Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-01-30
THAT CRAY0N.

self, and every one in the house could
hear Just what he said when the caller
made his errand known. Mrs. Smithers
laughed a little Historically, and the
hired girl, as she stopped down to haste
the nicely browning roast, grinned
broadly into the hot air Of the oven.
But the two guests - Mr.. Smithers'
mother and spinster aunt from Phila-
delphia - could hardly be expected to
see anything humorous in the profanity
which ass1iled their ears. Mrs. Smith-
ers, the younger, didn't see quite how
John could talk that way when his
Quaker mother was around, but she
realized somewhat the strength Of his
pr9vocation, and when the old lady ran
distractedly to the door she put her arm
around her reassuringly and said
ats a man who wants to enlarge
photographs, mother, and John has just
had such an experienced
"But--but--how can thee excuse
such language? To think that a son of
mine should swear and abuse fellow
mortal in that wayp'
There was the sound Of little souffle
in the hail. the crashing Of glass, and
then the sudden slamming Of the outer
door, when the host, flushed, but trium-
plant, appeared in the sitting room and
confronted two weeping women, and
one whose expression told him moro
plainly than words that, while detach-
ment of his household might consider
him an unregeDerate sinner, one mem
Der regarded him as simple chuap.
1.-THE roast in the oven isn't quite
ready, John, " said Mrs. Smithers sig
nificantly. $50 perhaps you had better
explain to mother and Aunt Laviny
your somewhat unusual language.
By George, mother, " exclaimed Mr..
Smithers, suddenly recalled to his
senses. this is too bad Wouldn't have
had it happen for farml And Aunt
Why too. Well, guess I'm in disgrace.
I'll have to explain. as Emma says.
You know, I've always fought shy of
photographs and never had picture
taken in my life until last month, when
was out camping in Wisconsin with
a crowd of the fellows, and we had q
group taken, the nine of us, and show
ing the boat and string of fish / had
my hat on and wore negligee shirt,
with loose tie, and it looked first rate.
/ brought it home, and Emma was de-
lighted, and now her part comes in.
Mother, ever since we've been mar
ried," said the little woman, "I've
begged and entreated John to have his
picture taken. What if he should be
taken away?' used to think. He prom.
ised he would some day, and once or
twice he's had his courage almost up to
the point of going to a gallery, but since
he lost his hair he has given up all in
40, ton Of ever having photograph
taken.
zone morning I was sitting here,
looking at that group, when the bell
rang, and | ran to the door, with the
picture in my hand. A man from john
sons gallery was there, and he wanted
to enlarge photographs or make life size
crayons from tintypes or even old da-
guerreotypes.
" Can you take this one from the
group?' / asked, and he assured me that
it would be the easiest thing in the
world.
Mr.. Smithers again forgot himself.
"Iohnr' said his mother reproach-
fully.
well, there were some changes |
wanted made. told him to take off the
SLOUGH hat and put high collar and
dress suit ON him, for didn't want him
dressed like tramp for a parlor picture
He said there'd be no difficulty what
ever about that and promised to have
the picture done and framed so | could
surprise John when he came home from
Omaha Thursday evening, and-well, l
guess that part of it was all right,
wasn't it?''
81 should say so, !" said the man OF
the house, resuming the narrative. EN-
ma came down the road few stations
to meet me that day, and | thought some
thing was up by the way she acted.
The picture hadn't come when she left
home, so she gave the money to the girl
and told her to accept it and hang it
over the mantel in the parlor. When
we came in. saw her look at Lie, and
Lie grinned knowingly and nodded to-
ward the front room.
"'Go into the parlor. dear, said EN-
ma, while I'm taking off my bonnet.
Perhaps you'll see something new
therer
81 opened the door, and there was the
darndest looking idiot you ever saw,
with neck yard long and a thick
crop Of black hair combed pompadour
and suit like an undertaker's.
Who's this?' yelled with some adj
ditions viii not attempt to repeat,
mother; so don't look anxious.
"'Why, it's your said Emma.
Not on your life' saidL And then
she caught sight Of it and shrieked. F."
But, my son, thy profanity and
abuse toward that poor man can hardly
be excused by that
MIR. Smithers looked at his wife dis
tressedly. An inspiration seized her.
John, she said, "show mother the
picture"
He ran up stairs two steps at time
and returned with the crayon. The old
ladies looked at it, growing pale with