The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-04-09

~ HE narrowrcss OF the street was an unpcas
A ant surprise 10 Garden. In his mental PIE
~ lures 1t had not been wide but for this con-
tracted almost lanc-likc thoroughfare. he unprc
pared The red brick houses lower too and moro
. tiny than he had fancicd, though he had never I'M
| agned them very grand or imposing But low and
| diminutve they they seemed 10 crowd one
oil the other this ribbon OF high
with its diSproportlonatey broad track IN vain
hc looked Tor the maple trees protected by Slated
grecn-pautcd boxes. which among the memories
his carly childhood. Til. street was quite bare of
trees. In their places grim iron trolley poles.
uphodne stretched wires, which in turn supported the
long live, FURNISHED copper supplying the cleo
tre power to the great uggcrnautikc cars which at
intervals, thuudercd past with hoarse metallic rumble
OF wheels, sharp. neryc-rackmg rattle OF windows and
diseordant clang OF gong
Midway OF the block he halted and stood close to
the curb, his gaze fixed the house opposite, which
ms searching eyes had picked out from the corner
as the third beyond the alley There little other
wise to distinguish this dwelling from its neighbors
II was of dngy brick three stories in height, and IN
the mcager width OF its door and windows and the
low three white marble steps which afforded approach
70 It's entrance, 1t gave evidence OF architectural
vogue once popular, no doubt but long ago discarded
II there was something OF disappointment Il Car
dcn's expression as he made optical survey of the
modest old-time structure, there also something
OF yeneration. He noted with pang. that 1t
altogether IS he had remembered It, yet undoubtedly
was, structuray, II not all ITS embellishments the
house III which nc had been born. The old white
painted door had given place to OF dark hardwood
plate glass, guarded by grill Of wrought In
his infancy, the windows of the ground floor had
been protected by white painted board shutters, and
the upper windows by outside green blinds but now
all these had disappeared. The ground floor showed
inside shutters OF walnut and he presumed there
the same the other floors. though only dainty
white curtains visible.
This effort TO adorn the old dwelling with modern
novelties distressed Garden and he resented it. He
was thanktul nevertheless that they had not painted
the old bricks purple red and initiated the mortar
lines with gcometrically accurate rulings Of white
PANT The bricks, at least, were the same honest
bricks. weathcr-worn and squalrd though they were
lie he
knew. watching the houses the way, for sud-
denly he observed that he had become object of
eres to three urchinS who, encouraged probably by
his passive pose and rapt distant gaze, had drawn
closer and closer, watching with keen, eager childish
interest, TINS tai elderly we-dressed gentleman who
seemed for all the world like wax figure, still
and quiet he stood. As he turned upon them it
with such dsconceHng abrupncss, that for the
ment they were undecided whether fec or TO offer
for their rudcncss.
The largest of the three was boy, pald- checked
but with big bright, intelligent brown eyes the other
two were girls in alcnvcloping blue and white check
aprons.
Garden smiled as he looked at them: and his smile
he did not speak and the children likewise silent
Then he took small charge from his
pocket and held out dime to the lad who shyy
treated step with head on side but with eyes fixed
upon the lure
How old arc YOU my boy" Garden asked His
voice pleasantly soft and his manner most kindly
I'm ten, gong eleven, answered the child
The extended his trihe, the dime further
outhcld.
4
"and the little girls shall have cent for each year.
too"
But still the boy seemed reluctant
I'm not allowed he explained
Garden laughed, lightly good -humorcdly, and
ceased insisting. To the elder girl he said
"And you. miss? How old may you be-"
She cast down her small bcad-lilic eyes which
set too close together
I'm most ten" she answered, and took the prof
fcred dime before the givcr had time TO make his
proicring speech.
and baby" asked Garden. bending down to the
pretty child with golden curls.
The little one stuck her thumb into her mouth and
said nothing
"shes five volunteered the other girl She's my
little sister"
Garden pressed nickel into the little ones chubby
fingers.
"Thcrc now" he said graciously, run along all of
you I'm sorry my little man" he added, G,tLbat you
aren't allowed But l congratulate I'D M, ,5ir obc
dience"
And as the trio. with heads together, went slowly
of up the street. turning intervals 10 look back at
their generous chance acquaintance. Garden resumed
his contemplation Of te little old brick house
the way aud continued his interrupted revc;ic
81 must have been much like the lad yondcr when
I last through that door, he mused his gaze
dwcit lovingly the narrow portal; land to think of
all the things that I wasn't allowcdl'
And then he fell to wondering how the house might
look on the inside There must have been a world of
changes, Of course But he should like to see the
rooms more; that big sccond-story front room,
especially wi crciu his eyes had first met the worlds
lght-his voice had uttered its primal infant cry.
As he gazcd, thus thinking, his eye detected what
it had not hitherto noticed; small white placard,
pasted upon the wall between the two lower windows
The legend that it bore distinsishable to his
near-sshtcd eyes at the distance, he crossed the
street and. approach, found that il read;
This House For Sale or TO Let
Inquire Within.
An unaccustomcG emotion very like 10 reverence
pervaded him as he mounted the three little blocks
of snowy marble which served as doorsteps and with
uncertain fingers graspcd the nckcled beli-pul 1t
though he stood at the entrance to shrine
and across his thoughts flashed remembrance OF tho
Mohammcdan custom Of removing shoes before en-