Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-11-06


telling me about his kid on the way
home" said Billings. "Of course, 1t is
fine for man to be proud of his child
and all that, but Thompson uses no
common sense about it, He interrupt
ed me when | was reading the paper
to tell me how strong Dick was and
how he trained the youngster to swing
from his walking cane. He doesn't
seem to see that Dick is out OF pro-
portion and has no neck. Look at the
dimples in Towards neck!"
THE dear!" cooed Mrs. Billings.
'Why, do you knew, never saw such
hands and feet as that Thompson baby
has. They are big enough for a 5-year-
old child"
Thompson really surprises me,
Billings went on over the family din
~ner. Il always thought him man Of
reasoning powers and good judgment.
but actually since that boy of his ar
rived he seems to have taken leave of
his senses. He can't talk about any
thing else and is getting to be an aw-
full BORE To-day in the course of con-
versation, merely to illustrate point
started to tell him about that funny
remark our boy got off about the post
mans cap and Thompson hardly lis
tened, he was so eager to chip in with
something his kid had said about the
raindrops. Never waited for me to
finish. Now, | never make Howard
the burden of my conversation, be-
cause | realize that other people are
not so deeply interested in him as
am"
I'D like to know why not" inter
rupted Mrs. Billings. He's the most
lovbale child! People stop me on the
street and just talk to him."
We'll, he is striking looking" said
Billings, with a gratified frown "As
l was saying, merely quoted Howard
to illustrate my point and it annoyed
me to have Thompson try to cap my
story. AS if that square-faced boy of
his was interesting! | told him he
should see Howard with his pet kitten
if he wanted a picture.
Il tried to tell Thompson about the
day Howard was carrying the kitten
by it's hind legs up and down the stairs
playing it was bag of flour, but he
hardly listened. Thompson has al
ways seemed such a sensible fellow
before this year. All he said was that
he was trying to train his, boy to be
kind to dumb animals and anyhow
that Dick had remarkably tender
heart! Insinuating that our Howard
was little brute!"
Why, | don't see how you could
have kept from telling him what you
thought of him!" cried Mrs. Billings.
Indignantly. Il never did like that Mr..
Thompson. Every one knows that
Howard is the sweetest little fellow."
What was the use of talking back
to Thompson" said Billings, conde
scendingly. II never saw a man so
wrapped up in his own little affairs
as he is. You'd think to hear him talk
that there was nothing on earth but
his house and his wife and that kid
of his. Now, / guess I'm fond of my
family as the next one, but manage
to take little interest in others peo.
pies affairs. 1t is narrow not to do so
Why, it is fearful to be so self-cen-
tered. started to tell Thompson
about Towards way of looking up
sideways when he has been getting
into mischief and how he was so cum
ming about 1t that I couldn't bear to
punish the little rascal. and he replied
by saying that Dick was such won
derfully obedient boy and he had no
trouble with him whatever. / felt like
telling him that it was because Dick
is SO sluggish he didn't have enough
ambition to get into trouble. 1t is
not often you find child so full of
nervous energy as Howard. He GER