Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-24

E1HE August afternoon was so hot
that even boys sought indoor
shade. In the dimness of the
q vacant carriage house of Mr..
SchofieId's stable lounged Masters Pen
rod Schofield, Samuel Williams, Maurice
Levy, Georgia Bassett (the boy per-
fec). and one Herman. colored, sur
name unknown. They sat still ana
talked 1t is a hot day. in rare truth.
whom boys devote themselves principal
ly to conversation, and this day was
that hot.
Their elders should beware such days.
Peril hovers near when ths fierceness
of weather forces inaction and boys In
groups are quite. The more closely
volcanoes western rivers, nitroglycerin
and boys are pent, the deadlier is their
action at the point of outbreak.
The thing which befe1 upon this
broiling afternoon began to brew and
stew peacefully enough. All was in
nocence and languor; no one could nave
foretold the eruption.
They were upon their great theme:
When I get to be a man. Being hui
man. though boys. they considered their
present estate too commonplace to be
dwelt upon. So, when the old men
gather they say. When I was a boy"
IT really is the land of nowadays that
we never find.
when I'm a man. said Sam Will
liams I'm goin' to hire me couple of
co!ored walters to swing me in ham
mock and keep pourin' ice water on me
all day out o those waterin-cans they
sprinkle flowers from. I'll hire you for
one of 'em. Herman"
NO: you aim goin' to- said Herman
promptly. You ain no flowuh But
new min nat. anyway. Ain nobody
coin' hiah me when I'm a man. Coin
by my own boss. I'm goin' be a rai'-
road man.
You mean like a superintendent, or
sumpthing like that. and sell tickets"
asked Penrod.
"Supin-nev' min nat! Sell ticket
No. sub: Going be po'tuh, My uncle
po'tuh. Solid COLE buttons"
Generals get a lot more buttons than
porters." said Penrod. Generals"
"Potuhs make the bes' livin," Her
man interrupted. My uncle spen' mo-
money n any white man n is town"
We'll. ] rather be a general" said
Penrod. "or a senator. or sumpthing
like that"
Senators live in Washington" Maui
rice Levy contributed the information.
"I been there Washington amt so
much; Niagara Falls is a hundred times
as good as Washington. Sos 'Tlantic
City. / was there, too. I been every
where there is. =
raising his voice in order to obtain the
floor, anyway, I'm goin' to lay in a
hammock all day. and have ice water
sprinkled on top O me, and I'm goin'
to lay there all night. too and the next
day. I'm goin' to lay there a couple O.
years, maybe"
II bet you don't" exclaimed Maurice.
'What'd you do in winter"
I'D stay right there" Sam declared,
with strong conviction. blinking as he
looked out through the open doors at
the dazzling lawn and trees trembling
In the heat. They couldn't sprinkle too
much for mel"
It'd make icicles all over you. and
Il wish it would" said Sam. I'D eat
'em up"'
"And it'd snow on YOU"
"Yay I'd swaller 1t as fast as it'd
come down. / wish l had a barrel o.
snow right now. / wish they wasn't
anything in the whole world except just
good ole snow"
Penrod and Herman rose and went out
to the hydrant, where they drank long
and ardently. Sam was still talking
about snow when they returned.
NO. l would't just roll in it. I'd stick
1t all round inside my clo'es. and fill
my hat. No. I'd freeze a big pile of