Intended to stop at the school but his mind waylaid him. Down the hill
came the ash-cart--on the wrong side of the street. He, up the hill,
perforce went wrong also and with great headway. Just as he was about to
pass the cart another car swung out from behind it, headed down hill at
full speed. It was too late for any of the three to stop. In three
seconds there would be death for someone. Angels would be waiting for
mother's little boy. Without the minutest loss of time, in time with the
Boston Symphony Orchestra at its best he swung far to the left, up over
the curb, between two trees, onto the sidewalk--by luck no one was
passing--and going fifty feet came back between two trees, over the curb
to the roadway and continued his empty progress, rather hot in the face,
it must be confessed. He felt happy and proud.
But he had missed his street.
Well let it go. Far away in front of him a locomotive stood
indifferently at the avenue end, emitting great clouds of smoke. It was
autumn, clear and cold.
But you Scandinavians, said the Frenchman, it is impossible to live in
this way. Why France, which is ten times as rich as your countries,
could not do it. You do not know what money is for. You throw it away
like a sickness. To drink champagne like this is madness, and it is
every night, everywhere, in Christiania, Copenhagen, everywhere.
And there she sits staring out, not at the sea, but over Long Island
Sound. Dreaming of her sons--and of the money she will make next year
by renting the better of her two little shacks.
When you have paid up the twenty shares you may, if you like, retain
them as paid up shares in which case you will receive the 5% interest,
or, if you feel that you would like to do so, you may increase your
holding to thirty shares and receive the 6%. Of course everyone is not
able to do that. Do not worry about it, we will notify you in plenty of
time when your book is balanced at the end of the six months.
Let's see. What is the number of your house? Four eighty? I'll see that
they send it right up.
You know last Sunday was my birthday. Seventy-three years old. I had a
party, a surprise party--my relatives came from all sides. But I
couldn't get her downstairs. She's afraid. We had a banister put on the
stairs, cost me nine dollars but she will not do it. She's so fat you
know, she's afraid of falling.
Re Commissions due--Amount $1.00. Dear Sir:--You will please take notice
that unless we receive payment in full of your account within FIVE DAYS
after receipt of this letter, we shall draw upon you for the amount due.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account