Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-06-07
.
Breakfast T able Chat.

tramp showed up at the Efering- |
ington-Gordi o. back door one day
last week IT 100 a. m. He Wore an
I old fancy vest with tleur-dels decor
ations and pairof goggles Of antique
make.
is your sight affected my poor
man?" asked Mrs. Eferington-Gord
ing.
..Yes. fair lady" replied the weary
Willie. for seven wears how ! have
been unable to distinguish day from
\ night. and as | look on your kindly
face l feel sure that you viii not turn
me away hungry"
Mrs. Efferington-Gording has a nat
ural loathing for tramps. but this one
seemed so polite and was possessed of
such a grace that her heart went out
to him in his distress. She did not
stop to wonder how his blindness
could permit him to recognize her
..kindly face" but offered to help him
up the steps. Willie seemed quite
agile in finding his way into the kltch-
en- and from there made direct for
the dining room. bowling to his host
ess and dropping few compliment
ary remarks on the cleanliness of the
kitchen as he passed through. Now
Mrs. Efferington-Gordi had never
vet reconciled herself to the notion of
sitting down at the same table with a
tramp. She had intended giving him
meal at the kitchen table, but since
the family had assembled in the din
ing room and all ready to be seated,
and the tramp was already in the
room. and such polite tramp too,
she hadn't the heart to refuse him the
invitation.
"And that mirror over the mantle
piece. madam, did YOU yourself polish
It so brightly?" asked the blind man
1 indicating with wave Of his hand
that he had cast a casual glance in that
i direction
Yes. replied the proud house
i keeper, won't you take this chair Mr..
= beg your pardon, you have not
4 told us your name.
..Everthirst. madam. Everthirst. and
| take it that this gentleman is your
husband and this young lady your
ghter-how truly her innocent face
betokens good mothers tender care
Mr.. Etferington Gording had thus
far looked on aghast but now managed
To say:
"A friend of yours, Josephine"
a gentleman who wishes to take
3 breakfast with us, replied his wife
) tactfuIly. She would not have hurt
3 the feelings OF Mr.. Everthirst for any
q thing. That gentleman was already
getting himself in touch with the
: work before him.
"A very small dish of oat meal
q please, madam. and will you kindly
= use the oranges and pass them" he
q added addressing Mr. Neutrality-suspicious.
8 ding That gentleman looked ques-
n tions at his wife and acquiesced.
q ..Iprefer my steak rare Mr.. Ever
j thirst added, land when the little
. fellows are through with the biscuits
D if they will set the plate right here
within range of my weakening eye
sight-thank you, thank you
Thus the breakfast proceeded and
when the guest had consumed all that
was in sight. he drew from his pocket
pencil stub and a bit of paper.
Madam he said Il never enjoy
ed better meal. | want to felicitate
YOU on your fine cooking. Even my
fourth cup OF coffee greeted with a
relish prompted by its own excellence.
And now | want to ask a. last favor
that YOU give me the name Of the store
keep I from whom Won purchased
these viands."
We do orr purchasing al different
places replied Mrs Enerington-G ri
ing. "Why do you wish 10 know
My Object is more altrui.tic than
ntiliiariau replied Mr.. Eyertairst
rea--ufin4 Y.
Mrs. tgeringtou-Gording having
received TINS explanation vouehsated
the desired information.
The cat meal and the coffee came
from Nathan ;.
,Nathan's" the man with the fall
ING eyes bit wrote on his scrap Of
The last sack Of aour came from
Bastord', Mrs. Eirerington-Gording
dictated.
And the rolls were sent up from
Lathrop, bakery
..I.ataop'- bakerv" wrote down
Eyerthir,t.
"And me ofour supplies were pgr-
chased 8. Baxter 4 Draper. she cons
cHu5ed
i ..IHe,nim@ the sagar with witch
| YOU So generously .vepteaaj vaue
! coffee. added MI ETerngtoa-G 5rl-
/ in-
Thank vaE- thank Won" saI the
wrote down the last name.