The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-06-24

oeeply In arrears for board and clothes
an my little life long. He made me
feel that | had cost him a great deal of
money. l went into the house sad and
overwhelmed with the weight of money
IN the world. The useless edifice VIII.
OUT was torn down, and all the boards
hoI sawed to utter ruin were transfer
req again to the lumber pile. We were
TO nave grander dinner therein than
the one being cooked, and expected to
culmlnate in circus, with real money
10 be taken at the door. But all this
never came off. | felt Inundated nv
the feeling of dependence conveyed to
me by my fathers words. | saw mvself
good-for-nothing little beggar, eating,
urlhklng and wearing the hard earned
wages OF another. l heard the world
calling On me to do my part and be-
come my own provider in this great
struggle for existence.
SAMPLING PIES AND ICE CREAM.
But what could do to earn m monevp
over the way Bill Simmons ke.t the nie
and candy shop. Thither daily had |
gone Tor years to spend for candy the
daily penny begged from my father.
ana all those accumulated daily pennies
now increased my load of obligation.
Henry Simmons, Bill Simmons son. but
trifie more stricken in years than nv
self, daily staggered past our door quite
overwhelmed under a great basketful of
not pies on their way from the Sim
mons family oven tc the Simmons fam
lily shop. l was deep in Henry Sim
mons confidence. We held secrets
together. In the summer, I passed
much OF my time in the cellar
OF the Simmons mansion, where
Henry worked for hours rotating the
cream-freezer. Simmons was the only
lce-cream saloon in the village. Henry
and myself kept spoon in partner
ship. 1t was hidden in a creyice of the
cellar wall. Henry and myself used
frequently to sample the cream durino
1he laoorious process of artificial con-
gelation, as well as lift at times the
crust OF those pies while in transit past
our house and test their interiors. Dead
pies tell no tales SO long as the upper
crust remains unbroken. Yet there is
always room for apprehension where
small boys with soiled fingers are al
lowed any access to pies and ice cream.
Often assisted Henry in tugging that
great basket of pies to the the Simmons
shop. Henry was a sticky sort of boy.
and his rusty black suit, his lips and
even his fingers suggested pies. Henry.
myself and the pie basket often stopped
for season in little house we had
built of packing boxes, located in a cor
ner of the yard where, undisturbed. we
partook of the sugary juice which from
the upper crust of cooling blackberry
and huckieberry pies oozes and hardens
on the pie-plate rims. There we would
hnger until the warning cry of "Hen-
ry.' from the Simmons house or shop
would start Henry forth, bent nearly
double sideways under his burden, stick
ler and more suggestive than ever of
pies.
AN ATTEMPT To GET A CLERKsHIP.
L wanted to earn a living. | thought
l might be useful to Bill Simmons in
selling pies, candies and nuts. This
was business within the limits of nv
comprehension and also in accord with
my varied range of tastes. So one day
mastering up courage for an unwonted
step, l entered Simmons shop, to ap-
ply for a clerkship. Simmons, on see
ing me, placed himself in position behind |
his counter, supposing my errand to be !
the daily purchase of the pennyworth
of candy. He was, as usual, very busy |
with oysterstews, root beer and pies. |
The place was as ever smelling of stews, |
root beer, cigar smoke and pies, and |
was as usual full of loungers and flies. |
dislikcd to make my business known .
before them, and craved an interview
with Simmons pere in the most remote
corner. 1t was the first time | had
ever asked private conference with a
grown-up man. | said, very timidly:
'' MIR. Simmons. | want to Hire out to
you to help you in your Shop Sim
mons laughed. His lean jaws yawned
into smile, and thence into sncker,
and he said loud enough for all to hear:
g Why, | don't want any more help.
Gosh. Another boy would ruin me any
way" l did wish he would respect the
privacy of our conference and not talk
for the benefit and amusement of the
crowd present. felt his ridicule, too,
and WINGED under it. He resumed in
an admonitory tone: "You cont want
to work for living. Why, your father
is well enough off to take care of YOU.
You must be good boy and study your
lessons. You'll go to college" And
ne bustled off to his stews and whisked
a convention of flies of his pies. Sadly
leaving the shop, | fingered for a mo-
nent at the door, and heard Simmons
my application to his custom
ers. Then fed, for knew from their
yrins and OUTLAWS that was an object
If ridicule, because of desiring to earn
ny bread by selling Simmons pies. l
led home across the street. The world
seemed darker and harder than ever.
elt myself more useless than ever. /
vas not deemed even competent to sell
simmons pies. | was an incumbrance,
it only to cost money and he taunted
With it.-Prentice lNultord. in the San
Francisco Chronicle.
According to Professor Nordensk-
old, it will be some time yet before the
lorth pole will be reached. He thinks