these?" l asked.
"These are my men, and mighty
faithful they are. too. The other day
l was coming home from a big Inner
and l had a brigade along and we met
an army Of those terrible black ants.
We killed every one that didn't take
to his heels. General Pigmy, muster
your forces and go after the women
and children as quickly as possible
-Four abreast. ready, march,, COM
manded General Pigmy.
"Rub-a-dub-dub, ~rub-a-dub-dub" went
the drums.
Soon they had crossed the bed and
went down to the floor by the man
behind the first letting him gently to
the floor, and had crossed to the door
which was closed.
Single file, shrivel up!' came Gen.
eral Pigmy's command again. And,
sure enough, they became so small
they went through the crack between
the door and the wall.
do all your people live In the
iclock?" I asked.
mo, some Of them live behind the
sofa"
But, when mamma pulls the sofa
out to sweep. where do they go?'
ooh. then they just become invisible
and all they have to do is to keep out
Of the way OF the broom"
Single file" zane the command
again. eco alternately, a woman and
a man. Shrivel up"
Here they came back. They got
on the bed, not without much shrink.
ing from the ome
When they got owe where | could
see them I was surprised. The women
were dressed exactly like the men
except they had skirts instead OF
trousers.
Here are the rest of U.S." cried
Brownie.
Say" cried one lady, "ft was almost
II o'clock when l left home. Hadn't
We better 90 homer"
Indeed we had" answered Brownie.
General Pigmy, Span and Hands
forces will take care OF the women
and children" The last heard OF them
that night was the %shrieking OF women
going through the crack.
Brownie Says Goodbye.
"Ho! Ho! there" cried a voice !
was sure was Brownies.
Where are you, and Is that
Brownie?" l asked.
Eyes. 1t is l. I'm down here In the
gutter"
whats the matter?"
81 fell off the spouting, and can't
get up. I'm afraid my leg and arm
are broken"
Can be of any help"
Eyes, just take my horn and blow
it, loud, three times"
l did as | was hidden and soon
Brownies men came - ten Of them.
where is he?" they asked.
"Riyht here" said. for had