Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-29
Ny Friend
The Colonel
Being a Story Of . Return
For a TrifIisx Favo,
B, r. A. mitchell
B, r. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. io1l.

Soon after the civil war while At
vork-I am Instructor In the chem.
tcal laboratory In the g. colleRe-a
shabby though soldierly looking mid.
die aged man approached me and ask.
ed II were Professor Pingree.
mo" replied. II am simply Mr..
Pingree. I am not q professor. am
4 tutor In analytical chemistry"
you are the man am looking To-,
sub. It u the practical not the theo-
retical that I want I. too. am simply
.mistah.' having come down from colo
mel l commanded q regiment In the
late unpleasantness between the south
and the moth. sub. From having q
thousand men unde' my command I
an reduced to sailing q compound TO-
extracting grease from clothing"
There was that In the serio comic
Of the man which excited my sympa-
thy. l invited him into q room Get
apart for my personal use, asked him
to be seated and waited for him to
speak further.
"When ! was at university,
suh." no began. II took q coa'ss in
PRACTICAL chemistry. That IL a long
while ago. sub. but i remember
enough about the coa'se to know that
what I need y only to be gained. sub.
from such q pe'son - yo'self. Az I
have said. sub. poverty compels me
to descend from the command Of q
thousand men and formerly the owner
ship Of a. 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 rendeed
obligatory on me many things
l am q man Of few words myself.
and my time Il, or was then. fairly
well taken up. ! must head OF this
garrulous son Of the south. but l
would not hurt his feelings for q
farm.
'@rhe world i full Of disappoint-
ments. colonel" interrupted. II live
on a salary OF $1,000 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. My old mammie"-
'Ts your old mammie concerned In
the object OF your visitT'
Yes. sub. My old mammie used a
liquid TO- taking grease out Of our
clothes when we were children Find
ing myself obliged to wo'k To- my liv
ing. I have taken her receipt and am
making the compound and selling It.
I would be greatly obliged to you II
you would analyze 1t and see II 20
can conscientiously recommend it."
He evidently had nothing to pay for
the work he required. but there was
something so forlorn about the fallen
planter and chieftain. his bearing was
% far above his calling. that my heart
was touched took sample Of his
eradicator and told him that If he
would call the next day l would give
him an analysis He appeared prompt
~, and l Informed him that his eradi-
Gator was an excellent one. but there
was q 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
bis face was touching. Fortunately
was able to brush It away. told
him there was an acid in his com
pound that was too powerful | could
recommend another which would re-
move the grease. leaving the clothing
intact
"But, subj" be replied. his face light
ing up. unfortunately have no money
to buy yo' secret"
Secret be hangedl There is no Sc
cret about it" And, writing the name
Of the agent referred to on slip Of
paper. handed 1t to him.
And now. subj" be said. folding the
paper. II wish to place this indebted
ness to you on my part In such shape
that II may be hquidated In install
ments- What Il the amount Of 70
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 80 devoid Of humanity as you
southerners think. You are quite vel
come to the triHing assistance have
oven you. and II It helps one south
srner out Of the slough into which this
political bouleversement has thrown
% many Of you 1t win make me very
happy"
We stood for q few moments hand
b hand. looking into each others eyes
There was hat In the colonels shall
never forget 1t seemed to me that ]
bad found a brother.
Professor" he replied in voice on
the verge Of trembling. SHOULD ac-
eept this favo' without giving you the
benefit Of any success that may ac-
erue from 1t l would be untrue to the
traditions Of my ancestors You are