Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-04-26
A GOOD PURCHASE.
BY ciaris.a hardioo.

BY ciarissa Harding.
Ruth asked Mrs. Culberson OF he.
daughter. what was the package that
came home for you today"
: "A dictionary" Ruth replied.
Mrs. Culberson's disrnay ,>uld not
have been more complete had she been
informed that her daughter had
brought hOme n boa-constrictor.
And what did you get that for ?
Ruthie." she asked.
Because 1 wanted it, returned
Ruth.
1T must have been pretty expensive"
hazarded her mother.
Yes" sighed Ruth. at cost ten
pence h~alfpenny."
Mrs. Culberson appeared relieved. but
not entirely satisfied.
1T seems to me. Ruthie.' she went
on querulously. that n girl who works
for two pounds a week. which IL the
only income two people have to depend
money on a dictionary. If o had ten
pence halfpenny to spare for books,
why didn't you buy three or four of
those paper-backed novels that would
be OF some interest to me, instead of a
dictionary"
The Culbersons lived in a boarding
house where dictionaries were "A rare
AAtNACCA "a - was NbS
only one about the house. except Mr..
Winters. which was an exceedingly
small pocket edition that contained only
the words in most common use.
But somehow as soon AS it became
known that there was a large dictiOn-
AIRY In Mrs. CulberSon'S hoom on the
second floor and that everybody had
been given free access thereto. the de-
sire for knowledge was given a wonder-
full impetus.
But the person who ound occasion
to refer to the big book most frequent
ly was Mr.. Winter. Mr.. Winter was "A
grocer. OF course in his business he
daily met with many terms that re-
quired calculation. Hitherto he had
found the pocket dictionary perfect sat
is%factory, but after the advent Of the
unabridged dictionary the much-worn.
green-edged little book suddenly lost its
usefulness. and never an evening passed
that Mr.. Winter did not rap at Mrs.
Culberson's door and politely request
to come N and look at the dictionary
IA minute
His prolonged visits annoyed Mrs.
culberson at first. His presence pre-
tented ner scolding Ruth. and as he
himself seemed deeply immersed In
scholastic lore. thus forbidding opening
II conversation with him. the poor old
lady's evenings became seasons OF ex-
quisite torment.
II don't know h makes him come
UP here so often" she said pettishly
one night after he had closed the die
tionary and gone away. Hes an aw-
full bore
IT'S our own fault he comes said
Ruth. You invited him"
"Of course l invited him" retorted
Mrs. Culberson. Il invited all OF them.
Doesn't he annoy you"'
No. she said softly. II don't know
that he does"
AS the spring days tool on The heat
IF summer Mrs. Culberson became more
fretful. Ruth grew younger and pref
tier. and Mr.. Winter studied still later
each evening in blissful oblivion Of the
added heat OF the gas jet.
Mrs. Culberson had long since ceased
sitting up waiting for him to go. but
babe him good night and went TO bed
in the next rom:
One evening In early June 10 O'Clock
passed. and MI. Winter had as yet
made no movement towards going
away. Ruth watched him closely. as
SIN. always did when he seemed en-
crossed with the words before him. and
she noticed that he had not turned A
page for more than an hour.
! He looked up at length. and their
eyes met. Ruth felt her face flushing
again. and with the realization OF her
weakness the flush grew deeper.
Its a pretty knotty problem that
have been puzZling over tonight he
said with a sigh.
Couldn't you find what you We're
looking for she asked softly.
Il hardly know ! found the word
wanted. Whether it Will ever mean Ia
me what / ould like it TO mean
10 not know. Here II is. I have bee,
looking at ii n good deaf lately
He turned the big dictionary round
till she could read the line oyer which
his finger rested. There vas one word
underscored with a pencil. and she
knew 1t was the one he wished her to
see. 1t Was spelled l-o-v-e.
is i'iat ever to be for me- he
asked.
The blush had de"pened into scarlet
then. For a momen i look Of exceed
ing happiness transfigured her face. bu
Il moment later the old troubled eN
preston drove It away. She turned
the leaves OF the dictionary I'll she
came to the word mother
That's all right" he said. and nod
ded toward the door.
Away near the end OF the book itci
next answer was found.
Ruth called out Mrs. ~'ilbe:son. :;
quarter OF an hour later. what mad"
Nj. Winter stay 50 late this evening ."
He MAS looking at the dictionary,
mother"
Did he fnd VIVA, i'c want-d?' askad
Mrs. culberson.
Yes. mother. said Ruth. Il believe
he did"
The negroes Of Tahiti. one of the So
ci.ty islands in inc south Pacific. play
the lutte with the rose instead OF the
mouth.
some OF the streets o! Warsaw. Po-