Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-22
Winner of s25 Prize
CURING A PESSIMIST
By S. B. Langdon of St. Louis

By S. B. Langdon of St. Louis
THINGS were going to the bowwows for fair In
the town I'd just left everyone had crouch I
got only one order when should have had four
or five, and that supposed to be prize territory
too and of the fellows at the home Office seemed
to envy my having it. To cap the climax the weather
was misty gray and chill. Things have to be going
pretty smoothly to make days like those bearable
"I'r resign as get back, thought as sat
in the train am about sick of this business anyway
losing sleep, lodging about after trains at all hours
any old kind of meals, etc. I'll get white mans work.
Travelling is all very well until you try making iv
ing at it; then it is-wel anything but heavenly"
1t at this p int that glanced across to the
seat opposite into the most wonderful pair of eyes had
ever een-deep brown, long lashed, with smile
planted down deep in them somewhere and one to
match it on the rosy mouth. Somehow I felt wonder
fully cheered Involuntary smiled back and winked,
and got the droest wink in return you saw. Yes
don't tell me you thought it was girl boy, just
lad not than six, with face that radiated
sunshine and happiness, and-the pity of tia Grip
Pied twisted little form,-a cherubs face on testers
body
After awhile got seat beside him and became
acquainted with his father Robbie had been cripple
since year after his birth They had spent hundreds
for treatment at home in vai and now as last hope
were taking him to institution in St. Louis sug
gested staying with Robbie while the father went out
to have smoke I hadn't talked more than five min
to that youngster until heartily ashamed of
my late peSS1rn1St1c thoughts. WITH TWO gOOd
legs and robust health giving up like spineless coward
while this poor mite, with every under the
for being forlorn and utterly hopeless the most
thoroughly optimistic soul 1 had ever met!
@Of course" he said II just hated to leave Mama and
Blossom (shes the baby, you know) but how can
spect to get well less go to St. Louis? guess it's
going to hurt too-getting well, 1mean Mama said it
might; but if walk won't mind that-not very
much"
He stopped to look of the window, and remarked
about the gloom outside.
3Why, like day like this, he replied, because
then the sun looks so much brighter when it Shines
Daddy says so, and it does"
$50 Daddy is an optimst too?" said
He looked at me in puzzled way for moment;
then, ooh, no, Sir, he isn't: he's Presbyterian"
had to laugh at this, and Bobby joined me; al
though know he just did so to keep company,
he did not in the least suspect the of my mrth
He told all about his Christrnas-what wonderful
things Old Santa had brought him, and the way Santa
had kissed Blossom and himself goodby and left SCOT
marks their faces how they all marched down to
the big tree
4Of course didn't 'xactly march, he said; 3but
Daddy marched, and was in his arrs-and that's al
most the same as marching" He wanted to know all
about my travels. "And do you go trains every
day." His voice filled with at the wonder of it.
aThat must be just grand" he said, when told him
yes All interest, he wanted to look at my grips and
samples, wanted details of my wonderful life Then,
3When get big like you and Daddy, want to be
salesman too; that is he quickly corrected 3f get
all we'll"
I'm not much given to sentiment; but when l lis
tened that childish voice, full of hope and then