Soldan High School - Scrip Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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.-'?r W' A - - - ' :Y 3-Z '1:1-'f 5'7 'K- 'fi X , , A fd-,, ,H -J ,A-iz.:-ef:.s 1 3 The Widowis Son W Q T was late in the afternoon when Charlie Mier knocked at if Mrs. Wilson's door. Being invited in he went into the parlor and while waiting for Mrs. Wilson to return with U, f the money his attention was called to a little picture in a g l silver frame on the piano. Looking at it closely, he noticed it resembled him greatly and under it saw the name Ralph Wilson. When Mrs. Wilson returned to give him the money he asked if this was her son. She replied it was. She told him he resembled her son greatly, only her son had two teeth out in the front, an anchor on his right arm, and a birthmark on the back of his neck. She told him her son had been gone away for Five years, that he had gone to be a sailor and had not returned homeg so she thought him dead. By this time she was weeping so piteously she could say no more. Mr. Mier left her to her sorrow, and slammed the door behind him. Charlie had a bright idea,-if he could only I-ix up like Mrs. Wi1son's son, he could live there happily without having to work any more. Why shouldn't he? He looked like her son except for a few marks. Think- ing this, he passed along Broadway and on a big sign over a dingy shop he saw the words, Sam Ontonio, Tattooist written in large white let- ters. After looking at the sign a few minutes he thought of going in but putting his hand in his pocket, discovered he had only fifty cents Out of that he had to buy his lunch and have carfare to go home. Then he had another thoughtg he could borrow th.e price from Tom, his roommate. On going into the shop to ask the price of the work, he was met by a dark, fierce looking man with a mustache. He said sheep- ishly, How much would you charge for putting an anchor on my right arm, and a birthmark on my neck ? Sam Ontonio answered in a gruff voice, One dollar, sir. Charlie promised he would return that evening or the next day at his lunch hour. Going out of the shop he remembered that it would not only be one dollar for having the Figures put on his body, but also that the teeth had to be extracted. On going home that night he kept on thinking of the plan, and step- ping into his room he saw Tom, his roommate, reading the paper. After supper Charlie and Tom sat down to their usual evening chat about the news of the day. Well, began Tom, what happened to you to-day Charlie, you were a little late in coming home, were'nt you? Yes, a little late, but it didn't make any difference tp me. I have the finest plan! I am going to get a happy home, money and every- thing, just on my looks. Tom looked at him in disgust. On your looks? Why, Charlie, you can't even get room and board for a week on your looks. 9 64

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11- sued. Therefore he came forth from his hiding place and went home. As he came into the house, his father handed him some collars and said, john, the 'chink' didn't come for the collars, so you might as well hurry up and take them to him. The boy hesitated. W-w-ell, all r-r-righ-t, he answered. Then the poor boy went on his way. With agitated soul and trembling lips, he stepped into Hing l..ee's laundry. There onhis right was the window he had broken. He thought that Lee suspected him, and he dared not meet Lee's glance. The Chinaman took the collars, and after giving john a ticket, re- marked in a broken English, Kallie f' you Tloisday night. Murphy shuddered, What was that? kill you Tloisday night! Yes, that's what he said. John quickly opened the door and ran home as fast as his feet could carry him. And yet, he dared not tell his father, for he had promised him severe punishment for the next mix-up he should get into. Therefore he went to his room, said his prayers over and over again, and then went to bed, only to dream the most horrible of dreams. On the next two days, Wednesday and Thursday, everything went wrong. The Chinaman's phrase rang through his brain. At last the fatal night came. john reviewed all of the wrongs he had ever done, and felt very sorry. But when he tried to think of the good deeds, he could recollect none. Surely, I can't go to heaven, he thought. Oh, if I only had an- other chance. While all of these thoughts were rushing through his mind, the doorbell rang. Answer the bell, called his father. Then he braced up and obeyed. But, when he came to the staircase, he shivered, he shuddered, and trembled with fear. The very walls seemed to bid him farewell. The hats on the hatrack seemed to turn into spirits which pointed their fingers at him. And as he walked down the stairs, a creaking voice seemed to say, Keelie you, killie you, Tlois- day night. And then the walls seemed to re-echo in a grand voice, Keelie you, keelie you, Tloisday night. But still he did not give up. He came to the door, and there outside stood the Chinaman, who cried out, O pie doo', opie doo'. john obeyed, and opened the door. Then Lee handed him a packet and re- marked, Me tellie you kallie f' you Tloisday night! No? Goodie night. Good night, answered the boy in a weak voice, after receiving the packet of collars. He then sat down on the stairs in order to regain control of himself. Now I see, he muttered to himself, kallie f' you Tloisday night. I see, I see. -Milton Yawitz, 5. sa

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But I am. You just lend me about a dollar and a half, and you will then see. He then revealed his plans to Tom, all about the widow, the picture and everything that had happened during the day. After Tom had been promised a share, he put his hand in his pocket and gave Charlie a two-dollar bill. Charlie went to sleep that night and had a wonderful dream: he dreamt he was the son of the widow, and returned home welcomed with joy and surprise. The next morning he arose, dressed himself in haste, and worked hard all morning in order to get through with his-work one half hour earlier, so that he could go the dentist and tattooist. Finally eleven thirty did come, and he was through with his morning's work. He stopped in the little restaurant, ordered a short order, and fifteen minutes later was walking down Broadway whistling like a lark. Finally he stopped in front of Sam Ontonio's, walked in, and assured Sam he al- ways kept his promise. Sam went into the other room and soon re- turned with a long knife and a small fire. When Charlie thought of the torture, cold shivers ran down his back and so-on he was wiping the cold perspiration from his forehead. He was still thinking about the birth- mark and the anchor when Sam called out in a gruff voice, All right, Charlie, I'm ready. In a half hour Charlie came out of Sam Ontonio's shop with a ter- rible look of pain on his faceg the birthmark felt sore where his collar rubbed against it, and the anchor felt as if one of the prongs was too deep in the flesh. But still he was not doneg he had to go to the dentist in order to have the two teeth pulled. He was crossing the street when a man with a poster on his back came along. On the poster he saw the words, Teeth Extracted With- out Pain, Doctor Finnegan, 908 Broadway. He walked on and on, the three blocks seeming like three miles. Soon he stopped in front of 908 Broadway, and sat in wait for the wonderful dentist who could extract teeth without pain. In fifteen minutes he came down the steps of the doctor's ofliceg his mouth felt like a boil, and he thought how lucky it was he had already eaten his lunch. Then to go to the widow's house. Oh, it would be fine! She would welcome him with joy and surprise. On and on he walked, and soon rang the doorbell of the widow's house. He heard footsteps coming to the door, and through the glass he could see it was the widow herself coming to answer the door. What would he say when he saw her? He had not thought of that. Before he knew it, the door was opened. Mother, he cried, and smiling with the two teeth out in front, he fell into her arms. The widow, overjoyed at seeing her son, invited him in, 65