Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-02
PATCHED ELBOWS.
[Rev. Edward A. Band j


Look, mother, those interesting
elbows are out again. / don't know
what old Toppleton win say"
As he spoke, Dave Baldwin turned
about and showed bis mother the rents
were two very active elbows had
worked themselves out of prison -
Mrs. Baldwin was frying griddle-
cakes for Dawes breakfast She look
ed up and said in her pleasant way:
"Well, Dave. the thing that made
the trouble will cure it. Work did it,
and work will cure it, and next month
you will be able, from your earnings,
to have a new coat, so that again you
can say, what made boles will cover
them In few minutes will sew
up those holes.n
Sorry to make you so much trou-
BILE, mother. I'm an awful boy.
Thereupon Mother Baldwin told
him she would stop his mouth with q
griddle cake if he did not stop that
style of talking.
Il shouldn't object, mother, to look.
ing as well as Frank Thompson
81 should If ] though you got your
clothes the same way / was at the
Thompsons the other day, and Mrs.
Thompson groaned and said she
should be glad when Frank got his
bills paid, but clerks must dress in
any store, she supposed. Before you
and Frank went into Toppleton's
store you and be were glad to pick
greens in the city lots and bring them
home for dinner, and / would rather
you'd be a dandelion-picker for life
than have you owing everybody and
never paying them"
To this sentiment Mother Baldwin
gave emphasis by the vigorous land
ing of another griddle cake on Dawes
plate.
II think young people ought to
grow up with a horror of debt, for it
is one kind of dishonesty if you owe
people, because you have boughtsome-
thing you know you may not pay for.
Then, If you expect when you buy to
be able to pay, but still don't pay, and
so keep people out of their just due,
after a while conscience gets easy on
this debt subject, and says: oh, any
time will do and who knows? If /
get easy about what / owe man, l
may get easy on the subject of taking
something outright from him. No,
Dave, / want to bring you up right" "
Still again did Mother Baldwin
give emphasis to her words by the
prompt and hearty landing of grid
dle-cake on the hungry boys plate.
That's good, mother. You give
'em big and hot. III promise to be
honest"
"If you don't, young man." said
Mother Baldwin, with ringing laugh,
"you may speak for another cook
The very first evening | possibly can,
/ will engage to cover those active
elbows with two as neat patches as /
can put on. They will do till you can
buy new coat"
Dave and Frank that morning
walked together to Toppleton's "Dry
Goods Bazar," where they were
clerks.
"Oh, that is q beauty" exclaimed
Dave, noticing one of Franks sleeve
buttons. The style was that of blue
stone in a cross form set within a rich
gold band.
Like, it," asked Frank. "The la
dies all think it very fine. When /
sell 'em q piece Of silk, | just careless
" lay my hand on it and say 1T
shows well against jewelry, and it is
just just Irresistible.
dust have cost something"
"Hem-well! 'Taint paid for yet,
but that is ell right. By wearing it
I'm advertising jewelry for the firm
whereI got it, and that is pay
Don't know about it, but seems to
me | feel easier when | pay for a
thing"
"Ob, nonsense replied Frank,
sharply. He did not wish to be re-
minded of the subject of debt, and
why should an old companion in days
of dandelion-picking worry him with
his sensitive conscience
That night Dawes mother covered
bis 'enterprising elbows with two
very neat patches. Only Q pair Of
sharp eyes would have detected these
honest covers.
"Say, Dave, said Frank, the next
day, cycling closely his fellow clerk,
''are those patched elbows paid for2'
Patched elbows, asked Jim
Blake, clerk with arongh voice.
Paid for? Has Dave any strange
notions about the subject of debt ~
Yes. said Dave, coolly and pleas
antly, s'and / am not ashamed Of
them, or my clothes either.
Indeed" !" said Frank, cOntemptu-
nrsnlw