The San Francisco call., 1909-02-13


from the pillow TO locate
the footsteps he hears in the hall. Yes
the steps are coming nearer!
'.Aomskyt" he calls, eagerly. and now
a smiling face peeps in at the door.
He sits straight up in his little white
bed. and with big brown eyes bright
with excitement asks
rs today tomorrow" then anx-
ioUsly, You member your pwomlse'
Momsky dear2" Mothers sometimes
forget to remember, you know, If their
memories are not poked a wee bit; but
this one had not. as she quickly as
sures him. The next moment he is
wrapped snugly IN one of his own
soft woolly blankets and carried swiftly
down the stairs 10 look out OF the slt-
ting room window.
The shriu "Too-oO-oo, too-oo-oo-
too-too-too" Of the approaching train
is now family heard in the distance,
and the watching eyes grow brighter
still, and the soft cheeks pinken with
joyful anticipation.
. Suddenly through the little mind
dart worrying thoughts, which chase
away the smiles as cloud shadows
swiftly darken sunny meadows.
'S'pose she should sit on the other
side Of the car tOday2 SpOse she
wasn't on a-tan? Spose If she was on,
and on his side-oh. s'pose she should
forget TO look out2 For it's long
time since he last waved to her-mother
says-'leven days, but il seems more
like 'leventy-'leven days that he has
been sick with a horrid old, grippy
cold"
All here comes the smoking, ding
donging old choo-choo in sight at last.
No. il is switched over on another
track, and right opposite his window
It comes to a brief standstill, snorting
and putting impatiently, just TO allow
that naughty express train to fly tri-
umphantly by.
Boy is glad it has to stop that way
every day, for that is how he has be-
come acquainted (by sight only though
it isl with his dear ChOO-ChooN Lady.
The first time those laughing blue eyes
looked at him from the car window
one morning last fall, he simply
couldn't help but smile back and wave
his little hand. Since then never a
morning except those eleven long days,
has he missed waving TO her, either
from the fence Or-when the cold, win
try days kept him indoors-from the
window.
"Goody" Yes. there she is rubbing
with her handkerchief the moisture
from the window. so she can see out
Boy almost springs through his own
window in his ectasy as he waves
both hands frantically; then kiss after
kiss he throws until the chOO-choo
goes. taking swiftly out of sight his
Lady.
with happy sigh he leans back
in his mothers arms. He has seen
her again and she hasn't forgotten.
When warm spring days arrive from
the fence every day he lovingly waves
greetings to his ChOo-Choo Lady. One
day she opens the window and throws
out box Of candy for him. Like a
flash he darts across the yard, through
the gate. down the road to the track,
pouncing upon il like a little dog after
a bone He finds something else, too,
beside it, and that is his Lady's hand
kerchief Um-m-mi How sweet and
smelly ii is Just like the fragrant
violets in his own little garden. Very
carefully he folds it. and for some
reason he can hardly explain he slows
It away in his pocket Not in his
blouse pocket, for there il might be
noticed-but in his mannish little hip
pocket, that is the pride Of his heart.
into the house he scampers to show
mother his candy and generously in
sists on treating each one of the fam
fly; but never a word does he breathe
Of his hidden secret.
All that day he is thinking-think-
ing-thinking: sometimes chuckling
aloud at his thoughts. No one notices,
however. for he is always giggling
over something. Life is one big coke
anyway to Boy. Only in his dreams
Is he sad. for that night he dreams his
secret is lost and he cries in his
sleep. But the next morning he
laughs again TO find il still in It's
hiding place. Then quickly he swal-
lows his breakfast. and hurrying down
TO the track with his little express
cart sits down upon it to wait. He is
so glad the kitchen and dining room
windows are on the ,other side of the
house; for it would be very annoying
20 be hindered in his plans.
Here comes the chOo-choo at lasti
He knew the steps would be high, so
that is why he has brought his cart.
from which he hurriedly climbs to the
rear steps Of the rear car. Opening
the door, he looks in. Yes, there is
his blue hated. blue suited Lady,
looking as usual for her Boy on the
fence. Cap in hand and smiling mis-
chievously in anticipation of her sur
prise, he quietly walks down the aisle
and softly climbs upon the seat beside
her. Conscious Of an unusual rustling
and slight Jar. she looks around.
why, what in the world are you
doing here2" She exclaims, in just the
surprised tone and with just the as
o.
He only smiles at her in silent enjoy
ment. Slowly now he takes from its
hiding place his secret and lays it upon
her lap.
What IS this2" she asks
Your hanknif." he chuckles. You
throwed it out with the candy" he
explains.
Just then something happensi A
bump and a jogging motion, and then
the telegraph poles began to slide
slowly past the window. Boy scram-
bles hurriedly over Ladys lap to the
window just in time to see his own
house fly swiftly out of sight.
"Oh. Boy" he hears a horrifed voice
exclaiming, you are leftr which is
not so at all, Boy thinks, for he is
aboard all right.
Too fascinated by his moving picture
show to turn around he gazes out in
speechless delight: for this is his first
journey on those choo-choo cars he has
always looked at so lOnginglyi
Through Lady's usually tranquil mind
a host of troublesome thoughts now
swarm, but no trace Of them is seen
upon her pleasant face when Boy
finally looks around.
AS she looked at his little back she
had imagined him terrifed-perhaps in