The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-04-06
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A LENTEN
SACRIFICE
BY GEORGE BROOKS

Nv ILL l knock EN- cold, will Il
w ASK me-" Mr. Jhonnie Farley
the night engineer of the state asylum
took another long, lingering look in
the mirror and bestowed another Low.
ing pat on HIS new necktie.
His roommate, Jimmy Lawrence
walked around critically and took an.
other look at Mr., j. Farley's necktie
You got EN- skinned to death, john
said Mr.. Lawrence, with the air of one
having authority.
You're right" went on Mr.. j. Farley,
You see, Jimmy, | couldn't afford tc
blow in a lot of dough on a new Easter
suit like all the rest Of these dudes
around here have done. But, Jimmy
| know a lot about dressing, an | know
that you can have q pretty bum suit.
but If you've got a peachy necktie peo-
pie will jest keep their eyes on that an
won't notice the clothes. So | pixies
around town the other afternoon, and |
picks out the smoothest thing in the
necktie line that there was. When peo-
pie get a flash Of this necktie of mine,
say, they won't think of anything else.
tn kill EN- dead. Say, amt It a won
der?"
Mr.. Lawrence allowed that it was, and
Mr.. Farley, after another look at the
necktie which was so gorgeous that 1t
would have made Joseph's coat of many
colors look like a dish rag, was about to
take a turn around the asylum grounds
before breakfast when Luke LAWN, the
electrician, entered.
Say, Jack" said Luke, I'm up
against It,"
"Why?" queried Mr.. Lawrence, turn
ing SO that the full broadside of his won
derful necktie was flashed all at once
upon the astonished gaze Of the eloctri-
clan.
"Out of sight, said Mr.. LAWN. Looks
like a peacock's tail"
whats the trouble?" asked the
proud owner Of the Easter necktie.
I'll tell YOU" went on the electrician.
You ought to be interested, too. You've
been making eyes at that little white
faced Thomas girl that's been here a
couple of weeks helping in the office.
You know the women attendants here
in the asylum always color a half
dozen eggs or so apiece every Easter
morning for II breakfast, and we fell
lers got UP a prize this time to 90 to the
one who colored the prettiest eggs.
Well, all the women around here have
got 1t In for that Thomas girl, cause
she's new, | reckon, and because we fell
lers all sort of like her better'n the rest.
! wanted her to win the prize SOS she
could have something to feel proud over
and cheer her up, understand. But I
had a flash at the eggs they've been a
coloring, and, say, they're out of sight,
and I've been trying to find some stuff
Of coloring that would be prettier than
everything else, but l can't, and I'm up
against 1t. 1t wanted to take the cloth
over and give 1t to the Thomas girl 90
she could take the prize. But it's pretty
near breakfast time now, and I'll have
to quit"
The electrician and Jimmy went out
together and left Mr.. ], Farley alone,
still contemplating his necktie in the
mirror. For a long time he stood as If
in great mental anguish, and then he sat
down In a chair and for a time was ex-
ceedingly busy.
The breakfast table In the attendants
room at the asylum that morning pre-
sented a gala appearance, with Easter
eggs Of every shade and hue. The prize
was about to be awarded when shy
little Miss Thomas brought in a plate
Of Easter eggs that fairly reveled in
beautiful colors, and called forth salvos
of applause. The judges without leay-
ing their seats awarded the prize to
Miss Thomas, who smiled with Joy and
pride.
Them eggs are purifier than your
new necktie," said the electrician to
Mr.. ]. Farley. Say, where is that neck
tie? You got your old black one on, and
you were blowing so about your new
one. Them eggs look like-ouch, say,
what a. You kicking me for?"
Miss Thomas looked a moment in
surprise. Then her eyes
filled with tears, and she let her hand
tust for a moment rest on Mr.. L Far1ev'e