Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Few persons are satisfied with their
station in life or their occupation. 1
am an exception to that rule. 1 de-
light in my work, and yet 1 am only
tin peddler.
For heavens sake, why are you sat
isfed to be tin peddler?
For a paradoxical reason. L am
full of ideality and romance.
Ideality and romance in a tin ped
dlerI Nonsense!
Yes; listen to me and I will prove to
you that there can be romance even
in a tin peddler. And because there
is romance in me L enjoy my work.
1t gives me opportunity to dream For
instance, I drive my peddling wagon
along a road of a bright spring morn
ing. The air is laden with the fra
GRANGE of opening buds. The birds
are chirping in the trees, fitting here
and there, one carrying bit of straw,
another a string, another a horsehair
with which to build their nests. They
are chattering at each other just as
persons would do who were building
a house. White clouds are rolling
along silently on the horizon. On my
left forest trees rear their topmost
branches as if reaching toward the
blue sky, where a hawk is sailing. On
my right and beneath me lies lake.
Around about the country is patch
work of farms dotted with houses.
/ was driving my wagon one even
ing in October. looking for place in
which to spend the night. The woods
I'll, IF Low fAF-
scarlet. My eye was resting, as /
supposed, on one of these, deep red,
but in another moment l saw that 1t
was the setting sun shining on win
dowpane. 1 drove on toward IT and
stopped at q little farmhouse beside
the road.
Hitching my team to the post before
the gate, went to the door and knock
ed. There was no answer. Looking
about, saw no signs of life. / missed
chickens scratching in the yard, chill
dreu's playthings on the porch, the
bark of a dog. The barn was closed
and locked. The place was deserted.
Finding a window where the curtain,
not hanging perpendicularly, left an
opening through which L could look
inside. I saw that the house was fur
nished. I was peering into the living
room. There were q center table,
little library of books. lounge, while
in a fireplace were andirons on which
were logs ready to be kindled-
The twilight was deepening and if
went on 1 might be obliged TO ride
miles in the dark before finding an
other place to stop for the night. By
breaking a pane Of glass l could IN
lock a window, raise II and effect an
entrance. 1t remained to be seen II l
could put my team into the barn. L
succeeded in both. Having stabbed my
horses and fed them-there was fodder
at hand-I entered the house Having
lighted the fire on the hearth, / ex-
plored every room. The beds were
de-" though they gave evidence OF
having remained so for long while.
There were provisions in the larder,
but time had rendered them useless
7 carried nay own lunch
hamper. After finishing my explora-
tons / brought some water from the
veil and, sitting before the cracking
fire. ate my supper.
For a long while sat and dreamed
Of those who had occupied this house,
and why it had been deserted The
appearance was not that Of having
been left temporarily. II rather gave
evidence Of having been left number |
Of years before. Who were these peo- |
pie?
I've heard it said that there are Ger |
tain scientists who from seeing bone |
can tell the animal of which it formed /
E part So did / begin from my sur 1
rcundings TO form theories as to who /
1ad occupied this house There were /
no toys; therefore there were no chill /
aren- There were q few mems and