The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-01
HIS CREED OF LIFE
By MYRTLE CRAIG.

>, Stephen was not woman hater, al
though OF late he was supposed t
have little use for the fair sex. Per
to do with 1t.
This idea was not little re
enforced when he gave up his we'll
furnished bachelor apartments in towr
and retired to the solitude of the coun
try, where the family farm had lain IL
idleness for many years. He sent fol
Viola F1llister, his little niece, whose
mother was dead and whose father
was an officer in the army. Viola waa
for company; also Q salve to con.
science.
So he took Viola, and Jake and Sal.
~, the servants, and went to Rose
b0ro, bought a dozen gray flannel
shirts, a tractor and some other things
and went to work.
His blowing and sowing done, be
turned his attention to the vegetable
garden. Spring was advancing-and
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, ey-
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
your
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 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,
fred 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 a minute, then:
"How would you like me to buy you
pony and little cart, dear-all your
own, you know? Wen have a 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
them"
"Oh, Uncle Steve. I'd love it. That's
q lot better than wasting time on
flowers, isn't it," bit wisfully.
II think 80, dear. You and I shall
be what they call 'producers.' It's u
what the world needs"
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 u
twelve, waving its banners Hium-
phantly, with empty baskets and over
Is in the purse. /,
~Oh, Uncle Steve. It's Just grand.
and they paid me more than / asked, ,
and I'm to 60 every day. I'll have I
thirty dollars, or maybe forty dollars
TO send this week. Why, feel like
Queenl' Z
Its better than flowers. isn't it.
Viola7"
yves! guess it is. But. oh.
Uncle Steve, I was in the most beau.
tful garden today, and there was the
most beautiful lady digging in 1t. She
said she knew you. too. l think her
name was Miss Eleano. Davidson"
"You were at the Davidsons', then" ,
quickly. K
Eyes, I was at the Davidsons', and l I
and marguerites and poppies and peO- 7
MES, and everything! l just thought s
I could never come away. And see t
the armful she gave me! She's the '
incest person l ever knew-and the {
prettiestv'
The rest of the day Stephen was
and restless. He had
thought that he had successfully
killed the growing passion for the girl
he had accused Of being 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 my fault" he said.
Il shouldn't have let you go"
"But It's all right, Uncle Steve.
Prince didn't mean to do it. and I'll
be better tomorrow. Do you see all
the pretty flowers? Who do you sup
pose brought them? Miss Eleanor!
And, do you know, she comes every
day with whole bushels for the little
children in the wards, and you'd think
-hn u,oS on oppal tho WOW fhav 1.-Two