Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-05-03

THE LITTLE TIN GOD.
BY MAUD SHIELDS.

Il can see quite wei WHdt you ShAs
are driving at" said Mr. John Glen
lister. firmly, as he rose from the
breakfast table. land If | hear any
more of such rubbish / shall go to tho
front"
With which tremendous threat he
strobe majestically into the hall. The
"girls" protested that indeed they had
no ulterior motive in praising Gwenny
Saunderson, and John must be mad TO
imagine they had; they only thought
she was a bright, pleasant, clever girl
that was all, and wouldn't John
come home in good time, as she ana
her mother were coming in to tea, ana
to talk over the church bazaar. This,
as they buzzed around him; MISS
Clara brushing his hat, Miss Janet
holding his gloves and umbrella, and
Miss Amelia carefully folding the
paper which he took to read IN the
train. John would make no promises,
and declared that IL he heard any
more about the church bazaar he
would straightway join a certain ram
Gus corps then in formation to pro-
coed to South Africa; for, like the
worthy and historical John Gilpin, he
was captain of volunteers.
This threat. launched at them twice
in one morning, nearly drove the
Misses Glenister into tears, and they
implored that he would not think OF
adopting such a rash course. and
breaking their three respective hearts,
at which John babe them be sensible,
and remember that he would not have
any girls crammed down his throat,
and that when he wanted wife he
would find one for himself; submitting
the while to three embraces. and de-
claring he would lose his train II ne
stayed pottering about any longer.
"The girls watched his departure
from the gate, according to custom,
and then filed back to the breakfast
,arlor to sit round the fire and have
cosy chat for few minutes, before be-
ginning the business of the day.
Although aged respectively fifty-six,
fifty-two. and fifty, the Misses Glen
lister were always called the girls by
their relations. They had been girls
once. as light hearted and thoughtless
as Gwenny, in the far-off days OF
lustres and crochet antimacassars.
John was ten years younger than Miss
Amelia. the youngest of the three, but
ruled the house with rod of iron.
How they worshipped him. these sim
ple-hearted women! He was their idol
had been from the time he wore
frocks. so that it was no wonder ne
was a bachelor at forty; few men mad
so comfortable and well-appolnted a
home. And although they loved him
so dearly, they were persuaded that II
was for his happiness that he married
content to take second place in his
affections. so long as he was happy
They would talk sometimes of time
when Johns children should wake the
echoes of the old house with baby
laughter. for they had that intense
love of little children that is part and
parcel of the nature of some women
often those who have never known
the clinging touch of baby fingers
Old maids What a wealth of love Is
stored up in their hearts. What
ring of sadness, of seld-fenial there
often is in the words.
While the girls dreamed by the fire
side, John was swalking briskly 10
wards Dulwich Station, fully persuad
ed that he would lose his usual tram
fear that was newborn every morn
ing. and never realized. Quite a com
mon thing among the city men, t.
whom punctuality is next to goodness
and who engender a lifelong martyr
dom of Indigestion by boiling theli
breakfasts.
He found time, however. to look III
at the windows of Holly Bank, Mrs
Saunderson's villa, and. seeing some
one, to raise his hat; smiling, partl!
at the pretty girlsh face. partly at TIT
recollection of the discussion he hat
just left.
Gwenny turned from the window
breaking into a merry laugh.
There goes the little tin god, sh'
said.
Mrs Saunderson looked up from he
writing.
What did you say, Gwen?'
81 said there goes the little tin god
mater"
Meaning"
"Mr. Glenister, of course, with apol
ogies to Kipling."
Don't let me forget that we call o.
his sisters this afternoon about tn
bazaar"
81 do hope he'll be home. he's s
funny, and they look at him as II h
were something good to eat.
Zone must make allowances 10
them. he's the only man they hay
ever had to fuss over"
cts an awful mistake to make
fuss of a man, isn't it, mater? Good
ness knows they are selfish enoug
without making them worse.
"They like him to walk over them.
'Poor old thing"
"Run and get your hat on, Gwer
and take this letter to the post-box 10
me-"
AS she watched her daughter goin
down the road, Mrs. Saunderson rum
mated little on her own account.
was apparent that the Misses Glen
lister had taken a great fancy