Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-10

places could be, reached as yet only
on snow shoes.
Fred and Uncle Joe came p1oughing
down the hill on their snow shoes
while Stella was standing there by the
window. She hardly waited for her
cousin to get into the house before she
began to ask questions.
Tell me what you saw today, Fred
die Carr 2" urged the little girl. What
you tell about that little brush house
always sounds just like fairy stories"
"Well." (Fred's eyes began to
twinkle), to-day l saw fellow that
lives in a castle"
"What kind of CASTER" breathed
Stella.
rWhy, q great tall castle, green and
feathery-lfke. and all over white
sparkles, something like jewels. You
don't see any like 1t down south"
What did he say-that fellow?"
fStella's eyes shone.
Maybe he'll come out and say 1t
over to you when you 60 up there"
"But can't 20 for ever SO long"
urged Stella. Uncle Joe says the
snow is up to my chin now"
We'll. that's right, but you've heard
Of magic carpets. haven't you. Stella?
I'm pretty sure that In day or two,
perhaps tomorrow, we'll have a magic
carpet so that you can 60 up"
Stella's eyes were wide with ques-
lions, but Fred would not tell her any
more about the magic carpet. It was
still raining when they went to bed.
It cleared about midnight and grew
very cold and when morning came win
ter seemed to have come back with 1t.
Hurry up, Stella" called Fred, ''the
magic carpet has come, sure enough,
but It won't stay. So we must look
sharp IL we want visit to the hut and
the castle"
Stella found that tho 'snowdrifts
were covered with hard crust SO that
she could walk anywhere she liked. 1T
is like a magic carpet, isn't it," she
cried. 1T looks like white velvet
sprinkled with diamonds. O Fred,
know we're going to have lots OF ad-
ventures!"
Stella easily recognized the castle
all feathery-like and green, with white
sparkles."
It was a beautiful tall Ar tree, deco
rated with snow. Stella's eyes grew
round with delight as a little black
capped bird hoped out and said in
tiny silvery voice, "Chickadee-dee-
dee"
Fred had brought box Of luncheon
and they roasted potatoes and apples
in the fire he built In front Of his hut.
Uncle Joe had gone farther up the
mountain to the sugar camp.
"I'd like to take you up there" Fred
said, "but the crust would soften be-
fore could get you home again. We
might have to stay all night"
THAT would be fun" coaxed Stella,
but Fred shook his head. There was
a snug log house at the sugar camp
with plenty OF warm hunks to sleep IN
but the little southern cousin was not
used to roughing it-that was what
they all said when she begged to 60.
Suddenly they heard crash and
then cry. Fred's face grew startled.
"T'm afraid dads tried to fell q tree
and got hurt" exclaimed the boy.
"Wait here, Stella, and don't be
scared. I'll go and see."
He set of running. Stella looked
after him.
IF Uncle Joe's hurt they'll want all
the help they can get" she eaid; ana
she ran after her cousin.
Uncle Joe had not felled q tree, but
an old broken one which had been
hanging in the top OF another had
started to fall straight down on the
roof OF the shelter which was built
over the big kettle Of syrup boiling on
the outdoor fire.
Uncle Joe had seen the tree coming
and ged to get prop under the
sagging trunk. He had saved his
kettle Of syrup from being spilled, but
he dared not let go the prop for fear 1t
should slip and let the tree down. Fred
pushed another prop under, but that
too had to be held. So there they both
stood, not daring to let 60.
1--WE can't hold on more than ten
minutes" gasped Uncle Joe. III we
had a man with rope to help-but
there's only old Grandser Dean any.
where near and it's no use to holler
at him; he's too hard Of hearing"
Stella, standing on big snowdrift,
heard this, and saw, almost at the top
of the great hill, small house. That
must be Grandser Deans house-a
long way round by the road but not
far off when you could go on the froz-
en- snow.
Before ten minutes Stella was back
with Grandsir Dean and a long stout
rope. Grandsir knew how to swing the
heavy trunk aside so that 1t dropped
harmlessly on the ground.
There was twelve dollars worth OF
syrup in that kettle" said Uncle Joe,
"but I couldn't have saved it II Fred
hadn't come just in the nick Of time.
He couldn't have done much, either.
if Stella hadn't come"
''And couldn't have done single
thing" finished Stella, "if there hadn't
been magic carpet"
"Well, see here" laughed Uncle Joe,
1.-The sun has softened up your magic
carpet so that we can't go home till
it stiffens up again tomorrow morning.
That means that Stella is going tol
have her wish of whole day and
night at the sugar camp."-Mabel S.
Merrill, in lions Herald. -. 4