The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-10-08

MS NIGHTLY QUESTION ;
BY JoE BERNHARD.



We'll, dear. how did you get along
today" asked Atkins. complacently,
teelinssthat this nightly question full.
n4leo his promise to his wife to look
after Dorothy very carefully during her
mothers absence from home.
oh, fine. daddy: This was Katis's
day out. so I 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 she2says, so l decided
to turn out the closets. 1 begun, with
yours. daddy"
Very kind, I'm sure" Atkins did
not believe in curbing a child's desire
for h%elpfulness, but in spite of himself
his one was more anxious than CRATE.
full.
II took all your clothes down and
brushed them hard and sorted your
shoes"
Sorted my shoes2"
Yes, you've got so awfully many.
! thought some should be given away
Mother says we shouldn't let things
accumulate"
Really? Did you give any away"
NO. l was going to call in the jant.
tor and ask II 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. I'VE can look them
over.
Yes, they're all out on your bed.
room floor. where you can see them
easy. ! didn't have time to put them
away because the lady agent came,
but you can sleep in the guest room
tonight and tomorrow Katie can scrub
the closet floor and put all your. things
away
You are quite4a manager. Dot"
Il was going to do mothers cup
board. too. but l had to give up my
time to 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 l 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 l just knew that any one
who wasn't d%readfully poor wouldn't
ever e such ugly gloves. They
made me feel sorrier for her than any
thing selse.
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 l 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 IN the couch and rest. l COW
cred her with the silk quilt grandma
sent US and she thought 1t was awfully
pretty. Then I thought Of something
splendid, daddy. l asked her to let
me take her bag of goods so l could go
SuS ~ 5S4A SOlA40 IAlA6o 1OI llCI.
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 l told her I could talk about
the merits of her wares just as we'll 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. I told her so and
she said she thought maybe 1 could.
What do you think. daddy? Invent
ut and in n hour and a half l sold
3.75 worth Of her goods. 1t was lots
fun. Nearly everybody I called on
,emed to like to buy. She was per-
'ctly delighted when l came home
nd brought the money to her. She
lied a little when she left and kissed
10 5good-by and I told her to come
round some other time when she was
red and I'd sell some more things
Or her. Daddy, don't you think when
graduate from grammar school I
could1be a lady agent instead Of going
to highIschool? I'd just love to help
you by earning money that way. The
lady agent said she guessed I had a
special gift for the business. Can't l
do it, daddy?"
Atkins laughed a little huskily as
he drew his daughter closer.
We'll have to hold the matter in
abeyance." he said. gravely.
II don't know what that means, dad.
dy. But that reminds me. l want you
to explain about the initiative, refer.
endum.and recall. I've got to tell the
class tomorrowtmornfng."
"Phew!" whistled Atkins. lis that
all / have to do?" He stroked Doro.
thy's dark curls. Il think I'd better