Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-06

THIS here's going to BE- the happy tale Of
homely ducklins which was Matched
out into cold and unsympathetic world,
destined to be Stunned by mankind. hut
which, at the fms, though not turning into
no glorious white swan. ~ the fairy fable
went, still found roost In the heart Of
one who must Of preferred duck meat to
swansdown.
In other words, it's the story Of me.
And l want to tell you right here at
the commencement that because you han
pened to be born with Mary Pickford
marcel, Kellermann contour and one Of those
skins you love to pet, 1t don't mean you've
went and took out patent on romance.
Why, If the Handsome Herberts and Lovely
Lucys assumed exclusive right to love.
matrimony and all ensuing complications.
the human race would make the Greek gods
look like the United States Senate. But.
however, such amt the case. Take me- for
example
When at an early age migrated to this
terrestrial toll moil from that cool. calm
and cloudy country where the soul sits Sc
rene. waiting passage, folks vowed. I must
of come steerage. Neither parent was will.
ing to assume open responsibility for my
looks. l was the ugliest infant that ever
cracked a crib. Kind neighbors who tip
toed in to view the calamity surmised I
took after some Dutch uncle, hitherto un-
suspected great grandparent OF other re.
mote ancestor Judging from my childhood
tintypes the remote ancestors took after
was the kind that done their daily dozen in
the treetops.
l was little and brown and wizened In =
less civilized age / would Of been drowned
at birth
They was two pretty kids on our block,
remember-all starch they was, and curls.
Neighbors used to look significant at their
mamma and say In penetrating soda
voice: II tell you, Mrs. Kasterkringle.
there's going to be broken hearts aplenty
when they grow up!' 1t used to make me
sizze the way they emphasized the ''they."
And it wasn't till I was most H.
skinny and tall I was, with stringy black
hair that would make a Hopi injun look
like one of them bathing beauties-it wasn't
till then that found an abb for my home
illness. 1t crept in on me one day as was
terkringle kewpies was going to their first
party-with boys. l hated 'em, all of 'em.
The boys too.
'All right" said to myself, fierce. IAN
right. Let 'em be pretty and have fluffy
clothes and go out with men in long pants.
! got soul.''
Thus. at the age of %, merely an or
phaned working girl alone in the great city,
romance had give me the detour. I never
had a sweetie, never held hands in the
movies, never been kissed. Hey, wait q
minute! I'm forgetting the time when I
was II and Johnny somebody down the
block dabbed a reluctant oscillation on my
surprised cheekbone. Found out afterward
he'd been playing some kind Of a game with
the boys and was give the choice of drink
ing down thirteen live ants in a glass Of
water or kissing Lizzie Hinkleman. And
he took a long time deciding
TN TELLING you all this not because
l. I'm keen on throwing bricks at myself,
but merely to show you the kind of jane
was when dragged home to my attic palace
that misty evening and answered the land
lady's tinkle tube.
Hello" come cool young masculine
voice. crisp without being curt, sis this
Pennsylvania blank blank?'
Sorry, you grabbed the wrong number"
I informed him, pleasant. This is Chelsea
blank blank
He laughed like kid ''Say, central
must be something of an alchemist,' he told
me, Transforming Pennsylvania into Chel-
sea like that. How do they do it?'
'Yeh," l returned snappy. Then hello
Helens usually is pretty good mixers.
know because / used to be one of 'em my
self"
'Really?" he exclaimed interested. and
did you always get the right number for
your anxious patrons?'
"When 1 didn't" 1 chuckled, II give
'em just good, g"
''In that case" he complimented, II owe
this particular operator vote of enduring
thanks. You've made me smile tonight, and
that's more than I thought anybody could
do
What's the matter? Blue?" asked, not
realizing 1 might be getting too chummy
with an absolute stranger. His voice made
it seem just sort Of natural to be talking
with him like that.
Blue as bluing,' he come back, rueful.
But 1 mustn't infict It on you
That's all right And anyhow"
kdded him, don't you know blues the
prettiest color going7 There's the bluebird
for happiness and--did you notice how blue
he skies was today?"
NO." he said, all the life outta his
voice.
well, they was" / insisted "And to-
night they're better still. Which way does
our window face?'
West, I guess"
Then look out, just for minute. and
watch evening come pouring into the SKY.
Amt that pretty? And notice that little
gold barpin the sun forgot to take with
himl Gaze upon that and be indigo!'
He was silent for a minute. Then he