Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-08-03
the airy Keep-a.
Little
blanche Elizabeth Wade.)

Now" said Gordon, Il am going to
the store to buy me top, and a pencil,
and some candy"
II should not spend it all If I were
you,' said grandmother.
why not?" asked Gordon.
IT should keep little of it so that
some day when you want something
else more than you want these things,
you will have the money for it."
"Oh, but I'll have some more money
by them" said Gordon. We'll, you are
not at all sure about that said grand
mother. NO one ever IS. Before you
run down to the store, you sit down
here OH my little stool, and I'll tell you
a fine story
Gordon thought no one in the world
could tell such fine stories a 8 grand
mother; so ne sat down on ner little
stool, folded his hands in his lap, and
was ready to listen.
"Once upon a time said grand
mother, there was little fairy who
lived in the woods. She was starting
out for a walk one day, when she met
squirrel.
Hello, Mr.. Squirrel! said she.
Where are you going" To the beech
trees to get some nuts to eat said he.
eat them all Keep a little. Winter is
coming The squirrel thought that was
a queer thing to say, and he went off to
the beech trees and ate all the nuts he
could find. There We're not many that
year and it was too early for them to
be ripe, but he ate all he could find,
anyway.
THE fairy went on, and pretty soon
she found woodchuck Hello, Mr..
Woodchuck.' said she Where are you
going TO the cornfield,' said he, to
get some corn to eat DO not eat it ALL
said she Winter is coming. Keep lit
tie MIR. Woodchuck went to the corn
field and ate all the corn he wanted, and
did not keep bit. "A queer fairy, said
he to tell me to keep little corn, when
can come here any time want to and
get all In want
ION went the fairy. and met big.
buzzing bumblebee. Hello, Mr.. Bundle.
bee!' said she. Where are you going!
To the garden said he to get some
honey for my dessert DO not eat 1t all
said She Keep little. Winter is COM
ing 'Humph! y said Mr.. Bumblebee,
and that is all he would say.
Then the fairy met an ant. Hello,
Mr.. Anti said she. Where are you go
ing:' up tall grass stalk for worm
for dinner said the ant DO not eat
him ALL said the fairy. Keep little.
Winter is coming The ant laughed as
said he.
The fairy was about to skip through
zigzaggy rail fence, when all at once
on the top she spied a striped chip
munk. Hello. Mr.. Chipmunk!' said she.
Where are you going" To the sweet
acorn tree for little sweet acorns,' said
he DO not eat them all, said she. Keep
a little Winter Is coming The little
chipmunk stopped and thought. All
Vic ,e falling
me. I'll remember and away he whisk-
ed.
well. after the fairy had had her
walk and was coming back the wealth
er changed, and cold wind blew the
dry leaves around and made everything
SILVER that could SILVER at all; for the
fairy's walk had lasted for several
weeks. AS she was running briskly along
she heard little whining noise, and
suddenly saw Mr.. Squirrel. What Is
the matter said she. I'm so hungry
he said, and can't find thing to eat
Did you save little when l told you
to" said she. NO said he, but now /
wish l had TIL give you one more
chance said she. Over in the corner
you will find fine hickory tree. Take
all the nuts you wish, but this time be
sure to keep little!' Yes. said he, I'll
remember and off he went ate few
carried some to hole in the tree for
winter.
"The fairy heard another little whin-
ing sound, and out from behind tree
came Mr.. Woodchuck, so hungry he did
not know what to do. Didn't you keep
a little of the corn you found in the
field| asked the fairy. NO said ne,
but I wish had Well, said she, I'll
give you one more chance. In the sec
ond field from here you will find some
corn still left Take all you want. but
be sure to keep a little!' Of went the
woodchuck. He ate enough to stop the
hunger. and took lot into his nome
under the stump for winter
BUZZ, buzz, buzz went something
on the ground, and there lay Mr.. Bum
blebee so cold and hungry he could not
fly. Z am so hungry said he. Didn't
you save any of the honey you found:'
said she. No said he, and | wish |
had I'll give you one more chance
said She Beyond the trees you will ind
some fairy flowers. Take all the honey
you want, but be sure to keep little!
She waved her wand, and he became
warm enough to fly. He found the flow
ers, ate wee bit Of honey. and took the
rest to his hive for winter.
There was scratching sound on
the ground, and there was Mr. Ant
kicking weakly from munger. D1on
you find the worm for dinner? asked
the fairy Yes said he, but l ate 1t
all up and now I wish hadn't. I'll give
you one more chance said she 'Yonder
is fine, fat bug. Eat all you want. but
be sure to keep lttle!' The ant mind
ed this time, you may be sure, and
large piece Of bug was put into his cell
lar.
Just then, along came Mr.. Chip
munk Thank you so much for your
advice said he. My storehouse is full
of acorns for the winter, and ! have
three good meals a day, and four if
want them Please come to see how
snug I am The fairy went with him
to his nest. and there she saw his stock
of nuts; and what else do you think she
saw"
WHAT" asked Gordon.
Why" said grandmother, Mr.. Chip
munk had taken down the old framed
motto Home. Sweet Home that hung
on his wall, and instead Mrs. Chip
munk sat embroidering new one to
hang in it's place, and the new one said.
Keep a Little. ;"
When the story was finished, Gordon
went to the store, and when he came
l.. h..H