Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-01-18
Adventure of Mr.. Beck

Dear Household: Several have requested that
relate Of my thrilling experiences"
among the ''Philistne'' kids.
Wen, they varied and many, but this
one is freshest in my mind for dreamed
ebOut these two little chaps not long since.
Only. in my cams they little imps and
seven instead of two.
thought they jumped from under the church
stems as l was about to enter aud pelted me
with blackberry pie. most OF which landed on
nv ''ice-cream" vest and shirt front.
Ii was on a railroad train this time that
was :'caught." I was comfortably seated in
the. s'smoker''-nOt because I smoke. oh, moi
submerged in a daily newspaper, deeply inter
ested in the account Of where and when the
Jeff-Johnson fight would be pulled off; when
crash. went my paper and I almost jumped
out Of my shoes. But in instant l saw the
cause: nv good old friend Handy had board
ed the train. and on seeing me. playfully knock
ed my paper out OF my hands.
After exchanging greetings and few COM
monplace remarks. | asked him where his
camp now located. He told me II was
night with him. as he had taken a partner
since last met.
ITO be sure" said I in surprise. Deserted
the noble ranks Of bachelordom. How long
sincef''
About year" he said. getting up and TAX
ing me ny the arm as the train slowed mp for
the station.
Come on"
''Er. ct. r.
Come on" he commanded.
Wei. I got off, although I had business fur
Their but ! liked old Handy and didn't think
II likely that 1 would run into a bunch Of
'sPhnistines."
'.YOu haven't been married long?" 1 queried
Nope but married widow and she has
two little ones. three and five years, respec-
lively" he said. and tired. careworn look
came over his face.
/ almost tainted. looked longingly in the
direction the train had gone and wished ! was
on Il reading about the grear JeffJohnson bout
We soon turned In at a gate and a small
voice called out:
"HallOo. daddy"
The other one rompins out and met
US at the porch with his little sister.
Dirty. grimy? Certainly you just can't
keep children clean" explained their mother.
Luckily for me they hadn't seen Handy all
day so they climbed over and tousled him
one lap long. little sister climbed uncere-
noniOusly up into mine. She must stand up;
leaned against my 'Ice-cream'' vest and put
her grimy arm about my neck. Ny collar, my
white tie.
I tried to ease her down, but a piercing
Had Handy lost all his old-time courtesy |!
WHY didn't be make her get DOWN.
Twas Just about ready to collapse when the
supper bell rang.
JOY bells TO me,
She slid oct Of my lap and with her little
brother made race for the dining room.
They were already seated az the table when
we got In. brandishing their spoons and calling
loudly for various things.
Little sister scoopcd her spoon into a dish
Of preserves. while little brother reached over
with his hand and took out a piece Of ham.
phereupon his mother gave him slap and
mildly demonstrated.
While he had his arm up to his face Little
Sister took his piece OF ham. thereupon be
proceeded 70 lift her on the head with his
spoon. She iabbed him with hers.
More scoldng ard slapping from their mother.
/ I feared wouldn't get chance to eat.
No sooner would she get their hands or spoons
ont Of one thing than they were into some
Finally. however. their plates were sufficient
" fun for them 10 be satisfied. thereby Civ
ing ms chance to eat . little.
would try to appropriate something out Of my
plate with their spoon or hands. for they
! sat Near me.
/ didn't eat much Most Of the things
wanted had previously been sampled by them.
On seeing me push back. Little Sister de-
/ cided she would resume her niace in my Ian
I She grabbed mn her piece % blackberry nj
and made a rush for me. That was too much
| 7 held ont NV arm rrotestingly.
/ 4 nie-stained hand showed vehemenhy 1T
duced to before supper. was again much in ev'
dence.
| As Handy and his beloved showed n,
| signs Of interceiing in my behalf. 7 retreates
70 the other room. Handy followed. therrh-
/ offending Little Brother they both came in
to tho rom yelling loudly.
| I could then well understand the cause oi
/ that tired. care-worn look on namby's face
! And I thought also OF the parody OF th'
poem:
! Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
| Large streams from little fountains flow"
The parody starts off like this:
Tall aches from little toe-corns grow.
Large screams from little children flow
/ Handy seized them by the arm and CAV,
them a few good sound slaps that did my
heart good and had a wonderfully soothing eff