The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-02

dreds. Is that your way of announcing that you aren't going 10 help me this time in something I want done?' q didn't know you were going to ask me to help somebody" he shirl1ed but to help-help everybody to help them selves. That's the only self respecting way to offer assistance
 Nancy dmpled and smiled. If it's any more old ladies'" he re- marked presently, ito go to myBachelor Quarters and sew up my clothes and darn my socks, l refuse point blank" | You needn't throw that up to me any morev said Nancy. I'm sorry l sent Mrs. Jones to you. I thought she was all that she claimed to be-"
 she was good eater, but poor darner." The Man declared. 'Is this another case like that?a
 I'm afraid 1t is,' said Nancy, pres ently; "only it's little different. You see this old Lady, Mrs. Brown, could make a fine living if she could only find somebody to buy the things she knits."
  he knew she expected him to ask what sort of things Mrs. Brown knitted,
 Slippers" she said, "bed room slip pers."
 "So soon after Christmas?' he said, mopping his brow. for he had suddenly become overheated and over wrought. "Er-e -er-isn't she clever?'
 Well, will you help?" Nancy asked.
 With pleasure he replied. But on one condition"
 And that is?" she asked
 That she'll send them all to some hospital that needs them, and you wont expect me to wear any of them, at least not until next Christmas he replied
 That's the part that distresses me- ,'' said Nancy. You are willing to do a good deed at long range, and"
 When certain people ask me-" he added, unblushingly. 1 If l thought you were giving to Mrs. Brown because l asked you" she commenced.
 The Man raised a detaining hand.
 "Oh, we'll" Nancy said. | Do you remember the story in simon the Jester of the Elephant in the Fable"
 Nancy didn't.
 Ut seems," he went on to notify her, that ap Elephant was out walking one day and met hen, when he stepped on her and killed her. She was the l official head of brood of small chicks, and when they beheld their mother she was, as they say in railroad accidents. smashed to jelly Very much dis | tressed at what he had done, the Ele- phant turned with benevolent eyes and said; Alas I have killed your mother, poor children, but never fear. l will be a Mother to you and therefore he | sat down and ruminated upon what was best to be done. Whatever de- cision he reached Is immaterial, for when he arose he discovered that he had sat down on the last one of the chicks and they had gone en masse- as a brood-to join their sainted motheri'
 He paused.
 Nancy said never a word.
 The story Is eloquent" said he, pres l ently. Behold me, the well meaning Elephant I have that happy elephan- tine faculty of doing good and seeing everything go to smash every time. But you will take the slippers that Mrs Brown knits?" said Nancy per suasively, and you won't taught if she doesn't get whole hundred dollars worth done, will you?' Not on your llfe,' he said, cheerful ly. T will send the check tomorrow, and in the mean time won't you ask her not to begin on the slippers until year after next? I got enough bed room slippers Christmas to last me through Eternity"
 MT. Caruthers, you are an angel" said Nancy softly.
 Even so." he defended, knowing how utterly impersonal her enthusi- asm was, Angels are not addicted to Crochet Slippers