The Savannah morning news., 1904-05-18
seeking a Career for Tommy.

! Harvey this morning." remarked Mr..
Perkins. amiably, as he sat down to
| dinner last night and surveyed his
| family with pride, says the Chicago
| News. That man is truly a wonder.
He was telling me about his son. The
! little fellows career is entirely map
| ped out for him, and he is starting in
on the middle mood of the Greek de-
| clensiOn already"
Il think that is a shame. and, any
! way, Prof. Harvey is a mean old
| thing" said Mrs. Perkins. He doesn't
| like brown and so his wife can't have
! a brown tailormade and she is sim
| ply dying for it. Jimmy Harvey is
! just ! years old"
That is the point, my DEAR" said
| Mr.. Perkins in the tone he assumes
! for Fourth of July orations. Choose
the career and then fit the boy to it.
Prof. Harvey intends James 20 be
! philologist, hence he has Latin al
ready sufficient 10 warrant his begin
ming Greek. 1t has started me to
| thinking seriously about Tommy, and
his future. Let me see, Tommy, how
old are you?"
I'm goin' to be leven the 2Sth of
May, pa said Tommy, eagerly. An
can l have "a"
I'VE shall present you with Il career
then, my son. said MIR. Perkins ge-
nially. Now, what would you like
most to be?"
Il don't want no career" said Tom
my, contemptuously. Il want a pis-
toll. I'm goin To ride a horse in
circus or else snap tn whip at EN- at
| rides"
Il wish you would associate more
with little James Harvey and less with
| the little boys you do go with" sai1
Mr.. Perkins, Your grammar would
certainly be improved"
HUH" said Tommy, again contemp-
tuous. Kids 18th four lamps
-Four what?" inquired his father.
He wears windows, don't heY'
| Tommy's contemptuous attitude was
| clearly not abated
Great heavens, Julia!" breathed Mr..
Perkins, family. Cant"
An kids it'll double lamps amt no
good at fghtin'," continued Tommy
''Er else I'd like to be painter"
20, Tommy" said his mother dis
| tractedly. Don't encourage MN,
Thomas Painters are always poor and
wear their hair long and-act queerly
Just like musicians"
HUH remarked Tommy again.
bill Burke he don't wear his hair
! long. He has his shingled all tn time
SOS you can see him wiggle his scalp.
| Wish't / could wiggle mine. While ne
/ was paintin tn barn he wiggled IT all
! tn time for Skinny an me. say, tatn-
er, can 1 have my hair shingied this
| summer
He means to paint houses" breath
ed his mother in a relieved tone. Real
ly, Thomas, I'd rather have that than
! have him painting pictures. l thlhk
he would be better man. Then there's
chance that he might work into an
architect, perhaps"
MIR. Perkins looked as if he gained
cold comfort from the prospect. Have
you no aspirations. my SOM! ne m
auired, sadly. mo desire for hlgh
work."
| Il dunno" said Tommy thoughtfully.
Say, father, can l be an elevator boy
down in your office building? An, could
| Skinny run the one next to me? say,
but we cd race 'er up!"
How would you like to be an en-
gineer?" inquired his father, coidiy;
| IF Skinny could fire fer me- said
Tommy.
Leave Skinny out of your future"
said his father, tartly. Would you
like to be a minister" Tommy made
a wry face. 81 thought not. Or a law
yer?"
mot a lawyer Thomas" said Mrs.
Perkins, anXiously. They see so much
=vil."
/ IedCneGy perhaps
MOT on yer Hfe!" declared Tommy,
disgustedly I've got enough O. them
already thout bein one. l wouldn't De
a teacher mother a-pistol.
II think" said Mrs. Perkins, sooth-
ingIy, that Tommy would make
really nice confidential clerk some time.
Thomas, when he really grows up, ana
if his employer gets to like MIN and
have a great deal of confidence in him
| 81. faIlino--b
But there's the rub" murmured Mr..
Perkins, gloomily, as he surveyed his
eldest son eating his pie as if he were
| being timed.
Tommy suddenly looked up.
Cant 1 have the pistol father" ne
said, with an ingratiating smile spread
ing over his freckles. We'll, then, f l
can't have the pistol 1 don't want no
| career"
This conversation has destroyed all
hope of that gift being forced on you,
said Mr.. Perkins, coldly. And the
pistol would be too full of symbolism.
4