The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-01
Love THAT softens Hard Times.

! st. Louis POSt-DiSpatcn.
Love That Softens Hard Times.
George drew a chair close to his
young Aunt Molly and. nursing one
foot with deep interest, consulted her
in low tone:
| Say, is a anniversary a day that
comes round the same time every year
an you wish you hadn't done it?
The girl strove to meet his grave
young eyes seriously.
mo, you're often glad. It's a day
when something important in your life
| happened like a birthday, which is
the anniversary of ones coming to the
| world"
But wedding anniversary is sad
for sure. amt it?''
The girl started. an ache at her
"oh! hope not. dear. for I'm to be
married SOON"
"Hully gee! DON'T"
''Why. little man ?"
ooh! I don't know,"-and one fin
ger plowed his extension sole with
careful nail,-"but O. course it'll make
you a heap sweeter, but you won't be
so fat and glad
Again he lifted thoughtful, puzzled
eyes. seeing mental pictures of a sweet,
worn face as he studied Molly's rosy
beauty. The girl laid tender hand
on the little restless fingers and alb
sently they closed on hers as he
showed near to ask:
How could fellow make we'd
ding anniversary glad?"
"Why, by love and presents and
telling freely all the sweet things he
"They give things. like birthdays
and Christmas?"
IF possible
The earnest face was radiant now.
and the child Rugged both knees as he
rocked on his chair.
"Then that's dead easy! But say, if
you amt got money 'nough for two,
which do you give it to?"
"Why the wife 1 should say, or
Jointly to BOTH
"But the mother, don't she-?"
''Why, the wife is the mother, dear
goose!"
The boys face burned.
Cert! that's one on me; but moth
er never seems like anything, but just
mother"
Later, conspiring with his small sis
explained a wedding anniversary, the
Requirements of the occasion and what
lhe hal overheard his parents say:
i IAN father sort O. cholSed an said
lpocketbook. but for him, he'd live
every minute Of it over gladly, 'cept to
make it easier fer. her an buy her
pretties, stead of just things she
says 'dush,' an kissed his mouth shut
4 an mussed up his hair an laughed an
I cried t'onct. an I couldn't hear
nothin', so I sneaked cause don't
guess grown-ups ike to get caught
snuff1n' more'n kids. Besides 1 felt
sloppy, hearin' mother. So you see.
Elsie, we've gotter get somethin'
pretty longs father can't. Not a
toothbrush mr. hanskerchuf. but just
Esomethin' to look at Mind. you're not
to ask Aunt Moll. cause she'll tell
somethin' er other mother needs, an
we know from father that what she
really needs is what she don't!"-Con-
dsnsed from Happy Returns in the
January Reader Magazine.
Dumas Pere and the Temperature.
Dumas pere, when manager of the
Theater Historique, was continually
| studying the influence of the tempera-
ture on the sale of tickets-at least, he
! interest in the showing of the thermom-
| eter was, like so many other acts of
his, nothing but an expression of the
| proverbial kindness of his heart.
One day Dumas happened to meet an
| old friend whom he had not seen for 80
| years. Where are you going to dine
| tonight?' he asked the friend.
| Tonight / shall dine nowhere" was
| the answer.
.'Oh no. said Dumas. you are mis-
| taken; you will dine with me-" He led
the upper place at his table. The poor
man had not had such a dinner for a
| long time, and Dumas, when retiring
| into his writing room after the coffee.
| said, ut is a matter of course that
| expect you tomorrow at the same time
| The friend came the next day. and
: the day after this, and so on, for ten
| years up to his death. One day, how
| ever. he told Dumas that, as he was
eating bread he did not earn, this ar
rangement could not continue. IF I
am not able honestly to earn my meals,
| shall not come again. Tell me in
! what way / can be Of service to you"
Dumas thought a moment, then he
You may go to the new bridge every
day and take the temperature by
| Chevalier's thermometer. The tempera-
ture, you must know, is of great mo-
ment in the matter of the sale of tick
cts. Could you do this?'
The poor fellow answered Affirmative
| ly, and from that time on reported to
Dumas every day: AT noon the Their
mometer showed SO and so many de-
grees in the shade" And Dumas, who.
Of course. did not care in the least about
the temperature, replied with the same
regularity: II am very much obliged. If
you only knew what service you are
doing me!"-Harpers Weekly.
Another Choate Story.
| 1t is related of Joseph Choate, that
when he was a very young man, just
once retained by a shopkeeper to de-
| fend him in a suit for damages
brought by an employe. Unfortunate
| ly for Mr.. Choate, his client lost his
head completely under cross examina-
! ton, furnishing evidence SO favorable
! to the prosecution as to result in
five thousand dollar verdict.
The merchant was, nevertheless,
| highly indignant with his lawyer for
having lost the case. and when they