Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-30
THE TRES lDENT At CHURCH..


"Alovc right in. friends" said tho dca-
con, clearing the way. writes II. Il. War
ncr in Baltimore News.
\ church attendant on either side push
cd tho doors hack President Roosevelt, nc-
knowlcdsrd the courtesy with Il familiar
nod of the head. Straight UP the aisle
without diminishing speed he went TO
his pew, the third from The front ON the
| loft-hand side, and took his scat. Then
he dropped his head To his rlovcd hand
on the pow posi- and his lips moved in
prayer for an instant
! 'rhc organist opened tho voluntary. She
had bccon waiting for The arrival of the
| President.
"lf he hadn't been OH time" whispered
| a mcmbor of tho church. "thc services
would have gone ahead; but he is always
On time
| When tho organ was playing, Mrs.
Schlok. wife of the pastor. half turned in
her scat directly in front of the President,
and ne leaned over and spoke TO her.
Then he patted Johnny" Schick q
shoulder. and that eight ycar-old imne-
diately formed new plans for being Pres
idcnt himself one day. These duties Of
greeting performed the President sat
back in his pew-which has no cushion,
by the way--Hnd. half leaning against
the end. piece, composed himself for the
Services.
Johnny" Schick is tho President $
mascot. and last Christmas the Roose
ivtts sent him some things very pleas
anilN attributed to Santa Claus. Eut
Johnny Knows better. Since the Pros
idcnt mas been attending Grace Reformed
Johnny" has been his good friend. his
companion. his comradc. The President
never takes his scat without saying sonle-
thing to Johnny" or pattng his shoulder
Johnny used to turn around and enter
into social conversation, but his mother
told him he mustn't.
"All right mamma said Johnny.
but the very next service he framed W
Il compromise by carelcssly dropping his
arm, back over his pew and giving tht
President a chance to squeeze his hand
one time--last Ausust-Rcv. l.. +. link
han formerly superintendent of Bayview
Hospital and now superintendent of thu
Washington Asylum, was preaching. Ii
was a rcdhot day-a scorcher fresh from
IL typical Southern dry breeze. Johnny
was sitting in his pew in a shirt walls
that looked cool as plate of ice cream
when the PrCSlucnt entered eau Ill Hl
Prince Albert. He was sitting there fan
ming himself using his handkerchief an,
feeling more or less uncomfortable. whcl
his eye caugh. "Johnny's' makc-ur.
Leaning over the back OF the pew, IL
said:
johnny I'd give YOU anything ii
could swap clothes with you."
And to Mrs. Schick once he said:
Its half my duty in church to TAX
care of Johnny l don't know what he''
do if didn't look out for him."
Once. when pr. Schick was away on hi
vacation. the President whispered owe
the pew:
Now. Johnny your father is ont y
town. and YOU must uphold the dignity q
the family by being good in church.
Did Johnny" feel the responsibility
He did.
And while on tho subject of the Frcs
dcnt and children, tho members O
Grace Reformed tell how, when tho Pres
dcnt returned from Oyster Bay tho las
time, some one ask d after tho hoaltl
Of Kermit, Quentin, Archibald, and Thoo
dorc, Jr.
IL don't know how they are now re
plioC the President. when left Oystc
Bay they were eating green apples.