The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1915-12-04
CHAPTER xix.
Tho Quiet Afternoon

~ ERHAPS middle aged people
might discern natures real iii
tentlens in the matter of pair
If they would examine a boys
punishments and sorrows, for he pro
longs neither beyond their actual dura
ton. With boy, trouble must be OF
homeric dimensions to last overnight
To him, every next day IS really new
day. Thus, Penrod woke, next morn
ming, with neither the unspared rod.
nor Mr.. Ktnosling in his mind. Tar
itself, so far as his consideration of It
went, might have been an undiscovered
substance. Ills mood was cheerful anG
mercantile; some process having work
ed mysteriously within him, during tn
night, to the result that his first wax
ing thought was of profits connecte:
with the sale Of old iron-or perhap
a ragman had passed the house, jus
before he woke.
By 10 O'Clock he had formed a part
nership with tho indeed amiable SAM
and the firm of Schofeld Il William:
plunged hea(long into commerc,
Heavy dealings In rags, paper, old ire:
and lead Saye the firm q balance 0
% cents GA the evening Of the thi;,
day, but venture is glassware, follow
ing, proved disappointing on account ..
the skepticism Of oil the druggists IL
that part OF town, even after sever
laborious hours had been spent in
cleansing a wheelbarrow load Of OH
medicine bottles with hydrant waite:
and ashes. Likewise, the partners wer
disheartened by their failure to dis
pose of crop Of greens" althouH:
they had uprooted specimens Of thu
decorative end unappreciated flower
the dande'ion, with such persistenc
and energy that the Schofelds' a..
Williams lawns looked curiously ha.4
gard for the rest Of that summer.
The 1T passed, business languisheaa
became extinct The dog days ha.
set in.
One August afternoon was so hoi
that even bo:Cs sought indoor shade. H.
the dimness of the vacant carriage
house of the stable lounged Masters
Penrod schodeid, Samuel Williams
Maurice Levy, George Bassett ans.
Herman. They sat still and talked
It IS hot day, in rare truth, whei
boys devote themselves principally t.
conversation, and this day was tina
hot.
Their elders should beware such days
Peril hovels near when the fiercene:,
Of weather forces inaction and boy
In groups are quiet The more closel>
volcanoes, western rivers, nitroglyceril
and boys are rent, the deadlier is their
action at the point OF outbreak. Thus,
parents and guardians should look for
outrages Of the most singular violence
and of the most peculiar nature during
the continuing weather Of February and
August.
The thing which befell upon this
broiling afternoon began to brew and
stew peaceftsl1y enough. All was in
nocence and Ianguor; no one could have
foretold the eruption.
They We're upon their great theme:
when get to be a man!' Being hu
man, though boys, they considered
their present estate too commonplace
to be dwelt upon. So, when the ole
men gather, they say: "When I was a
boy" 1t really is the land Of now
adays that we never discover.
when I'm man." said Sam VIII
Hams, I'm goin' to hire me a couple
Of colored walters to swing me in a
hammock and keep pourin' ice water
on me all day out O. those waterin'
cans. they sprinkle flowers from. I'll
hire you for one of 'em, Herman
"No; you ain goin' to-" said Herman
promptly. you ain no fowuh. Blu:
new min nat anyway. Ain nobod:
goin' hiah me whens I'm a man. Coin
be my own boss. I'm go be rai'roao
man!'
"You mean like superintendent, o,
sumpthing like that, and sell tickets?
asked Penrod.
"Sup'in-nv' min nat! Sell ticket;
No sub! Co. be po'tuh! Ny uncle
po'tuh right now. Solid COLE buttons
oh, OH"
Generals get a lot more buttons
than porters," said Penrod. "Gen
erals''-
"Po'tuhs make the bes' livin'," Her
man interrupted. my uncle spen' mo
money n any white man mis- town.
well, rather be general" sale
Penrod, "or a senator, or sumpthins
like that" -. -.
Senators live in washington, Mau
rice Levy contributed the information
Il been there. Warrington amt 8,
much. Niag'ra falls is a hundred
times as good as washington. So,
'Tlantic City. I was. there too. beer
everywhere there Is. P. F..
well, anyway said Sam Williams
raising his voice In order to obtain til,
floor, anyway. I'm goin' to lay in
hanmac ! all dax- end barr ie@ 81.