The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-12-22

And the child, In that crickets
voice of his, replied:
"Br-r-ra-vop
This was the form OF salutation ia
military in use between them. Beas-
ley followed 1t by inQuiring, who's
with us today?"
"I'm Mister Swift" chirped the little
fellow. Mister Swift, II you please,
Cousin David Beasley."
'sThere is a gentleman here who'd like
to meet you" And he presented me
with some grave phrases commenda-
tory of my general character, address,
ing the child as Mister Swift !;
whereupon Mister Swift gave me
ghostly little hand and professed him
selfe glad to meet me.
"And besides me-" he added, to
Beasley, there's Bill Hammersley and
Mr.. Corley Linbridge."
A faint perplexity manifested itself
upon Beasley's face at this, a shadow
which cleared at once when asked IL
might not be permitted to meet these
personages, remarking that had
heard from Dowden of Bill Hammers
ley, though until now stranger to
the fame OF Mr. Corley Linbridge.
Beasley performed the ceremony
with Intentional elegance, while the
boys great eyes swept glowingly from
his cousins face to mine and back
agin. bowed and shook hands with
| the air. once to my left and once to
my right.
"And Simpledorial" cried Mister
Swift. "You'lI enjoy Simpledoria."
above all things" said "Can he
shake hands? Some dogs cam"
watch himlv Mister Swift lifted
a commanding finger. "Slmpledoria,
shake .hands!'
knelt beside the wagon and shook
an imaginary big paw. At this Mister
Swift again shook hands with me and
allowed me to perceive. in his lumi-
nous regard, solemn commentator
and approval.
In this wise was my initiation into
the beautiful old house and the cor
diality OF its inmates completed; and
became a familiar of David Beasley
and his ward. with the privilege to go
and come as pleased; there was al
ways gay and friendly welcome. al
ways came for the cigar after lunch,
sometimes for lunch itself; sometimes
dined there instead of down town:
and now and then when 1t happened
that an errand or assignment took me
that way In the afternoon, would run
In and visit" awhile with Hamilton
Swift, Junior. and his circle of friends.
There were days. of course, when
his attacks were upon him, and only
Beasley and the doctor and old Bob
saw him; / do not know what the boys
| mental condition was at such times
but when he was better, and could be
wheeled about the house and again re-
ceive callers, he displayed an almost
dismaying activity Of mind-it was ac-
tive enough, certainly, to keep far
ahead of my own. And he was mas
terful: still, Beasley and Dowden and
I were never directly chidden for In.
subordination, though made to vince
/ painfully by the look Of troubled sur
prise that met us when we were not
quick enough to catch his meaning.
The order of the day with him al
ways began with the "Hoo-ray" and
.sBr-r-ra-v0" of greeting; after which
we were to inquire, who's with us to-
day." Whereupon he would make
known the character in which he elect
ed to be received for the occasion. II
he announced himself as mister
Swift" everything was to be very
grown-up and decoro6s indeed. For
malities and distances were observed;
and Mr.. Corley Linbridge Gan elderly
parsonage of great dignity and distinc-
ton as mountain-climber) was much
oftener included in the conversation
than Bill Hammersley. If, however,
he declared himself to be Hamilton
Swift. Junior" which was his happiest
mood, Bill Hammersley and Simple
doria were in the ascendant, and there
were games and contests. (Dowden,
fBeasley and all slid down the BAN
listers on one of the Hamilton Swift,
Junior, days, at which really pictur-
esque spectacle the boy almost cried
with laughter-and old Bob and his
| wife. who came running from the
kitchen, did cry.) He had third ap-
pellation for himself-"Just little HAM
ilton;" but this was only when the
creaky voice could hardly chirp at all
and the weakened face was drawn to
one side with suffering. When he told
US he was "Just little Hamilton" we
were very quiet.
Once, for ten days, his Invisibles all
went away on visit: Hamilton Swift,
Junior. had become interested. in
bears. While this lasted. all of Beas-
ley's trousers were, as Dowden said,
"a sight" For that matter. Dowden
himself was quite hoarse in court
| from growing so much. The bears
were dismissed abruptly: Bill Ham
mersley and Mr.. Corley Linbridge and
Simpledoria came trooping back, and
with them they brought that wonderful