Evening star., 1908-01-11
KARL'S FIRST. KODAK.
BY MAY BELL.

Karl was eight years old when the long
| ing for kodak seized him. He wanted
| it more than anything he had ever de-
| sired in his life. He would never have
thought of parting with his precious jack
| knife if he hadn't wanted it pretty bad.
| AS it was, he did not have to part with
| the knife. for 1t did not seem So valuable
| to the other boys as it did to him. In
| fact. it had lost one blade and the sole
remaining one was badly nfcked. and 1t
only cost quarter when it was new, SO.
! perhaps. 1t Is no wonder that no one
! made him offer for it. Failing to get
cash for the knife, he thought over his
other possessions, but TO one of them
could approach the faithful blade in real
value, so he gave up the idea of an auc-
tiol of his effects. He then set out to earn
the money by the sweat of his brow This
was not easy, either; for he lived in a
very small town where there were ten
small boys to every lucrative job. But
Karl was not easily discouraged. After
he had fixed upon the sum which was
necessary to obtain the very cheapest
| thing in the whole catalog Of kodaks he
set to work.
He carried dinners to men in the fac
tories; he ran errands for the doctor
across the street; he popped corn and
sold 1t in the school yard; he gathered
chestnuts for the leading grocer. He
was highly indignant when Deacon Jar
Wis told him he was too small to chop
his cOrdwood, and he was broken
hearted when the town refused to give
him the contract for lighting the street
lamps. When the snow came he shov-
eled until every muscle in his back and
arms ached, but when mother rubbed
him we'll at night with witch hazel he
felt very much like a real workingman.
All the while he saw visions of himself
pointing his kodak at the great men of
the town. and arranging his admiring
and envious school fellows in groups.
Every night he counted over his pen
MES. with a glow of honest pride at the
thought of all the hard work they stood
for. When he had enough for the very
cheapest Photographic outfit. he took his
father in partnership. for he needed some
help about framing the proper sort of
letter which should bring him the much
coveted object.
you see. it's an fnsraneous' one" he
explained to his father. pointing out the
You just press that little catch there
and the picture is all made" He actually
had visions of the finished photographs
rolling right out of the kodak at the
touch of his finger
He was so radiant about it, and SO
much in earnest. that father stumbled in
speech. and blushed like a boy he hated
so to have to explain to the ardent little
chap that even "instaneous'' photographs
had to be developed, and that it took time
cess of it.
Karl was disappointed, but not daunted
by the information. r'Well, let's send for
it, anyhow. father. and I'll learn how to
develop them. No; don't want to wait
and earn more money for better one.
I'm sure this is good: it says so.''
So the kodak was sent for. and Karl
haunted the express office until every one
in the town knew that he was expecting q
package by express.
| At last it came, and karl~hugged it tight
to his heart and hurried home TO open ii
in the presence OF his sympathetic family
The kodak was the first thing Karl had
ever earned all alone. and he was as
proud as a king He examined it inside
and out and passed it around for each one
to see cautioning his father gravely not
to drop it. He read the directions over
four times. and then the supreme moment
came when. with much important delib-
Grafton. he grouped father and mother for
one picture, baby, who wouldn't sit still
for the second Hilda and the family cat
for the third. and for the fourth and last
he decided to take a picture of the house
The kodak was a two by one and a halt
inches and took four pictures on a film.
Karl followed directions very carefully
and when the four were taken he retired
to mothers bedroom closet to do the de-
veloping. Hilda, who was ten years old
sat just outside the closet door to await
results.
Karl reported progress from time to
time.
I've put 1t in the 'hypo' he shouted
and Hilda hugged herself with joyous .ex-
pectancy.
Karl certainly followed instructions. but
something was wrong.
Hilda waited outside the door long
time, but no sound came from the depths
At last father and mother came in to see
if the pictures weren't done. They called
to Karl.
The door opened and a very solemn
faced boy walked out. In one hand he
| held the kodak, in the other the films
| Without a word he displayed them. The
picture of father and mother showed sim
ply two small dots: the baby was one dot
nothing more: Hilda was a blank, and the
house was a straight line.
We'll sonny. you'll do better mex,
time said father, encouargingly. But
two big tears rolled down Karrs cheeks
ITS the blamed old Kodak he said de.
| family: Its no good. and I'm going te
smash it.''
Hush. hush. dear" said mother: re.
member. it's New Year day
We'll. it's a mean old cheatr' sobbeG
Karl, '.and I've worked since last Octo.
ber to earn it,. In spite of himself Kar
put his coat sleeve over his eyes anC
turned TO the wall.
Come come. son.. said father wei
go up in the garret, where il is warm and
quiet, and study it out together" Between
them they learned the secret so well that
ii you should go to see Karl this New
Year he would show you a big book full
OF pictures that he has taken and de-
veloped himself.