Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-18
81 ROY D. LINDsTRoN.

son Abe was three years younger
Than he Is, he vas a regular bad
clip from the old blockhead, and /
couldn't do nuttin' vid him. much.
He wouldn't &c to school half of his
time and ven his mudder would like
him to do Something's, he would be
playing cards for nickels In the
alley Wit the bad gang Of poys, who
didn't half nudding to do but plan
who's barn they would burn down
next. or how many windows they
could break before 1t got dark, and
keep the cigaret factories working
overtime making pimple-sticks ven
de soldiers and me needed dem so
much. Talk about bad. Say. Oh!
A cold storage egg vas q angel Wit
dem kids. Many times I took q
shaving strap and hit him lots OF
times we're he is highest ven he is
STOPPING down. But it vas no use.
got mad and quit because /
couldn't afford to pay such high
prices for straps. Dot poy vas so
tough he wore out dot leather like
rubbed It Wit sand. Oh. II he
lived in Mexico he would hat been
elected president in place Of Villa.
Den vun evening he didn't play
Wit dot bad gang. but set on the
sidewalk vii / cut the grass and /
fought he vas sick or someding
Ven he said to me, "Fadder. I would
like to make myself a Boy Scout"
/ told him he vas too many years
old to ride like dot, and dot the
cement sidewalk would wear out
quick enough anyway. You see ]
fought he wanted board Wit one
half Of a roller skate on each end,
vich day call a scooter, and ven
poy rides on it he is poy scoot,
and ven a girl uses it she is tom
pov. Abe says. mo, no, ladder. q
Boy Scout Is not scooter on veels
he chust choins Wit some other poys
and den dey hat a scoutmaster, and
it is not scoot, it's scout, Wit de
accent on de out, meaning outside
see?"
For a whole week in de night time
he wouldn't let me figure how much
money ! would hat in seven years
II l had two annual sales every
year, so l told him l would talk
Wit dot scoutmaster fellow, vich
did and day after Tuesday, l told
him, Say, Mister, my poy Abe
would like to drive me historical
Wit him 'Fadder, l want to be a Boy
Scout Please Mister, tell me vol
is it a Boy Scout% Den he told me
so much things, I hat not got the
education to remember. He said
should let my boy be Scout, that
he would learn to be Trustworthy
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous
kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty
brave. clean and reverent, and vur
part l remember vot sunk into me
like ink in a blotter, ven he said
"A Scout promises that upon his
honor he will do his duty to Coo
and his country and obey the Scout
law, that he will help other people
at all times and that he will keer
himself physically strong, mentally
awake, and morally straight"
couldn't see who would get hur1
ven de scoutmaster said: Let youl
boy choin, in a whole year you vii
hat better boy" So my wife anC
me had board Of directors meet
ing Wit all present, and passed reso-
lutions that maybe Abe could be q
better boy for choining.
So We decided to buy Abe suit
rope, a Ratchet, a blanket, q
wrist watch, vaciusm bottle, q
tooth brush and everything he iced.
ed. It's funny thing ven l tinh
how Abe vas mad Wit his ladder
two weeks before dot ven he didn't
want to go to school Wit short pants
on, so bought him long vuns. Der
he vas hat dead from being ticklet
Wit his Boy Scout suit, short pants
Wit two pieces Of goods around the
veal part of his legs, and so hell
me, the first time in his IA year.
of age he make his shoes shined ant
since den he has always kept den
looking like he had them painted
Wit varnish, and also We used to ge
enough real estate from his ear,
and neck to help fill mine bacl
back yard, but no more. l guess
Won't get the yard level now til
they pave the street.
Such a change in mine boy, Ire,
weeks after taking the oath of
scout, ! wouldn't hat know him
his mudder hadn't Of recognize
him and after he camped yid d
boys in the summer and cam
home fat and looking de color of
brick building, Wit. an appetite lik
he vas twins. neither Rebekah o
/ would have left him in if it hadn'
of been dot ] recognized the blank
ct he took away from home. Fl