Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-04-19
Little Sammy
Dresser
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER

well. l like that exclaimed Sam
Dresser as he opened and read a let
ter left by the postman on his morn
ing round.
The letter referred to was addressed
to Samuel Z. Dresser. Sam had no
middle name. 1t notified him that his
uncle, William Dresser, had died and
left son, Samuel, six years old. Will
liam Dresser had provided in his will
that this boy, having no mother, should
go to live with his cousin, Samuel L.
Dresser. who was to be his guardian.
In case Mr.. Dresser declined the
charge, then Miss Amelia Wilkins,
distant relative, was to take his place.
The writer had no knowledge of Miss
Wilkins except that the testator had
attached to the will her photograph,
with her address written ON the back.
This he inclosed.
Dresser looked at the photograph and
fell in love with it. 1t may seem sin
gular that man should fall in love
with photograph. But why not? This
girl looked at Dresser out of a pair
Of honest, merry eyes that seemed to
say to him, You are my fate. and
will love you forever 1t is difficult
for some persons while looking at pic
ture plays to remember that the play
ers are mere photographs. One can
imagine man falling in love with
woman On the screen Is 1t much
more to fall In love with single pho.
tOgraph of her?
Anyway. Miss Wilkins in the photo
graph looked at Dresser in a way that
made him long to meet her. The letter
had evidently been delivered to the
wrong Dresser Sam concluded that
he would try to find the right one
through Miss Wilkins. He wrote her a
note stating the case as it was, but
tore it up and wrote another in the
name of the orphan, stating that his
father had died and left him to the
care of "Uncle SAM" but Uncle Sam
wouldn't have him, so, according to the
will, he was to go to Cousin Amelia.
Back came reply stating that I'm
Gle Sam, was hard hearted wretch
and Sammie must come. to Cousin
Amelia. She would take care Of him
and love him dearly.
"All Of which MEANS" said Sam to
himself, that l will be glad to take
care of her and love her dearly"
The photograph did not represent q
girl over seventeen or eighteen, and
Sam was only nineteen. What did the
scamp do but dress himself up in
knickerbockers and a short coat and,
taking a carriage, drive up to Miss
Wilkins house. There he told the
maid who admitted him to tell Cousin
Amelia that he was Sammie Dresser
When Amelia Wilkins came down
stairs to greet her cousin she. was
somewhat astonished to see an over
grown boy who looked too old for his
clothes. Her first thought was what
shall do with him?" She received
him as kindly as possible, then, going
upstairs, consulted an aunt with whom
she lived, for Amelia, too, was an Or
phan, and the two sat down to the
problem of whether to turn out little
Sammie Dresser to the mercies of the
world or take charge of him.
Upon the advice of her aunt, Amelia
returned to Sammie and told him that
she had supposed him to be a child,
but, seeing that he was old enough to
take care Of himself, she did not think
1t would be proper for her to adopt him.
Sam replied that he had been thinking
there must be some mistake.
Sam departed. leaving her the letter
which had induced him to call upon
her. In the course of a week he call
ed in propria persona. When Miss
Wilkins looked at him she was as
much astonished as she was when he
called on her before
"YOu find me changed don't your"
said Sam innocently and in his own
natural deep voice. He had used q
falsetto before. my father kept me
back, treating me as a child. You
made me see how much behind my age
l was. When l left you l resolved to
be man."
Miss Wilkins was so puzzled that for
awhile she did not know what to do
or say, but Dresser looked so proud of
himself for throwing off the coddling
AAAANNhNNo w hieb htpL uliu UdCh
that she gradually became accustomed
to the change. and Sam spent very
happy evening with her.
When Dresser departed he was cor
daily invited to call again. Before do
ing so he sent basket of cut flowers
to Miss Wilkins with note confess
ing the fact that when her photograph
hp1 fo11 toto III. l.
so bewitched by it that he could not
resist the temptation to use the mis-
take that had been made to make her
acquaintance. He threw himself on
her mercy.
Miss Wilkins was very merciful. In
deed, she had keen eye for the ludi
crous and was very mirthful over her
admirers attempt to personate a small
boy. Sam followed up the flowers with
n coll Inv