The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-03-18
A DON'T WORRY MAN.
BY CHARLES BATTELL LOOMS.

last week. He has lately joined Don't
| Worry club, and l watched how he didn't
! worry while / was there with a view to
| forming sister organization.
| l am very old friend of his, and in times
past l had seen and heard him getting ready
to go out of an evening. He would rampage
around, hunting for his necktie and his gold
studs and his chest protector, and the house
would echo with his wild cries until he had
departed. But now all was changed. Very
calmly and evenly he said to his wife-I sat
il the parlor, and the house ID perfect
whispering gallery" Rose, dear, where did
put my necktie and my studs and my chest
protector?" And she answered that she
didn't know. Then (as she told me after
ward) he picked up magazine and sat down
in rocking chair and said: PLEASE find
them, dear, so that sha mt miss my train. !"
And the devoted woman began search
She hunted high and low and got terribly
worked up about it, for she is of nervous
temperament, but he worried no longer. He
was deep in political article and the noise
of her search came to him as from afar and
| up and say: "Be calm, Rose Be like me-
I have joined the Don't Worry club
Rose threw nothing whatever at him.
dare say her color heightened, but she con-
tinued the search, looking in every mpossi
bic place for his things, and at last found
that he was sitting on them.
She was little vexed at this, hut his calm
ness was undisturbed. "a soft answer, my
| dear, turneth away wrath. Be calm"
| She left the room, but | heard her say:
You'd better put down that paper or you'll
miss your train
Nothing gained by hurry or worry,
dear" said he, sweetly, and finished the ar
ticle. Then he looked at his watch and saw
that he should not be able to reach the sta
ton by walking, but would have to take a
trolley.
"Blashfield,' called he to his eldest son,
who was wrapped up in boys book in the
parlor, hurry out to the corner and watch
for the trolley. I'll be along in time for it,
but you hail it,
Blashfeld sullenly threw down his book,
but not until the even tones of his father had
come down the stairs a second time.
Come, Blashtield, get a move on you. l
can't afford to miss that trolley"
/ 1t was curious to see how uneasy Mrs.
| Wainwright was. She had joined me in the
parlor and she could settle down to nothing.
She picked up and dropped half dozen
books and magazines, and kept saying: 'Im
/
/ Wainwright was going into New York to
attend the New England dinner and had
come out to see that no thieves broke in and
stole during his absence.
/ The trolley passes right by Wainwright
door, and he knows every motorman and
conductor, and they hold cars little longer
in Ferndale than they do in the metropolis
tan district.
Finally he came slowly down the stairs in
immaculate evening clothes. Noticed then
for the first time how much Wainwright has
gained in weight since he took up his new
principles. l glanced from him to his wife
and was surprised to note that she had fall
en- off in weight
As he entered the parlor we heard the
gong of the trolley at the next corner.
"Good-by. Hurry, John, or you'll surely
miss it,
where's my hat, Rose?" said he, imper-
turbably, and Mrs. Wainwright literally
scrambled around the room in frantic
search for it. Fortunately it was in plain
sight in the fourth corner she visited She
handed it to him and he stopped and kissed
her.
Hurry up, papa!' we heard Blashtield
yell from outside, and Mr.. Wainwright has
tened his steps little, but not much.
III go down to the station with YOU"
said |, and entered the forward end as he
came in at the rear door of the car. A IA,
and choleric old man was saying to every
body: Blamed outrage, holding car fsli
of people for anybody. Don't care if it WIS
the public and not for individuals"
He was so red and puffy that I half ex-
pected him to blow up. Wainwright said to
me, under his breath: "What an exhibition
of himself that man is making. suppose l
was like that; in fact, | know was like that
before joined the Don't Worry club
The car had waited full minute for
Wainwright, and by so doing lost the right
Of way and had to wait at the next switch
for nearly five minutes. Several of the pas
sengers We're going as far as the station,
and from their conversation | found out
that they were in danger of missing the up.
country train owing to the delay Some
grumbled internally and expressed it only
In their looks; some Were explosive like our
fat friend. Wainwright was the only one
who took the delay calmly, and as his train
would not leave until five minutes after the
other one perhaps he had better reason
for being calm.
just as we reached the station the up train
pulled out. Three of the passengers ran for
it and caught it, but the apoplectic gentle
man could not run and he vented his spleen
on Wainwright.
You've made me miss my train" said he.
Now I've got to wait half an hour in this
confounded station for the next one"
IN very sorry that you've missed your
train said Wainwright, ignoring the 9th
er's implication, "but let me tell you, sir,
that worrying won't do bit of good Your
train has gone and wild horses could not
drag it back. Be calm. Do as have done.
Join the Don't Worry club
why, were you trying for this train ?"
said the old man, almost gleefully.
i No, sir; here is my train coming now"
said Wainwright, going up over the bridge
to take the down train.
/ We'll, you and your Don't Worry club
be =! You fellows who don't worry are
the cause of more worry to others than any
other class of men. Your wife must lead a
dogs life"
All this was roared after Wainwright,
who did not deign to make reply.