The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-11
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Our Daily Short Stories
A DAY TN DECEMBER.
BY EDGAR wELToN COOLEY.
tcopyrteht 1901. by Authors, Syndicate,

Hammond arose from the little, rick
ETY. table which he flattered by the
name of desk, and opening the door of
the cracked stove stirred the embers
of the dying fire put in some fuel and
opened all the drafts. Then he drew
his chair in close proximity to the
stove and sat down with his feet on
the fender.
1t was day in December. Without,
the wind blew a gale, hurting the
snow around the one-story frame
structure which Hammond occupied as
a combined residence and office, and
driving it through the cracks and
erevices. The mercury was rapidly
falling, and every indication pointed to
an extremely cold night
AS Hammond leaned back before the
fast reddening stove, he heard the roar
of the wind without, and smiled.
Naught had he to fear from frost or
cold. His coal bins were filled; his
Iarder was well supplied; his clothes
press bulged with the warmest gar
ments. Besides, there was a snug sum
to his credit in the village bank.
Past 40 and bachelor, ne had no
one dependent upon him but himself.
His whole life had been one of ac-
tivity, of shrewdness, of success Nu-
nerous farms throughout the country
brought him goodly rentals; his cattle
roamed on many hills; his hogs grunt-
ed contentedly in many pens.
Men called him "stingy,'' but to his
conservatism" as he termed it, he at
tributed his prosperity. His will knew
no bending. With him, to decide was to
do. When he could not surmount an
obstacle he crushed il. Woe unto him
who dared to think or act in defiance
of John Hammond. Many had crossed
his path and regretted it.
He was generally credited with hav-
ing but one love, one idol, one religion
the almighty dollar. Charity was
not found in his dictionary; brotherly
love was myth to him. Thus it al
ways had been. Thus. even John Ham
mond believed, it always would be.
SO he sat in front of the cracked
stove in his little office, heard the roar
of the storm without, felt the warmth
of the fire within, and smiled.
He thought of his cattle, of his hogs,
of his crops, of his bank account Step
by step he reviewed his life and it's
successes. At ten he had been the
most ragged boy on the streets. at 40
he was the richest man in the country.
Success! What grand word that
was, over and over again he uttered
the magic syllables and chuckled to
himself. Surely his life had been a
success!
He arose and walked to the window.
The street was nearly deserted, but &C.
casionally a pedestrian hurried past.
Finally, out of store opposite there
came man and a woman. The man
was carrying baby wrapped in fan
nels. The little one held a stick of
candy in its hand and smiled up into
its fathers face, Hammond watched
them until they were out of sight, and
then he returned to his seat by the
stove
Had his life been a success?
He tried to center his thoughts upon
his cattle and his hogs and his gold, but
he could not do so. Somehow. he felt
no satisfaction in them any more
Something seemed misunderstanding
for which his heart was starving.
He poked the fire until it roared up
the chimney and drowned the sound
OF the storm. Then he resumed his seat
Il have riches, he said to himself.
II can enjoy life at my ease / have
honors.' He laughed hoarsely "Y es,
honors. Am l not overseer of the
poor?" Again he laughed. John
aEinmond overseer of the poor what
paradox! I am contented. Poh!
No, am not contented. l never will
be. ] can lie to the world, but can
not lie 20 myself, l am not contented.
My life mas been a failure-a sad f3il-
ure. That man with his wife and child
is conteated. He is poor man, but he
is conteped. ! was wrong. / have
worshiped an idol. have thrown hap
piness away and followed after folly
BAH Stuff and nonsensei That
last cigar did not agree with me. If
made me nervous. OF course, am con-