Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-08
rue Adventure of
The Lady MARY

IL was the new flexible flier which
Jimmie had found beneath his stock
ing on Christmas morning. It was
painted red, with beautiful, shining
runners.
Jimmie sat on the sled, gravely con.
sidering. \
"Why not call it The Lightning Elk.
press'?' said Sam, who was in gram.
mar school.
II think The Snow Bird would be a
pretty name," said Sister Nell.
Jimmie shook his head, looked at
mother and smiled. When Jimmie
smiled, one always smiled back, there
was so much trust and friendliness in
the chubby face.
I'm going to call it Mary" he said,
"cause that's mothers name"
"Fine!" said father. "The best name
IN the world" He, too. smiled at
mother. "By the way, why not call it
The Lady Mary'?"
Jimmie beamed. '"Cause mothers
a grown-up lady," he said.
Exactly" said father. We'll take
it down to Mr.. Sadler tomorrow, when
| I start on my round of calls. He can
paint the name on it,"
Father was busy doctor in a busy
little city.
For some days the weather con-
tinued open SO that The Lady Mary
remained in solitary state in the back
entry. Then at last the snow, so Gag
erly waited for, came.
Jimmie stood at the window and
watched the flakes. They came dane
ing, whirling, drifting down, and piled
themselves high on fence posts and
bare tree boughs.
At last the storm ceased. The merry
jingle of the bells was heard as the
big bobs went sliding by, drawn by
prancing horses whose breath floated
out upon the air in frosty wreaths.
Outside, Andy, the chauffeur, was
shoveling paths in front of the house
and to the garage. Across the street,
the Brown boys were building a snow
fort with the Stars and Stripes waving
proudly from the ramparts.
That noon, when Brother Sam rose
from the lunch table to go back to
school, he turned to Jimmie.
"Get on your things, Jimmie, and
I'll draw you as far as the corner"
he said.
When Jimmie was arrayed in leg
gings and rubbers, sweater and over
coat, toboggan cap, scarf and red nit
tens, he looked, as Nell said, almost
as broad as he was long. Mother
could not help smiling at the rolypoly
little figure as she started him off
with kiss.
Sam made an excellent steed, pranc-
ing in the most realistic way. At the
corner he swung The Lady Mary
around with flourish.
run home now, Jimmie, and I'll tell
you what You can come to the cor
ner to meet me at 4 o'clock, then Wen
have longer ride. How's that?"
"All right" said Jimmie, happily.
"Good-by, Sammie."
He trudged sturdily up the street,
dragging The Lady Mary behind him.
Every now and then he glanced over
his shoulder to see the flexible sled
swinging smoothly along.
At his own gate he paused to look
across at the fort now almost complet-
ed, then he fastened The Lady Mary
to the railing Of the side piazza and
went into the living room. He curled
up on the big lounge before the fire
place and in few minutes was fast
asleep.
When he awoke it was 3 o'clock. He
went out into the kitchen, where Nora
gave him ginger cookie with raisin
in the center. She helped him on with
his things and he went out Of doors
again to wait for Sam.
There was a gentle slope from the
garage to the gate. He found he could
manage The Lady Mary quite well, and
each time he went a little faster. He
went to the gate and looked down the
street to Sc if Sam were coming yet.
There had been a good deal of travel
since morning, so that now the road
stretched smooth and slippery. A
thought came to Jimmy. Why not
slide down the big hill to meet Sam?
The coast was clear. He dragged The
Lady Mary to the middle of the road,
threw himself down upon it in the ap-
proved fashion, gave little push with
his foot, and away he went.
He did not expect to go quite SO fast.
The Lady Mary was not SO easy to
manage as it was at the garage. 1t
wobbled and twisted, and the big hill
now appeared very steep and long.
Jimmy hung on. Then his heart gave
a leap. Around the corner at a good
rate of speed came cutter drawn by
a big bay horse.
The driver saw the little figure on
the sled and pulled up sharply. Jimmy
tried to turn The Lady Mary aside, but
it wouldn't turn, it was going too fast,
and Jimmie was too terrified. The
Lady Mary, Jimmie and all glided right
between the front and hind legs of the
big bay horse and landed head first in
snowbank!
The driver was out Of the cutter in
moment and had picked uD the trem-
bling little 10Y while the bay horse
glanced around mildly as if to say, ~All
safer
"Why, it's Dr. Holman's Jimmie!"
said the man. Are you hurt, sonnie?"
Jimmie looked up bravely, then his
lip quivered and two big tears rolled
down his cheeks.
81 want my mother" he said.
"Of course You do" said the big
man.
He put Jimmie and The Lady Mary