Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-11
Isabella Watts School Com.
p0sitiOn-The Wonder.
full Penny.
Dear Juniors:

I am an old Junior and thought
would write school composition
about wonderful penny.
A new golden guinea and a copper
penny fresh from the mint lay side by
side on a counter of bank. The proud
gold guinea said to the copper penny:
Get out of my way; you are made of
brown copper only, and I am shining
gold. Nobody will care as much for
you. But when I go into the world
everybody will want me-"
So one day an old miser came into
the bank and the gold guinea was paid
out to him. He put it away in little
bag and hid it away in his pocket He
carried it home and put it in chest in
the cellar. He was afraid it was not
safe there, SO he took it out and buried
it in the earth. After a while the
banker saw a little boy help poor
woman who had fallen down He
opened the door, and calling the boy.
gave him the new penny, which he car
ned home. He told his little sister
how he had got 1t. She was so we'll
pleased with it that he gave it to her.
She ran out into the garden to show It
to her mamma An old lame beggar
came along and she gave it to him and
told how she got 1t. He walked on
down to the bakers shop and was go.
ing to buy roll when an old man
came up with a pilgrims staff in his
hand. The pilgrim was selling pic
lures Of the city Of Jerusalem in order
to get money to ransom his brother,
who had been taken prisoner by the
Turks. The lame beggar gave him the
bright penny and told him the story
that the little girl had told him. The
baker saw the kind act of the beggar
and gave him more rolls than the coin
would have bought. The pilgrim set
out for Constantinople and as soon as
he arrived at that city he went to the
Turkish governor and offered him all
the money he had gathered for his
brothers freedom. The governor
more money and would not let
his brother go. The pilgrim said:
'sThis is all that save except one cop
per penny and he told the story about
it. The governor asked to sea the coin
that had done so many good actions.
'T will keep it." he said, land wear 1t
next to my heart"
Then he gave the pilgrim all the rest
Of his money and let his brother 60.
Soon afterward the Turkish governor
took part in the war. An arrow struck
him on the breast, but glanced off
without hurting him. It had been turn
ed aside by the coin. He owed his life !
to the penny. When the war was over
the governor went to his master, the
emperor. They talked together. The
governor told how the penny had
saved him from death. He showed the
coin and told the strange story. The
noting his masters interest,
gave him the penny. !
The emperor fastened it with a gold
chain to the hilt of his favorite sword. |
One day shortly after the monarch was
about to drink a cup Of coffee when
the empress asked to see his sword.
AS he held 1t up the penny dropped
into the cup. When he took the coin
out he saw It had become green In
color. Some one had mixed poison
with the drink. The penny had warned
the emperor and his life was saved. !
Then the emperor had the penny put
in his crown among the diamonds and
other jewels which adorned 1t. To the
great ruler the penny seemed the
brightest gem Of all, for when he
looked at It he was reminded of the i
good deeds It had done.
So, you see. It is not the gold guinea
but the copper penny that was set at
last In a royal crown,
Isabelle Watts.
loS N. Davis St.,
OttumNa, Iowa.