Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-03-09
Philip Points
the Way
By CLAIRE SMITH


| Copyright, 1922, Western Newspaper Union. /
1t was great shock to the Van Nor
dens when Henry Bowes, Mrs, Van
Norden's father, announced by letter
that he had sold his farm and was
coming to live with them In their
house ON Fifth avenue.
"Pshaw, Molly, we can stow the old
gentleman away somewhere" said
John Van Norden. Il guess he's pretty
lonely up there in Cohoes,"' lie added.
Il shouldn't like to have to live all by
myself at eighty"
"But he'll teach Philip such dread
full manners" protested Molly.
"Well, what are we going to do,
dear?" asked her husband.
II suppose we'll have to take him"
said Molly. "But l shall make it per-
fectly clear to him, the moment he ar
rives, that he is not going to display
himself before our friends and make
us ridiculous after all the trouble
we've taken to get into the right set"
This was duly explained to Henry
HeWess--"Hank" Bowes among his
cronies at the i0eal store The old
man put his not too clean hana on MS
daughters shoulder and looked kindly
at her.
"My DEAR" he said, 81 amt going to
disgrace you, don't fear 1t. It's you 1
want-yOu and John and Philip. I'm
going to make myself scarce when
there's swell company around"
He had included Philip in his sum-
mary, but Molly Van Norden was de-
termined that he should have no OPP
portunity of corrupting the boys man
! ners. Nevertheless, with that curious
attachment which frequently exists
, between those of the extreme ages OF
life, Philip and the old man sought
each others company continually.
| Philip learned to whittle whistles out
of twigs, to blow out the leaves Of
| certain plant into FROGS" and sur
reptitiously acquired candy would fall
out Of the boys pockets when he was
| undressed at night. And the more
Molly tried to keep him away the
UlOlt IlC SOuSHl lllNGldlllCl SOALA .
pany.
After six months or SO Molly came
| to determination.
"John," she said. "Phillp Is learning
| the most disgusting table manners
from father. He makes a noise with
his soup and bites his bread Instead of
breaking 1t and-well, John, father Is
| not going to sit at table with us any
MORE"
So thenceforward grandfather ate
his meals in the next room in solitude.
The old man, roaming about the
house, gradually became disintegrat-
ing factor in the family.
John" Molly, announced one day, II
have decided to send father to an In
stitution.'
"My ,deari" said her husband in re-
monstrance.
''Oh, knew you would offer objec-
tons, John. But don't mean the
poOrhOuse. ] mean home where In
firm old people are taken In and well
cared for. Don't you see how childish
| he is becoming?"
"How about Philip? Don't you sup
pose that they will miss each other?"
II hope they will" his wife retorted.
~ mean them to, John. He is no fit
companion for child"
Happily, neither the old man nor
the boy knew what preparations were
afoot Henry Bowes remained as
much of nuisance as before. 1t was
| not till the day before his departure
that the child learned from the sery-
| ants that grandfather was going
away"
At that instant the first inkling of
life's tragedy entered the little brain.
He crept away into the walled garden
at the back Of the house.. Soon he was
busy again. ! His mother and father
found him there later. He had con-
structed a sort of picket fence from
some stakes left in the tool shed BY
the gardener. Inside this was pack
ing case. g.
"What's this, old chap?' asked john,
"That's table," answered the boy.
stable? What do you want table
forT inquired his mother.
that's for father, when he's old,
so that he won't let me see the way
he eats" said Philip.
can this is cage like the one
grandpa's to have" he continued,
pointing to the row of sticks. That's
SOS he won't make darned nuisance
Of himself when has comply"
Molly Van Norden looked at her
husband speechlessly. Then she
turned away and ran into the house.
John found her on the lounge few
mi6htes later, sobbing Historically.
"John, did you understand she
mOaned. "What does 1t mean?"
81 guess 1t means yonr fathers GO
ing to take his place in the family
from today" answered John Van Nor
den, kissing her. Don't you think 50,
my deari"
Molly nodded.
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