Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-11-27
A S%CARF-PIN'S STORY,
In Which 1t Exposes an Editors
Weaknesses.

On the editors desk, Uttered with cx-
tracts. manuscripts, exchanges, notes,
writing paper and those other trifles
which give a newspaper Office some
thing of its individuality, there stands q
round and sticky mucilage bottle with
a rakish brush handle p%rotruding from
its gum-lined mouth like the mast of a
pirate craft. which, by the way, it re-
sembles in more ways than one. Around
the base of this useful utensil there
crept a nimble and inquisitive roach.
Long acquaintance with newspaper Of
1ices-he had been in but one, but they
are all alike-had made him fearless.
The editor was busy al his work. and
minded him 70 more than he did the
predatory shears aud the other mute
implements of the craft. Experience
had taught him that when the editor
was busy he paid no attention 10 reaches,
and right he was. Few newspapers,
indeed, recompense an G itor for the
time expended in killing reaches. He
knew this, did this wise little brown
backed, multi legged roach, and he
knew q great deal more, for not even a
roach can live in a newspaper office
without learning something. Therefore,
when the fancy to travel and the OPP
p%ortunity in the shape of the towering
height of the mucilage brush We're pre-
sented to him he marched in that direc-
ton with q bravery that only comes
with an immunity from dangerlong and
certain. Up the glutinous sides OF the
bottle he slowly crawled, taking care
not to adhere too closely to the gluey
surface, and by dint OF perseverance
and industry he was o 20 rewarded by
reaching the summit of the timber.
Back Of the bottle, facing the editor,
stands a row of shelves, the depository
of odds and ends gathered from every
where and nowhere, piled in hapless
confusion. In this mass of disorder
there lies a metal scarf-pin, whose
head is fashionedin the image of a roach
IA queer, grotesque, %pop-eyed, whimsi-
caught the insects eye.
Whats that?:' he remarked in sur
prise, for he fancied in his cgotism that
he knew all there was, SO easy is il
even for q roach to initiate his superb
Ors.
The scarf-pin made no reply. After
waiting a reasonable time for a response
the little sightseer again observed, this
time in q louder tone of voice:
Hello. you there! WHO are you?"
Becoming impatient and not a little
veNed at the evident want of manners
in his strange contemporary, the roach,
with alacrity. retraced his s cps. and in
a few minutes he had mounted to the
shelf where the scarf-pin lay.
''Well,' declared the insect, with a
trace of pompousness becoming his long
residence IN the office, ..lnever saw YOU
before. Been here long?'
NO" responded the scarf pin in a
hard, metallic voice. which was part OF
his nature, mot very long"
''Well,' replied the roach, who was
at heart disposed to be q gentleman,
"lm glad to see you anyway, although
you weren't very cordial at first"
''No." answered the scarf-pin, apollo
getically, 81 can't move my neck very
easily, 1t is rather stiff, to tell the
truth.'
''No WONDER" continued the roach,
Hospitality, you have been exposed tc
IiS uLdlu. SolHc Will llc W my lOOlu
under the inkstand. 1t is ve:" cosy
there"
Cant" replied the pin stinly. u
can't o without being lifted"
''Rheumatism?n
mo. l don't suffer any pain.
think it is an organic trouble"
.'Ah!!" unused the roach, knowingly,
as il it understood what organic
meant. He had learned that silence is
often taken for wisdom, had this imi-
tative little rogue. ''Well, you needn't
be afraid Of him." continued the insect,
pointing with one of his feelers to the
busy editor. ..He doesn't amount to
anything. You ought to know him
once. Why, do you know, he is thief.
He doesn't half earn his money.
heard the. proprietor say o to the edi-
tor-in- chief Just the other day. He cuts
out strips of paper and then writes
comments on them, which he thinks
are funny. The proof-rcader and
know better. If you ever want to know