The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-29

rescue with query as to whether he
would like some Strawberries
If you please, ma'am,' was his re-
ply, although he continued to look
longingly at the butter dish. And
when he got the berries he covered
! them with six spoons of sugar before
trying them. Finally he munched one
and then made a wry face. These are
not Louisiana berries he announced
| with all the authority of a strawberry
| connoisseur. No, indeed, they're too
sour Here followed a raid on the
sugar bowl. He buried the berries
with sugar. His berry dish looked
more like it was filled with an i'm
all you could see. He couldn't pos
sib1y have swallowed it except that
he had saved his tea apparently for
the purpose of washing this sugar
down. And while he was eating
spoonful after spoonful of sugar with
an occasional berry on the side and
frequent gulps of tea, he kept on talk
ing.
IF I had only been home where I
belonged when the war broke out, 1
would be drawing a pension now he
continued. and 1 wouldn't be on the
bum. But they don't pension Indian
fighters. 1 don't know why. We,
too, saved some of the country. Still,
I'm glad I'm able to work. Work? I
should say I can work. 1 can do as
much work in a day now as I could
forty years ago peIeVe IL was the
hardships 1 endured and the tougher
ing I received fighting the Indians
that makes me so strong today. I'm
nearly 70 but 1 can do days work
with any man and as soon as the rain
let's up I am going to the alfalfa fields
and then I'll make rich stake in the
wheat fields. No, no more tea, thank
you, I've had great plenty But his
looks belied his words as he was still
casting fond but disappointed glances
at the vacant butter plate.
I'm going back home some day,
back to glorious old New Hampshire,
were his concluding remarks as he
er been back there since my folk
took me south when 1 was a boy. And
I haven't heard from any of my peo-
pie there, either. But there must be
lots of them there, a fine stock mine
is. I believe I told you that Cousin
Harriet wrote Uncle Toms Cabin.
am going back to them some day.
Before many more years I'll be too old
to work my way around the country,
and some of them will provide a home
for me, or have influence enough to
get me into some comfortable inStitu-
ton for old people.
I thank you, madam, was his
au revoir to Nine-Tenths as he made
her a Chesterfieldian bow and backed
out of the door. L hope if your little
has to beg for a meal, he will be ac-
corded as lavish courtesy as you
have extended to me. Madam, thank
you again
"And thus our unlimited guest de-
parted and a full quarter of a pound
of perfectly good creamery butter
went with him. The other stuff he
ate was of no account in our eyes,
voluminous through it was"
Never again. said 1 to Nine
Tenths as she began to clear up the
array of empty dishes. TIL bring
home a supply of nickels and dimes
tomorrow and you will please give any
gent that stops here and asks for food
Is cents and direct him to some of the
restaurants up town where they serve |
table de hote dinners for that price. |
It will be cheaper for u.s."
You needn't mind the nickels and |
dimes, she replied. 'I'n give them |
nothing. That's the 'steenth time I /
have been imposed upon by hungry |
hoboes, whom I have been glad to |
help out in the way of a bite to eat. I
I don't care who might have been /