Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-10-27

Mobiles expression took on cold
ness; for the word brought TO his
mind thought of Newland Saunders.
This was a poet of Mobiles age, who
wrote verses to Julia-that too-lovely,
absent aunt of Florence's. '.Do like
poetry" said Noble. mo, don't"
Florence was momentarily discour-
aged but at her age people usually
possess an invaluable faculty which
they lose later in life; and it is pity
they do lose it. AT especial
ly the earlier months of thirteen
they are still able to set aside and
dismiss from their minds almost any
facts, no matter how audibly- those
facts have asked for recognition. Chill
dren superbly allow themselves to be-
come deaf, so to speak, to undesirable
circumstances most frequently, of
course, to undesirable circumstances
in the way ofsparental direction; SO
that fathers, EiSthers, nurses, or gov
ernesses. not comprehending that this
mental deafness is for the time being
entirely genuine, are liable to hoarse
ness both of throat and temper. Thir-
teen is an age when the fading of this
gift or talent-one of the most beau
tiful of hildh0od-begins to impair
its helpfulness, under the mistaken
stress of discipline; but Florence re-
tanned something of 1t. In moment
or two Noble Dill's disaffection toward
poetry was altogether as if it did not
exist
She coughed inclined her head
little to one side, in her mothers
manner of politeness to callers, and,
repeating her deprecatory laugh, re-
marked, swell, of course it's kind of
funny question for me to ask, of
course
"What is, Florence?" Noble inquired
absently.
"Well-what / was saying was that
course it's sort of queer me askin'
if you liked poetry, of course. on &C.
count of my writing poetry the way
do now"
She looked up at him with bright
readiness TO respond modeStly to
whatever exclamation his wonder
should dictate; but Mobiles attention
had struggled again. He failed to
comprehend what she had set before
him.
Has she written your mother late
Typ he asked.
Florence's expression denoted a
mental condition slightly disturbed.
eNo," she said. ''It's 'gon' to be
printed in the North End Daily ORR.
ole.'
"What?"
my poem. It's about vast amen
anyhow that's prob'ly the best thing
in it, l guess-and they're goin' to
have 1t tomorrow, or else they'll have
to settle with me; that's one thing
certain! I'll bring one over to your
house and leave 1t at the door for
YOU. Mr.. Dill"
Noble had but confused notion
or what she thus generally promised.
However. he said, THANK you," and
nodded vaguely.
"Of course, don't know as it's so
awful good" Florence admitted insin-
cerely. 1.-The family all seem to think
it's something pretty much; but don't
know if it is or not. Really. l don't"
NO." said Noble, still confused. Il
suppose not"
I'm half way through another one
/ think myself'll be good deal better.
! I'm not goin' as fast with it as / did
with the other one, and expect it'll be
quite a ways ahead of this one" She
again employed the deprecatory little
laugh. 81 don't know how do 1t,
myself The family all think it's sort
of funny; / don't know how | do IT
myself; but that's the way it is. They
all say if they could do it they're sure
they'd know how they did it; but
guess they're wrong. / presume IL
you can do 1t, why 1t just comes to
you? Don't you presume that's the
| way 1t is, Mr.. DIP"
| T-guess So" They had reached
his gate, and he stopped. You're sure
none of your family have heard any
thing todayr he asked anxiously.
"From Aunt Julia? l don't think
they have"
He sighed, and opened the gate.
"Well, good evening Florence"
Good evening" Her eyes followed
him wistfully as he passed within the
inclosure; then she turned and walked
quickly toward her own home; but at
the corner of the next fence she called
over her shoulder, "pll leave 1t with
your mother for you, IL you're not
home when bring it."
"What?' he shouted, from the VI
cinity of his front door.
"Ill leave II with your mother"
Leave what?"
"The Doeml"
"0h ~ said Noble.
His mother handed him a copy Of
the first issue of the North End Daily
Oriole. the next day when he came
home to lunch. He read it without
/ odfaaoffot fhara x..au nofhfnO QhOrt