Evening star., 1918-08-04
In and Around the City
q was IN old man with more
than his fair share Of bones.
And the bones were rheu-

uhbAVs AV1 SS0sA SSe>S
Over one arm that had retired from
active life danglsd q hank Of shoe
strings, and the other, extended to
the passing crowds. showed pencils
of Q sort that no one acquainted
with pencils would be foolish enough
to buy.
SO the passing crowds paid no moro
attention to the old man than II he
had been the lamp post he was lean
ing against. until. for . blessed
change. an angel came along-as
really. truly. an angel a. ever came out
of the Bible, though he didn't look the
part. That is one comforting thing
about angels: they 60 around In such
everyday DISCUSSES that We are al
ways mistaking them for regular
folks-ever notice7 In this case. any
how, II a seraph had materialized
to the old vender. in feathers and q
gold crown. he would most likely
have had q fit, but khaki and dusty
canvas puttees made II . whole lot
dinerent-and better.
He was such . big, strong. happy
go-lucky enlisted man that nature
seemed to have made him for the
express purpose Of showing how
splendid soms humans can be. though
he must have BEEN sort Of lonesome
in strange city, too, for he spoke
to the old man aS II he was glad OF
the chance:
Hello. pop. how's businessf'
Nothing doing today, sir" The ad-
mission was made with the abjeot
gratitude Of creature not used to
and good luck to you@-
chap started on his way. but was
back before he had gone trees
length to add to his remarksi
Say. pop. II we don't sell our truck
ehoI the pot goes goes empty y and S,o, We get sds no
strings-an Of them. I've got bud.
die who needs strings like them. And
while you are about II. fork over
those pencils. I know lots Of fellows
who want penoils Got anybody in
No. the old man owned no sons. But
he was in the civil war
The enlisted man went into his
pocket and fshed out nat purse,
padded with one-dollaf bills. He
peeled on two, handed them to the
old man. and then In q sudden whirl
the yender's arms and Gprintsd out OF
the story.
And that was all there was to II,
unless you consider the rheuInaticky
old man and the angel disguised ~
a doughboy.
And even IL you won't stand for the
angel-some people won't-you can't
pretend to deny that Other One
That shining, white-winged Other
Ono who lives up in that place where
all Of US want to go-some time-and
who records mans deeds in book.
-
CHE was as gay ~ knitting bag. In
tan ponges ali over green moons
set In pink triangleA Her tan straw
was wreathed with more green moons.
only they were grapes. and her tan
feet were classy enough for store ads.
Also. though It seems right mean to
give her away. her hair vas the color
Of the yarn that goes In . knitting
bag-proyided It II gray instead Of
khaki; her face was hand-decorated
and she was mad enough to bite nails.
She said so. Having expressed her
willingness to partaks Of cold iron.
she paused for the woman with her
to wedge In . sympathetic remark
which was where she made her mis-
take.
IT don't see how you could expect
a store to take back goods that you
have cut into. You were foolish to
have bought 1t in the first place, see.
ing you are too chunky for checks"
I'm no such q thing! I'm the ex-
act size Of the Venus de thingamajig,
except in height. The teacher told
me SO that time took art lessons
on trial. know stripes make me look
taller. but It was such . lovely blue
crossbar-and now suppose rve got
to wear 1t"
you might give It away" Tho un.
sympathiZer was just the right size
for checks.
IT see myself take notice peo-
pie don't tumble over themselves in
their hurry to give me things. The
trouble with me 1! I'm too generous.
I've just gone and given my cousin
a brown silk that I could have made
over for myself"
THAT old fouiard2 What on earth
did she want with ftr
that goods cost me 81 when I bought
It"
"Forty-eleven years ago
1.-THE buttons alone were worth
and the last lining put in was as
and-say, I'm scorching inside for q
soda Come on and have one,
She piloted the way from a remnant
cnupfar IN WHARF fho coSo r1orl~ xyou