The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-09-25

Delng awe at all when the circus was
coming to town in three days and no
body had Invited you to go? Life was
full of terrible problems He was lust
wondering If he hadn't better cry about
1t when he saw friend coming down
the. street and hastily changed his
mind
This friend was no less a person than
Max Harwood, chief of the volunteer
fire department of Norwood, commo-
dore of the local yachting club and a
hero in Willie's eyes. By some mys-
terious coincidence Commodore Max
appeared on the scene with great
promptness and frequency whenever
Willie's aunt, Miss Marjory Dean, came
for visit, and as these visits had been
rather numerous during the year Just
passed Willie knew him well enough
to rummage through his pockets and to
boast about their intimacy whenever
any of the other boys needed a little
wind taken out of their sails.
To Willie's surprise Max was pass
ing with merely a wave Of the hand,
so the little boy jumped up and ran
after him.
Hello, NapoleonT cheerily called his
hero. 1t was his fancy to call Willie by
the names of the worlds great gener-
ais, one after another.
Good morning, commodore; aren't
you coming in to see us?"
Guess not, Hannibal; It's pretty
early for company"
'"You have been earlier than this"
said the child reproachfully.
"Well-er-Im kind of busy this
morning.
Willie was turning away to hide the
hurt look In his eyes. Nobody wanted
to bother him. Max saw this and has
tily added;
Bat get your cap and come along.
I'm going down to fix up the boat. You
can help me-"
The delighted child raced back to the
house for his cap and then was off
hand in hand with the commodore,
happy as lark.
They worked all the morning on the
boat and then the commodore took
Willie up the river for sail.
Are you going to the circus, Aga
memnong inquired Max. by way of
conversation.
With recurrent touch of gloom
Willie was forced to admit that he
didn't think he was
well, I'd like to take somebody Of
just about your SIZE" went on his host
"and think that somebody Is you
What do you say, my hearty?"
'Finel Finer shouted Willie.
"Well, heave no, there, and we'll
splice the main brace. Keep out of the
lee scuppers while hoist the mainsail
Ha! Ulysses, what do you think of
that?" And Max, who loved to mix
up nautical terms for Willie's enter
tainment, made the cleanest kind of a
landing at his own pier
Ibid you ever SILVER your timbers,
commodoreT' asked Willie
"Lots of times, Wellington, and still
live to tell the tale Don't forget about
the Fourth-side shows, fat lady, pea
nuts, elephants, pink lemonade-we'll
see it ALL"
"Indeed l won't" cried the child,
wild with delight as he raced into the
house to tell his aunt
She was watching for him anxiously.
"oh, Willie boy. where have you
been all the morning. she exclaimed,
kissing him.
He told her breathlessly, and she
listened to his admiration of the com
modore with rising color
isn't he perfectly splendid, Aunt
Marjorie? They say there are ten ele-
plants and the lions growl something
awful. But won't be afraid with the
commodore. Only l wish you were
coming too. Wouldn't you like it2
I'm sure he'd take you, too, If you
asked him"
NO, honey, IL don't think so. 1 |
don't expect to see the commodore
sgain; we've aren't friends any
more"
"oh, auntieF' exclaimed While, in
genuine dismay. And he's SO good
too"
Willie thought for minute that his
Aunt Marjorie was going to cry, and
then he was surprised to hear her say
in manner singularly unlike her
usual gentleness. Maybe some PEG
pie think he is good, but 1 know his
true character, and do not think you
ought to go around alone with him."
This speech was rendered with all the
dignity that a woman of the world,
aged nineteen, could muster.
'You went with him alone to lots
of places complained Willie. 'You
went last night"
Yes, and that's just the reason I'm
not going again. If a man takes girl /
to dance and forgets her he will GER
tainly forget little boy when he takes
him to the circus, and then what would
happen to you?"
Really this was awful. Willie had I
never seen his dear little aunt In such !
a state, but she was very sweet to him
and took him out driving that after