Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-25
The White Soldier
Adelaide Nichols.

| To the children who played on the
Common he was the White Soldier
He stood pavilioned in a tall. white
stone monument, raised above theil
heads by series of steps and a ped
estal on which were carved the words
| I'm OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES The chill
dren who had studied American his
tory said he was Civil War hero, but
to most of the little "Commoners" he
! was just the white Soldier" He stood
quietly on his pedestal leaning on a
long gun and looking out under his
visored cap at the view that his ex.
allied position gave him. Four tall
| arches supported over his head the
little tower that capped the monument.
His snug retreat and his enviable
range of view made it the ambition of
every child of the Common to scale
his pedestal and sit at his feet When
a new child arrived on the Commons,
they asked him, Have you been up
the Soldier!" and not until with
scratched knees and crimson face he
sat at the White Soldiers feet could
he hope to command the respect of the
Commoners
Frederika Francioni had never been
in the Common before. She did not
live near the Common: she lived far
down in the Italian quarter of the city
where they have fire-escapes instead
of piazzas. and ash-cans instead Of
hedges. On May Day. Frederika's
teacher, Miss Curtis. brought all the
kindergarten children to the Common
for May party. They all came in an
open car way across the city and they
all wore wreaths of paper flowers that
they had been cutting and pasting in
the kindergarten for weeks. and the
leaders carried banners of rosecol-
ored paper in honor of Nay Dav Fred
erika was a leader. She felt very
proud in the clean purple calico dress
which her mother had Just made. "all
by machinery off Mrs. Vitell's sewing
machine" Her wreath was Of yellow
flowers. Frederikas own choice for
color. When the car stopped in front
from the end seat and stood at atten-
ton. her banner flung to the breeze,
her free hand motionine the descend
ing children to fall into line behind
her.
With much scrambline and Untangl.
ing of banners and wreaths and much
calling for lost lunch boxes. the line
was formed, and Frederika Francioni.
at the head Of the girls. and Columbus
Gumboda. at the head CT the boys. en-
tered the Common under the kind eyes
of the White Soldier. They looked up
solemnly AS they approached Frede-
rika's teacher came forward and called
Halt" Before The white pavilion the
f1owery lines paused and at Miss Cur
tis's signal they saluted tie White
Soldier. Just as thew sa'uted the flag
every morning at school.
Then. as the twenty little hands fell
from the position Of respect, the line
broke, and twenty little pairs of feet
went curvettins and stamn'nG over
the green grass of the Common. You
could see by the glad little quirks Of
their feet that green grass vas an un
familiar luxury.
Miss Curtis saw the scattering Of
her band with smile of dismay It
was great soonsibi1itv TO have
twenty little CHILDREN so far from home
for whole May Day. She called
Frederika.
Now. Frednrika." she sold tiltinc
Frederika's chin IN n'avfuHv. so that
she could look F'rederika straight in
the eye. ''yoN ere leader
YEP said Erederika. proud smile
hover.ns round her mouth in spite Of
her efforts to look modest
II depend on YOU to see that the
girls behave likc ladies to-dav. Thev
can play till lunch time and then wen
meet under the tree to eat. Now run"
she said taking her finger awav from
Frederika's chin. have GOOD time.
and remember you're leader.
"Yep" said Frederika her black
eyes shining. She switched her pig
tails with the pride of Leadership. AS
she turned away from Miss Curtis her
eye fell on Louise Carraccio. who sat
under a tree. stripping the shoes and
off her brown legs. Frede-
rika sped toward her.
Lou" she screamed. you amt no
lady. You don't orght to take off
YOUR ehoes il the Common" Louise
looked IN through her elfsh black
locks and grinned
You amt my boss. she said.
81 am too your bossr' shouted Fred !
erika. enraged 1T this display of dis
obedience. I'm the leader and Miss
Curtis said should make al the girls
act like ladies'. and ladies keep their /
shoes on. Put them on"
ouise laughed naushtily and called
10 Rita Angelo. "Frederika saye she's
my boss. Frederika quailed for she
knew tha' Rit" was at all times hard
to deal with. Now she came swim eing
up. the end of her united hair ribbon
IN her mouth.
"Oh, you're hoss. are you Bossy
oossv. bossy-cow." she tainted.
'T'm the leader" maintained Fred |
srika ]