Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-25
The Pessimist S
Lesson,


Mr.. Letson, who had just ceased to
represent a large manufacturing firm,
had always considered himself a great
deal of a philosopher. The years which
he had known were sufficient in number,
so he thought, to have justified him in
expecting SOM more tangible msmento
than the tinge Of gray over his hair.
The letter in which the firm explained
the conditions which rendered 1t no lon
ger desirable to keep a man in the terri
tory he had been covering lay open on
the table. 1t was the same firm in which
he had. ten years before, hoped to attain
a partnership. 1t was not an unreasona-
BILE hope at that time, but the careless,
liberal temperament which made him SO
| popular with his trade failed to commend
him as a proprietary figure. And unless
his partnership had enabled him to exer-
else influence which would have averted
the present condition Of the firms affairs
such a partnership would have been of
little value.
Everything seems on its last legs"
he unused after an ugly spell of coughing.
"It's a great pity l couldn't have got that
position l applied for in Chicago last
month. l suppose they thought I was
too old to learn the business"
He picked up a magazine, which he
had bought at the newsstand as he came
into the hotel, and glanced carelessly over
It's pages. A portrait attracted his atten-
ton. 1t was a picture of an actress.
"1'l bet that picture doesn't look much
like its subject" he said as he brushed
aside the clothes, which were lying on a
| chair, and sat down. ut looks more like
{. Hannah. | never realized what a pretty
name Hannah is till I knew her. That's
| the way she used to wear her hair. Lucky
| girl, Hannah! She came very near mar
rying me. I wonder il that fellow treats
her right?"
He picked up a small roll of bills which
had fallen out Of his vest pocket and
counted them over, together with some
coin which he took from his trousers
pocket. A $50 goldpiece shone among
the silver.
Enough to pay hotel bills for a week
or two yet" he remarked. But what's
a week or two? This world isn't scat
tering welcomes Unfortunately. I've
shown my goods, and it doesn't care about
them, and that's all there is to it. When
you've made the best showing you can
to a customer and you cannot transact
any more business, what's the thing to
do? Get out, of course"
He took a revolver from his travelling
bag and examined it carefully. Then he
thought Of the excitement which a shot
would create and considerably laid it
aside. He dressed himself and started
for a drug store. 1t wal cheering to re-
fleet that it was not whisky he desired,
but plain poison. He would not require
a Doctors prescription.
A very small black boy stood in the
front of the hotel. As Mr.. Letson passed
the %youngster turned up a face upon
whose nose and cheek bones the electric
lamp made such striking high lights that
his artistic sense was appealed to, and
he paused.
"Look here, son, why don't you go
homer" he exclaimed.
"I'ze dar," was the answer. II makes
merse'f to home right hyah. De city
pervides me wiz ~'lectric lights, an when
I wants ter git wahm l goes to de depot"
"Where do you Sleep"
"Oh, one place or 'nuthuh."
"Are you hungry"
"Yassir. A good deal O. de time"
"What are you laughing at, you young
rascal?"
II didn't know l wuz laughin."
where are your parentsY"
"Ain't got none. Dey moved out o
town las week an fohgot to ak me long
wifi 'em. Miss Maria Simpson femme
sleep on de flo. She's bout 100 y'ahs ole,
an she's gwineter git put out fob de rent
Monday"
"What are you going to do then"
81 doesn't know. 'Tain't then yit, no.
how. l reckons sumpin's gwineter hap.
pen. Eff it amt gwineter, why den II
amt. But is boun ter see it froo.
didn't know whah I was gwineter keep
wahm till I thought bout de depot, nor
whah l wah gwine to sleep tell Miss
Simpson happen past. An l reckons dar's
mo- luck whah dat come FUN"
"Afen't you discouraged about your fu-
ture"
"Does you mean bout breakfast
Case il you does, / might as well let you
know l hasn't got done bein hungry fob
oupPCA yt@
The hint was taken. 1t was a pleasure
to discover how ~palatable a supper in a
small, cheap restaurant could be. 1t
cheered Mr.. Letson to watch the wait as
he waited for another course, grinning
like some lucky god in exile from his
oriental fame. And Mr.. Letson thought.
Presently he wrote his home address on
the back Of an envelope and gave 1t to
the boy.
"Get some one to write there for you
in a couple of months from now" he said,
"and maybe l can arrange to get you an
education that will keep you out Of all
this color line rubbish when you grow
up"
When he went to pay the cashier, be
drew from his pocket, with other coin,
the gold piece.
He handed it to the boy, who, as wo-
men and children do with gold, intuitive.
ly perceived its value.
"Da's a Chris'ma git, amt 1t, boss? p
he exclaimed in delight.
"No," answered Mr.. Letson, very
thoughtfully, "it's a life saving medal
New York Evening Post.
A Dog Story.
The Skye's favorite place was, as 1t
should be, at his mistress feet. He was
generally quite well behaved, but would
have lost his character one day had he
been without excuse. The Skye was run.