The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-03-28

L
TODD people In the towns were more
particular about their dress those
days than now.
"I'll ask my aunt and uncle about
it," proposed.
"That's all right" he answered. I'm
going to drive to your house this after
noon and your uncle wishes you to
go with me. We are all to have talk
with Mr.. Grimshaw."
He left me and 1 went over to Mr..
Wright's.
They told me that he was cutting
corn in the back lot, where I found
him.
"Mr. Dunkelberg came this morning
and wanted to buy me some new
clothes and boots" 1 said.
The senator stopped work and stood
looking at me with his hands upon his
hips.
II wouldn't let him do II II I were
YOU" he said thoughtfully.
Just then / saw young man come
running toward us In the distant field.
Mr.. Wright took out his compass.
"Look here" he said, "you see the
needle points due north"
He took lodestone out Of his
pocket, and holding 1t near the COM
pass moved 1t back and forth. The
needle followed it.
The young man came up to us
breathing deeply. Precipitation was
rolling Off his face. He was much ex-
cited and spoke with some difficulty.
Senator Wright" he gasped, Mrs.
Wright sent me down to tell you that
| President Van Buren, Is at the house."
l remember wildly the look of mild
amusement In the senator's face and
the serene calmness with which he
looked at the young man and said to
him:
'Tell Mrs. Wright to make him COM
Portable in our easiest chair and to
say to the president that shall be up
directly"
To my utter surprise he resumed his
talk with me as the young man went
away.
"You see all ways are north when
you put this lodestOne near the
needle" he went on. 'If II Is to tell
you the truth you must keep the lode
stone away from the needle. It's that
way, too, with the compass Of your
soul, partner. There the lodestOne Is
selfishness, and with its help you can
make any direction look right to you
and sOon-you're lost"
10 hn 1aC Oh hun
we walked together toward the house,
the senator carrying his sickle.
II shall introduce you to the presi-
dent" he said as we neared our des-
tination. "Then perhaps you had bet
ter leave u.s."
1 could not remember that I had
ever been introduced" to anybody. /
knew that people put their wits on ex-
hibition and often flung down "snag"
by way of demonstrating their fitness
for the honor, when they were intro
duced in books. / remember asking
rather timidly:
"What shall say when-when you
Introduce me?"
"Oh, say anything you want to say"
he answered with look Of amuse-
ment.
"Tm kind o. scared" said.
'YOu needn't be-he was once q
poor boy just like YOU"
"Just like mel" 1 repeated thought
fully, for while had heard q good
deal Of that kind Of thing in our home,
1t had not, somehow, got under my
jacket, as they used to say.
"Just like you-cowhide and all
the son of small freeholder in Kin
derhook on the Hudson" he went on.
"But he was well fed In brain and
body and kept his heart clean. So of
course he grew and is still growing.
That's curious thing about men and
women, Bart. If they are in good
ground and properly cared for they
never stop growing - never - and |
that's q pretty full word-isn't It?
We had come in sight Of the house. |
l Jagged behind q little when i saw
the great man sitting on the small |
piazza with Mrs. Wright ! see Wv |
idly, as I write, the full figure, the |
rudy, kindly face, the large nose, the
gray eyes, the thick halo Of silvered
hair extending from HIS collar to the |
bald top of his head. He rose and
said In deep voice:
"He sows Ill luck who hinders the |
reaper"
Mr.. Wright hung his sickle on |
small tree In the dooryard and an
swered:
"The plowman has Overtaken the |
reaper, Mr.. President. bid you well
come to my humble home"
ut is pleasure to be here and
regret to call you back to Washing
ton" said the president as they shook |
hands.
II suppose that means an extra ses-
sion," the senator answered.
First let me reassure you. shall |
get away as soon as possible, for l
know that a president is heavy bur-
den for one to have on his hands,"