The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-04-06

OLD MAN M'CREE LISTENED WITH HIS
HAND TO HIS EAR.
the curb on the corner. His face was
that of craven image. Deep in his
soul something stirred so small, so
fine, so keen and leavening that his
hard fibers did not recognize it. 1t was
something more tender than the April
day, more subtle than the call of the
senses, purer and deeper rooted than
the love Of woman-for had he not
turned away from green roses and
eyes that had kept him chained for q
year? And Danny did not know what
it was. The preacher, who was in a
hurry to go to his dinner, had told
him, but Danny had had no libretto
with which to follow the drowsy in
donation. But the preacher spoke the
truth.
Suddenly Danny slapped his leg and
gave forth hoarse yell of delight.
"Hippopotamus!" he shouted to an
elevated road pillar. "Well, how is
that for a bum guess? Why, blast my
skylight! I know what he was driv-
ing at now.
'Hippopotamus! Wouldn't that send
you to the Bronx? It's been a year
since he heard it, and he didn't miss
it so very far We quit at 469 B. c.,
and this comes next. Well, wooden
man wouldn't have guessed what he
was trying to get out of him."
Danny caught a crosstown car and
went up to the rear fat that his labor
supported.
Old man McCree was still sitting by
the window. His extinct pipe lay on
the SILL
"Will that be you, lad?'' he asked.
Danny Jared into the rage of a
strong man who is surprised at the
outset of committing a good deed.
"Who pays the rent and buys the
food that is eaten in this house?' he
snapped viciously. "Have I no right
to come imp
"Ye're a faithful lad,'' said old man
McCree. with sigh. "Is it evenin'
yet?"
Danny reached up on a shelf and
took down thick book labeled in gilt
letters ''The History of Greece" Dust
was on it half an inch thick. He
laid it on the table and found place
in it marked by strip of paper, and
then he gave short roar at the top
Of his voice and said:
"Was it the hippopotamus you want
ed to be read to about, then?'
did I hear you open the book:''
said old man McCree MANY and
weary be the months since my lad has
read it to me. I dinno, but I took
great likings to them Greeks. We left
off at place. IT'S fine day outside,
lad. Be out and take rist from your
work: I have got used to me chair by
the windy and me pipe"
-Peloponnesus was the place
where we left off and not hippopota-
mus" said Danny. "The' war began
there. 1t kept something doing for
thirty years. The headlines saws that
guy named Philip of Macedon, in 33S
B. c., got to be boss of Greece by get
ting the decision at the battle of Cher
Cheronaea. I'll read it,
With his hand to his ear, rapt in
the Peloponnesian war, old man Nc
Cree sat for an hour, listening.
Then he got up and felt his way to
the door of the kitchen. Mrs. McCree
was slicing cold meat. She looked up.
Tears were running from old man Nc
Cree's eyes.
do We hear our lad readin' to me?"
he said. There is none finer in the
land. My two eyes have come back
to me again. .'
After supper he said to Danny: "'Tis
a happy day, this Easter. And now
ye will be off to see Katy in the even
IN. Well enough
WHO pays the rent and buys the
food that: is eaten in this house?" said
Danny angrily., ".Have no right to
stay in it? After supper there is yet
to come the reading of the battle Of
Corinth. 146 B. c., when the kingdom.
as they say. became an in-integral por-
ton Of the Roman empire. Am I moth.