The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-03
The Boy and
the Man ~
BY j. N. JONES
THE Boy came at 1880 p. m. and
BY j. N. JONES


presence would be positively OBJ
noxious, yet 1 could not get rid of
him. He was well-meaning lin so far
as ne could be said to have a mean
ing), light-haired, long-legged.
He sat on the sofa, and put himself
into 80 distinct attitudes, not one of
which was graceful. l could not ex-
actly tell him to go, and anything
short of that he disregarded.
He wore a pink-striped waistcoat
and a blue tie.
He did not admire me; his idol was
in short frocks ana fuzzy hair. Other
boys worship the seasoned belle, but
his taste in enslavers was the only
peculiar thing about him. never
cared for the very young attached to
me; and the very young despairing
for another is even worse.
He did not even talk of Her. wished
he had. | could have sympathized to
the best in my power. Presumably |
was too antique in his estimation q
was 27) to take an interest in such
things. He talked of love to make up
for his silence on the nearer subject
i listened and wearied, and took out
the fancy work l kept for the Boy,
and never finished.
He spoke with the superior air of
one instructing 1he ignorant. l was,
am afraid minded, and he
languished after awhile.
/ offered him sweets and insulted
him into a ruby blush.
After that he stared sadly at me.
as if he had come for no other pur-
post than to feast his eyes for one
last time on my adored features.
He was very like the immortal
Toots.
At last the conversation got upon
its legs, and. in a rickety fashion,
managed to keep moving.
The marriage question mot the i'm
proper marriage question: seemed to
interest him greatly. He did not ask
for my advice, but merely solilo-
quized at some length. He mentioned
the desirability of early marriages;
the impossibility of asking a girl to
share ten shillings a week; the ex-
pense of bringing up young family;
there was the education of the sons
and the portion for the daughters.
You would not educate them?" I
inquired, smothering an incipient
laugh.
He thought he would let them
choose between an education and an
income. Besides, they might marry"
TO be sure" | assented. And
there might be grandchildren"
A puzzled look came across the
Boys face; he had not thought CT
the grandchildren.
20, that would be all right" he
said, after short silence.
"A man is only responsible for his
own family. Directly responsible, of
course" Here | threaded a needle.
but there is no harm in looking at
things from all sides"
However, we had plunged too far
into futurity even for the Boy; he
took another bypath from the same
thoroughfarc.
II think it very wrong for people
to throw obstacles in the way of
marriage" he remarked, solemnlv.
But on the other side" then said
j, lit would never do to encorage the
thing too much; if the couple quar-
reed they would lay the blame of the
position On you
This was evidently new idea; he
pondered on it some time.
The Man came in, sat down, and
waited.
airrl1-
unintentionally," the Boy said, re-
fectively.
They might" 1 agreed - 1 hope
not grimly.
The Man looked at the clock and
fidgeted.
Is that the right time?" he asked.
1.-TWO minutes SLOW" said the Boy.
" Thanks" said the Man. Il haze
to catch the S:35 train"
My needle would not thread. Then
I said: 80 soon!" and when do
you return?"
II don't know he answered. "It
depends
Don't get fever at the Rock 7aid
the Boy, paternally. Il have know.
SUN Tvs VI 1NlIONS 10 20 OH like
you, and they never come back"
81 hope this will be an exception"
i said 60, would no one take the
Boy away and bury him?)
Thank YOU" said the Man.
The Boy got up-was he going?
He merely looked at the photo
graph over the mantel piece and sat
down again.
THAT is a nice-looking girl" he re-
marked. Some people think appear
ance everything. Now l notice care
fully how a girl acts to everybody,
and learn her all round, then make
Up my mind"
Does 1t take long?" 1 inquired,
Gwith polite interest, | hope; how |
iongcd to stick my crewel-needle into
him).
ais" Ohe Boys mind had wan
dered).
ITO learn her all round?"
"Not very long. Of course, it de-
ponds"
The Man who had been staring at
Che ceiling began t. h"nt savagelv