The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-27
FRIENDS OF THE BOOKSHELF
From the Kansas City Times.

From the Kansas City Times.
 n LAIN, kindly, generous old Dr.
 Primrosel It is not hard to wish A oneself a poor relation or a trav- eler of the long roads that lead to mo- where except the grave if one might be sure of passing place like his at Wake field now and then. To taste his goose berry wine; to talk with the good old vicar and his wife whom he chose as she did her wedding gown, not for fine glossy surface, but for such qualities as would wear we'll to enjoy the com pany of the two comedy daughters, sure- ly this were recompense enough from many less happy day.
 But that was in the time of the vicar 8 prosperity, when he still had his for tune and could make over the profits of his living his 935 a year, to the orphans and widows of the clergy of his diocese. Perhaps the generous good man would exchange ones road-worn boots for the better pair. or one's tattered coat for a whole one. No. to be poor and pass through Wakefield would not have been the worse thing in the world
 But there was to come a time when the same poor relation or far traveller could not help wishing he were rich if for no other purpose than that he might turn helper to the same Dr. Primrose. For tune failed, and the fine home had to be given up for much poorer one. The vicar had to piece out his small earnings by the income of small plot of ground which he and his son Moses worked.
 Nor would visit with the vicar and his family In their poorer days have been devoid of joy. The same hospitality and generous spirit remained to make the narrow and poorly furnished rooms seem wider and richer than they could have any pretense of being. And the days had their round of joyous work and simple pleasure. The vicar has told us thus how he managed his little republic:
 AS we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labors after 1t was gone down. but returned home to the expecting family where smiling looks. neat hearth and pleasant fire were prepared for our reception. Nor were we without guests: sometimes Farmer Flamborough, our ldlhdtlN6 HelSlDOi, dlu plltIl ln6 DliuO piper would pay us a visit and taste our gooseberry wine, for the making of which we had lost neither the receipt nor the reputation.
 These harmless people had several ways of being good company; while one played, the other would sing some soothing bal lad, Johnny Armstrong's Last Good ;ol, rba of ,.bo The night was concluded in the manner we began the morning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons for the day: and he that read loudest distinctest and best was to have a halfpenny on Sunday to put into the poor's box.
 When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary edicts could not restrain. How well so- ever l fancied my lectures against pride had conquered the vanity of my daugh- ters, yet I still found them secretly at- tached to all their former f1nery; they still loved faces. ribands, bugles and catgut; my wife herself retained a passion for her crimson paduasoy, because I formerly happened to say 1t became her."
 But If the victor couldn't get the fem mine contingent of his family to heed all his edicts. he could enforce some of his views by eliminating the means of of fense Thus it was that some washes his daughters were busily cooking up for their faces turned over while he was poklng the fire.
 Without the help of these compositions which the wise old vicar knew spoiled the complexion instead of mending it, tht two young women succeeded in making favorable impressions in the neighbor- hood, and 1t was to improve their chances [ that they were to have a better horse on which to ride to church. Something