The spectator., 1921-10-14
By Booth arkington
 Copyright, 1921 by the Bell Syndicate, Inc.

they got d desk from that nasty little Henry Rooter's mothers attic: and a table and some chairs. and a map on the wall: and that's their newspaper office. They go out and look for what's the news. and write il down in ink |; and then they 60 through the gate to the other side of the railing where the printing press is, und print it for their newspaper"
 But what do they do on the fence so much?'
 That's where they go to watch what the news iS." Florence explained mOroSely. They think they're so grand, Sittin' up there pokin' around. They go other places, too; and they ask people That's all they said I could be :" Here the lady's bitterness became strongly intensified '"They said, maybe I could be one O the ones they asked if l knew anything, some times if they happen to think of it! I just respcctf'1y told 'em I'd decline to Wlpe my oldest shoes on 'em to save their lives,"
 Mrs Atwater sighed You mustn't Use such expressions, Florence
 T don't see why not the daughter objected. They're lot more refined than the expressions they used on me-"
 Then I'm very glad you didn't play with them"
 But at this, Florence once more gave way to filial despair. Mama. you just can't see through anything. Eve said anyhow fifty times they aint aren't playing, They're getting up real newspaper, and people buy it. and everything. They have been all over this part of town and got every aunt and uncle they have, besides their own fathers and mothers. and some people in the neighhorhood. and Kitty Silver and two OF three other colored people besides, that work for families they know. They're going to charge twenty-five cents year. eollect-in-ad- vance because they want the money first; and even papa gave 'em a quar- ter last night; he told me so.''
 How often do they publish their paper. Florence?" Mrs. Atwater in quired somewhat absently. having re- sumcd her sewing.
 Every week; and they're goin to have the first one a week from to- day
 What do they call it?
 The North End Daily Oriole It's the silliest name I ever heard for newspaper; and told 'em so. told 'em what I thought of it, guess '"
 Was that the reaSon?" Mrs. Al. water asked.
 Was it what reason, mamaf"
 Was ii the reason they wouldn't let you Se a reporter with them?"
 Pooh - Florence exclaimed airily 'I didn't want anything to do with their ole paper. But anyway didn't make fun O their Callin' it the North End Daily Oriole till after they said I couldn't be in it. Then I did, you bet '"
 Florence, don't say"
 Mama, got to say somep'm, We'll told 'em wouldn't be in their ole paper If they begged me on their bent cd knees; and l said if they begged me thousand years I wouldn't be in any paper with such crazy name !; and I wouldn't tell 'em any news if I knew the President of the United States had the scarlet fever, just 1 politely informed 'em they could say what they liked If they was dying; declined so much as wipe the oldest shoes I got on 'em!"
 But why wouldn't they let you be on the paper?" her mother insisted.
 Upon this Florence became analyti- cal. Just sos they could net so i'm portantw And she added. as con sequence: They ought to be arrest i ed"
 Mrs. Atwater murmured absently, 1 but fOrbOre to press her inquiry; and | Florence was silent, in breeding mood. The journalists upon the fence had disappeared from view. during the conversation with her mother; and presently she sighed and quietly left the room. She went to her own apart ment, where at small and rather battered little white desk, after pc riod of earnest reverie. she took uI pen, wet the point In purple ink, and without any great effort or any crtti