The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22
JENKINS THANKSGIVING HYMN.

diana, of course) famed like across
the zenith OF local literary about
Jenkins his friend Joshua Mittiver high
school boys with extraordinary of ambition
and considerable talent Joshua began in the silver
coTnet 5ad and got fly with the piston ValFes OF
fat that he recognized a rising musician
before he Jenkins started by winning the
medals for oratory and essays boldly
into print The TriWeelly Palladium printed
his valedictory FULL and, with that
and proof in his pocket he had no hesitation in applying
Colonel Slew5ec recognition author in his
chosen field, which poetry.
jenkins first little thing"-he always called It
little thing-was ode TO the Harvest Moon Aittyer
music together the devotees Of
sang many a half-closed window behind which
lurked loveorn lass Of Evansville. After that
from time time jenkins poetry appeared in the
Palladium and he began to wear big neckties like
sashes and abjure the barber In vain his father tried
him behind counter of the general store in
vain his mother argued about the duty that he owed
his and the necessity of earning his living
Jenkins tried hard to job the Palladium. but,
for becoming identified with trade" coming into
close relations with commercialism, his very
VOTED the idea At last. having furnished less
than seven original to the paper Colonel Slew
beck with many misgivngs. offered Jenkins appTen
ticeship printer. As the poet was short
allowance and as this seemed like tangible opportun-
y becoming permanently connected with literature
a profession, he took the job
Meanwhile Mittiver who was now clerk OF the town
scales well IS leader of the St George choir
tinued to set Jenkins little things music. and the
the artists spread through the The
printer tired OF setting his and
the cavalier which the editor of
Palladium accepted instead secured his warb-
lngs. Demontrevlle Jenkins began early in the
to school his Pegasus difficult
audacious jumps OF sure-enough inspired poesy The
result "A Hymn OF Thanksgiving which Joshua
Mittiver promptly pronounced be the real stuff
Thus encouraged Jenkins permitted his friend the
and was tried the congregation Instead of
offering Colonel Slewbeck the young poet
fully avoided any reference his composition,
and after waiting month in hope that his editor would
lest uprT niSSfOn m Drin
sheet of fresh fooscap and with beating
heart away by mail the editor of THE Boys
Home Companion" at that time the richest, the most
popular and perhaps. the best juvenile weekly In the
country
If Shakespeare himself had descended from heaven
him that he ] Demontrevlle Jenkins, the
author could have been astonshed and
delighted than he when he received from the
publishers of Boys Home Companion letter
acceptance with check of SO in payment for The
Hymn of Thanksgiving" After that life for him
all hymn-nay, jubilee he seemed scarcely to
touch the ground he went to work that morning
Work! Nothing work any more! He showed his
check Colonel Slewbeck. and that gentlemans
quest took halliday off to be photographed. The
very issue contained his portrait with inter-
view said to have been held between representative
of the Palladium" and the distinguished and
iitterateur wel-known felow-citzen J. DemOntre
vile Jenkins" etc,
Jenkins never knew how long day. a week. month
ooud until began the hours between the
day arrived the appearance of the
talking about HMM Evansville. AS he passed along
street. up eyes dreamy, afar could
the small boys whisper: There he goes and feel the
TOrshipng eyes of the follow his STEP And
last, when the day for the Boys Home Com
,anion appear in the promised glory of its Thanks
giving number how TRANSPORTED seemed little bob
allied mule that to bear him to the stand
lear the depot He have been of the first
omers appear for when he asked for half dozen
copies of the paper the old who kept the stand
tared and spent five minutes unwrapping the bundle
hat had just arrived He had but three copies, and
enkins bought them all
Then he reentered the waiting street car trying his
est to calm. idly turning the pages so that
he splendor of his achievements would
pon him gradually and the best advantage His
began to sink, however he suddenly realized
hat he well into the back Of the advertising col
INNS the back and had yet the hymn.
Tevershly he turned back the title page Hastily
turned the leaves scanning each title delvng into the
harrow measure the magic type which pro-
laim his greatness the waiting world. But aasi
search he might he could find the hymn, and at
asst he went home crestfallen, pierced the heart
ashamed hopeless.
Colonel slewbeck who was kondly exper-
ence, forebore 10 question him the next day Nit
liver. however, spared him not. for the musician
ealous. Jenkins didn't understand the matter ALL
but suggested that there must be some mistake" IN
supposed editor regarded hymn
as too good for midseason publication and
use it in the Christmas number But after that, from
week week jenkins failed buy the Boys
Home Companion. though Christmas and Easter came
ard went without sign Of his He thought Of
writing publishers. but. thought he that might
seem amateurish. Besides had re not pay the
Still his position very embarrassing Hardly
day passed that somebody did ask him Has your
hymn YETI" and he getting tired and
ashamed his evasive answers: believe not"
haven't noticed" because all the time Il the
canker gnawing at his disappointed heart
lie began TO take courage however. when a second
Thanksgiving day approached. and the Companion was
fun OF back-faced prociamaOns OF what great
ber'' the Thanksgiving issue would be. He sure
his HYMN would be IN ii. The hope almost certainty
neTved him his fathers increasing
to force the general Again Thanksgiving
again he boarded little bought his
paper-and disappointed For FIVE years chung to
his IN the Palladium of7ce FOR FIVE years he
his hymn: fer FIVE be scanned the
columns OF the Boys Home Companion
for the memorable At last day. Nit
liver. the trunphant-for he leader q the
Evansville Cornet Band-asked him why he didn't Try
bis luck with dirge. Try JenE~ Knocked the
cornetist. IN write dead march for and sing
sour funeral"
Stung by this contumeiy the poet borrowed 10 from
Colonel slewbeck and inclossng IN his
% editors Of the Companion recalling his hmm
Z Thanksgiving. and begging IN the q al the
muses. that they either publish i send g back
rhey hack and the check with Il. and e
they said that killed jenkins last poetic tAroh-
We regret say wrote the editor sthat
re overstocked Tnanksgfving Christmas. Easter.
rring. Decoration Day. ard Fourth u Juv poems ard
ri hardy supply vifhiz the -
s-d her <~~