Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-13
DADDY JIM.

You would never have thought Of calling
him Daddy for he didn't look more than
Is years old. In fact, when he first told me
ho was married mau / thought he was
joking.
He worked ia the same office did, aud as
his desk was near mine we had become quite
friendly, although not intimately acquainted
IL is odd, isn't its how men can sit and
write side by side or shoulder to shoulder
day after day, each knowing nothing of the
others life or interests and but little Of his
tastes and disposition.
All hurry through work like so many au-
donations, then rush each in his own direc-
tlon, rarely stopping for on exchange Of
words and never for an exchange OF thoughts
Writing, writing, all day long. Little won
der they have few ideas when night comes
beyond catching the first car, hurying them
selves in a newspaper and doing away to
ward their homes
Now, | am a sociable sort OF a creature.
just the least bit inquisitive, too. | catch
myself listening to conversations in the street
car and wondering where the people live and
what they are like in their homes. In other
words, haven't yet got TO regarding men as
mere machines, and confess to a good, whole
When / first came 20 live in the city was
extremely interested in every one about me-
and when to my wen meant advances got
short but not unpleasant responses, i thought
people took me for a meddling sort OF a fell
low, and rather drew back into my shell
aud kept TO myself. But now understand
better, and when a man is what used to
term cranky l set him down as dead tired
and let him alone and that's how it happened
that after working for nearly a year IN the
same room with dozen men James Murray
was about the only one with whom had
even a common acquaintance.
Somehow | took a fancy to the young fell
low from thevery first. lie was tall and
thin, smooth faced, with regular, clean cut
features and dark eyes and hair; boyish look
ing, but dignified and very quiet.
had done him few friendly turns, such
as men working together often get a chance
10 do one another, and we had become pretty
well acquainted. At least he must have
known me and my family history pretty
well; but he was rather reticent, and beyond
telling me he was imam of family as be
expressed it, he had never talked of his own
affairs, and / had often wondered what his
family might consist Of.
One night he invited me homo to dinner
with him, and, as you may imagine, I accept
ed with great promptness.
His home was at the outskirts OF tho great
city, not in one Of the pretty suburbs, but in
a thinly settled, bleak looking neighborhood
where there were many vacant lots, with
hero and there a fair looking apartment
house or block Of fats but no houses that
looked like permanent homes.
The buildings all had that cherries looi
seen in the neighborhoods where renters
/ change often; a sort Of transient air, a
/ though the houses themselves might be port
able: aud one would hardly be surprised I,
/ see the great furniture vans, that are Away
coming and going with immense loads to an,
from these localities, carry away houses an,
all
MY friend apologi2ed for the distance, say
/ ing that cheaper rent had taken him 50 fai
I out. because now his family needed NOR
room than he could afford 10 pay for neare
| town.
ellis family again; well in a few min
I ntes / should see for myself A ring at tn
| door Of an upper fat brought a neat littl
| maid servant to the door, and she showed Il
into a coy little parlor empty for mo
ment, then filed, it seemed 70 me, by livel
little tot Of two on three years. 'Daddy Jim
| Daddy Jim, he called, as he climbed on hin
and over him, and hung on his coat; an
then the pretty girl mother entered, an
Daddy Jim proudly presented me TO his fam
lily.
We had a merry meal Everybody talked
even the baby. They both ratified away. an
/ soon knew all about them. Her name wa
Kittie, baby's was Ned She called her hui
band Daddy jim because baby had begu
it, and it sounded 50 funny. Both wer
orphans-he was % and she was 10. She ha
married at 16 because her mother had die
then and left her alone, and Jim wanted I
take care Of her. They had been engage
ever since they were children; and 50 as
heard their story l became more and NOR
interested ia them, and resolved then an
there 70 be a sort Of a father to them. NJ
that | was so awfully old (nly hair has alwal
been thin Ethis way-early badness runs
our family). but they seemed such infants /
be all alone in the world
think they must have liked me, too, Il
soon an invitation 10 dine with them c
Sunday became so much a matter Of cour,
that / should have felt hurt had it bee
omitted. became their confidential frien'
and was consulted in 50 many Of their plal
that felt myself quite important, assui
you. helped. Kit1ie select Jim's birthda
and Christmas gifts, and / gave Jim the be-
eft Of my experience in shopping when HI
tie sent him for purchases at tho great dI
goods stores In fact, / began 70 considl
, myself one Of ths family.
Now there was employed in our Office
typo writer q Mrs. Wymsn, very han
some woman OF about IS years OF age.
I, relative Of one Of the firm, her story W
4 well known among the men IN the ofiie
She had beeu left ~ orphan with conslds
Z able sacney. aud al the age Of IL had pns