The Tupelo journal., 1914-09-18

HIS NIGHTLY QUESTION
BY JOE BERNHARD.



Well. dear. how did you get along
today?" asked Atkins, complacently,
feeling that this nightly question full
filled his promise to his wife to look
after Dorothy 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 the fiat needed much
keeping. Dot?"
well, you know, mother always
takes the maids day out to look into
the corners, as she says, 80 | decided
to turn out the closets. | begun with
yours, daddy"
Very kind, I'm sure" Atkins did
not believe in curling a child's desire
for ~helpfulness, but in spite of himself
his one was more anxious than CRATE
full.
Il took all your clothes down and
brushed them hard and sorted your
shoes"
Sorted my shoes?"
Eyes, you've got SO awfully many.
Mother says we shouldn't let things
accumulate"
Really? Did you give any away"
NO. | was going 10 call in the Jani-
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 consult
ing me-" he said. 1--WE can look them
over"
Eyes. they're all u on your bed
room floor. where you tan see them
easy. / didn't have time to put them
away because the lady agent came,
but you a sleep in the guest DOM
tonight and tomorrow Katie can scrub
the closet floor and put all your things
away"
You are quite a manager, Dot"
Il was going to do mothers cup
board. too, but I had to give up my
time to the lady agent. She came
when l was in the midst Of things and
at first | felt cross, but when / 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 horrid black cotton
gloves. She said she was a lady
agent, but / just knew that IN one
who wasn't dreadfully poor wouldn't
ever wear such ugly gloves. They
made me feel sorrier for her thar any,
thing else.
She said she had walked all day
till she was ready to drop and nobody
had bought any of the lovely perfume,
toilet soap or face powder from her.
| hadn't a single bit of my allowance
left and didn't have enough money
to buy a cake of soap even, but l made
her a cup OF tea and told her to lie
down on the couch and rest. l COW
cred her with the silk quilt grandma
sent us and she thought it was awfully
pretty. Then l thought of something
splendid, daddy. | asked her to let
me take her bag of goods so could go
out and sell some things for her"
Great Scott. She didn't do it, did
she?"
why, yes, after l coaxed her~a lit
tie. 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
sterling quality'-those were the
things she said over and over again
and l knew l could say something
newer and different. l told her so and
she said she thought maybe l could.
What do you think, daddy? went
out and in one hour and a half | sold
1915 Horth of her goods. 1t was lots
of fun. Nearly everybody | called on
seemed to like to buy. She was per-
fectly delighted when l came home
and brought the money to her. She
cried a little when she left and kissed
me good-by and | told her to come
around some other time when she was
tired and I'd sell some more things
for her. Daddy, don't YOU think when
| graduate from grammar school |
could be a lady agent instead of going
to high school? I'd just love to help
you by earning money that way. The
lady agent said she guessed | had a
special gift for the business. Can't l
do 1t, daddy?"
Atkins laughed a little huskily as
he drew his daughter closer.
We'll nave to hold the matter in
abeyance," he said, gravely.
Il don't know what that means, dad
dy. But that reminds me. | want you
to explain about the initiative, refer
endum and recall. I've got to tell the
class tomorrow morning"
"Phewi' whistled Atkins. rs that
all I have to do?" He stroked Doro-
| thu,c dark curls 81 think I'D better