The San Francisco call., 1905-08-06
II A II II
L 7 s A n D E r

a N d

gowns, and the roses in the path. The
only drawback TO the hero business as
he saw it was that it was likely to re-
suit in the death of the gentleman
working at il. In the majority OF cases
that seem to be considered the only
proper way to wind up such a career,
and Lysander didn't exactly banker to
be dead, at least not at once. Funeral
eulogies. weeping muItitudes and crack
ing obituaries are all very well in an
fmperSOnal sort of way and wouldn't
be half bad if a man could hang around
on the outside and take it all In, but
they're likely to be wasted on the chap
in the casket.
Now it chanced that Lysander had a
brother who had rejoiced in the useful
cognOmen of Henry, usually marked
down to Hank. Hank had never been
noted for his ambition. although there
was a time when he had burned to be
the best baseball pitcher in town and
TO turn a double somersault on a
spring gbOard into deep water. 1t should
be noted that he achieved both OF these
noticeable distinctions before he gave
up trying. AS Henry grew older he
came slowly to the conclusion that one
of the most important operations OF life
is to hold up one end Of the log with
out worrying very much about the ul-
innate destination of the load He
wouldn't have objected to being presi-
dent or even TO pulling of something
good in the hero line. but he didn't lie
awake nights wondering what he
should do IL he should suddenly comsi
TO and find himself one of those things
Instead he gave himself wholly and un-
reservedly to his appointed task OF de-
livering groceries and watching out for
a few good things coming his way. II
greatness should happen to come along
and tag him while he was attending to
business it would not be likely to find
him too bashful TO fall in behind the
brass band. but he thought that he had
better wait until he heard the music
before he lined up on the curb.
The years passed as they have had
the habit OF doing ever since we can
remember distinctly and found Lysan-
der and Hank doing business at the
same old stand and in the same old way.
The former was still hanging around
with one eye on the future and the
other on the cracker barrel in his
brothers wholesale grocery. He hasn't
done anything particularly great or
heroic. but all he lacks is the chance.
In the meantime he does his brother
the honor of boarding on him most OF
the time and telling him how to run
his business and what should be done
ing and sells groceries. His son holds
down the principal chair in the office
of counsel for the International Rail-
road Syndicate. Limited-very limited
and his daughter has cornered one OF
the oldest and most impecunious titles
in Debrett's list. He has three col
leges ard home for disabled grocery
men to his credit and the treasurer OF
the national committee puts his name
at the head of the list when he begins
his rounds campaign year. Thus we
can see with one eye tied behind US
that Hank is qualified to be ranked as
one of the solid citizens of the COM
munity while Lysander is still one OF
the most ambitious-and useless
The lesson that care and delibera-
ton can extract from this brief but
touching double-barreled biography Is
that the man who bitches his wagon to
a star should first make sure that he
has enough power turned on to carry
him up the steep grades
Copyright, 1908, by Albert Britt