Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-17

i wasn't ;n!niiin' abGut mcsclf Sc
mc Il. WIS tninkin' about me old
fatLor. Ec broke his pipe last mont,
an he ain; bad none since, an he's too
poor to ri, aunudcr one. was lookin'
at these. Gee. If | could git enough
of the stun together, | wouldn't do n
thing but buy that there one for him
me poor ole father
This was said with an air of the
greatest frankness, although Mr.. Red
ney Burke had always considered his
father, as did many others in the light
or genteel myth. Still he thought to
himself that if he had father and IL
he himself were worth few million or
SO he might-he didn't commit himself
upon the subject, however, even in his
thoughts-he might blow his father to
a pipe some time. This considerat te
sentiment, he reasoned, justified his re
ply to- the philanthropist.
"Well, WELL" remarked the latter
glancing down at the disinterested
specimen before him, but what would
you like to have now for Christmas?"
NNhSs ShOoh 4 ulIl per
ticler about meself. If could git that
there pipe-an'," he added as he scent.
ed possibilities heretofore unsupported.
AN a good bit of smokin' tobacco, an
ene OF them there rubber things to put
1t fn-say, If l could do that for the old
man-say! An wouldn't he feel stuck
on hisself! But, gee, wot's de use? ]
pQn'f 6n II I i.xh
in"
He made this last remark because he
knew intuitively that brevity, which IL
the soul of wit. is also the essential I'm
charitable enterprises. Good impulses
don't last forever so he moved OFF,
shaking his head as he went.
The big man looked UP and down the
street to see if he was observed, then
he stretched forth his hand and caught
Redney by the arm.
Here, my boy" he exclaimed gently
as he showed u five dollar bill into Mr..
Redney Burke's reluctant grasp-"here,
go and get the pipe for your father and
then go and get something for - for
yourself, and-and have at least one
back upon" His eyes glistened Il bit
as he said 1t, and, to his credit be II said,
he did not regret the impulse or the do.
nation for full two hours thereafter.
Tanks" said Mr.. Burke, with bit
OF scrape and stiff sort of bow
tanks from me an me old manr'
The next day there was a queer for.
nation in an unfrequented corner of
the play yard of the Fourteenth ward
school. This formation resembled more
than anything else an Eskimo hut but
composed, instead of inanimate ma
terial, of Il very animated and Interested
crowd of boys gathered around com.
mon center. From the aperture In the
top of this human Eskimo dwelling.
and therefore heightening the illusion,
assembled column of smoke, and as II
ascended to the skies there came a
voice from within.
Gee, fellers!' said the voice. Gee,
but amt this great?" 1t was the voice
OF Mr.. Redney Burke, the votary of my
Lady Nicotine, the center of an admir-
ing crowd. He smoked n pipe-the pipe
of his heart-and he filled it from q red
rubber case
Just fits in me pants pocket" he ob.
served. And as he said it he pulled out
a few dollar bills and exhibited them.
AN l got four more plunks left!
What dye t'ink?" he said.
Later, in the class room, the teacher
lifted her head high in the air and |
shifted
Some boy" she remarked severely. |
has been smoking. l want to know |
who it is
She lOoked-not around the room-but |
at Mr.. Redney Burke. He fair
ly reeked with tobacco, and he knew it. |
Under the circumstances. therefore,
he side stepped with alacrity into the
aisle and looked squarely into the
teachers eyes.
ME old wo-me mother" he explain
ed glibly-"me mother had Il smokin'
jag OH yestiddy, an | had to stay home
an fill her pipes, an me clo'es is full
of it. 1t amt me; it's her. Dye see?'
Then he whipped out a small, new
leather pocketbOok with brand new
penny in it and handed it over. An
merry Christmas to you, Miss Burt
WhistlptJ hp remnrlS nd