The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-08-14
HIS CREED OF LIFE.
BY MYRTLE CRAIG.

enforced when he gave up his we'll
furnished bachelor apartments in town
and retired to the solitude of the coun-
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 q salve to con-
science.
SO he took Viola, and Jake and Sal
ly, the servants, and went to Rose
boro, bought dozen gray flannel
shirts, tractor and some other things
and went to work.
His blowing and sowing done, he
turned his attention to the vegetable
garden. Spring was Acknowledgment |
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 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
as much money for them, couldn't
you?"
Perhaps. But it isn't money ]
want, little girl. l 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 ore of the training camps Won't
/ it be wonderful to think we're helping
to feed the army?"
"Oh, yes, Uncle Steve,"- she cried,
fired by his enthusiasm. Il wish there
was something l 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
| pony and little cart, dear-all your
own, you know? Wen 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?"
"Oh, Uncle Steve, I'd love it. That's
a lot better than wasting time on
flowers, isn't it?' bit wistfully.
II think so, dear. You and l shall
be what they call producers It's
what the world needs" hIGR9d
Summer came. The garden began
TO bear and the day came when Viola,
full of Importance, was to make her
first trip. Prince, the Shetland pony
and the little wicker cart Were
adorned with Red Cross flags, and she
proudly helped Steve to lift in the bas
kets of fresh, crisp green's.
/ The little cavalcade returned al
| twelve, waving its banners trium
| phantly, with empty baskets and over
| So in the purse.
/ "Oh, Uncle Steve, it's just grand
i and they paid me more than l asked
/ and I'm TO go every day. I'll have
thirty dollars, or maybe forty dollar.
/ to send this week. Why, | feel like 8
QUEEN
It's better than flowers, isn't it
Viola?"
, Yves. 1 guess it is. But, oh
Uncle Steve, I was in the most beau
, tiful garden today, and there was thu
| most beautiful lady digging in it. She
d said she knew you, too. l think hel
| mama y-aS Mics Eloanpr
'You were at the Davidsons', then y
4 quickly.
yes, | was at the DavidSons', and
: wish you could see the flowerS-rOSe
Z and marguerites and pOppies and PEG
MES, and everything! 1 just though
e l could never come away. And Se'
! the armful she gave me! She's tn
" prettiest!'
The rest of the day Stephen wa
4 preoccupied and restless. He ha,
thought that he had successful.
/. killed the growing passion for the cir
,, he had accused of being frivolous.
e A week passed-days of glory TO
II VIOLA And then she was hurt. !
WASH L IluCI. I1llCc upset TIC CdI
= ana threw the little girl out. A pass
# ing limousine picked her up and too
5 her to the hospital In town, and the
s. sent for Stephen.
2, Darling, it's all my fault" he sait
II shouldn't have let you CO."
't But it's all right, Uncle Steve
:, Prince didn't mean to do it, and II
- be better tomorrow. DO you see a
the pretty flowers? Who do you SUI
pose brought them? Miss Eleanor
le And, do you know, she comes ever
h. day with whole bushels for the it'll
is children in the wards, and you'd thin
81 she was an angel the way they low
her. the nurse says. l was just thin
a. ing, Uncle Steve, wouldn't you ca
= that being useful?"
n "Yes, dear, very!" huskily.
And then Eleanor herself came il
you're lucky to have her, Stephen
she said. "She's dear child"