The Pulaskian., 1921-05-05
THE pErtAsKIAN. PULASKI HEIGHTS. ARK.

which had roughened the hands and bent the backs of their parents That briefly. accounts for the fewness and the sniffiness above referred to.
 Early in 1917, the village was shaken by alarming and astonishing news. True. the sinking of the Lusi- tania and our own enlistment in the World war and the German successes on the Russian frontier had. in afway prepared the heart and intellect of Bingville for shocking events. Stllls these disasters had been remote. The fact that the Gilligan sisters had left the Crookers and accepted an offer or one hundred and fifty dollars month from the wealthy Nixons of Hazel mead was an event close to the foot lights, so to speak. It caused the news of battles to take it's rfghtful place in the distant background Men talked of this event in stores and on the street corners; it was the subject of conversation in sewing circles and the Philomathian Literary club. That day, the Bings whispered about 1t at the dinner table between courses until Susan Crowder sent in a summons by Martha Featherstraw with the apple pie. She would be glad to see Mrs. j. Patterson Bing in the kitchen imme diately after dinner. There was mo- ment of silence in the midst of which Nfr. Bing winked knowingly at his wife, who turned pale as she put down her pie fork with look of determina- tion and rose and went into the kitch- en. Mrs. Crowder regretted that she and Martha would have to look for another family unless their wages were raised from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars month.
 But. Susan, we all made an agree ment for year." said Mrs. Bing.
 Mrs. Crowder was sorry, but she and Martha could not make out on the wages they were getting-everything cost so much If Mary Gilligan, who couldn't cook, was worth hundred dollars a month Mrs. Crowder consid- cred herself cheap at twice that figure.
 Mrs. Bing, in her anger. was in- clined to revolt. but Mir. Bing settled the matter by submitting to the tyr amy of Susan. With Phyllis and three of her young friends coming from school and party in prospect, there was nothing else to do.
 Maggie Collins. who was too old and too firmly rooted in the village to leave it, WAS satisfied with raise of ten dollars a month Even then she received a third of the minister's sal ary. His wife being a swell teddy who had no tune for wurruk, sure the boy was no sooner married than he yelled for help" as Maggie WAS won't to say.
 All this had q decided effect on the T economic life of the village. Indeed. Hiram Blenkinsop. the village drunk ard, who attended to the lawns and gardens for number of people, de- handed an increase sof a dollar day in his wages on account Of the high cost of living, although one would say that it's effect upon him could not have been serious For years the historic figure of Bienkinsop had been the des- tfnation and repository of the cast-ofr clothing and the worn and shapeless shoes of the leading citizens. For q decade, the venerable derby hat, which once belonged to Judge Crooker. had survived all the incidents of his ad- venturous career. He was, indeed, as replete with suggestive memories as the graveyard to which he was wont to repair for rest and recuDeration in summer weather. There, in the shade of a locust tree hard by the wall, he was often discovered with his faithful dog Christmas-a yellow, nongrel, good-natured cur-lying beside him. and the historic derby hat in his hand. He had a persevering pride in that hat. Mir. Blenkinsop showed sur- prising and commendable industry un- der the stimulation of increased pay. He worked hard for q month, then celebrated bis prosperity with q night of such noisy, riotous joy that he landed in the lookup with black eye and broken nose and an empty pocl.- ct. As usual, the dog Christmas went with him.
 When there was a loud yell in the streets at night Judge Crooker used to say. "It's Hiram again. Tho poor fellow is out a-Hiraming."
 William Snodgrass, the carpenter. gave much thought and reflection to the good fortune of the GiIigan girls. If hired girl could earn twenty-five dollars a week and her hoard. skilled mechanic, who had to board him. self, ought to earn at least fifty. So he put up his prices. Israel Sneed the plumber, raised his scale to corre- spond with that of the carpenter. Tho prices of the butcher and grocer kept pace with the rise of wages. 4 period of unexampled prosperity set in.
 Some time before. the Old Spirit of D bod rooo;,,o,l ,,ostao