Evening star., 1917-11-25

himself that it would be a fine thing 70
buy exactly four OF those big yellow chrys-
anthemums then in bloom, and carry
them home to his bride.
So he went to a florist shop on r street
TO select his four chrysanthemums.
II want four Of those yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS" he said to the saleswoman-
Four" she asked.
Yes, just four" he said.
1t is an amusing and instructive pastime
to watch the devious ways in which peo-
pie can mako mistakes and do things
wrong. when you think there is no pos
sible way for them to make mistakes
Four chrysanthemums was the number
the young man asked and paid for. He
way how his young wife would take them
from the box, one by one-one beautiful
blossom for each month Of their married
life.
Perhaps he made his mistake by not
taking the saleswoman into his confidence.
She was a kind woman
She gave him five chrysanthemums.
This same young husband carried a
pie home to Ills wife the other dag.
The adventures of a young husband are
many. II you think carrying freshly
baked pie home is not an adventure.
try it some time when the oven in your
nat is on the blink and you are re-
duced to the consumption Of pies Of
unknown lineage.
Running the gantiet is mild sport
compared with transporting Juicy, tat
pie from its habitat downtown to the
home Of the ultimate consumer. A pie
under these circumstances takes on an
importance which one would not grant
1t usually.
You become quite aware of the pie
The pie is no longer q confection Of
two layers Of dough surrounding other
foodstuffs. but becomes an instrument
whose aim in life is to precipitate
itself on the floor or down the back OF
the nearest person.
In case the pie is Of the variety
is intensified. That was the sort Of
pie the young wife wanted that day
and as dutiful and loving husband
the hero bought same and undertook
its convoy.
Such a hero deserves great fame. The
street car going home was crowded 60
the steps. it hardly need be said. The
pie was resting peacefully In its plate.
the whole affair wrapped in paper.
There was string around II.
Being of the variety known as apple.
the only plausible way of carrying the
pie was fat Uf you think plausible"
Is the wrong word, carry an apple pie
home on the Connecticut avenue car
line before you jump on my choice OF
words.)
The pie Of i'll omen held itself in
leash. The young husband held the pie.
The pie looked as innocent as one OF
these adamant pumpkin pies that mas
Querade as just OF the vine.
Friend husband tried to look inno-
cent, too, but there is no use trying
to look that way when you are escort
ing an apple pie home on q Washing
ton street car.
You might as well just cry out. Yes.
this Is an apple pie I've got here. and
I'm proud OF it." and get the thing ever
with. Everybody in the street car
looks at the pie with suspicion. and
those on either side OF you do more
than look suepiciously. They're afraid
OF the pie. So are you
You are the proudest man In town
when you get that pie home. At last
you have done something worth while
in the world. With one pie to your
credit. you fear not what the Germans
may do. what are many Germans to
one apple pie?
Here 10 your pie. my dear" you say.
rs you place II carefully on the table.
Il told you to get apple, didn't II"
asks wife.
You beam your assent.
well now. do you know" she cons
tinues, 'T wish ! hnd snid pumpltn.~
CHARLES e. TRACEWEIdA