The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-08-07
Jerusalem
Cherry Tree
By RAMONA c. WOODBURY.


Ike the average city-brsd man.
Robert Hollis had 4 strictly limited
howiedge Of botany He could dis
0nguish roses from violecs. and he
knew chryssnthesnurns because every
0oe wore q huge red one the day Of
fhs Harvard-fale game But what be
lacked In familiarity with plants and
Asvsrs he made up for IN his Hbersl
and complete education In the nne
psants Of superstition
Robert had been raised by an
austsre New England mother: whose
lie was ruled BY certain signs and
sGsnA Robert never walked under q
ladder. he never failed to pick up q
pin He never crossed 4 street In
front Of q funeral procession and he
always counted the number Of guests
af 4 dinner table before he sat down
This does not mean that Robert was
q namby-pamby. He had been one of
the first boys to enlist in the Yankee
division and he had come through the
vlr with two scars and numerous cita-
lions. he personally credited his safe
deliverance from that chaotic ferment
- q four-leafed clover tucked away in
q little prayer book his mother had
given him
He and Janet had been living in
thsir own apartment about two years
when, one October evening. he was
Doking about the plants that stood in
ths wicker fern box In the sunrcou-
whats this dearf A new plantT'
- asked
Janet thrust a small hand In a SIX
sock and scrutinized the surface for
tiny holes before she looked up
-Oh. yes, honey. That's q Jerusalem
cherry tree that Mrs AIbery gave me
today
-Good nightl- Robert muttered. and
collapsed in the nearest easy-chair.
Bob, What's the mattsrr'
You can't keep it.
Cant keep whatT
.'Tha-that Jerusalem cherry treeT
Robert was really pale
why notf-
TT means bad Iuck-sicknes"
death rIl-TII chuck II right out"
He proceeded to execute his inten-
tiona Janet stopped him gently. Her
mind was churning around with ap-
propriate epithets to huri at him
Coward idiot, baby. inbecile. numb
skuIl." were some Of the complimen-
tary terms that came to her tongues
up- Every wife has experienced such
q moment. Every successful wife
niumphs by leaving the little berbs
unspoken and maintaining q smiling
front
TIL take care OF It tomorrow. dear.
e you really don't want # around But
We can't very well chuck II out Sup
pose Ars- AIbery should see it?-
-weil. all right agreed Robert, re-
fuctantly. But see that you get nd
of It tomorrow morning. Mother said
IT'S the worst kind Of luck to have q
Jerusaiem cherry tree In the house
rd worry about the plagued thing all
night long"
The next evening Robert satisfied
himself. even before kissing Janet,
that the Jerusalem cherry tree had
been removed
Something great happened today
- announced Lucky thing you threw
out that blooming plant
-whatr" demanded Janet, her eyes
rejecting the gayety in HIS
-Guesa"
~Not-not a raiser
Robert nodded
Yes. ma'am- Five hundred q year
more
-R-o-B-E-R-T"
-And they have made me district
Now aren't you glad you threw away
that piantT
Ny DEAR said Janet. utterly evad-
ing the reference TO the plant, Il think
you are the most wonderful husband In
the world. whatIl We ever do with all
the money!
Months later Robert reflected that
this had been the turning point in his
business career. In a year he increased
his sales so stupendously that the
president Of the corporation made him
manager Of the central offices In Ne<
York II was big plum for a youns
man and Janet packed their household
belongings cheerfully. although the
change of location meant the loss of
dear friends
Roberts mother came over to help
with the packing and in the midst Of
II Robert remembered how his good
fortune had nearly been wrecked by
the jerusalem cherry tree He wanted
to tell his mother about It. He owed
her lot for his early training about
the sinister Influence of a Jerusalem
cherry tree He would give her all the
credit
Mother he began. do you reme,n-
Der when you told me that q Jerusalem
cherry tree would bring bad luckr
Mother Hollis Puritan jaw dropped
and she nearly le; slip the cloisonne
vase she was wrapping
Il certainly don't remember ever