The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-07-23
HIS CREED OF LIFE.
By MYRTLE CRAIG.

hapS Eleanor Davidson had something
to do with it.
This idea was not little re-
enforced when he gave up his we'll
furnished bachelor apartments In town
and retired to the solitude Of the couh-
try, where the family farm had lain in
idleness for many years. He sent for
Viola Fillister, his little niece, whose
mother was dead and whose father
was an officer in the army. Viola was
for company; also a salve to con-
science.
SO he took Viola, and Jake and Sal
ly, the servants, and went to Rose
borO, bought a dozen gray flannel
shirts, a tractor and some other things
and went to work.
His blowing and sowing done, he
turned his attention to the vegetable,
garden. Spring was acknowledgement
after all this was the part Of the work
he liked. He laid out four acres
planting beans of every variety, peas
early and late, lettuce, radishes, on
ions, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, ev-
erything a self-respecting garden could
wish.
One day Viola, who was watching
him, remarked: "Why don't you put in
some flowers, Uncle Steve?"
''They take too much time, dear. Be-
sides, they aren't useful like vege-
tables"
"You could sell them and get just
your
perhaps. But it isn't money I
want, little girl. like to have the
feeling that I'm producing something
that will help the world along. Do
you know what I'm going to do with
all this stuff? I'm going to send it all
to one Of the training camps. Won't
it be wonderful to think we're helping
to feed the army?"
ooh, yes, Uncle Steve" she cried,
fired by his enthusiasm. II wish there
was something 1 could do. You said
the other day that everybody in the
world should be useful"
He was thoughtful minute, then:
''How would you like me to buy you a
pony and little cart, dear-all your
own, you know? Well have red
cross on the side, and when this stuff
grows UP you can take the best of the
things and sell them to the houses
near town every day and get money to
send away. Wouldn't you feel useful
then?"
ooh, Uncle Steve, I'd love it. That's
a lot better than wasting time on
flowers, isn't it?" bit wistfully.
81 think so, dear. You and I shall
be what they call producers It's
what the world needs"
Summer came. The garden began.
to bear and the day came when Viola, J
full Of Importance, was to make her
first trip. Prince, the Shetland pony,
and the little wicker cart wer e
adorned with Red Cross flags, and size
proudly helped Steve to lift in the bf IS
lets of fresh, crisp green's.
The little cavalcade returned, at
twelve, waving its banners tr}um-
phantly, with empty baskets and. over
Sc in the purse.
ooh, Uncle Steve, it's just jgrand,
and they paid me more than II asked,
and I'm to 60 every day. III have
thirty dollars, or maybe forty dollars
to send this week. Why, I fe! Il like a
queenr'
Its better than flowers, isrft it,
ViOla?"
"Y-yes! I guess it is. Bit, oh,
Uncle Steve, was in the mosk beau
tiful garden today, and there kas the
most beautiful lady digging ipi it. She
said she knew you, too. I think her
name was Miss Eleanor Davidson
"YOu were at the DavidSO, As, then ~
quickly.
eyes, was at the David Sons', and
wish you could see the f1Owers-roses
and marguerites and popI des and peo-
MES, and everything! 1 just thought
/ could never come awsU. And see
the armful she gave m1! She's the
incest person I ever XII iew-and the
prettiest!"
The rest of the dayt Stephen was
preoccupied and restl tss. He had
thought that he hal successfully
killed the growing pass ion for the girl
he had accused Of bein & frivolous.
A week passed-dayS of glory for
Viola. And then she was hurt. 1t
wasn't much. Prince upset the cart
and threw the little girl out. A pass
ing limousine picked her up and took
her to the hospital in ;town, and they
sent for Stephen.
Darling, it's all myt fault" he said.
II shouldn't have let you CO."
"But it's all RICH /, Uncle Steve.
Prince didn't mean t D do it, and I'll
be better tomorrow. Do you see all
the pretty flowers? tVho do you sup
pose brought them2 Miss Eleanor
And, do you know, she comes every
day with whole bushels for the little
children in the wards, and you'd think
she was an angel the way they love
her, the nurse says. I was just think
ing, Uncle Steve wouldn't you call
that being usefulT
eyes, dear, very!" fhuskily.
And then Eleanor herself came in.
"YOu're lucky to have lher, Stephen,
she said. "She's de ar child"
II am lucky" he a;ssented. But
we were just thinking we'd like to
have another> person ia the firm. Could
you consider. it, Eleanor, do you
think?
Eleanor flushed consciously. I'D
Ioxo 70 oop,o d, che coi.3 sif vo11'ro Snro