El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-22
Six Years Old
By Harris Michaeis

~vEND has been Nscrubbed and
washed this morning from head to
- foot and especially around the
nose, for she" the lady he is to visit
always talks so much about dirty
noses, and now he does not want to
hear any more about this tieklish sub
ject, so he left them clean and scrub
him without saying a word, while ne
watched the baby so that it didn't get
too close to the hot stove.
With many warnings and greetings
far more than he cared Tor, ne rushed
down the stairs into the street. he
remembers, however, TO wave his hand
TO mama who is standing at the Win
dow holding the baby.
Svend IS 10 go from Vaiby to Copen-
hagen alone the first time in his life.
| he feels big at the thought Of this,
pushes his cap back on his head just
ike the butchers boy, who is walk
ing in front of him, digs hi3 hands
into his pockets, whistles and jumps
from one flags.one TO the other.
He carefully scans each passing
wagon and each shop window. he
reads the signs, that is. he speaks out
the letters, which he has learned the
Lord knows where.
There comes a street car now; it is
empty today. Svend looks after the
would like to be IN his place
viii you please tell me how to set
to NoerresoegadeT'
Sven6 asks only once, he takes of
his cap and keeps the answer in his
right ear. He does not want to go
the shortest way.
svend measures the city hall with
critical eyes. Mother has said It IS
beautiful He is most interested in the
tOWer-he would like to stand on one
la ku~ a m.
the street And then the pigeonsi How
easy IL would be TO catch one OF them,
if he only might. Svend remembers
how roast pigeon tastes from the time
when father and mother were still liv-
ing together.
Svend walks on. There Is coal
cart What a lot OF coal dropped on
the street. He is just about to pick
up some o. it when he remembers his
Sunday c.othes and gives up the idea.
But what a pity, for there is surely
more than enough for q whole day.
At Amagertory he walks about and
looks at the flowers and vegetables and
carefully keeps one eye on the ground
in the hope OF discovering a 10 cent
piece.
Across Kongens Nytory. Langellnie.
Oesterbro, he finally reaches Noerres-
oegade red checked and hungry.
He rings the bell, his nose is Clean
he does not say a word, but only
their foolish questions ne answers only
yes" or mo" Then he eats and aft.
erwards he plays with real tin sword
and a pistol.
Now I am sure It is time TO 90
home" he says at last when he is
tired OF playing. It IS the first COM
plete sentence he has spoken.
The lady gives him 10 cents for car
fare home. Now he can ride! The
man, who must surely be rich, gives
him three shining 10 cent pieces be-
sides.
Svend produces from his trousers
pocket his old pOcketbook, which he
found in the gutter at Nalby, Into this
he puts the usual 10 cent piece He
spits on the other three for luck and
which he got from a girl IN Slender
marker. and puts this into his left
pocket.
Again he walks to the city. He
thinks long before he buys anything.
In the toy shops he makes them show
him everything they have at 10 cents
or less. He chooses a toad which
jumps when 1t is wound.
He stops long outside q grocery shop
and thinks. Then he walks inside
Please give me 10 cents worth OF
Swiss cheese, but with tin foil around
He puts the package into his pocket
and saunters toward Gammelstrand I
There Is Christiansborg palace. What 4
If he were king. If it were not for 1
mother he would 90 to California TO 1
dig gold and buy a kingdom, but who 4
would then look after baby and pick 4
I'd coal and carry II homer
Svend goes from one fishwife to the /
other and looks at the fishes. They
look fine At last he says; Give me a
oIaice for 10 cents"
Plafce is mothers favorite dish.
NO. you can have two herrings."
Does the woman want 10 make fun
II him2 Now it must be a place, a
lice one to be fried and eaten with
brown butter
He goes on from one woman to the
Dther. Places are dear, say the kind
st Of them. while the most just laugh.
Then Svend takes from his pocket
he big pOcketbook and produces his
asst 10 cent piece the one he was to
Use for car fare.
"A place for 20 cents. darn it." he
ries.