The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-07-16
AnAthletic
Girl
And What She
Achieved
By HELEN JENNINGS

4o~o~o~o~o~o~~o~o~o~o~o~oS
Johnny Perkins and were born in
adjacent houses, only Johnny was
born year before me. Johnny had
no boys to play with. and there were
no girls living near me. The conse
quence was that we began to play to-
gether as soon as we were old enough
to be playmates and kept 1t up till we
were past ten years old. Johnny's
mother was content to have him in my
company. She said that when he
played with boys they abused him,
tore bis clothes, robbed him of his
playthings-in short. treated him with
all uncharitableness. They induced him
to climb trees. get into the mud and
say 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
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 l was sixteen, recommended lit
tie or no school and athletics. The
consequence of this was that l grew
robust and from a little angel" as !
was called. had become a sportswoman.
l played tennis, golf and other out of
door games and had become quite
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 from me his
mother hired 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
order him out. If 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
swim. he couldn't pull an oar. he had
never ridden ON a sled or glided on
pair of skates.
| overheard a lady who had known
him since he was baby say to my
mother: johnny played too much
with your daughter. Kate, when he
was a 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 l had been
changed from a fragile girl to a sports
woman ! felt awfully sorry for the
boy. Johnny had been handicapped
What | didn't like especially was the
influence | had had on him In the be-
ginning. ! blamed myself for his con-
dition, foo, | argued. if he hadn't play
ed with me when he was a little chap
his mother couldn't afterward have
tied him down to a nurse.
When | was nineteen | went to visit
at the Perkinses When l 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" | said to myself. IN get
some Of that out Of him If have to
kill him."
had been invited to spend a week at
the Perkins country home, and / de
termined to make the most of that
week. Pocketing my repugnance to
Johnny's effemlnacy. ran up to him
with outstretched hands. taking both
his in mine. and said:
''Oh. John; I'm jolly glad to see you
again. old fellow I've been eager for
it ever since | received your mothers
invitation Wen have a hot time
while I'm here Wen just make things
hum "
He looked at me in n half flighten
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 a Bit taken
back by my exuberance and especially
my slang. which. by the bye. adopted
for the occasion
Have we time for ride before din
nerY' asked I'VE can talk over old
times together in canter
"Oh. yes I'll tell James to bring
round the auto or would you pwefer to
go in the box wagon? lanes usually
dwives me in the wagon"
Neither I'll 90 on horseback"
Horseback | don't know how {,
wide horse"
= you'll have to learn If you ride with
me. Come; order horse for yourself
and one for me-
A panied expression passed over his
face From force of habit he looked at
bis mother. who said that John had not
learned to ride. She had intended to
have him take riding lessons, but had
never been in a position to do 80.
must excuse him
I'll be his riding master" | said
-'Come. Johnny; let's have a canter"
! had purposely brought matters to
a crisis. If John was a natural milk
sop he would obey bis mother, who at
tempted to command him by a frown.
If he was a man he would stand by me-
whether he knew how to ride or not.
There was a brief struggle within him.
and | won. He went out to the stable
to select the horses and give his in
structlons. ran upstairs, donned my
riding clothes, and when / came down
John appeared In an immaculate riding
suit-he had never worn 1t beforehand.
going out to the porte-cochere, We
mounted and rode away.
John had provided himself with a
horse that could not be driven out of
a walk, and even then the poor fellow
had a hard time to keep his balance
But had made a beginning and made
up my mind that before l had got
through with him he should be jump
ing logs and bitches. | was tempted
to prick the animal he rode with pin
and get my pupil dumped on the turf,
but | didn't wish to try too much at
once. so refrained. l gave him
short lesson of an hour. then permitted
him to return to the house, take a
bath and put on his evening clothes
before dinner. He was quite exhaust
ed. but seemed to be very proud of
having ridden horse.