The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
Shorty Expands

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noon every post on Main street ha
Il team tied to it. The back yard
of the livery stables were crowd
ed with stamping, tail-switching hors
es, and long rows of farmers vehicles
backed against the sidewalks, thei
neckyoke propped tongues sticking u
into the air, bore evidence that tn
country folks had taken a day of
from the fields. This was the pia,
day of the year for the town. 1t wa
"Home Coming Day." and, if the fam
ing posters could be relied upon, wa
a monster celebration for old anC
young, rich and poor"
Perspiring youths, downy-facec
and MISUNDERSTANDING under the
burden of store coats-turned bashful
sometimes bold, eyes toward the be-
ribboned maidens, or brazenly, if awk-
wardly, publicly indicted themselves
into the art of managing, with lips
and fingers unused to the act, stub
born oneside burning cigar.
Still other young fellows, hand
some, manly, buggy-owning chaps,
with the confidence that comes only
from experience, in all the pride of
paraded their happy faced
sweethearts up and down tie streets,
took them into the side shows and
"set 'em up" to ice cr,am soda in
Kenney's drug store.
Shorty had lived Is years Of dreamy
heart-ldngry life and with his freck-
led face, lanky body and long !rrs. al
together rad achieved six feet OF stat
ure--slY feet and Is years. Shorty
was there, alone in the multitude.
Shorty's father had declared a holt
lay and taken mother, the two girls
and Shorty, to town.
But with Shorty it was different.
The standard of rural pleasures was
one. Long ,-Cardcd, grimy,
'lug cut smelling coins came from
heir hiding places today. The world
I'D fascination of joining the crowd
brought folks to town. But throwing
he balls at the doll racks, ringing
anes and knives, exchanging dimes
or the thrill of penetrating the
mysteries of show tents, buying
gum, cigars, ice cream and
haves-these were the measure of
heir enjoyment.
And Shorty hadn't a cent. He was
product of the "boy's colt and dads
orse" theory of ownership of wealth.
horty's father never had had money
, spend when he was boy, why
nould Shorty have it now? Mother
nderstood local conventions, and
outhful needs. When they drove up
, Boyle's store, while the lad carried
/ the eggs she, in the fullness of
otherly love entered timid plea,
"The boys worked pretty hard this }
Paw" she said. "All the :
her boys will be spendin' money, +
mt you think you had better give f
m a little?" L
"In the name of sense, what does he =
ant with money!" asked father, c
int he a-goin' to have his dinner?" e
An unsurmountable argument! h
Mother subsidized, so Shorty was l
thout funds. v
With an eager, hungry heart he o
about, lodging his own p
uthful acquaintance and watched 4
ON the corner of his eyes hundred b
transactions, all illustrat- b
: boyish munificence and gallantry
giggling maidens. Shorty was out e
used. He was eliminated from So e
ty by society's requirement, He did IL
dare speak to girl when he hadn't h
, means to offer her even so much g
a stick of gum. Sensitive in all 81
ngs that concerned himself, he was al
lbly sensitive to this, and he felt be
It everyone surely must notice his m
ming stinginess. Besides he was til
feet tall, with all the trouser leg 70
and wrist band abbre- ne
tons such physical condition ma tn
ously fastened onto his Is years. in
hank heaven the parade finally to-
rted and public attention was di- hil
ted from his financial and sartorial int
Dinner time came inl
n the sports-foot races, sack, see
'elbarrow and egg races, creased life
, climbing-all those exciting we
Ks of physical excellence and per- it
erance. The band played 1t was
ne band, too, resplendent and uni in
n as to coats and caps, even if "W
ewhat divergent and promiscuous to
O trousers, shoes and harmony. our
ut Shorty was unhappy. His We
rning, shrinking heart was out of the
, with the motif that pervaded the to
bration. He found no place for +
timid, shrinking self in the happy, hur
ling crowd. the
the middle of the afternoon he The