The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-07-23
The Black Sheep.

anu frankly JOlu OnVe WnaC ne con-
sidered the mothers plan to be.
One evening while working in his
office, with Olive helping him file
some letters, he stopped suddenly, and
said, as he found one of Jacks let
ters in the unopened mail, "You must
understand me Olive, that I do not
approve of your correspondence with
that young fellow, for the very good
reason, that I know nothing about
him. But that is not saying that
know all the decent and desirable
people in the world He may be as
goad as any man on earth. I know
he has more brains than the average.
He may be alright, and if he is, and
you love him I'll give you both start.
And if lie is not, and you are con.
WINGED that he can make you happy,
don 7 rush things, but bring him home,
and | will help you make him what
he ought to be. Your mother thinks
that ! am afraid to let you 90 to
your uncle, that is not the case you
meet him there. If he is the right sort,
he will treat you as you ought to be
treated, and / have confidence enough
in your natural ability, that 1 believe
no man on earth could get the best
of you. You know that your Dad will
hfp you in any thing you want and
he'll let YOU be the Judge of whether
it is good or bad. I have tried to
make your life for YOU. and failed
Now | am going Ia try to help you
make your own life, so that you will
win, and after all that is what
counts with me. Play fair with your
Dad, Ollie and he will play fair with
you.
so [ think you had better. 90 TO
Colorado, and spend the summer run
ming around the hills. This fall you
can enter the University there, and I
will come up and have a look as 20
how you are making it," Then after
filling a pipe and causing it to de-
scribe its customary circle before his
face from the corner of his mouth he
added, "and when you get back into
school, dig into your books, and
forget those rotten papers you have
been reading. They are enough to
drive an average man crazy, let alone
silly romantic girl"
AT all of this, Olive smiled casual
good natured but not unapreciative
smile. sit is no use for us to argue
these questions, Daddy We have
argued them often enough. In fact we
have done little else for the past eight
months. The trouble with us is, that
we look at life from different angles
TIE me the purpose of life is to serve
my fellow men, to help them to inn
prove their lot, and you live to use
your fellow men, to improve your lot.
You may be right and 1 wrong, but
if you are right, it is no use that
educate myself. would. ld..-rather. that,
death overtake me, before I actually
take part in this world 3 affairs, than
to live with the consciousness that
fattened and prospered on the in
justice done to my fellow beings"
Anderson waved his hand in a de-
predatory GESTURE. "Utopia Ollie bug
house utopia" he said emphatically
| bet you fifty dollars that even your
sweetheart would take what he can
get, wherever he can get it. Such
ideas as you have are born Of empty
pockets in men, and of empty heads
in women. You take yourself too Sc
riously. That is all. You are bent on
making lot of crazy sacrifices for
which the mob won't thank you. Tho
popular guy is the guy who gets it."
Then after pause, during which he
eyed the firl admiringly, he continued
Any way, after all is said and done,
parasite as I am, I am the best friend
you havo on earth, Ollie, and durn
your little hide you know it,"
"Why of course I know it," said
MS daughter, as she walked over 10
him and ran her fingers thru his hair
Il don t blame you, but the system"
"Now cut that out. You talk like
Iase Bateman, that crazy socialist
iown on Lake Anthony. He is always
lollering about the system. I'd give
iollar to break up what little system
,e has" Then in softer vein. "Now
)llie be reasonable. What could
nave done for you, If I didn Z get IL
'ff the other fellowir
That's where the system is wrong.
There is enough for all, and we should
% conduct society, that all could have
nough. as a reward for service render.
d." Olive PERSISTED
"Oh, those rotten papers. wish
new who sent them to you. Still
ont misunderstood me I don I say
here is no truth in them
Eve since Olive had met Jack and
he consequent change in her mental
ttitudc towards things as they were
n her class in society, Anderson had
ried with his customary throughness
rehabilitate his daughters shaken
rust in him. He had succeeded most
dmirably, for instead Of an aliena.
ion a closer aud very practicable
omradeship had grown up between
i'm and his daughter, He realized that
he knew the game, and discussed It
rankly with her, and she understood,
nd loved him because Of his fear.
'ssness in telling her the truth.
ruth, the reality of which she de.
pised. What was true of his attitude
'ward her in business relations, and
'cial conduct was even more true in
is attitude toward the boy with whom
is daughter corresponded. He at all