Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-08
HIS NEIGHBOR
BY AGNES C. BROWN.


Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union-1
Dear Gwen:
1 am keeping my promise by writ
ing, as soon as the new studio has
been installed. 1t looks as though [
might do good work here, In my glass
roof room near the sky. The only
place available for renting seemed this
old-time mansion now given over to
cheap apartments; this, because we
are nearer the business center than a
desirable residence section. To me.
however, ~obscurity lends value to the
situation, as I may be free from visit,
ing Interruptions. The picture pro-
crosses favorably and l am intent up
on a second. Please save yourself the
trouble of instructing friends to hunt
me out. / have already been obliged
to refuse various evening invitations
rendered in my SISTER G~wendolen's'
name.
1 suppose you are, as usual, busy
with your pet charities. Do not worry
about my welfare, as 1 shall keep yor
duly informed.
Your affectionate brother,
JACK.
Dear Gwen:
The morning sun comes in at RICH
angles through ms glass roof, thu
painting grows apace, and meals
served from a nearby restaurant are
perfect. In my enjoyable isolation 1
might be on a desert isle-save for
the young woman across the hall. She
would, I think, be fit subject for your
passion for helpfu1ness-if you could
reach her. oh, these proud, self-sac-
rificing American women of ours!
What will they not do for love and
dutyl Though l must confess this is
my first actual experience with the
kind. Carrie" who wipes up u
~fioors,' says that when my neighbours
husband went to war she gave up her
comfortable fat and came here to live
with her child. During the day she
has taken up an unaccustomed posi-
ton in a flower shop, it seems, but she
sings right cheerily at night as h
cooks the child's supper. 1t was this
same singing which attracted my at
tention to the two-that and the
child's evident glee when her mother
brings home a currant roll. Can YOU
imagine it, Gwen, unalloyed joy over
the fact of a currant roll? Joy in three
dingy rooms near the roof? Joy, after
a .hard days work? It makes one
long to step out and buy a quantity OF
those delicacies we stated ones take
as our matter-of-course-and leave
them at their door,. But the presump-
ton would be resented. The child
looks like a Christmas show-window
doll.
After school hours she often sits at
a turn of the stair, knitting for fla
Their" When | almost fell yer her
one day she naively informed me that
at was not SO lonesome there as in
side."
I thank you for comforts kindly
sent to myself. Your loving
. JACK.
Dear Gwen:
1 am having difficulty with my study
of spring; the face of the central fig
ure lacks that significant sweet fresh
ness which it must have.
Following your advice, I stopped at
the flower shop n evening, purchas-
ing from my neighbor a rose tree,
which has been sent to you. Acting
again upon your suggestion, I frankly
presented myself and made inquiry
concerning Peggy-May's father. Peg
gy-May happens to be the unusually
connected name of the child. Charm
ingly free from self-consciousness were
the mothers replies.
"Mr. May was well and in good
spirits; she, herself, managed very
nicely, and Peggy-May was happy. l
was thanked-and dismissed. So to
help these brave people seems beyond
our power. Love to you. my sister.
JACK. :.
Dear Gwen:
The second idea was a bright one,
and speedily acted upon. With diplo-I
macy and persuasion it was arranged
that Peggy-MIay should pose for my
child model of Spring. The picture
will be a success. We paint very early
in the morning, before the little mother
is due at the flower shop. Her needless
flash in that everlasting knitting asl
she sits beside us. Like a flower, her.
self, is the wife of that soldier in
France-and courageous always. What
a contrast to the fortune-favored girls
we have known, Gwen-you and l.
Very hastily,
JACK.
Dear Gwen:
Pardon me if this letter may prove
somewhat incomprehensible. Perhaps
"joyously irresponsible" would better
suit my case.