The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-10-31

L had consented to become one OF
Miss Bankhead's corps of welfare
workers in South Wlngate.
"Your work will be chiefly among
the boys" she had said, and in line
of uplift."
Well. l started a boys club. I rented
a comfortable basement room opening
on Battery street l made the room
homeIike with Turkey red curtains and
bright pictures. There were tables for
games one of my married brothers
gave me a p%honograph that he was
tired OF having about The house. and /
| filed a bookcase with attractive bo0.s.
But the boys would only come nee
or twice, and then they spent their
time scufIling and upsettlng the tables.
They handled the books roughly, cross
ing out the Olive j. Ramsdel | had
written on the fly leaves in = clear.
firm hand and scrawling "R~amshaeklee
underneath.
But l knew the way to a mans
heart, and the boy is father to the man.
/ invited the boys to a spread in the
| clIDIOOID. hill tialiliAf pains i nlPA<
sandwiches of six kinds.
'Aw, chuck the bread and butter.
We want some cake, that kind with the
yellow frosting. Pass the cake, Ram
shackle."
Sandwiches come first | an
swered, firmly. .sThen well be ready
for cake" "Aw! were ready now
cried one.
Then there was an uproar. They
began fpelting M another with the
sandwiches and | got a smart blow
on my left ear. | was 10 quite sure
that Tom Durgin aimed the missile at
me. but l knew very well that he was
glad he hit me.
As soon the boys were out CT I'M
munition they raided the cake table.
They snatched all the cakes, overturn-
ing the lemonade pitcher. Some one
turned of the lights and they all
rushed whooping for the door.
"Good-by, Ramshackle! they were
shouting as the last n shut the door
with a bang. / turned IN the lights
and scrubbed my ear and stiffened my
self. All my brothers had called me
homely. They had criticised the size
of my ears and the shape of my nose.
but not one of them had ever said |
had q weak chin.
"Well," / said, "Tll let in some fresh
air before I clean up this mess
I turned the knob, but the door was
fast. Those boys had taken the key
and locked me in.I was a prisoner and
probably for the night. Should I at
tract the attention of some passer-by
by pounding on the window pane? Not
for money l knew that Terry and Tom
and others of the crowd would be
watching somewhere, and had no de.
sire to make them happy i'll that way.
Back of the club room there was a
small place used for storage. | had
not wished the boys TO forage there,
and the key was in my pocket. | went
in and Investigated. In one corner there
was a rlckety ladder leading to a loft
] knew there was a laundry above that
opened on Main street. If I could
manage to get up that ladder and into
that laundry before everybody was
gone, I would walk out serenely BY
that Main street door.
I gained the loft and, brushing of
the cobwebs as we'll as I could with
my handkerchief, I grouped success
fully for the laundry door. The mana.
ger was still there.
Excuse me" I said as nonchalantly
as I could. considering that | was still
gasping for breath and there were
several cobwebs left, I've lost my key
VIII you permit me to go out by your
door,"
Certainly" he answered.
You may be sure I took pains to let
the boys see me walking in a matter OF
course way about the adjacent streets,
and / had the satisfaction of meeting
seven of them. To my easy, friendly
Good evening. boys. It's a great night
to be out" one Of them answered,
That's all right. Miss Rarnsdell."
Miss Ramsdell! My spirits rose.
And I want TO say right here that not
one of those boys ever called me Ram
shackle again.
] had a wakeful night trying to in
vent sone new scheme for the uplift
OF my charges. In the morning the
~ring-leader was at the banquet hall be-
fore me armed With a broom.
I'm going to help you clean up,
he announced.
'That's right good OF YOU, Terry"
Say" he said. leaning on his broom.
"scme of these fevers got pretty fresh
last night"
/ did not remind Terry that he had
been the chief in the barbarities. hui
young. Perhaps they haven't learned
table vet.
That's it. They're an igrynunt lOt.
But I'll learn ems and when we have
another spread they'll behave"
Another spread l shivered at the
thought. But we had another and the
BOYS did behave. Don't imagine il was
all smooth seas after that. Still, with
Terry's efficient backing, l soon had .
thriving bows club. and every boy was
my staunch friend.
"Say," Terry confided in me once.
when we were working together, that
night 7 saw you walking up Main
street after our spread, Tom Durgin
was along and he says: Why, there's
Ramshackle.' ! says to him, No. faint
neither. That's Miss Ramsdell.'"
waS Sura H.