The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1909-12-03
An Afternoon
Off

other members of the family and now,
buried in the morning paper, he paid
no attention to the noisy greetings
Of his two boys as they romped into
the dining room. Mrs. Blifkins' good
morning" was received in silence. the
family was properly subdued. Finally
perhaps ten minutes later. Blifklns
noticed that his wife was speaking to
him.
Hardly a good way to start the
day Mrs Blifkins was saying. Its
getting to be a custom. | know you're
not angry or cranky, but you might as
well be; the effect is the same. You'll
never gain the boys confidence that
way. You never play with them
You're always too busy, thinking or
working, and | cant keep Billy at
home because there's nothing here to
amuse him. Why don't you come
home early this afternoon and get ac-
quainted? You cah live if you miss
your club one afternoon"
So Blifkins went home at three
O'Clock Billy, Az years, and Dick
two, were waiting for him on the
front steps. They began to whoop
like young Indians when they saw him
get off the car.
I'm going to play with you this
afternoon, boys" Blifkins said. You
wait till | take off these buds and
wen have time We're going to get
acquainted we are"
nft I'd p1ifliDg
had turned an old porch seat upside
down in the back yard and was max
ing it into a work bench for Billy and
Dick. He next fetched from the base
ment a large tin box filled with all
sorts of valuables, such as broken
locks and keys, discarded buckles,
bits of wire and other junk. 1t was a
treasure box for Billy and Dick, and
soon they were exploring its contents.
Just then Blifkins heard more In
dian yells and turned in time to see
three boys of Billy's age about to at
tack from the rear, over the fence.
81 won't play with you" Billy said.
I'm going to play with my papa
Well" said one of the boys in per-
feet good nature, we're going to play
with you"
Blifkins didn't desire to offend Bill
lys playmates. He determined to be
patient. Il don't come home often in
the afternoon, he said, so | wish
you'd run home now and come back
tomorrow Billy and Dick and i
Nav said we could come" one of
the boys said.
But your mamma didn't know
was"
Yes she did. That's why she let
as come We're going to
Four more boys and three girls,
none more than five years old. now
appeared, some from the front, so ne
from the rear. They lined up around
Bhfkins and stared at him much as
they'd stare at a giraffe of an ele-
phant. It's a way children have.
"Children," he said-Billy and Dick
here took up their positions near their
father-"chldren don't come home
often in the afternoon, so wish you d
go home now and"
Nav said" one of the girls be-
gan. but Blifkins interrupted her.
1T doesn't matter what NAV said
This is my house and | wish you'd go
home"
I'VE want to play with Billy" was
the calm rejOinder.
81 don't want you" Billy said, sturd'
lily supporting his father. No one was
at all offended by Billy's candor.
The argument was here interrupted
by the arrival of three more boys
Blifkins' backyard resembled kinder
garten, Blifkins appealed to his wife,
who had come to the kitchen door.
See here, Martha" he said Il
don't want to insult these children
but"
Don't worry, you can't do it," Mrs
Blifkins said. I've tried it so times "
I'd like to see you get rid of them
Blitkins brought out his old speech
children" he said. 81 don't come
home often, so l wish you'd go home
no wand"
Nav said we could come over
in chorus.
We'll. this is my house and
think"
I'm going to stay" one of the five
year-olds announced, and walked over
to the tin box and began to examine
what was in it. BlilIins. growing
angry, took the boy by one arm, and
led him gently but firmly to the front
of the house and shooed him of the
place. When he returned another
boy had stepped just across the prop
erty line so that he stood on Blink
lot and cried sh.iily:- I'm going to
stay here. Nav said"
Blifkins seized him by, the collar
and led him to the fence.
One, a very obliging little chap,
announced: Nav and | could come
but I'll go home and take nap and
come back"
The others. realizing at last that
they weren't wanted, walked away
grumblng One turned at the front
steps and called: Billy, oh, Billy!
Nav said"
Scat" said Blifkins, and the boy
ran.-Kansas City Star.