Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-09
he Widow, Her Son
and the Giants


roof; but the widow could keep a
little fire going in the winter. and the
cottage was snug and warm.
This was good thing. for she was
so poor she could not afford clothes
for her baby. She had not SO much
as an old rag with which to cover
him. To keep him warm, she dug u
hole in the earth by the fireplace;
this she filled with nice, soft, warm
peat ashes and put the baby into it
and covered him up to his armpits
with the ash.
In spite of this queer bringing up,
the baby grew into the jolliest and
most contented little boy. His mother
was out all day, whatever the weather.
digging potatoes or carrying peat and
furze. but Tom in his hole was able
to put sod of peat on the fire, and
to put the potatoes into the ashes
with stick and turn them about so
that each side was well roasted.
One day, however. the farmer for
whom the widow worked gave her
goatskin from the scarecrow in the
field and she fastened home with it
so happy that she skipped, hippety'
hop. all the way At last she had
garment for Tom. When she took
Tom out of the hole and put on the
goatskin, he was as proud and dc.
lighted. as she was, and nothing would
satisfy him but that he must go out
at once and see what the world
looked like.
He went over the moor with his red
hair as bright as the sun, and his grim
ming face, for after being brought up
all ones life in an ash hole, the world
seems a mighty fine place.
But Tom did not seem so fine
sight to the village at the foot OF the
moor as the village seemed to him.
Tom thought the tumble-down cot
,ages were grand palaces and the
men and women and children finely
dressed. although they wore their
workaday clothes. 1t seemed very
grand to Tom to have clothes at all.
He could not understand why all
the people stared and laughed at him
and he had no idea of the funny sight
he made with nothing on but his goat
skin. Presently he saw the people
gathering round a rider on horseback.
and pushing in among them Tom
heard the fine gentleman telling the
people that they must all keep in their
houses. for the giants were coming to
steal their cattle and it would go III
with any villagers who got in their
way.
Tom wanted to know what giants
we're. and was told they were power
ful men who lived by taking other
peoples property. Three OF them
lived in the neighborhood so that the
people had little peace.
"You look such gallant fellow;
perhaps you will go and settle their
hash for them" said woman, laugh
ing. otis because Of the giants the
farmer who hires your mother keeps
20 poor. So you may say tits because
If the giants you have no better
clothes than that old goatskin. Why
1on't you go and show yourself to
them and ask what they think of
YOU? Then perhaps they will leave
IS in quiet"
The woman was laughing at Tom.
If course, but he grinned back at her
,uite cheerfully and said he would
ike to have look at the giants. SO
hey told Tom where the giants
stayed, and off he went to the first
me. who lived in a great stone castle
rom which brilliant banner floated. I
Servants in satin and cloth OF go.d
ried to drive Tom away, telling hila !
le had no business to visit giant i'll !
,othing but an old goatskin.
"Why not?" cried Tom. ut is warm
md handsome. God made It: and !
zee some visitors yonder with moth /
ng better than skins on their backs.
With this Tom pointed to the great .
IRISH hounds who were coming up to
make friends with him, and, without !,
Wasting any more words on the SER
ants, Tom marched up to the daia
It the top of the hall where the giant
vas sitting at dinner. There was
'lenty of room and Tom was hungry
o he sat down on the bench as easy
s anything and took a great bite
rom a manchet Of bread without say
ne so much as by your leave.
The giant was SO surprised to see
'om that for a moment he had moth.
Dg to say: then he bawled out:
"Who let this beggar come in?
drive him away"
Now never shall it be said an Irish
ian turned a friend from his table
ried Tom. as bold as you like, for
is mother had told him often what
wonderfully hospitable people ,
he irish are.
"Friendr You're no friend of mine
aid the giant.
Sure, but am the friend of every
ne in Ireland" said Tom. Even =
reat fat man like you is dependent
II the. women-folk. You'll need my
How do you make that out?" asked
le giant.
DO you dig your own praties?" said
&c Tom. !,
I'd be too proud to do So" said
le giant.
I'D be to proud to let widow do
for me If | were big fat man.
lid Tom, and gave the giant such 4 I
.raieht look he turned as red as a
eet-ro0t Well, Tom and the giant
OF into friendly conversation. once
,e giant saw that Tom was not afraid
him. and before parting the giant I