Sharp County record., 1908-07-31
| JOHN PRINCLE'S
CHANCE
BY Alicia Ramsey.

he was a fool; he himself said he was
an ass AS a matter of fact, he was
all three, but if there was anything
to Judge between the definitions, 1t
was John Pringle who was right
When he was boy, John Pringle
wanted to go into the church. HIS
ambition was to be eaten as a mis-
sionary by the gentle savage beyond
the southern seas. His mother, who
had dreamed dreams of seeing her
son in round collar and soft felt
hat, openly encouraged the boy to put
his pennies into the missionary box,
and wept In secret at the thought OF
her Johnnie being roasted on a spit.
Three years later, however, having
visited the wicked pantomime by
stealth for the first time, John Pringle
informed his Mortified parent on his
return that he didn't want to be mis-
,ionary any longer, but intended to
be clown. John Pringles mother
made the boy write out the Ninety
third psalm, and fell on her knees and
thanked Heaven privately when her
Johnnie had been dismissed to an
early and impenitent bed.
At the age Of 16, John Pringle sold
himself body and soul to a touring
theatrical company for three dollars a
week.
For five years John Pringle re-
mained in the same company; then he
fell in love. She had an artificial
color, an unnatural waist, and know
ing eye. She agreed to marry John
Pringe when his salary should reach
the fabulous salary Of ten dollars a
week Meantime, she carried John
Pringle's ring In her purse instead Of
on her finger, She said that II the
stage.manage knew Of her engage
ment 1t might spoil her chance.
While he looked his betrothed ran
away with the stage-manager. She
also ran away with John Pringle's
engagement ring-not inside her
purse
AS the reward Of virtue John
Pringle spent five weeks in hospital.
The doctors said 1t was nervous ex-
haustlon; John Pringle knew 1t was
wounded heart When he got up
John Pringle's eyes were still more
curious and John Pringle's face was
still more sad
Fifteen years passed, and John
Pringle was still waiting for his
chance. It was a pleasantly among
his fellows to send him humorous
postcards from managers Of theaters
asking him to give them an inter-
view with a view to his playing the
leading part, John Pringle invaria-
bly, answered the postcards, and In.
varably smiled pleasantly when the
indignant managers inclosed his post
card In their reply letters. 1t was
whllo he was answering bogus ad'
vertisement, indeed, that John Prlngle
met his fate,
John Pringe's fate was young and
slender, with a nuctuating color, an
overstrained heart, and sensitive
mouth. Within a month John Pringle
had married her, Their joint incomes
at that time represented the interest
Ing sum Of $l2 week, During their
waits at rehearsal they would sit
and hold hands In corners, and whis.
per together of what they should do
when John prngle got his chance. He
was to play Hamlet, and she was TO
wear white satin and diamonds, and
sit In a box and applaud,
Meantime Mr., and Mrs John
prlngle starved,
Al the end Of year John pringle
became father, Baslng his claim
to consideration on the merits OF that
interesting fact, John pringle laid his
long apprenticeship before the man
ager and asked him for q rise. The
manager clapped John Pringle on the
back, gave him q whisky, and told
him not to talk such rot, John Pringle
refused the whisky and went home
to Mrs, John Prlngle and lied, He
said that, by virtue Of becoming a fa'
ther, he had been raised. Mrs John
pringlo had beef steak to celebrate
the occasion, and chatted gaily In the
twilight OF the future that awaited the
baby now that his father had begun
to get his chance, Four days later
John prlngle, who had starved him
self to u shadow, tainted ut rehearsal
and was sent home IN n cab,
The shock upset John Prlngle, II
also upset John pringle's wife, a
week or two later, John prngle won't
about birmingham In n brown coat
supplemented by u band Of Grape, A
week later tho little John prlnglo, not
finding u patent food ~ administered
internationally by m intermittent
landlady sufficiently interesting most
conveniently died, The ladies and
gentlemen Of tho company and the
manager sent u wroath of orchids
which, converted into food, would
probably have saved John pringle's
wife, They eadi III was quite a fo=