Catoctin clarion., 1923-04-26
His Way Of
Carrying On
By MORRIS SCHULTZ
%, 1929, Western Newspaper Union.)


20. 1929. Western Newspaper Union.)
Craven, the newspaper man. had the
Ghetto quarter to cover, among others
at least, being assigned to the police
station there, he made 1t his business
to get acquainted with the inhabitants
Of the district.
Very friendly they proved to be, for
Craven was a popular young fellow.
He had his likes and dislikes. One of
his-friends was Wasserburg, who kept
the fruit shop. One Of his dislikes
was old Isaac, who pushed his cart
along the road opposite Wasserburg's
precisely at ten o'clock every morn
Ing, shouting "Ole Clo'."
Craven had never spoken to old
Isaac. He was dirty old man with
a struggling gray beard and earlocks.
Craven principally disliked him be-
cause he always passed Wasserburg's
at ten o'clock, and it Is annoying to
have the same thing happen to you
every morning at exactly the same
hour.
"Old Isaac2 Sure know him." said
Wasserburg. "Six, seven, nine year
he's been on this job. He must have
made a pile Of money. His wife and
Observation-Disclosures coming over
from Russia next mont. Sure, nine
year he haven't seen them. He's al
ways talking about that Becky Of his,
what a big girl she's grown. I guess
maybe he won't be pleased to see them
again."
The push-cart man went on. "Ole
Clo'l" came Isaac's raucous voice.
If he's made money why doesn't he
give up that push-cart and take
shopP asked Craven.
"Why, tell you," said Wasserburg.
"It's human nature. He's pushed that
old cart SO long he wouldn't be happy
without it. It's his way Of carrying
on. It's his life in way, Just as I
wouldn't be happy, however much
money had, without my shop here"
"Ole clo'" came the peddler's cry
more family down the street.
"Well, hope his wife and daughter
won't be shocked by his appearance"
said Craven.
"Oh, guess not" responded Was
serburg. "And for why should they
be7 That's his working clothes. You
ought to see Isaac on Saturday-my,
you wouldn't know him in his silk
hat and"
"silk hat" queried Craven incred-
uously.
"Sure, and Prince Albert. And
cleanl Every Friday night he takes
his bath as regular as clock work
And fine fiat he's getting for them I"
Craven laughed and forgot old Isaac.
He was shifted to the shipping the
next week, and never expected to see
the old fellow again.
However. six weeks later he was
sent back to the police station. The
first person he saw whom he knew
was old Isaac, pushing his cart, dirty
and discreditable-looking as ever.
"Ole Co'l Ole Clo'w
1t was almost more than Craven
could stand. The sight Of the old
man awoke some elemental feeling Of
revulsion In him. Why couldn't the
old man keep clean on all the days Of
the week instead Of only washing up
on Friday night7
Why couldn't he take some Of the
fairly decent clothes from his push
wagon and attire himself in them. in
stead of going about looking like q
And why did he call his trade In
that monotonous. raucous voice7 Why
he throw little life into It?
And he glared after old Isaac as he
went down the street, rejecting that
every morning at ten o'clock the same
apparition would pass him.
He found his friend Wasserburg.
"Hey, you back, Mr.. CravenT Was
serburg asked. "Where you been
keeping yourself all this timer
"Oh. I've been doing the shipping"
said Craven. "Say, just saw old
Isaac pushing his cart as usual. He
doesn't seem to change"
"No, guess not, poor feller." said
"Poor? I thought you said he was
mighty well fixed"
"Oh, guess you amt heard 1t, Mr..
Craven. You wouldn't, of course.
You remember me telling you about
his wife and that girl of his, Becky,
he was always blowing aboutf"
'Yes?"
"They died, both of 'em. Burned to
death last night (Friday mighty. just
two days after they came here"
my Godp said Craven, shocked
deeply. "But the old mans still push
ing his cart"
"Oh, I guess he'll do that as long
as he lives" answered Wasserburg.
THAT'S his life, you see. He's just
ra rrvinp on"