The sun., 1902-04-27
WHEN DAD ENJOYED HIMSELF,
HIS SMALL BOY'S ACCOUNT or AN
ATTEMPT TO BE JOLLY.
IT'S Hard for Serious Man and Dads
Serious Now If He Wasn't Always
Visit 10 Theatre and supper, With
trimmings, That Seemed to lie Nice.


Visit 10 Theatre and n supper. With
trimmings. That Seemed to he Nice.
81 wish had known my dad when he
was kid said the boy. instead Of know
ing him now when he's growly most Of
the time. He was the real thing. He
was hot stuff then.
Il know il because heard dads mother
that's my grandmother, whisper TO my
mother Why. John was a regular little
devil when he was boy. He was Just full
Of fun and can't see for the life Of me
what makes him so glum all the time now
That's what my grandmother said when
she and ma got to talking about dads
sober ways. And ma said she knew IL
and that the old man was jolly enough
when he was counting her. She didn't
say old man OF course. but that's what
she meant all right, because I've heard
her say lots of times that dads the only
man that ever oourted her, and then dad
always says that she's the only girl he
ever oourted. And then they both try to
get cheerful over that and tell each other
that all they need is a little fun.
THE old man and ma spend hours every
hight arguing over being jolly. l hear
EN- in the next room after I've gone to bed.
They talk low, thinking they won't wake
me- and its awful solemn, they generally
spend the first half hour in asking each
other il anything s the matter except being
Just tired or having a headache. They
ask it all over in dozen different ways
and tell each other in another dozen
ways that they amt blue and haven't
got anything special on their minds to
worry about.
Then ma says: Well. you're glad
you're marriedY as if she kinder didn't
think so, and dad always says, of course.
Are you? And ma says, L guess l am
with lot Of ginger In her voice. She's
got lots more snap in her than dad has, but
has to hold in, and I'm more sorry for her
than for the old man. She wants to tickle
him in the ribs or throw a sofa pillow at
him or fool with him some other way Just
20 liven him up some, but she doesn't dare.
She might as well be in church all the time.
We'll, when they tell each other that
they're glad they're married anyhow,
that's usually the end Of the first round.
always know just what dads going TO
say next. He says What we need is little
real fun and ma says That's 30. What
will We dor This happens most every night.
Then they get TO talking about having
fun and that usually puts me TO sleep--the
ways dad thinks up for having fun. Mas
just dying TO go TO the theatre or the opera,
but the old man can't seem to catch on.
He blurts right out the first thing when
ma says where will they go with saying
that they must go somewhere in the country.
That's always the end of the first of the
second round. The next thing dad does
every night is to get out lot of bum old
maps. Maps is the only thing he's really
stuck on. He pretends that he only uses
'em to pick out place to go to and pose
he really thinks that's what he's doing,
but 'tain't so. His fun is just in looking
at 'em. Think of having fun with geog-
raphyl Now just what do you think
Of n man like that? Why dad and ma have
travelled millions Of miles on those maps
sitting on the couch. but that's the only
way they get anywhere.
Hell begin by asking ma how she'd
like Nova Scotia for instance, She says
''twould tie lovely Shell say almost any
thing TO get him going and cheered up a
little. Then he's just mean enough TO pre-
tend Nova Scotia is her idea and he'll say:
We'll. II you are set on going there, III get
months vacation and Wen try II. |
guess twoud do us good and the kids
old enough to enjoy trip like that now
The kids me
Then dad measures of places in Nova
Scotia or whichever place he's picked out
for that might, with lead pencil and lays
corner with little feelers on IL that looks
like a worm on It's back, TO see how many
miles on one place IL from another. IL
It's less than hundred miles he generally
sqys Now II would be very interesting
20 walk that distance and see the country
a. We 90 along How would you Ike 10
take a tramp.ng trip| And ma says II
would be lovely II her feet didn't trouble
her 50.
THAT usually makes the old man a little
GUNNER than he was before. because
he hasn't got oorns himself and he feels
sure that she doesn't take enough exercise.
Then he starts out something about riding
oil the way and begins To figure out the
fares and the time tables II wouldn't
b. any fun a. all for dad for somebody -
tell him right out flat footed what th. fare
really wac lie wants ~ MI up thre" ur
fHur sh""ls of paper figuring II out for
hlW-"lf Next "a maps dad liks~ hgur"r
Ald gues= neIt 90 hgur-s b" like 10 talk
hh.4' Lrguuing a. take regular exercise
We'll wh"u dad grts 10 figuring ma
generally rliis into NY room where dad
ctnt H"" Lrr, and yawns thr"" 90 four
,iu"r Then sh" goss iiaok and asks han
4 hr thinks they can AFFORD u sh. lu-i
doc rHaf 90 keep the fun going fur DAD,
- II Hiari- him right ~ uu another luur's
tFlu.g '. PED" huS murh uun"y hr'll earn
'." r'hI ia m4uths and huN murh h"ll
tIsHi iI,-.' tup- thai dad and ma newer
'a.r lur generally planned uut .ia muutis
u. .i.aI.r bad.r ~ muri million
uH.r u.I railroad timr tlhlrs ihat.s
~" ua snisl-r'i tn dale mh urCr
H.sHri rl,' ouuld move uui ~ fb" nAi
.. I.uaH lu tho country With Earr.'
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