Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-27
T he 'Buggies Sadie
Bought

'AThose baby buggies you may PACK
and send to the second hand man,
said Mr.. Spencer. Every one buys go
carts nowadays and these are so hope
lessly old fashioned that we never
could expect to sell them. If we gel
a dollar apiece, shall be glad to gel
rid Of them"
ooh, Uncle Frank, would you sell
me one for dollar?" asked an eager
voice.
what in the world do you want
with baby buggy, Sadie, and a green
plush lined one at that?' laughed Mr..
Spencer Its entirely too big for your
dolls, even If you took the whole fam.
lily out at once"
But Sadie was in earnest. She had
come for drive with her uncle to the
little town where he had bought out a
store, and was making plans to dis.
pose Of the goods, and as soon as she
saw the baby buggies a brilliant
thought popped into her head. Il
want to take Mrs. Adler's baby out rid.
ing in it." she said. you know, Uncle
Frank, they live in that big tenement
house back Of us and the children have
no place at all to play except right on
the pavement; but if you will sell me
this buggy, can take the baby out in
it every day"
"That is fine plan," said Mr.. Spen-
Ger, "but are you sure your mamma
will like it,"
Indeed she WILL" said Sadie. 'She
told be the next time she went down
town she would see the doctor about
that poor baby but all it needed. she
thought was just fresh air, so know
she would be willing to have me do
something. I've got my dollar right
here, uncle" And she took a shining
coin out of little bead purse that
dangled from her belt.
How many girls could you find to
help you wheel the carriage; or is
there only one poor baby in the tene-
ment house?" asked Uncle Frank,
graveIy.
There's just lots and lots of them"
said Sadie, sadly, "but they couldn't
all use the one buggy. I know of a
dozen girls who would be glad to help,
and the babies can take turns even.
if they can't all go at once"
I'll sell you the whole lot for one
dollar said Mr.. Spencer, taking the
money, "and you and your little
friends can have regular parade
every fine day. How will that do?"
Really and truly?" cried Sadie.
jumping down from her perch to
count the buggies.
Ten" she exclaimed breathlessly.
Thank you ever and ever 80 much!"
Strangers who walk through the
beautiful shady avenue are apt to turn
and look at the old fashioned baby
buggies pushed by little girls in pretty
white dresses. The laughing babies
are clean and sweet, but their clothes
are often old and patched, so visitors
in the town cannot understand the
meaning Of the gay little procession.
Once in while lady stops tn. big
policeman on that beat and hears this
explanation:
Eyes, ma'am,' the blue coated po-
liceman says with a smile, "the little
girls live on this avenue, but the
babies don't They come from the big
tenment houses you can see over the
tops of the trees. The mothers put
the babies in the buggies, and the
children keep them out under the
trees hours at time. Lots of folks
are taking an interest in the babies
since they saw how pale they were at
first. One lady buys fresh milk every
day and keeps it on ice for them, and
another shows the mothers how to
battle them, and somebody else sees
about clean clothes, and this whole
neighborhood takes a hand"
"That was the best bargain ! ever
made" said Mr.. Spencer, watching the
procession pass under the dropping
elm trees THAT dollar has been too
precious to spend, so I'll give it back
to you, dear, for a keepsake"
at was my best bargain, too" said
Sadie. tucking the robe about the
dimpled feet of her charge. II never
get tired pushing my buggy any more
since DR.. Parks says we are keeping
the babies we'll. Don't you think it is
worth a great deal to hear that,
uncle?"
Indeed it is. and you girls deserve
every word of it, said Mr.. Spencer
heartily. when these old fashioned
buggies wear out, will see that you
have dear little go-carts for your
charges, but don't believe the babies
will ever know the difference
There never will be any nicer ones
than these green plush ones" said
Sadie decidedly. Eyes. Patsy, I'll
catch up with the others in minute.
Good-by, Uncle Frank" And she .Joll..
ed the merry little girls farther Up the
averue.-Hilda Richmond in Christian
Intelligence.
Florence Lance Ellis - A