Hunter College High School - Argus Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 18 text:

THE ARGUS You're very fresh, shie said, But so is the paint. Go to it! It took me only thnele hours to paint that porch, Ken, and after that I wiiped two dinner sets as ian extra favor. By this time the sun had golne down, and likewise all the avail- able food at the Falter Inn, as I well knew. But it was worth it, Ken. The wonderful girl -came out and surveyed the results of my labor. You've wiorked harder 'than I ever could have imagined, she said. Would you mind coming back tomorrow, and mfclwing the lawn and sprayiing the rose-bushes, and fixing the shingles on the roof, and cle.aning out thief celler? It's too much for me to do allolnef' Will I? I carolled. just you watch my smoke! And I'm going back tomornonw, Ken, though tonight I am in bed with a severe attack of p'ainter's colic. Oh, Ken, can I wait till tom-orrow to dlo the trifling tasks my Princess sets mlel? Od's death, Ken! 'Tis too long! Your lovesick pal, Sam P. S. Do nloft show this letter to your sister because she mighft be sarcastic and call this puppy-love, when it is the agonized wailing of a lonely soul, Ken. S. Dear Ken, My heart is broken. I am 3 stricken man, Ken. I con- template suicide, but I am so hungry, I think I shall Wait till after dinner. She can never be mine, Ken! I must give account of the terrible happenings of this day, or I shall go mad. I :got up at six o'clock, and went to the dwelling of my divinity in my oldest clothes. She was ready for me, and I labored long and diligently, Ken, but her bright face was always near to encourage me. As I started to milk the cow, I mustered courage to say to her Cmy beloved, Ken, not the cowj that I had something 'to tell her. Is it important ? she asked, a trifle irritably. Gi colossal importance, I answered. 16'

Page 17 text:

THE ARGUS I am leading a lazy, carefree' life, here. My parents imposed on me when I was at home, Ken. Many a time I have been requested to wipe dishes or paint the. porch when I was so tired from doing nothing, I thought I should drop with exhaustion. My parents are well-meaning peo-ple, Ken, but they have been a great drain on my strength. Hoping you ane feeling fine, and can send the fifty, I remain, Your old pal, Sam P. S. Don't show this letter to your sister, Keng she always said I wasted my money. S. J. D-ear Ken, First, I want to acknowledge the re,oe'ipt of your two zbucks. It is not what I asked folr, but it will do. Now, I have some real news for you. I have met the only girl in the world. I-t was like this: I was going down to the beach to take a swlim, andl I passed a swldelt little white bungalow with vines growing all over it. There was 3 girl on the porch. She had gllolrious, red-gold hair. She was a. chicken, a pippin, a pea-ch, a looker, Ken! I suddenly decidleld that I had lost my way. I went up to the porch and noticed for the first time, that she was pairdting it. Such work for a woman, Ken! I beg your pardon. I said, Could you direct me to the beach? I'm a stranger here. Certainly, she answered, It's right over there beside the ocean. Can I give you any further assistance? Aren't you working very hard, such a warm day? That's a man's job. I remarked. I am having a lirttle trouble. It really is a man's job. Dlo you suppose you're equal! tlol it? she rejoined. Equal to it! Why I understand pordhles like a Congress- man undlelrstands politics. I've sat on a, front porch so many years that I could be elected president of the U. S. A. on the strength of it. The job is mine, fair lady. 15

Page 19 text:

THE ARGUS Well, she said, could you defer the matter till this eve- ning, as I have so -much for you to do yet ? I had just finished building a new chicken-house, and de- cided to unburden my soul to my goddess,--at last,-when I heard her lgive a cry. I dashed to the spot with a hammer in my hand, and determination on my face. I found her-on the front lawn-with her glorious head resting upon the shoul- der of a fat, red-faced fellow whom I could have slain with a hairpin. But her cry was only joy, Ken, for she turned to me with a smiling face, and said, This is my husband, Mr. Snooks. I wanted to have the house and garden ready for him, as a little surprise, for we intend to have a lovely lazy vacation. Ted, this is my odd-job man. I hope you'll approve of his work. You-you-you're not married ! I sta-mmered. Doesn't it look like it? she returned. I won't need you any more, Mr. Snooks, and I want to settle up accounts. How much do you charge by the hour? Nothing! I replied, with quiet diggnity. It was purely a labor of love ! And I made her a low bow, and quitted her enchanting presence forever. I am stabbed to the heart, Ken, I who am acknowledged to be 'the brains of the family,--taken for an odd-job man and an idiot, too! If you do not hear from me again, you can have them drag the bay. Your unhappy old pal, Sam. P. S. DO NOT show this to your sister. She might say I told you so. Women always do. S. J. 17