Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-05
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John PringIe's Chance
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

John Pringle was man with a sad
face and curious eyes. His wife said
that he was genius; his friends said
that he was a fool; he himself said he
was an ass As a matter of fact, he
was all three. but if there was any
thing to choose between the definitions.
1t was John Pringle who was right.
When he was boy, John Pringle
wanted to go into the church. His am
bition was to be eaten as missionary
by the gentle savage beyond the South
ern seas. His mother, who had dream
ed dreams of seeing her son In round
collar and soft felt hat, openly en-
couraged the boy to put his pennies
into a missionary box, and wept in
secret at the thought of her Johnny
being roasted on spit.
Three years later, however, having
visited the wicked pantomime by
stealth for the first time, John Pringle
informed his Mortified parent on his re-
turn that he didn't want 10 be a mis-
sionary any longer, but intended to be-
come a clown. John Pringle's mother
made the boy write out the 03d Psalm,
and fell on her knees and thanked
heaven privately when her Johnny had
been dismissed to an early and i'm
penitent bed.
At the age of 16, John Pringle quar-
relied with his rich uncle. who had
given him clerkship in tea. and sold
himself body and soul to a touring the
atricsl company for ten bob week
In order to make things easy for John
Pringle materially, the rich uncle re-
nounced him. and his mother wrote
enclosing half-crown postal order for
expenses, and said her Johnny had
broken his affectionate mothers heart.
John Prlngle slept with the letter
under his pillow, and sent the postal
order back. Incidentally he wrote to
his rich uncle, and wished him a pros
porous journey to a place where clerk
ships cease from troubling and rich
uncles are not at rest
1t was about this time that John
Pringle's eyes began TO look curious
and John Pringle's face began to look
sad.
For five years John Pringle remained
in the same company: then be fell In
love. She had an artificial color, an
unnatural waist, and a knowing eye.
She agreed 10 marry John Pringle
when his salary should reach the fab
ulous sum Of so bob week Meantime.
she carried John Prlngle's ring In her
purse instead OF on her finger. She
said that IL the stage manager knew OF
her engagement 1t might spoil her
chance.
John Pringle knew all about chances.
He was waiting for his own. He
agreed, when the stage manager chuck
ed his betrothed under the chin at re
hearsal. that he would look the other
way.
While he looked his betrothed ran
away with the stage manager. She
also ran away with John Prlngles en-
gagement ring-not Inside her purse.
As the reward Of virtue. John Prin-
gle spent five weeks in Dublin hospi-
tai. The doctors said It was nervous
exhaustion; John PringIe knew it was
a wounded heart. When he got up
John Pringle's ewes were still more Gu
rious and John Pringle's face was still
more sad.
Fifteen years passed. and John Prin-
gle was still waiting for his chance.
Ii was a pleasautry among his fellows
TO send him numerous postcards from
managers OF Loadon rheaters asking
him to give them an Interview with a
view TO his playing the leading part
John PringIe invariably answered the
postcards. and invariably smiled when
the indignant managers enclosed his
postcard in their reply letters 1t was
while he was answering bogus adver
tisement, indeed. that John Pringle met
his fate.
John Pringle's fate was young and
slender. with a nuctuating color. al
overstrsined heart. and q sensitiys