The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-04-12
A LEAF OUT
OF LIFE

Gently enjoyed a visit from an old col
lege friend, who passed many hours
In the Office reading and writing let
tiers. The visitors wants were colr-
teously attended TO by bright young
clerk, whose obliging manners and ev-
ident affection for his employer at
tracted the guests notice. After a
few days the visitor asked his friend
about the young man.
I've been waiting for you 70 notice
Jack" was the answer 10 the inquiry.
Hes my Man Friday and there
never was a better one. want you
to know how / was lucky enough TO
find him.
1.-TWO years ago was over in West
Virginia, fishing. ! induced an old
man and his wife, who live near the
trout stream, to take me in for week.
At first they hesitated; but when /
happened TO say something about com.
ing all the way from Washington for
few days of quiet and rest, they gavo
me hearty welcome.
"'You see,' said the old man, our
sons in Washington, and IL makes him
seem kind O. nearer home 10 have
somebody from the same place here
with u.s.
as he in the government seryice?"
/ asked, with perfunctory interest.
"'Well, we don't rightly know Just
what he is working at. He don't write
quite as often as we'd like, but !
s'pose he's pretty busy
Here the old wife broke in. But
we know he's doing well, and moren
likely he's working for the govern
ment, because he knows the president
real we'll
HE does?' / asked, genuinely in
terested.
"'Yes. just look at that answered
the rude fireplace and taking down
picture postal card which showed
frank-faced youth in the act of shak-
ing hands with the smiling chief ex-
ecutive.
co. said, as recognized one OF
those fake photographs which anyone
can have taken on Pennsylvania ave-
nue..
"'Our Jack was always a great hand
TO get acquainted easy, but mother
and me was some surprised when We
got this picture Of Jack and the presi.
dent. / suppose the president likes
10 know some Of the rising young fel-
lows round in the government, don't
hep
Every likely I answered weakly
thinking that perhaps ] ought 10 en-
tighten the dear old iLnocents. But
l couldn't, and during all OF my stay
there the kindly old couple talked tc
ne about their boy. Their only trouble
seemed to be that be didn't write as
often as he ought. They hadn't heard
from him since he had sent the postal
card, two months before.
when left they begged me 10 lool
him up, but as they hadn't his address
il was a pretty hopeless task. After
had consulted the government regis
try and found he was not on the pay
roll gave it up.
"Weil, one night about six week!
later, as l was coming through Frank
lin square. ! saw young fellow lyinl
on park bench. thought at ars
that he was drunk, but soon saw tina
he was sick, and I spoke to him.
Hungry he murmured, in answe
10 my question. Well, afterward. whel
he had had something to eat and
little color had come back into hi
face, 1t began TO come to me that
had seen him before. There wa
something familiar in his face.
Little by little got his story. II,
had come 10 Washington hoping {,
get government berth, had failed il
the examination, and had lived, o
rather starved, on such odd jobs a
he could Get.
why didn't you write home 70
: help?" / asked.
"'Oh, the old people have hardl,
enough for themselves, and, besides
they're terribly proud 10 think In
: down here with the president II,
: laughed feebly.
Jack Stabler!" exclaimed.
"'That's NY name" he answered
How did you know?'
: II told him part of the stsry. ant
the next day he went 10 work in m,
| Office. ! don't know how l should &c
: along without him now"
That's just like YOU" said the Wis
itor heartily, grasping his old colleg,
! friends hand. NO wonder the DO.
: loves YOU"
J. The joke Of it is" said his friend
that Jack went TO the White Hous
with me a little while ago and mad
e that picture-postal card true by shab
y ing hands with the president
4 Youths Companion.