Pretty much everybody from all about is in town. The elders have brought the youngsters, and these sturdy infants stare with wide eyes at everything.
But in this busy gathering, far back in the corner, a man from the country is talking earnestly to one of the partners. The partner wears a heavy gold chain across his vest, and is in his shirt sleeves. He shakes his head, whittling, meanwhile, a bit of box.
This man’s credit has run out. He is trying to persuade the merchant to carry him a little longer—just a little longer, but the merchant doesn’t see it that way. He wants money.
He goes to his book and calls the man from the country and shows him the things written there. Then he leans back and lights a fat cigar triumphantly.
The would-be customer makes one more effort and turns sadly away. He takes two children with him, one by each hand, and slowly goes out.
“Ain’t we goin’ to buy nothin’?” asks one of them. A spasm of pain shoots across the father’s face.
“Not jest now, boy,” he says; “after a bit—just you wait. There’ll be lots of boots’ boy size left—lots of ’em.”—Dallas News.
(2171)
Need, The World’s—See [Manliness].
NEEDS, MEETING CHILDREN’S