The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1893-08-10
THE EDITORS VISITOR.
How Polly Sold Her Grandpa's
Returned Manuscript.


1t was the noon hour and the city ed.
itor of the Chronicle was very busy
making out an assignm ent list, when
queer old-fashioned figure of a man
came into the room and stood waiting
by the side of the desk.
"Well?" said the city editor, looking
up sharply, after an instant, what do
you want?'
81 wanted to know if you could make
use of this?" answered the newcomer,
timidly holding out small bundle of
manuscript.
I'm sure we can't. unless it's some
thing trifle less hoary with age than
that you brought here the other day."
The city editor, who was a compare
lively young man, very alert, very
quick in speech and all business, took
the manuscript, unfolded it with snap
and ran his eye over the first few lines.
Then he wheeled his chair around and
said, Strengthening up and speaking
testify:
Now look here, John Harmon, once
bringing such stuff as that in here, and
won't be bothered with looking at it!
Why, this is identically the same an
cient history you tried to shove off on
me the other day"
"But l polished it up" suggested the
old man.
polished your grandfather" ex-
claimed the other, why, you couldn't
polish that matter so that it would be
readable if you worked forever It's
hardluck; but the plain truth is there are
too many young men hustling for live
news to allow of such back number
trash as that being good for anything
but to stop hole. 1 haven't got any
more time to talk! If you get any news
bring it in and I will look at it! Other.
wise stay away, please"
The city editor faced his desk again,
picked up his pen and fell to work, not
looking at the other. The older man
for an instant stood motionless; then
ne picked up the manuscript, put it in
his pocket, and turning away walked
slowly out of the room without word
The wind was biting hard outside
and he drew his collar about his ears as
he walked despondently down side
street. He had not far to go, for pres
entity he went up the steps of a small
house and opened the door. The room
into which he came was bare and miser-
aoie-looking, and everywhere showed
the lack OF woman's hand to straighten
the few bits of furniture, which only
served by their mean repair to add to
the forlorn appearance of the apart
ment The old man stood quite still.
one hand resting ON the dooriamb
staring ahead of him as if he saw be-
yond the opposite wall. AS he stood
there, there came glad childs cry
from the other end of the room:
On, gran pop! l glad you come! It's
awfully lonely!"
Inc old mans face frightened. He
reached down, and, as the little girl
came running to him, caught her up
ana laboringly lifted her to his breast.
Then he kissed her and put her down.
one dld not see the tears on his cheeks
as ne talked to her of the fun they
would have that evening latter work
was done" After work was done was
the season when these two had grand
founps together. Work, as little Polly
ven knew, meant writing, writing,
writing until she would crawl upon the
olo mans knee and beg him to come
pay and he would drop the pen from
MS cramped fingers and let her kiss
from his eyes the mist which would
gather there when he kept his mind
i0ng liked on the pages before him.
'ohn Harmon was nearly eighty, ga
orUken-down newspaper man" he was
eaiea' and his only inheritance from
past Gays was knowledge of news
paper writing and little granddaugh-
yer whose mother and father had died
~ iever epidemic few years before.
Inc old man threw the rejected
manuscript on chair, then set about
beteng something to eat for himself
ana the child, the little one all the
wnlie chattering to hin, of what thew
would do in the evening. When thew
nnlshed 'he pulled on his coat once
more kissed the child and went ont
again. A publishing-house had
ptoiaisea to look over some manuscript
ae haa left week or so before, He
we eelhE there to get their answer.