The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-14
Little Sammy
Dresser
By ESTHER VANDEVEER

We'll. ! like that" exclaimed Sam
Dresser as he opened and read let
ter left by the postman on his morn
ing round.
The letter referred to was addressed
to Samuel +. Dresser. Sam had no
middle name. 1t notified him that his
uncle. William Dresser, had died and
left son, Samuel. six years old. Viii
liam Dresser had provided in his will
that this boy, having no mother. should
go to live with his cousin Samuel +.
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 ami
fell in love with it. 1t may seem sin
gular that "A man should fall in love
with photograph. But why not? This
girl looked at Dresser out of pair
VI botitSt, t.tS llIil SttDitl W
say to him. You are my fate. and
will love you forever" 1t is difficult
Tor some persons while looking nj pie
ture plays 80 remember that the play
ers are mere photographs. One can
imagine man falling in love with a
woman on the screen Is ii much
more 10 fall in love with single pho
tograph of her?
Anyway. Miss wilkins in the photo
graph looked mt Dresser in 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. lie wrote her
note stating the case as it was. but
tore 1t 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 Tn
Gle Sam was hard hearted wretch
and Sammie must come to Cousin
hmelia. She would take care OF him
I'D love him dearly.
"All Of which means" said Sam to
mself, that will DO glad to take
re Of her aud love her dearly"
The photograph did not represent
elrl over seventeen or eighteen, and
Sam was only nineteen. What did the
or,,v 10 l,,,t In,
inickerbockers and short coat and.
aking carriage. drive up to Miss
wilkins house. There he told the
i1aid 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 10 see an over
crown boy who looked too old for his
;lothes. Her first thought was What
shall | do with him. She received
lin as kindly rs possible, then, going
Upstairs. consulted an aunt with whom
she lived, for Amelia. too, was an or
,han, 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
eturned to Sammie and told him that
The had supposed him to be child
out, seeing that he was old enough to
AXE care of himself, she did not think
I would be proper for her to adopt him
sam replied that he had been thinking
here must be some mistake.
Sam departed leaving her the letter
which had induced him to call upon
her. In the course of week he call
ID In propria persona When Miss
wilkins looked at him she was as
called on her before.
You find me changed don't your"
said Sam innocently and In his own
natural deep voice. He had used a
'alsetto before. My father kept me
back. treating me as child. You
made me see how much behind my age
| was When | left you resolved to
re man.
Miss villains was so puzzled that for
while she did not know what to do
)r say. but Dresser looked so proud of
| himself for throwing Off the coddling
influences which had kept him back
hat she gradually became accustomed
the change. and Sam spent very
| happy evening with her
When Dresser departed he was cor
! Tally invited to call again. Before do
,ng so he sent basket of cut flowers
20 Miss wilkins with note confess
ing the fact that when her photograph
had fallen into his hands he had been
50 bewitched by IL that he could not
nesist the temptation to use the mis-
Jake that had been made to make her
acquaintance. lie 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
call and an invitation TO dine with
him in the park. Whether it was the
absurdity Of his act or the course that
cd him to II is not known, but II Is
Iuite likely that 1t was the latter. Sam