Evening star., 1909-09-12
Around the City

A sunshine society had just finished
sale for the benefit of crippled children.
1t had been front pavement affair and
the young members of the society. having
made a small fortune for crutches and
braces and the like. had already taken
away the flags lanterns and gay little
booths. leaving as the sole evidence of
the sale dining-room table that stood
by the presidents door. 1t was ponder
Gus, old-time walnut table which had
beer ousted from service by something
more stylish and consigned to the cellar.
1t had been an undertaking to move 1t
up to the pavement. and it's owner. wor-
red at the prospect of having her trouble
all over again. had said recklessly to her
co 'ored Aunt Milly that she would sell the
old thing to get rid of tiff she got only
10 cents.
Aunt Milly spread the news with such
good results that. the sale being over, she
piloted up another old colored woman of
about sixty years, who would like to buy
the table for 30 cents if the madame
would wait until Sad day." when she got
paid for her wash.
Madame was agreeable. but asked how
she meant to pay for a wagon to haul it
home Then the old woman showed the
stuff she was made of:
what riz me way back In slave times
taught me dat strenf was in de haid!
ben wantin' a walnut table all nah
days. an now I gwine ca'hy it on topper
nah haid, eff Aunt Milly will gimme a
hike.
Aunt Mily assisted with the hike and
the old soul balanced the big, heavy thing
on her head and upraised palms. When
the little president looked amazed at her
performance. she chuckled and put her
arms akimbo.
Yes. indeed chile, NAH family taught
me dat NAH strenf was in nah haid-
thanky, kindly. honey-I'm gwine bring
dat 80 cents Sad'day, when I gets paid for
Perhaps tile little president was touch
ed at the loyalty that still clung to old
traditions Perhaps again she felt an
honest respect for woman who was
willing and able to carry big table on
top of her head instead of paying her
pennies to some pressman-anyWay, she
said
You deserve that table and you can
have it free, and | hope II will give you
pleasure"
And it is safe to say that no crippled
child to be helped by that particular sun
shine society will get more pleasure out
of that particular sale than the old COL
ored woman who had always wanted a
walnut" table, and whose ''strenf" was
in her 'haid.'
And the little president of the society
stood in her door and looked after the old
figure with smiling eyes and lips that
were tender with emotion.
She had passed a kindness on.
One woman was talking to another she
had just met on the street, when she in
terrupted herself 10 exclaim:
"Whst .is wrong with my dress that
makes You stare"
The other woman colored and laughed
out an embarrassed explanation.
Just counting your buttons. 1t Is idi-
otic of course. but 1 can't talk to any
one without counting every button in
sight. You have twenty-seven-three big
ones on your coat breast ard twenty-four
| in the double row down your skirt
TIE o,ker woman !aulhed in turn.
Make 1t two idiots. 1 don't count
buttons. but I always curtsey to the new
moon and never walk in shadow on a
Friday"
And a third woman. WHO overheard and
| who never passes q laElppost without
| touching it. said TO herself:
Speaking ot idiots-make / three
The curbing on both sides Of the pave
ment was fringed with curious passersby,
who had paused to watch tiny creature
toddle heplesly, all by itself, over the
uphill ccbbles near F street. On the
face of each man and woman was an ex-
preston of interest, some smiling out
| right in amusement others touched by
the sight of infantile helplessness. and all
intent that no vehicle should bring II
| harm. The hilly street, with its rough
| cobbles, is not pleasant even for great
man-creature who can stride. and to
see that baby thing trying to step from
stone to stone
Isn't it a wonder It hasn't been run
over and crushed?" said somebody to
| somebody else. Look at 1t, will you.
stopping to play right in tie middle of
danger"
1t isn't playing. 1t is tired and wants
| 20 go TO sleep
The man who made this explanation
| stepped out on the Street. picked up the
tiny speck OF kitten and placed it in a
| sunny, safe spot on the bricks by the
wall. And when the small free show was
over and the passersby had moved on
| somebody else said to somebody:
That kitten will never feel grateful to
| the man for saving 1t. because 1t will
| never be conscious of its danger. I Won
der-I wonder II We are ever saved from
harm by a higher power and never feel
grateful because We do not know
And somebody answered: Il wonder!
a tiny girl in a white frock, with a
golden shower of hair tied with blue rib.
bon. was perched on one of the big cam
non which guard the entrance to the
War Department She was watching a
parade, and unconsciously made a pretty
picture Of herself for one OF two passers
to admire.
s"If was cartoonist, said the elderly
man. Il would draw that young one to
illustrate the attitude of this country
toward the rest of the world. Thera sits
Columbia on her big gun, ready /. yreet
her sister nations with the frank friendli-
ness of little child. but prepared. II need
be. to annihilate them in warfare.
IF you were a cartoonist," Interrupted
the young nan. you would understand
that it isn't a practical idea. People
wouldn't understand You've go. to give
them clever hit that vii. rouse them
like flash, and. er--''
He explained VIII: superiority that
suggested tEet nc was by profession O.
cartooniSt
Lowe Comerdy-Starrman. the trage.
dian, is hopelessly mad.
Hi Traeerdy-OveT study?