Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-06
Garibaldi $ Lucky
Star

Ol~
The great Legation doors swung
wide. A Soldier Boy clad in uniform
gay, glistening with golden buttons,
gazed at the huge barren mountains
which piled themselves in rude masses
one on top Of the other. BY the side
of the Soldier Boy stood slender girl
in white. Suddenly she stretched both
arms toward the sun, which was just
dipping below the mountains highest
hump, but the words she said were not
heard by Garbaldi, who glided stealth
lily through the opened doors into the
rose-garden.
] Garbaldi was twelve-year-old,
bronze, South American waif say
"bronze," because through the rents
Of his ragged garments the dark skin
shone like beautiful bronze. say
"waif," because the rags he wore, to-
gether with his fathers cruel heart,
had made Garbaldi the poorest, loneli-
est, most miserable little lad in Ven
ezuela.
Often before he had been driven
from his wretched home, but this time
he hoped he might at last find his
Lucky Star-the Lucky Star for which
he searched diligently day after day.
Suddenly the big doors of the Lega-
cion Americana swung on their mas
sive iron hinges. Never before had
Garbaldi seen those doors open Never
before had he beheld the garden with
| in. Always the gates had been closed
to him. This. was almost as good as
the finding of ones Lucky Star, a
thing which made Garbaldi forget en-
tirely his hunger.
A strange sound caused him to creep
toward wire cage which was built
upon the ground, cage containing a
door so high enc could pass through 1t
without ever bowling ones head. The
sound which attracted Garibaldi came
from some excited chickens that were
snatching bits Of food from large
dish in the center of the cage.
| Quickly Garibaldi opened the wire
door and entered He made direct
line for the dish. The chickens gave
one frightened glance at the stranger,
then fled wildly to their coops for pro-
lection. Garibaldi seated himself upon
the ground. Every piece of food that
had been placed by the somewhat ex-
travagant cook upon the dish rapidly
disappeared AS Garibaldi was exam
lining the dish to See if by any chance
| a single crumb had been overlooked
he heard voice say, in the Spanish
language, which was his own:
What, boy. are you then so hungry?
Come to the kitchen. will give you a
hoy's supper, not chickens"
Surprised and dizzy, Garibaldi
scrambled to his bare feet. Speeches.
he followed the splendid creature clad
in white apron, adorned with kingly
crown: for to Garibaldi that was the
way the stif, spotless chefs cap ap-
peared.
: Seated at a comfortable table, Carl
baldi tasted all the delicacies which
had lately been passed in the dining
room at the legation luncheon. Never
before in his whole life had he been
urged to eat. Never before had he
been forced to leave good food which
ne could not swallow! The Crowned
One continued to heap the plate OF
Caribaldi with toothsome food till he
saw his little friend could hold no
more.
Then he spoke, saying, Little COM
| radc, what more can do for you?"
LET me remain with you forever"
| implored Garibaldi.
The Crowned One looked troubled.
| "That cannot do unless-unless-the
Minister permits. He might not want
you."
Tears rose in the eyes Of Garibaldi.
Roughly he brushed his ragged sleeve
against his cheek.
"I could help! could work." begged
he. "Try me! Oh, try me! Otherwise
I must return to my father! Oh. be-
seech you. ask of your minister that
I may remain!"
The Crowned One stood by the win
dow, gazing into the garden. AS he
did so the minister walked down the
neatly gravelled path in the direction
of the kitchen. Out marched the
Crowned One. Yet in some way he
had changed! Garibaldi noticed that he
, was no longer so very TALL nor did he
hold his head as straight as when he
had heaped food upon his plate! Also
his voice could not be heard. although
the minister's words reached him only
too distinctly
"No. No! cannot turn the legation
into an orphan asylum! Feed the boy
well and send him away. Tomorrow
is the Fourth of July. There will be
no time for children! We must pre-
pare for the great reception"
The Crowned One bowed low and
returned, saying:
"No use. my boy, it is even as fear
ed You must return to your father
At that moment the bell called the
kind Crowned One away. Garibaldi
stole softly into the garden, which was
now quite empty save for the wonder
full fragrant flowers. Carefully he ex-
amined the roses growing upon the
high walls. He wondered II Just one
rose might escape some day over the
top Of the garden wall, and If he. Carl.
baldi, might find 1t there to remind
him Of his beautiful hours in the LIE.
gacion Americana where he could not
stay-in the Legacion Americana
where upon his plate there had been
more food than he could eat!
On trees. he observed were hanging