Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-12-11

Mrs, POllywog will he over tomorrow
% borrow your fountain pen or your
tortoiseshell comb or perhaps she will
come visiting for a few days, and the
cost of entertaining her would buy sew
eral barrels of chicken broth.
Il hate TO have anybody do me
kindness, knowing I'll be expected tC
return the favor with interest in one
way or another. When was a mere
boy my eyes were opened 10 the faci
that kind actions are a deluSion and
snare. Next door to us there lived an
old dame named Mrs. Crimp One day
she came over TO our house with q
pa L of wooden socks she had knttet
for me. | suppose an equally gooG
pair could have been bought at the
trade palace for fifteen cents, and J
wasn't overwhelmed with joy. My
mother who, with all her splendid
qualities, was an easy mark, and in
clned to find good in everything ana
everybody, vas enthusiastic over Mrs
Crimp's generosity.
But even in my infant years | was
gifted with the wisdom of the serpent.
and felt from the first that there was
some malevolent scheme in the back
ground.
THE scheme was soon developed
Mrs, Crimp had many chores TO DO
and size hated to do them herself
There was wood to he carried into the
house. and the COW tn be taken care
Of and hundred other unprotitaOla
tasks Every time ia meet her she'd
say. well, my sweet little boy, with
your golden ringlets and sunny smile
how do you like the socks made yOui
II you only knew how ] worked, so you
would have the hest socks in town
And that reminds nae of little erraud
/ wish You would do for me Go to
Mr.. JinkS. who lives seven miles north
and ask him to let you have his saw,
80 you can cut some kindling for me
tomorrow"
First and last. Mrs. JiggerS, put IN
$1,000 worth Of manual labor for that
woman and nay youth was poisoned
and my manh0od emblttercd by ii. !
might have forgiven everything had
the socks b,cn good ones. but they
were atroCinus. The heels always
worked around to my instcps and the
tops worked down over my shoes.
at has b.Aen that way all my life.
When Il man insists upon doing me a
kindness l look upon him with sus-
picion. When ] was laid up in my
room with a broken leg two or three
years ago. | had an excellent time.
The leg hurt only at intervals and
had plenty Of novels to read. and
nothing to worry over, and ! would
have enjoyed myself splendldy but
for tiresome philanthropists who We're
determined 20 sit by my bedside and
cheer me up. ] didn't need any cheer
ing up, and | tried TO convince them
that their visits had the opposite Of
feet. but they wouldn't take a hint
They sat by my couch Of suffering and
told idiotic stories, and bored me al
most to death.
Jim Higginbottom was an especial
nuisance That man simply wouldn't
90 away as long as there was an ex-
cuse for staying. He said his con
Rcience wouldn't allow him to for5ake
me bedside Of O suffering FREUD At
that time | carried some accident in
~urancc and when my check came Jir4
borrowed half Of it, and after be got
the money he never worried over nay
leg any more And he never returned
any of the money. I don't blame him
for that, for l make It rule never 10
return borrowed nancy, but ] can't
easily forgive him fQr boring me so
many hours, when / wanted to be
reading"