The Van Buren press., 1904-06-18
ICE CREAM AND
OTHER THINGS
By wICHLIrrE GRAY

- it good Willie?" There was a look
of frank amusement and interest
on Hal Brooks face as be watched the
yOungster opposite him.
"Yeth," answered Willie. His eight
year-old tongue vas not so afflicted as
to merit the term tied" But Willia's
mouth was full to overfowing with Ice
cream.
Most as good as ours on Sunday he
added Mamma lets me have two
saucers then" There was a rueful note
in his voice as he scraped the last drop
OF melted ice from his saucer,
Suppose you have another now. I"
suggested Brooks He beckOned a serv-
er Wilie's face showed indecision
Mothers teaching had always been
moderation When he had been permit
ted to spend the day with Jimmie Har-
mon, Willie remembered, he had been
cautioned not to have more than one
helping Of any one dish. But surely
such reasoning could not apply 70 Mr.
Brooks, who called on Sister Edith so
often, and had gone riding with her on
bicycle almost every day all spring
Going to somebody's house was not like
being met-on the sidewalk just like a
man, and being invited into the fine,
big ice cream parlor.
Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry
peach?" quered the water Surely
mother wouldn't object when it was
forced on a fellow like this
Yes, | believe | will" He looked
appealingly at Mr. Brooks, who sug
gested quesioningly "Chocolate?"
Yes, sir, il you please" At least
he had said please" just as mother
told him always to do, and being polite
would keep it from being wrong, if it
was wrong at all. A psychologist might
say that Willie was using a conscience
salve, like a good many grown-up
folks sometimes do At all events Will.
lie Frightened and looked across the
table almost lovingly at his host
DO you like to wear those big stove
pipe hats Mr. Brooks?" he asked. The
house was filling and It seemed proba.
bic they would have to wait for the
cream.
We'll, no | cant say | DO, Willie
They're not half so comfortable now,
as a cap" He indicated with a nod
his bicycle headcoyering on an unoc.
cupied chair
What makes you wear EN-, them"
Mothers visitors. and some Of
Edith's, nearly always discussed
clothes and things; and when one is a
guest for two ice creams one must do
some Of the talking
well" Brooks smiled confidentially,
so to speak, 81 suppose | wear EN-
because other folks do, and say it's
the proper thing Willie made full
pause TO take in the idea.
Does everybody do things just be-
cause other folks do emf" he queriel
finally, as the waiter placed the cream
before him.
That's about the size of it, mostly"
Brooks agreed.
Put somebody has 10 start doin' the
thing first don't they?" Il believe so,
usually"
But what makes the first ones
start? They don't have nobody to
copy after, do they?" It was certainly
nice, thought Willie, to be able to ask
questions and not to be told to shut
up or run along"
"Do you ike ice cream. Willie?"
asked Brooks. Willie was startled into
a blush, so obvious was the fact that
he did love It, And Mr. Brooks eyes
were twinkling too Yes, sir" he
admitted
"Well, that's the same reason that
makes some folks start doing things,
and then other folks begin to copy
after them" The light Of only partial
comprehension showed in Willie's
eyes, He did not disbelieye, but he
wanted all doubts removed,