Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-07
A GAME OF TRAVEL.

How long will it be, father, before you
come back?" Is
"a long time, Marjorie-months. per-
haps."
but I can't stand it, father, without
you. I shall be SO lonesome"
"Shall you, dearie? What do you think
father will be. then?'
"You shall be travelling" replied Mar
jorie, smuggling closer to her father.
There are lots of things to see from the
train. Why do you sigh, father, dear?'
Because travelling over the same
ground I have travelled for years. work.
ing like q dog every day and longing for
your mother and you and Donald when
my days work is done, is not very
pleasant prospect"
Dear father" said Marjorie. softly,
stroking his hair. II never thought of 1t
that way. 1 always thought you We're
having q beautiful time: it Is such run
for me to go on the train from here to
erandmother's. But I do get restless be
fore <;en two hours are up, don't Il
she ADM thoughtfully. And you have
to travel Tor hours and hours more. Poor
father!"
II don't mind it so much during the
day." her father added, but. when it gets
dark"
II know" said Marjorie. wisely. "Then
you long for your big chair by the hre,
and mothers hand to hold. and later Tor
the library lamp and some games with
Donald and me. I know just how you
feel, for felt that way when you three
went to Chicago last March. Its-n S
terrible! And have always thought you
were having a good time. I dare say, II
you were little girl nike me you would
cry, wouldn't you, father?
40 ran1iod her father kiss
ing the soft curls on her head. But
it makes a great difference, little girl, II
1 know you are thinking Of me and wish
ing could be with YOU"
Indeed, 1 shall think hard about you.
father every twilight and every evening.
declared Marjorie, giving him bear
hug as the supper gong sounded.
The next day Marjorie and Donald were
busy with some great secret that they
refused to disclose to any one except the
But when 1t came time to say farewell
to the dear father who started on his
travels that night Marjorie tucked a
bullying envelope in his pocket.
Look at 1t when you're lonesome,
she said, as he started off. Three even
ings later in a dismal hotel in far-
away town sat Marjorie's father. Rain
was falling in torrents and everything
was cherries indoors and out. 1t was
lust the time when at home big log
would be burning, the lamp in the library
ablaze with light. Marjorie and Donald
PLAYING with the kitten and their mother
sewing beside the table. He could almost
hear the children as they called, What
will We play tonight. fatDer?'
Then his hand felt a bulky envelope
still in his pocket. and he pulled it forth
On the outside was scrawled. This Is a
game of cog ham 10y. When you find
out it's name you will know how to play
it, Do not open the envelope till them"
The lonely father smiled, and taking
out his pencil tried to make sense of this
''pi" After working for a long time
he arranged this word, which sounded
familiar, but he could not recall its mean
ing or where he had seen it, LOGO
MACHY.
Il think I've heard it before" he said
to himself And then a scene from his
old childhood flashed through his mind.
grandmother on winter evenings. espe-
cially game called-yes-the very same,
iogomachy. They had called it letters
to save time in speaking. and he had
had no occasion to use the-word since.
though he had played letters with his
own children.
This mystery solved, the envelope was
opened, and out fell a shower of little
packets. each one neatly labeled. Picking
up one Majorie' s. father read: Cure Ham
captally." That made him laugh. and
he glanced at a few of the others, read
ing such things as these: Listen poor
paid Tory; saw care Insect queens: cue
can star; Mud pie son: Roast mules; Mag
encore times: is vinegar meat?
You can imagine that his face was one
broad grin as he opened packet From
a wrapper of paper about two or three
inches in size out fell number of little
pieces of letter paper about a half inch
square. On each of these was printed
a letter. Marjorie's father spelled one
of the queer sentences out on the table
before him. and was soon deeply in
terested in his task. Before he had puz-
zled out the long word the sentence was
supposed to spell, however, It was after
bedtime.
E4rnra aatr~ IN had he went into the