The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-06-24
II guess we've rot enough % eae


hiding his hunger.
do you call that lie7 the Shep-
herd asked as soon as the minister
had gone.
"A little onei But in my opinion II
don't count said Mr.. Bloggs. "You
we're thinking Of those who need food
more than you and that d rms 1t SQUARE
around. / call 1t goldAn He--I do"
The minister had scarcely turned
the corner Of the street, when he met
Hiram Blenkinsop, who was shivering
along without an overcoat, the dog
Christmas at his heels.
Mr.. Singleton stopped him.
"Why, mani Haven't you an over
coat?" he asked.
mo, sirl It's hangIn' on peg In a
pawnshop over in Hazelmead. 1t amt
doin' the peg any good nor me
ueitherl''
well, sir, You come with me-" said
the minister. sits about dinner time.
anyway, and guess you need lining
as well as covering"
The drunkard looked into the face
| or the minister.
Say 1t agin," he muttered.
Il wouldn't wonder If little food
would make you feel better" Mr.. Sim
| gleton added.
"a little, did you say3" Blenklnsop
asked.
MAKE 1t a lot-as much as you
! can accommodate"
"And do you mean that We want me
to go an eat in yer houseT
Eyes, at my table-why notT'
ut wouldn't be respectable. l don't
| want to be too particular, but tramp
must draw the line somewhere"
"I'll be on my best behavior. Come
on" said the minister.
The two men FASTENED up the street
followed by the detected little yellow
| dog, Christmas.
Mrs. Singleton and her daughter
were out with a committee of the
children's helpers and the minister
was dining alone that day and, as
usual, at one o'clock, that being the
hour for dinner in the village of Bing-
vile.
"Tell me about yourself" said the
minister as they sat down at the ia
/ Bile.
"MyseIf-did you say?" Hiram Blen-
kinsop asked as one of his feet crept
under his chair to conceal it's disrepu-
table appearance, while his dog had
partly hidden himself un6er a serving
table where he seemed to be shiverIng
with apprehension as he peered out,
with raised hackles, at the stag's head
over the mantel.
| EYES,"
81 amt got any Self, sir; It's all
gone" said Blenkinsop, as he took
swallow of water.
"A man without any Self is a curl
GUS creature" the minister remarked.
SIN as empty as a woodpecker's
hos in the winter time. The bird has
flown. belong to this ere dog He's
a poor dog. I'm all he's got. If he
had to pay a license on me I'd have
to be killed. He's kind to me. He's
the only friend I've got"
Hiram Blenkinsop riveted his atten-
ton upon an old warming-pan that
hung by the fireplace. He hardly looked
at the face of the minister.
"How did you come to lose your
SelfT' the latter asked.
Married bad woman and took to
drink. A mans Self can stand cold
! an hunger an shipwreck an loss O.
friends an money an any quantity
O. bad luck, take it as 1t comes, but
bad woman breaks the works in him
an stops his clock dead. Leastways,
II done that to me! !"
'She is like an arrow In his liver"
the minister quoted. 'Mr Blenkinsop,
where do you stay nights"
tive shake-down in the little loft
i. over the OF blacksmith shop on Water
street. There are cracks in the ga
BILE, an the snow an the wind blows
in, an the place is dark an smells
o. coal gas an horses feet, but Christ
mas an snug up together an manage
to live through the winter. In hot
weather we sleep under tree in the
OIL graveyard an study astronomy.
Sometimes I wish was there for
good"
Wouldn't you like bed in a COM
Portable housep'
mo. / couldn't take the dog there
an I'd have to git up like other folks"
Would you think that hardship
well, We see. sir, If ye're layn.
down We amt hungry. Then, too !
likes to dilly-dally In bed"
What may that meanf" the MN
lister asked.
Il likes to lay an think an bullo
air castles"
What kind of castlesT
"Well, sir. I'm thinkin' often
time when I'll have a grand suit
clothes. and shiny silk tile on ny
head. an, q roll q, hills In nv pockeh