The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-17


"Where you going Totsys" For he has turned
and is marching out with what is pretty near to
military stride, his eyes on the shiny black shoes
that make walking easy. 1t wouldn't be very hard
to fly with such shoes on.
"Totsy, where are you going?"
"Show my shoes to We minister"
Mr.. Hardin is the nearest neghbor Of the Mat.
thews and he lives about quarter Of u mile away
"Oh, wouldn't go out doors with my new shoes.
Keep them fresh for Sunday"
Toddlekins says nothing. Young as he Is he has
learned that when one says nothing but goes and
does something at any rate it is done even though
there be consequences. Now Rev. Mr. Hardin is one
of the incest men in the world and it is no more
than right that Toddlekins should let him know
what honors have been showered upon his feet OF
nice man. "Muvver" would want him to Co. But it
won't be necessary to bother her by asking. He'll
tell her when he comes back
Hello, there drawbacks to everything. One
can steal out of the house in ones bare feet and go
on forbidden walks without attracting any atten
tion, but these beautiful shiny, black new shoes
are saying with every step 'Wc're running away"
lie tries tiptoes, but ut the most critical juno
ture ne stumbles over himself as he did in the
Kitchen and falls. But he does not cry and he is
up in an instant and goes down the front stairs
because there carpet there. Really, new shoes
have powerfully stimulating effect on the brain.
Toddlekns is doing vast amount of thinking for a
three yearold. tell you that when has his first
shoes on his feet it gives him new understanding
lie finally escapes without being observed and
trudges away through the dusty road to the minis
ters house. The black shoes are not black now
and he stops to wipe them off on his little white
sleeve Ah that is bctter-for the shoes.
Forward again with his eyes on the magnetic
he would have been run over for the baby never
saw the horse approaching for absorption in his
shoes
He hears the hail of welcome from good natured
and fat Joel, and he says, II got new Shoes" and
in his efforts to show both mt once he sits down hard
But hard sit.dowh is very ordinary way of reach.
ing cath to three year.old. He is up and on and
arrives Mt the parsonage just exactly in time to set
flight to very valuable train of thought in the mind
OF the good minister who is hard Mt work at his
sermon.
"Mr. Hardin! Mr.. Hardin!" shouts Toddlekins
outside his study door.
"lIco, what you wantr says the minister with
just shade of irritation in his voice. His own chill
dren are never allowed to disturb him.
~ have new shoes" said Toddlekins, still outside
the door.
The boy tries in vain to turn the knob and the
minister opens the door for him, his brow wrnklcd
at the interruption. But when he sees Toddlekins
and the shoes his mind is carried to far dis
tant day when there was another baby who stood
before him and who showed him shoes, and his eyes
dim and his tones grow soft he stoops down and
pats the little tow head and says:
"You don't mean to tell me that you have new
shOesW
The boy mods his head eoquentIy, bis breast heav-
ing with excitement He has astonishcd the minister.
"Well, seems to me those are very fine shoes. And
how black they are"
The boy stoops down and polishes them again
with his sleeve. His sleeves longer white.
81 came froo de road" he explains.
"And all alone. What big boy Well you 60 out
and ask Martha for a dOughnut and then go back to
mother. And be to come tomorrow TO church
with those nice black shoes and listen to my church
talk that am writing now. Do you remember when
you said you wondered why they let me talk in
church when they wouldn't let your
"That was when / little boy"
Exactly nearly month ago, before you had
new shoes. Well, they certainly fine. You be
sure to show them TO Martha and be to get the
doughnut"
BE sure 10 show the shoes to Martha indeed.
Toddlekns might forget the doughnut, but nothing
could put the shoes out Of his thoughts. II will be
very sleepy and tired boy who goes TO bed that
night with hij shoes still Only special permits.
SION and those little black shoes with the
shiny buttons will have carried him many a
mile indoors and out but though he live to be a
hundred no will amin nm dav full