Free press., 1908-06-06
PO OR JOHN
PCUCEEp
Certain Signs That Made Him
Feel Ill.

| ShreWd lCOk at the DaTlCr carpet and,
dragging himself into the sitting
room. sank into his easy chair with
a shock that shook the house.
What's the matter. John?" cried
Mrs. Poucher, running in You
aren't sick, are you?"
He turned to her a patient look of
| suffering and tried to smile.
Tired" he gasped, at last. Tired!
| Oh, let me alone; let me alOne," He
tried to pull his hand away, but he
| seemed to have nc more strength
than a baby, and when he found that
ha couldn't release his hand lie
turned his face to the wall like a poor
stricken creature that wishes TO sui
! fer in secret.
You work too hard." cried Mrs
| Poucher You'll kill Yourself! All,
John, you shouldn't work so hard
You should let the others at the Office
do some of it! You mustn't do your
own work and theirs, too!"
They impose upon you, john" con
tinued Mrs Poucher, still lamenting
You're too good-natured! Let them
work! Let them see how they like it!
All those men, and you doing all the
work! 1t isn't fair, Poor JOhn.' she
murmured. Poor old john"
And the back of his head took upon
itself a certain satisfied appearance,
and as his breathing grew less labored
Mrs. Poucher ran to put his slippers
on the stove to warm, and when she
ran back Johns face was no longer
turned to the wall, but he was staring
straight before him with the unseeing
! eyes of exhaustion. And l wish to say
that Mrs. POucher worked over him,
and petted him, and made much of
him, and lamented over him; yes, and
| took his shoes off and ministered unto
him, and coaXed him to sit at the
table, and fed him with tid-bits and
when at last he began to make a few
remarks speaking slowly and choOs-
ing his words with diff1culty-the good
woman almost wept with joy and be
came quite garrulous in her happi-
ness.
"Oh, john" she said I've done
such a lot today There's always so
much to do on the first day of spring
house-cleaning, you know, and-what's
the matter, John? Oh, dear, is it com
ing on again?"
'It will pass over" sighed
John. Don't worry!"
Its too bad you're so tired said
Mrs. Poucher, deep in meditation and
not noticing him for a moment; 81
was counting on getting the parlor
carpet up to-night-John!"
She noticed him then, all right, and
when she had got him back in his easy
chair it was with difficulty that he
restrained her from running for the
| doctor.
mo no a" he said.
Never mind see
that the people down the
street had a colored man
. - (his voice was very weak and
she had to lean over him to catch his
words) taking up their car
pets this morning
81 wonder if we could get him., she
eagerly cried.
I'll see about it in the morning
. if I'm able - he sighed,
and he closed his eyes as though the
effort had been too much for him.
John" she said, will you have a
little more to eat?"
''It would choke met" he gasped.
"Oh, dear!" she cried. and 1 made
such a beautiful lemon pie this after
noon Left all my house-cleaning and
made it special!"
81 I feel so hollow" said
John, in a faint voice. 81 1
never felt like this before
''WiI you have another slice of
| beef?" she asked.
John shook his head, but kept his
eyes on her with a dumb pleading
look that said: "Catechise me further
along these same lines, I beg
Another spoonful of potatoes?"
John shook his head, but continued
to look.
Another cup of coffee?"
NO." breathed John. IF you only
had something a little sour
She hustled into the pantry and
John treated himself to a private
snirk and made ready his mouth for
pie. She hustled back, carefully car
rying a spoon in her hand.
Now hold your head back and ,open
your mouth she said.
What what? :" be-
gan John, feebly. trying to keep her
away with his knees.
It's a spoonful of vinegar"
She beamed. Just the thing Nice
and sour Come, now!"
It's too sour" shuddered John.
Shall 1 put little water in it?"
TT it isn't filling enough"
He fell back, his eyes closed and his
| lips moved. Hastily drinking the vine
gar herself, in order not to spill it,
Mrs. Poucher leaned over him and
caught these words, uttered almost un-
consciously, and in that spiritual whis-
| per with which the body sometimes
tells the inward needs of the soul:
Lemon pie o. Lem
on pie