The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-13

spasms of delight. And then we all
laugh; and Billy taking advantage of the
general tumult pulls Bob's head down
and whispers, ''Git EN- to stay up way
late tonight And Bob, perhaps re-
membering that we go back home to-
morrow, winks at the little fellow and
whispers, ''You let me manage 'eml
Stay up till broad daylight If we take a
notion-eh? And Billy dances off again
in newer glee, while the inspired must
clan is plunking banjo imitation on his
enchanted instrument, which is uncere-
moniously drowned out by a circus-tune
4 from Doc that is absolutely inspiring to
everyone but the barefooted brother, who
drops back listlessy to his old position
on the floor and sullenly renews opera
lions on his ''chigger' claims.
Thought you was goin' to have pop
corn tonight all so FAST" he says dog
gedly in the midst of a momentary lull
that has fallen on a game of whist And
then the oldest Mills girl, who thinks
cards stupid anyhow, says: That's So
Billy; and we are going to have 1t, too;
and right away, for this games just
ending. and i shan't submit to being
bored with another. I say popcorn with
Billy! And after that" she continues,
TlSlHB anu addressing Ine party IN gen.
eral, I'VE must have another literary
and artistic tournament and that's been
in contemplation and preparation long
enough; so you gentlemen can be pulling
your wits together for the exercises.
while us girls see to the refreshments
Have you done anything toward It'll"
queries Bob, when the girls are gone,
with the alert Billy in their wake.
Just an outline" 1 reply. How with
your
"Clean forgot it-that is. the prepara-
ton; but I've got a little old second
hand idea, If you'll all help me out with
1t, thatll amuse us some, and tickle Billy
I'm certain"
So that's agreed upon; and while Bob
produces his portfolio, drawing paper
pencils and so on, l turn to my notebook
in a dazed way and begin counting my
| fingers in depth Of profound abstrac-
! tion from which 1 am barely aroused by
the temperance of the girls and Billy
"Goody, goody, goody! Bob's goin to
make pictures!' cries Billy, in additional
transport to that the cake popcorn has
produced
Now, you girls says Bob gently de-
taching the affectionate Billy from one
leg and moving a chair to the table, with
backward glance of intelligence toward
the boy,-"you girls are to help us all
you can, and we can sall work; but, as
I'll have all the illustrations to do, l want
you to do as many of the verses as you
can-that'n be easy, you know,-because
the work entire is just to consist of
series of fool-epigrams. such as, for In
stance-Lsten. Billy:
Here lies young man
Who, in childhood began
To swear, and to smoke and to drink
In his twentieth year
He quit swearing and beer,
And yet is still smoking, 1 think"
And the rest of his instructions are de-
lvered in lower tones, that the boy may
not hear; and then, all matters seeming
ly arranged, he turns to the boy with
And now, Billy, no lookin over should
ers you know, or swinging on my chair
back while I'm at work. When the pic
lures are all finished, then you can take
squint at EN-. and not before. Is that
allhunky, now?'
"Ohl who's a-goin to look over your
shouder-only Doc" And as the radiant
Doc hastily quits that very post and
dives for the offending brother, he scram-
bles under the piano and laughs derisive-
ly.
And then silence falls upon the group
"a gracious quiet, only intruded upon
by the very juicy and exuberant MUNICH
ing of an apple from remote fastness OF
the room, and the occasional humping
of bare heel against the floor.
At last 1 close my notebook with a
half slam.
THAT means" says Bob. laying down
his pencil, and addressing the GIRLS
That means he's concluded his poem. and
that he's not pleased with 1t in any man.
ner and that he intends declining to
read it, for that acknowledged rea-
SOM and that hesexpeetg US to pelieye