The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-05-27
lEc)ustlel wakes Up SLEEPY Hollow

99u ny doesn't somebody start some
thing around herer' complained
Mr.. Justwed one evening after
dinner at Mrs. Suburbanite's
country clearinghouse where
the Justweds were summer1ng. TITS the
slowest, pokiest crowd ever saw. It
makes me think Of Sleepy Hollow All
we seem to do Is to gorge ourselves With
dinner. and then come out here on the
veranda, fall down into our chairs and
sit-like snake basking In the sun while
he's digesting a nice, fat frog. There's
lots Of things We might do, you know
IAN right, Justwed, all right" inter
rupted Mr.. Tompkins, loosely. 'Go ahead
and start the ball rolling-we're all WILL
ing to give it a push. dare say!'
Now, that's just what l mean, Temp
kins," retorted Mr.. ], seriously. THAT'S
just the trouble-you all want somebody
else to start It."
"Well-isn't that a case Of the pot
calling the kettle blackr' Tompkins came
back. ''Seems to me you've convicted
yourself sort Of out of your own mouth. ,
You're just like all the rest of us-you're
waiting for some one else to start 1t
Homer-dear waited until the general
laugh had subsidized. Then he took a
long puff at his cigar and exhaled the
Il deny the allegation and scorn the
alligator,'' remarked Mr.. j., loosely.
But I'll tell you what I. will do. Just
to set good examp1e-in the hope that
it's moral will bear fruit later-IM get
up anything you like. say, for tomorrow
evening""
Hear! Hear!'' cried Tompkins. face
tiously.
''Fine! Fine for your echoed the
crowd.
''And IN help you." gushed Mrs. Temp
kins.
soil " acquiesced Mrs. simpkins
"What'u it be?' questioned the prac.
tical Mrs. Higgins. ''1ce-cream and cake
of course, We'll play bridge hrst-or q
Dutch superior watermelon-or whatT'
After lengthy general discussion-half
serious and half In fun-a watermelon
feast and sandwiches and beer was de-
cided upon, the idea being that those who
did not care for the former could enjoy
the latter.
Mr. Justwed was duly appointed major
domo Of the affair. And to make it more
interesting he graciously declined any
ones assistance further than to agree
that 1.-THE ladies' would have to make
the sandwiches.
Each person should be assessed, pro
rata, the small sum of Is cents, and Mr..
]. was to make the collections.
The following afternoon Homer.deax
left the bank an hour before banking
hours were over. He had a million and
one things to debut he wasn't in the
least worried by that fact. He'd 20
about them in a systematic manner
one thing at a time-and they'd be all
finished in a jinfy.
Accordingly, he set out for the mar.
ket, complacently.
Five watermelons7 Yes, the man had
five nice ones-at only IS cents apiece.
Would he deliver them? Certainly
where to? Tanglewood-outside the city
limits! Whew! He was sorry, but that
was different matter. His teams had
been busy all day with heavy Saturday
marketing and, in fact, there was only
one delivery wagon then in. The driver
was through for the day-but he might
be prevailed upon to make the trip for,
well, say, fifty cents! -:
So Homer-dear forked over the extra
fifty cents: The man promised to have
them at Mrs. Suburbanite's by 6 o'clock.
Then Mr.. started the rounds for the
small articles-cheese, potted ham and
chicken, white and rye bread. mustard,
etc.
1t took him all Of an hour to buy
them. And then he had so many parcels
that 1t became quite necessary to obtain
a huge empty -four sack in which to
carry them.
1t was hot in the city and especially
50 in the market-house, with the add
tional discomfort of Juggling the large
sack around with him at every step.
But Homer-dear simply wiped of his
forehead, swabbed a handkerchief around
the inside Of his collar and kept on.