The Glenwood post., 1912-05-25
When Spring
Comes

We'll. it's beginnin' to look . little
like spring, amt tt?' ventured the
groceryman as he tramped a muddy
path across the kitchen hoor and be-
gan dumping the supplies on the table.
q amt seen no robin yet, like some
of these guys that's writin' to the pa,
pers, but kin sort o feel 1t in my
bones. Spring fever, guess. huhr
The pretty cook smiled disdainfully
as she brought out the mop and start.
ed to clean up her floor.
That's a good name to can It, sup
pose," she said. II know when my
brothers back on the farm got 10 lazy
they couldn't do anything but 60 fish
ing they used to talk about spring fe-
yer. But my poor old father had to do
all the chores-he was too busy to
have spring fever"
That's the way-jump on me-" said
the groceryman mournfully. "Just
when I thought prob1y you'd get
little bit sentimental about the comm
of spring and matin' Of birds and-and
all that. Don't you never feel that
way in the spring, Evelina! You
know-like you ought to have q strong
arm to lean on?"
ANY time I want strong arm to
lean on ! know where to find one"
retorted the pretty cook. IF you
don't want to feel strong arm your
self you'll go along out of this kitchen
and let me get my work DONE"
The groceryman sighed and moved
slowly as far as the door with his box
under his arm, but he kept his gaze on
the pretty cook.
81 wisht 1 could think up some way
of maxim you feel the way 1 do," he
said gloomily, SOS you wouldn't hand
me a bump like that every time try
to talk about somethin' besides groce-
ries. 1 should think you'd want to
look ahead a little bit and sort O.
think where you'll be five years from
now. Let's tigger little, Evelina,
won't you?" he added, anxiously.
The pretty cook jerked the kettle
off the stove and poised 1t menacing-
ly, but the stream splashed into the
dishpan a moment later, and the
groceryman breathed more freely.
eff that's the way spring fever
makes you talk she said, you'd bet
ter go and see doctor and get 1t out
of your system. I'm too busy to do
any figuring this morning, and that
wagon load of groceries you've got
out there in the street will get wilted
if you don't hurry along with 'em.
What are you waiting for. anyhow?
We pay our grocery bill by the week,
you know"
'I know" said the groceryman, edg-
ing slowly toward the door. II amt
worryin' none about your bill. If you
folks was to fall little behind and
the boss should mention It to me, Eve
lima, I'd just pay 1t myself on account
of you, rather than say anything to
your missus. Honest, I'd settle It up
and work it all out If 1t took me six
months. That's tho kind Of friend
am"
What do ! care7" said tho maid.
scornfully. Il shouldn't be surprised
if it took you six months to earn what
our grocery bill is every week-the
prices that man you're working for is
charging nowadays"
"Aw, now. I didn't expect you to get
into the knockers club about the
prices protested tho groceryman.
I've told you half dozen times that
we don't get tho money! It's them
farmers that's gettin' 1t all. Haven't
you been readin' about 'em ridin'
around in automobiles and havin' tsle-
phones from the house to the barn to
give the hired man orders. and all
that? Us folks are payin' for that
swell business, and it's tho poor
grocer who gets the blame. That's
just what was thinkin' when It felt
so balmy and springlike todsy-H
only had a nice little place In the
country, with few pigs an calves"
You'd feel right at home, wouldn't
you?" snapped tho pretty cook.
That's where you'd shine. The pigs
wouldn't mind how much you loafed-
they're used to It, from nj rye seen
of pigs. And the calves wouldn't care
how much noise you made-you could
stand around and talk to them all day
and not bother en- q bit. But folks
happen to have work to do, and II you
get in, their way you're likely to get
into trouble"
The groceryman sighed again and
slowly edged his way out to the back
porch. But still he hesitated.
Il can't understand it," he mused
aloud "Now. to look at you. Evelina,
anybody would think you was a real
sentimental girl that would sympa-
thize with feller when he's feelin'-"
With deft move the pretty cook
stepped behind the door and closed 1t
on the sentimental groceryman.-Chi.
cago Daily News.