The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-05-28
RIGHT ABOUT FACET
MRS. ADRI IN KRAAL.
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"Ho here comes old Waddy with his
drug store, boys; let's have some fun out
Of him!
More than a dozen boys on their way
home from school, with noisy jests, sur
rounded an old man who was hmping
along with basket on his arm. lie
turned curiousy vacant looking, yet
smiling face on the boys, and stopped.
Hello, Waddy! what ge-rate, ga-rand
medicine have you got in your basket
to dayY" "How's yer liver, Waddy?
"Why don't you swaller some OF that
stuff and cure yerself, you old quack
youT were some of their questions.
He waited patiently till there came
lull in the storm, then began: Here,
young gentlemen, is that most wonderful
preparation, Balm of Healing, certain
remedy for ehills, fever, neuralgia lum-
bago, gout, pleurisy-
20, give us a rest, we've heard all
that before haven't you anything else
And here are the miraculous Electric
Pads. By their use paralytics are cured
club feet straightened-"
"Well, l guess we won't take any to-
day, as none Of us are paralyzed or club
footed. Just give us one of your won
derful exhibitions of ventriloQuism and
then dance a jig" and the poor, simple
old man tried to do as they asked, and
when he had ceased the curious gutteral
sounds and shrill calls, he accepted their
boisterous ridicule and almost deafening
shouts for honest applause. Now the
iie. Waddy," they cried, and setting
down his basket, he began hopping brisk
ly around on the ground. The wind car
ried away his hat and blew his long
beard about his face, but he was in
terested and did not pause. Lets dance
too" cried the boys, and they began
caperlng around humping against the old
man and each other with such force that
three of them were knocked down and
fell in a heap on the basket. There was
a sound of smashing glass and loud hur-
rahs from the rolling, struggling boys
80, you have broken my bottles and
spilled my precious medicines; even my
basket is ruined" said the poor old fell
low, and he began to cry like child.
"Ho, he's blubberin' like baby; I'd
be ashamed" said some of the boys. A
few of them looked ashamed of them
selves. Just then, around the corner
came Herbert Page, one of the tall high
school boys. He stopped at sight Of the
crowd and seeing his own brother Char
lie there, asked: whats the trouble,
youngstersf"
20, nothing, only old Waddy's basket
got smashed" said one. "We were help
ing him dance a Jig and fell on It, said
another.
"Yes, think l understand. Here,
+ Mr.. Wadsworth, let me see your basket.
How many bottles were brokenf -Four
Worth two dollars, eh2 Well, you young
sters can raise two dollars to pay for
your mischief, | guess"
PAY old simple-minded Waddy!
guess not" "Mr. Wadsworth, indeed,
said one boy, scornfully.
When Herbert had pressed the basket
into shape and placed the Electro
Pads" In IT. he said, "Pve only hall
dollar with me. Will It pay for Charhe
share in this mischiefT
The old man took it thankfully Sho
went away with sad face.
The boys were very quiet as Heroer'
looked soberly at them. They pegAh u
see that they had been rude and thought
less.
do you know who that poor old MAI
isl" asked Herbert. .,
why, Old Waddy. Of course; he'
simple minded I've known him all my
life"
He is Barton Wadsworth, a veteran
soldier. and at Gettysburg he received
the injuries that made him what he u
now. He gets a small pension, but Il vii
hardly keep him in the plainest 1000 ah'
clothing, and keep a shelter over hiin, >
he tries to earn a little money oy seihhl
those medicines you boys have destroyed
| noticed some Of you fellows taxing pa.
in the exercises on Decoration Day VIII
great enthusiasm. Now It strikes M
that there would be as much -pstriotisn
in showing honor and respect TO hsinl
soldiers as to dead ones, and I'm periee'
ly sure that would as soon die LOT m
country as to have my mind SO inJure'
that every boy | met would make iuh .
lme."
Then Herbert went on and ieit
thoughtful group Of boys instead OF N
lnoisy. needless crowd be had found