Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-14

DaDy AT my place. ana wanted une aIC-
ernoon off to see some people my moth
er washes for. What does Mr.. Kershaw
do but look up from his table quite
cheerfully and say:
"By all means, Billing"
'Much obliged to you, sir"
''Going to take your young lady out
for the day, Billing?"
1 never saw Mr.. Kershaw smile be-
fore, and upon my word it took my
breath away for a moment.
mo, sir" said; "Tve broke it all off
with her,
''Sorry to hear that"
"Fact of the matter is, sir, she was
bit too fond of fourpenny ices. Turned
up her nose, bless you, at twopenny
ones. Would have fourpennies. And
when you begin to shell out fourpence
after fourpence, and see her getting less
imible at each ice, why"
1T is not with her, then. that you
wish to spend the afternoon?"
l explained, and Mr.. Kershaw rose
from his chair and sat on the corner of
the table, just as though he was the
most cheerful gentleman in the city.
''Why, that's singular" he said, good
temperedly.
"I don't know about that. sir" 1
answered. "There's nine of us al
ready"
But, what I mean to say, it's odd.
Because, do you know, Billing, I have
q little arrival at home. And that's a
boy, too"
Fine boy, sir, may ask?"
Gas fine little man." said Mr.. Ker-
shaw, enthusiastically, "as ever came
into this world. Bright-eyed, healthy,
chubby-perfect picture of a boy. I
don't suppose, as matter of fact, that
such perfect youngster is often seen.
He's got a way of staring iXedly at
one"
Mr.. Kershaw this time absolutely
laughed. went to the door.
''I say, Billing. 1 should like to give
YOUR new brother something. Has be
got a mug?'
Hes got a rare funny little mug,
SIR" 1 answered. I'VE all pinch his
little nose for him, but unless he alters
he won't be what 1 call dazzlin' and
some"
81 mean a silver christening mug
explained Mr.. Kershaw. IF not, you
must let me present him with one.
Good morning. Billing"
1t wasn't believed in the Office at frs,
but the clerks soon saw that the change
was real. Linkson declared that he
overheard Mr.. Kershaw one evening.
Just before he left the office, hum
ming n comic song; Unison admitted
that Mr.. Kershaw hummed it all wrong.
but still he hummed it. One of our
clerks lived at Slough, and Mr.. Kershaw
called him in one day to ascertain his
opinion of Elton as a school for grow
ing youth. The Slough clerk said tina Z
he had heard that Eton wasn't half a
bad place, and Mr.. Kershaw thanked!
him, and made a Eote of it in his diary.
On another occasion. when the manag-
ing clerk to a solicitors in Ely place
called at the office, Mr.. Kershaw had q
long conversation with him on the bar
as profession for young men, and the
chances it offered for advancement I
think that upon this point Mr.. Kershaw
was not quite decided. because noticed
on his blottiEg pad scrubbed line:
Bar. Query? Enquire re Church.
See Canon Westc."
And underneath:
as Sandhurst expensive? Query?
Tenth hussars."
One day l posted letter for him to
a Sunday paper, and 1 got Linkson TO
persuade his father to buy copy In
the Answers to Correspondents" we
found:
''Wahsrek.-In answer to your in
quiry, l do not recommend a political
career for your son, unless he shows a
special ability for speaking and a thor
ough grasp of the great questions of the
day. But if he decides to enter ST.
Stephens let him first read all John
Stuart Mills works and my own book
called Customs ard Habits of the
Laplanders."
Somehow the whole office seem to he
infected by The alteration in Mr.. Ker-
shaw. Everybody became 4 little more
friendly with everybody, and when
Master Kcrshaw was six months old
and proposal was made to send birth
day present 20 the little baby. the suC-
gestion was taken up like one o'clock.
house flowers into Mr.. Kershaw's room,
and presented it to Mr.. Kershaw, and
Mr.. Kershaw came out into the Office
and shook hands with all of us, right
down to me.
Gentlemen" said ne, as he stood at
the door of his office, II wish l could
tell you how deeply l am touched by
your kind thought of my-of my son.
/ shall take this delightful basket CT
flowers home with me this evening. and
I shall tell my boy that although he :
only six months old to-day, get he has
he has friends who wish him well
and look forward with interest, and l
hope / may say with affection, to the
to the time when"
And here Mr.. Kershaw suddenly
broke down, went hurriedly into his of
fee. and closed the door. Later he went
of radiant, with the basket of expen-
sive flowers, carried with great care.
The next morning Mr.. Kershaw was
an hour late coming to the Office. This