The Lamar register., 1917-08-29
HIS CREED OF LIFE
BY MYRTLE CRAIG.

have little use for the fair sex. Per
hnps Eleanor Davidson had something
to do with 1t.
This idea was not a little re-
enforced when he gave up his we'll
furnished bachelor apartments IN town
and retired to the solitude Of the coun-
try, where the family farm had lain In
idleness for many years. He sent for
Viola Fnlister, his little niece, whose
mother was dead and whose father
was an officer In the army. Viola was
for company; also salye to con-
science.
So he took Viola, and Jake and Sal
ly, the servants, and went to Rose
boro, bought n dozen gray flannel
shirts, u tractor and some other things
and went to work.
His blowing and sowing done, he
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, radlshes, on
ions, cucumbers, tomatoes, corn, ev-
erythlng a self-respecting garden could
wish.
one day Viola, who was watching
him, remarked: 'why don't you put In
some flowers, Uncle SteveF
"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. 1 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 1t all
TO one Of the training camps. Won't
it be wonderful to think we're helping
to feed the arlny?"
ooh, yes, Uncle Steve" she cried,
fired by his enthusiasm. 81 wish there
was something / could do. You said
the other day that everybody in the
world should be useful"
He WINS thoughtful n minute, then:
"How would you like me to buy you "a
pony and n little cart, dear-all your
own, you know? Wen have red
cross on the side, and when this stun
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 II. That's
n lot better than wasting time on
flowers, isn't III" a bit wistfully.
81 think so, dear. You and shall
be what they call producers It's
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 Int IN the bas-
kcts OF fresh, crisp greens.
The little Cavalcade returned nj
twelve, waving its banners trium-
phantly, with empty baskets and over
SO In the purse.
"oh, Uncle Steve, it's just grand,
and they paid me more than I asked,
ind I'm to go every day. I'll have
thirty dollars, or maybe forty dollars
to send this week. Why, feel like a
queenl"
"It's better than flowers, isn't 1t,
Vlolnf"
"Y-yesi I guess It IS. But, oh,
Uncle Steve, 1 was In the most beau
tlful garden today, and there was the
most beautiful lady digging in it. She
said she knew you, too. 1 think her
name was Miss Eleanor Davidson"
"You were at the Dayidsons', then -
quickly.
Eyes, I was at the Davidsons', and
wish you could see the flowers-roses
and marguerites and peoples and peo-
MES, and everything! ] just thought
l could never come away. And see
the armful she gave me! She's the
incest person 1 ever knew-and the
prettlest"
The rest of the day Stephen was
preoccupied 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
want 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.