Ellsworth American., 1912-07-24
AnAthletic;
Girl
And What She
Achieved
BY HELEN JENNINGS

Johnny Perkins and I were born in
adjacent houses, only Johnny was
horn a year before me. Johnny had
no boys to play with. and there were
M girls living near me. The conse-
nuence was that we began to play to-
gether as soon as we were old enough
N be playmstes and kept II up TIL we
were past ten years old. Johnny's
mother was content to have him In my
company. She said that whep he
nlaved with boys they abuse him,
tore his clothes. robbed him of his
nlaythings--in short. treated him wNh
all uncharitableness. They induced him
10 climb trees. get into the mud and
cav bad words. |. being a girl, and
rather a delicately organized girl at
that. didn't tyrannize over him or
otherwise injure him. / certainly didn't
induce him to climb trees.
When Johnny was eleven years old
his father got rich, and the family
went to live in big house. and 1
didn't see anything of him after that
until he was twenty years old.
Meanwhile had been growing more
and more delicate. and the doctor.
when | was sixteen. recommended lit
tie or no school and athletics. The
consequence of this was that / grew
robust and from a little angel" as
was called. had become sportswoman.
| played tennis. golf and other out Of
door games and had become quite a
horsewoman. Johnny. on the contrary.
had been going downhill in this re-
spect. Just as had been going uphill.
When his father made money and
Johnny was taken away frem me his
mother hired n nurse for him. 1t
seemed the only way for her to keep
him from tearing and soiling the
beautiful clothes he was obliged to
wear. His nurse watched him like
cat. If he got into swing she would
order him out. III he rolled in the grass
she would pick him up, set him on his
feet and ask him what he meant by
getting the green on his white knicker-
bockers The result of all this was
that when Johnny reached the age
Of twenty he didn't know how to
swim. he couldn't pull an oar. he had
never ridden on sled or glided on q
pair of skates.
overheard lady who had known
him since he was a baby say to my
mother: Johnny played too much
with your daughter, Kate. when he
was little fellow, and when he was
parted from her he fell into the hands
OF a nurse. That's what's the matter
with Johnny. poor boy; he couldn't
help it, He's been educated so and will
Remain SO"
had been very fond of my little
playmate. and now that | had been
changed from "A fragile girl to sports
woman felt awfully sorry for the
boy. Johnny had been handicapped.
What didn't like especially was the
ginning. | blamed myself for his con-
dition, for. | argued. IL he hadn't play
ed with me when he was a little chap
his mother couldn't afterward have
tied him down to Il nurse.
When ! was nineteen | went 10 visit
at the Perkinses. When saw Johnny
wanted to cry. a more helpless man
never saw. He had never mingled
with any except swells. and none but
the most effeminate swells would have
him around. | couldn't believe that he
was the dear, honest. sympathetic, self
sacrificing boy l had been so fond of
and had remembered as my dear little
playmate.
We'll" l said to myself. "I'll get
some Of that out of him IL have to
kill him."
had been invited to spend week at
The Perkins country home. and l de-
termined to make the most of that
week. Pocketing my repugnance to
Johnny's effeminacy. ran up to him
with outstretched hands. taking both
MS in mine, and said:
"Oh. John; I'm jolly glad to see you
again. old fellow. I've been eager for
1t ever since | received your mothers
invitation. Well have a hot time
while I'm here. Wen just make things
hum"
He looked at me In half frighten-
ed way and said he was "vewy much
pleased to meet me again" He re
membewed our childhood days vewy
Well" He seemed to be bit taken
back by my exuberance and especially
my slang. which, by the bye. adopted
Tor the occasion.
Have We time for ride before din
nerf' I asked. I'VE can talk over old
uines together in canter."
oh, yes, I'll tell James to bring
round the auto, or would you pwefer to
90 In the box wagon? James usually
uWives me In the wagon"
Neither. I'll go on horseback"
Horseback! l don't know how to
Wide horse"
You'll have to learn If you ride with
me. Come; order horse for yourself
and one for me-