Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-09

.T'm all mixed up" said the man who had just returned from 2 visit enough but just the same have the sneaking idea that should be tot tering around on a pair of crutches and eating soft food! Somehow I'm too busy up here In the big town to notice wnasA time ns IS up So, but be- attention when you return to the orr, iginal nest.
 T met Sam Barker on the street the first day with another man. We fell upon each others neclxs and swapped family history and nnaiiy I said, .How's your little boy ? You should have seen Sam. He looked pale and bewildered. the way a man does when a brick drops on him IiI boyi' he n7uttered in Q rambling way. Then he tugged at the coa4sleeve of the six foot, hulking man standing e trifie to one side and murmured apOlOgetically, This is what you mean. guess. This is Sam. Jr.!
 And the six footer regarded me toI- erantly and gave me a haudshake that crumbled my fingers permanently. In deep bass voice he welcomed me to their midst and said he'd be glad to take me up to the club. Why. I've spanked that boy myself for playing tag across my mothers f1owerbeds and he was freckled. carroty -haired and altogether Hnattractive.
 'Nowadays I understand that the girls mob him on sight and he is proud and naughty and pasha like! called him Sam in trembling voice. felt, the night I was there at dinner that really should, in order to live up to him, arise, stick two fingers between the buttons of my coat. cough and be- gin, -Mr. President. Oh, Sam was very nice and tried his best to put me at my ease, but somehow 1 couldn't get really comfortable in his presence. He produced in my mind such a hor- krible tumble of freckles, six feet, bare legs. slingshots. dress suits and bass voices!
 q spent few days at my cousin Sue's. She had two small girls a minute or so ago, and they were just as obnoxious as small girls can be. Harriet was the prim, satisfied kind that always knows the golden text and whose teeth stick out and who can spell down every one in school and correct you on the date of the battle of Waterloo. Martha was the roly- poly, sticky kind who always is eating molasses taffy and sitting on your hat and bowling because she wants to do something she has been forbidden. T endured them both in the old days with resignation and fortitude when I had to come within gunshot of the premises. I didn't see how 1t was that | earth. should be so afflicted. And the strange part of it was she seemed really to be fond of the two. This time the children were not in evidence. l However. I knew that it had to be- so at last in faint, hurried voice I said, And how are the little ones. Sue? 'The same expression went over her face that had seen on Sam's. While she was recovering consciousness a
 couple of callers walked in. They were young women, exquisitely gowned,
 overpoweringly good looking and at
 ease. Kiss your cousin John, girls,
 said Sue. He-he just inquired for | for the little onesi'
 They laughed amusedly in a well bread. eastern finishing school manner. How oddi' said the one who had been
 sticky Martha 'Mah-Tnah does have such a sense of humahi'
 T trust your family are all well?
 added the once excessively prim liar riet, bending upon me a gentle smile. l Where am l. asked weakly of
 Sue. seem to be just coming out from the anaesthetic! When did it
 happen?
 Those perfect ladies made me feel l just as crude and rumpled and back
 numbery as suppose really am, but |