The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-01-13

Sarlly leadS!
There are none of life's phases with
which I have not come into contact,
and now, although all my brightness
and individuality are away, and
{ am so thin my circulation has
nearly stopped, | am a veritable silver
mine of experience and information.
1t was a realization of this fact that
induced me, in these, my last days,
to Gull from the past a few recollec-
tions and coin them into a little story,
hoping it might make me appreciated
beyond my mere intrinsic value.
I suppose I am conceited to at
tempt this, because all I know about
writing I learned from being strand
ed in the pocket of a literary man.
But his remarks regarding literature
were very forceful. I vas a great
comfort to that man in moments of
desperation. He knew al long as l
stayed with him I stood between him
and starvation.
One. day he sold a joke for fifty
:ents, and, with the base ingratitude
that mars some really noble natures,
ne swapped me over a quick lunch
counter for two doughnuts and a cup
of coffee!
An old gentleman got me next,
and, m%istaking me for a cent, gave
me to a newsboy.
The boy was so astonished he bit
me to see If 1 vas real; not satisfied
with that test, he dashed me to the
sidewalk. I cried out protestingly,
and when he heard the silvery ring
of my voice he was satisfied. He
gripped me so tight I was all in a
perspiration by the time he got home.
Such a miserable apology for the
name-home? He had to climb
flight after flight of rickety stairs
before he reached the n room that
to him meant home.
"Pauly," he cried, pushing open
the door, "are you awake?"
A small, white face was lifted from
a heap of ragged bedding, and a pair
of wide-opened eyes answered the
question with mute e%loquence.
Look here" continued the boy,
breathlessly, ian old gent gave me a
true enough dime and I'm going to
buy you a lump of modelling wax!"
"O-h," the long-drawn exciama-
ton was expressive Of an intense
emotion, "let me see it,"
The boy laid me, all moist, on the
outstretched palm Of his crippled
brother, who turned me over incredu-
lousy.
Don't you need it to buy some
thing to eat, LOUISE" he asked, hest
tatingly.
NAV, I'm filled right up. A Teller
gave me a handful of peanuts, and
I'm going to get some buns for our
tea" g.
Louis dashed down stairs again,
and I was soon lying in the till OF a
jewelers. shop where he took me to
buy the a
I lay there all night, wondering
why thoee hungry boys had parted
with me for an insensate lump of
wax, little thinking I would EVER
know. ...
The next day I was given to 4 beau
tiful young lady, dressed all in gray.
fell quite in love, and was glad when
she tucked me in her glove. I liked
smuggling close to her warm hand and
feeling her dependent on me; be-
aot,cn 7 u,oc oil tho r,Nnnv cho IoI
left from her shopping.
Alas! AS she stepped into a troll
ley car I fell out unnoticed. I real
lied that l. vas lost; but, with my
mercurial nature, I a like quick
silver to the feet Of a young man, who
picked me up and started after the
beautiful gray lady. She had disap-
peared into the car; he followed.
When the conductor came to collect
the fares she discovered it was gone!
The young man leaned forward and
said politely: "Allow me the pleas
ure of paying your fare" She
thanked him so sweetly, and asked
for his address that she might return
the money.
He gravely handed her his card
and paid her fare; but not with me.
He put me, still warm from her hand,
in his vest pocket. And there 1 stayed
until I waStarnished for the want o.
use, all done up in tissue paper and
labelled: Her dime"
One night the e:ratic humping Of
his heart made me so restless that I
popped right out of his pocket. AS
Dor as I touched the floor I saw the
reason that I had been able to DO it
was because he was STOPPING forward
to tie the beautiful gray lady's shoe.
She saw me and read my label as she
picked me up.
why, what does this mean" she
asked. "Is it yours" His face got
awfully red and he pushed me back
in his pocket.
The next thing 1 knew felt
thing pressed against the vest pocket
where l was hidden, and I distinctly
heard the beautiful gray lady say:
Lets keep that dear dime to buy the
the first bread we break in our own
home"
And so after another period of en-
forced idleness 1 was joyously ex-
changed for a loaf Of bread.
What was my surprise when the
baker handed me to-Louis! He
knew me at once, because l still bore
tho morkc of hic tooth b,t T cbou1d