Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-08

into the library, where sat his sixteen
year-old sister Ruth and her chum,
%-trene James sat down, uninvited,S to
he sure He admired Irene and liked
to watch her long lashes. Ruth gave
him one look, then:
James, YOU haven't polished your
sh9es this morning" she said.
His cheeks burned. for Irene's eyes
had followed Ruth's glance at the muddy
shoes. He went out and sat down OF,
the me front steps. Then his sisters voice
reached his ears.
"Uninteresting."
II wonder just when a fellow becomes
uninteresting." he said.
=, He started to walk down the street.
He was glad he met none of the BOYS,
He wanted to be alone. He did not
want to meet even George Long, who
was also thirteen and probably unin-
teresting. His allowance jingled in his
pocket. and with the jingle came
thought. He wouldn't touch a penny of
! It. He would earn his own money and
buy flowers for his mother. Perhaps his
uninteresting age would not affect the
Srocer, when he saw such big hands and
willing feet. 4
James reached the grocery store and
went to the proprietor. who knew him.
| do you want a boy to help deliver
soods?" he asked.
You're just, in time. James. We're
snort snf Of, Of help: Get on that wagon going
| James did SO, and the, wagon started
at mad pace: He had some difficulty
to maintain his seat on the rear end,
Finally it stopped with a lurch.
Here. boy" the driver commanded,
take this up to the third floor. Mrs.
James took the box filed with grocer
les and started on his journey. He was
p9iting breathlessly when he came down.
ended, leaving him with weary feet.
skinned knuckles and every bone In his
oody haVing separate ache He had
pocketed his fifty cents and was on his
way home. He stopped at the florists
and purchased some very pale, creamy
| looking roses 1t was quite late by now
put he knew they wouldn't miss him at
home; They would be very much re-
lieved because he wasn't there.
He pictured them all at the table
rather at the head. then brother and
sister. No. mother wouldn't be there ::
II she were, and he would straighten up
ms shoulders, she would say. "sit here
next TO mother, my little man"
At last he Ireached the house ana
walked bravely in. One OF his long legs
came IN connection with a leg Of the
chair. but he recovered himself quickly,
and going over near his father placed
the fifty cents he had received from him
that morning near his plate
Il worked today, father" he said In 4
low voice. "and I'm able to return the
though. It's all right, isn't III" he
mother" iV'
Still the father did not answer becaus.
of a Tightening In his thfoat,
James turned and flew up stairs
Reaching his mothers room. he gently
pushed open the door. Yes, she wa,
there. She looked around dreamlly, then
half started at the pathetic little fixI,ra
standing there. Cont torn, tive buttons
missing. muddy shoes and withal hold
ing carefully an armful of roses.
She put out her arms and In a minute
he was in them, sobbing and kissing her
between the sobs; forgetting his solied
hands and his uninteresting age
After a long silence he looked up and
said. with half smile, ...The world
doesn't matter. with knocks and digs.
while mothers still reign"
For anewer she hugged her boy closer.
The nsst complete noysIetts---T Turning
the Tables. n