The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-08-11
MY Friend
The Colonel
Being a Story of a Return
For a TrifHng Favor
By F. II. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1g1l

Soon after. the civil war while at
work. am Instructor In the chem
zeal laboratory in the @. college-a
shabby though soldierly looking mid
die aged man approached me and ask.
ed II were Professor Pingree.
mo-" 1 replied, II am simply Mr..
Pingree. / am not professor. I am
a tutor in analytical chemistry"
you are the man I am looking To-.
sub. 1t Is the practical not the theo-
retical that want. !. too. am simply
'mistah,' having come down from colo
mel. commanded a regiment In the
late unpleasantness between the south
and the moth, sub. FROM having a
thousand men unde' my command !
am reduced to selling a compound TO-
extracting grease from clothing"
There was that In the serio comic
of the man which excited my sympa-
thy. I invited him into room set
apart for my personal use. asked him
to be seated and waited for him to
speak further.
"When l was ut university,
suh," he began, II took coa'se In
practical chemistry. That is a long
while ago, sub, but l remember
enough about the coa'se to know that
what need Is only to be gained. sub,
from such a pe'son as yo'self. As l
have said. sub. poverty compels me
to descend from the command of a
thousand men and formerly the owner
ship Of as many negroes to make the
object of my life removing grease
spots. The results Of the victory
achieved ovah the south by the mo-
perfectly equipped moth has rende'ed
obligatory on me many things
am a man Of few words myself,
and my time Is, or was then, fairly
well taken up. I must head or this
garrulous son of the south, but
would not hurt his feelings for q
farm.
'"rhe world is full of disappoint-
ments, colonel" interrupted. II live
on a salary of 1920 year and have
six children. I work most Of the time
and have no leisure for repining.
What can do for your"
II will come to the point Immediate
ly, sub. Ny old mammie"-
rs your old mammie concerned In
the object of your vislt2"
Eyes, sub. My old mammle used q
liquid fo' taking grease out of our
clothes when we were children. Find
ing myself obliged to wo'k To- my nv.
ing, ! have taken her receipt and am
making the compoun' and selling It
would be greatly obliged to you II
you would analyze 1t and see II yo'
can eonseientiously recommend It,"
He evidently had nothing to pay for
the work he required, but there was
something 50 forlorn about the fallen
planter and chieftain. his bearing was
80 far above his calling, that my heart
was touched. l took sample Of his
eradicator and told him that II he
would call the next day would give
him an analysis. He appeared prompt.
iy, and Informed him that his eradi.
Gator was an excellent one but there
was single drawback to It. 1t re-
moved the grease to perfection. but
also removed that part of the clothing
to which II was applied
The expression Of disappointment in
his face was touching. Fortunately
was able to brush II away. told
him there was IN acid In his COM
pound that was too powerful. | could
recommend another which would re-
move the grease. leaving the clothing
intact.
But. suh," he replied, his face light
ing up, unfortunately have no money
to buy yo' secret"
Secret be hanged There Is no So
cret about It." And. writing the name
of the agent l referred to on slip Of
paper, l handed 1t to him.
And now, subj" he said, folding the
paper, 81 wish to place this indebted
ness to you on my part in such shape
that 1t may be liquidated ". Install
ments What is the amount Of yo'
cha'ge, sub. TO- this professional wo'k
and the suggestion written on this pa
peri"
Colonel" l replied. taking him by
the hand, I'VE northern people are not
all so devoid Of humanity as you
southerners think. You are quite well
come to the trlfling assistance have
given you, and II It helps one south
erner out of the slough into which this
political bouleversement has thrown
so many of you 1t will make me very
happy"
We stood for few moments hand
in hand. looking into each others eyes.
There was that in the colonel's shall
never forget 1t seemed to me that
had found brother.
Professor" he replied In n voice on
the verge of trembling, should I &C.
cept this favo' without giving you the
benefit of any success that may &C.
crue from II would be untrue to the
traditions of my ancestors You are
from this moment my partner.
would soon to involve you In any ex-
posture that may be necessary in man.
ufacturlng or marketing the compound,
but assure yo. sub. on the wo'd and
honah of a southern gentleman that
shall account To- every picayune
gained and credit yo' with one half the
profit"
This was pathetic indeed
Colonel" l replied. don't you think
that a small loan might enable you
TO purchase the necessary articles that
are to go into your compoundf"