Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1906-06-08
Billy Was a Changed Boy
Gcw HE LOST HIS CONTENT.
MENT.
BY KENNETH HARRIS

Billy Holzapple was about the near.
est approach to THE Contented Lad"
Of the old fourth readers that we ever
see nowadays. He appeared to have
no ambitions, except to do his work
well; he was a perfect glutton for |
work. That must have been because |
ne was born that way, for what pos
sible incentive could there have beer |
for him to do more than the bare |
stunt" for which he was paid When |
he was perfectly satisfied with his |
lot, perfectly satisfied with what he
was getting, perfectly satisfied with
what he had?
Billy lived in pretty queer neigh
borhood, but to him it was about the
only desirable locality in town.
1t was a poor enough little room
that of Billys, furnished scantily and
cheaply-or so it seemed until he be
gan to point out the advantage and
convenience of every article in it. The
bed springs were marvels of residence.
the bureau had the most smoothly
opening drawers that ever happened;
there was peculiarly beautiful grain
ing on the woodwork, when you no
ticed it; the wallpaper did look lit
| tie startling at first, but these papers
with primitive colorings and floral de
| signs were, so Billy understood, be-
coming quite the rage now-and they
were scarce; he would venture to say
| this one was unique. 1t certainly was.
When friend visited him one even
ing, Billy pulled out some photo
graphs. "You were talking about
girls" he said. You didn't know
had the queen of em, eh? Well, what
do you think of that?"
1t was the portrait of a rather nice
looking girl, certainly. One could ex-
press admiration of it without strain
of ones conscience to any particular
extent.
''Your girl, Billy?"
"My sister," answered Billy, swell
ing visibly with pride. There's the
sweetest and prettiest girl ever hap
pened. You can't get more than just
an idea from the picture. You ought
to see her.
He switched off presently to the su-
perlative merits of a cheap restaurant
in the neighborhood and then Office
matters were discussed. He was more
than satisfied, it appeared, with the
salary he was getting, and laughed at
the other mans complaint of made
quate compensation and limited pros
pect of advancement. you'll get q
step or two more" said the grumbler,
land there you'll stick. You see,
you'll never get much better off than
you are now"
Good Lord!" calculated Billy. In all
sincerity. How much better of
would l want to be? I've got every
thing on earth need now"
After awhile he looked at fat
silver watch, which he said he
wouldn't trade for any mans watch
and the session broke up.
It was a rather remarkable thing
that within two months after thai
Billy seemed to change completely
He grew dissatisfied with everything
about him.
He asked Wedderburn, who was thu
best-dressed man in the Office, where
he bought his clothes and in course
of time appeared In tailor-made sui
that he didn't like over and allow
well. He had never been seen in any
,, thing but a hand-me-down. The stou
and shapeless shoes that he hat
Dragged of and which were, as he hat
: said, good for another years wear
were discarded for tightly-fttini
denominations with buttons and patent
leather tips.
He got more wages, but even the1
he was not content. The raise wa
| - ~ oh a nj
though the other men In the ofic
thought his luck unexampled. "On
thing" said Billy, speaking to tn
friend who had made that visit, "Tr
+ going to get out of that shabby littl
hole where I've been staying"
And SO it went on. He worke
harder than ever, but he growled NOR
than any man in the Office. Furthel
:. more, in spite of his increase of sa
= airy, he seemed to get hard up occ,
sionally.
y One evening the friend who ha
gone out with him to the rather pr
. tentious boarding house to which h
!. had removed They went on the ell
= waited, and Billy stopped at the bool
stand and bought magazine. Thel
was an arLlcie III IL, f1oW NEW fOTk
Society Women Live" copiously
!. Illustrated with interiors and portrait
=. It seemed to interest Billy. TT
:. friend looking over his shoulder, sale
!, Doesn't that make you tired?"
!. why, no." said Billy. IF ma
4, can give a woman that sort of thin
a why shouldn't he? Is there anythiI
r. too good for them?"
ia "Sure"