Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-11
Dorothy S Initiia-
tive
(IVY ELL. dear. how did you get
w along to-day?" asked At

M along to-day" asked At
kins, complacently, feeling
that this nightly question fulfilled his
promise to his wife to look after Doro-
thy very carefully during her mothers
absence from home
oh, fine. daddy This was Katie's
day out, so l came home from school
early to keep house"
Did you find that the fiat needed
much keeping, Dot?"
We'll, you know, mother always
takes the maids day out to look into
the corners. as she says, so I decided to
turn out the closets. 1 began with
yours, daddy"
Very kind, I'm sure" Atkins did not
believe in curbing a ehild's desire for
helpfulness, but in spite of himself his
tone was more anxious than grateful.
II took all your clothes down and
brushed them hard and sorted your
shoes"
Sorted my shoes"
Yes. you've got so awfuIly many,
thought some should be given away.
Mother says we shouldn't let things ac-
cumulate."
Really? Did you give any awayr'
NO, l was going to call IN the tani-
tor and ask if he knew anybody that
needed golf shoes. but l was inter
rupted"
Atkins looked relieved Don't give
anything away. dear, without consulting
me- he said. I'VE can look them
over
Yes, they're all out on your bedroom
floor, where you can see them easy
didn't have time to put them away be-
cause the lady agent came. but you can
sleep in the guest room tonight and to-
morrow Katie can scrub the closet floor
and put all your things away"
You are quite a manager. Dot"
Il was going to do mothers cupboard.
too, but l had to give up my time 10
the lady agent She came when / was
In the midst OF things and at first felt
cross. but when l saw how tired she
was felt sorry for her. Oh, daddy, she
was awfully trembly and she had thin,
yellowish white hair and she wore hor-
rid black cotton gloves She said she
was a lady agent, but Just knew that
any one who wasn't dreadfuuy poor
wouldn't ever wear such ugly gloves
They made me feel sorrier for her than
anything else.
'She said she had walked all day till
she was ready TO drop and nobody had
bought any OF the lovely perfume, tot
let soap or face powder from her. l
hadn't a single bit OF my allowance left
ana I didn't have enough money 10 buy
a cake Of soap even. but made her q
cup Of tea and told her TO lie down on
the couch and rest. ! covered her with
the silk quilt grandma sent us and she
thought IL was awfully pretty. Then l
thought OF something splendid. daddy
/ asked her to let me take her bag OF
goods so I could go out and sell some
things for her"
Great Scott. She didn't do it. did
sheg'
/ "Why. yes. after coaxed her a little.
At first she was surprised at the idea.
but / told her I could talk about the
merits of her wares Just as well as she
could. Merits of the wares and 'ster-
ling quality'-those were the things she
said over and over again, and | knew !
could say something newer and OTTER
ent. told her so. and she said she
thought maybe / could
What do YOU think, daddy? ! went
out and I'm one hour and half l sold
S3.75 worth Of her goods. IL was lots
of fun. Nearly everybody 1 called on
seemed to like TO buy. She was perfect
ly delighted when ] came home and
brought the money 10 her She cried a
little when she left and kissed me good
bye. and ] told her 20 come around
some other time when she was tired
and ia sell some more things for her.
Daddy, don't you think when I gradu-
ate from grammar school / could be q
lady agent instead of going to high
SCHOOL, ia Just love 10 help you by
earning money that way. The lady
agent said she guessed I mad a special
gift for the business. Can't do II.
daddy
Atkins laughed a little huskily as he
drew his daughter closer.
"We'H have TO hold the matter in
allegiance" he said graveiy.
Il don't know what that means,
daddy. But that reminds me. I want
you TO explain about the initiative. ref
erendum and recall. I've got 70 tell the
class tomorrow morning"
"Phew!" whistled Atkins. ''Ts that
an I have TO do?" He stroked Doro-
thy's dark curls. II think I'd better re-
call your mother. We need a larger ref
erendum. for some Of us certainly have
a startling quantity Of initiative"