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The Fable Of The Regular Customer And The Copper-Lined Entertainer
by
“Before I give you the Photograph of Myself which you requested last Night, would you care for anything in the way of Ice Water?” he asked.
Jim did a sincere Groan, and said he could use a Barrel of it.
“Did I request a Photograph?” he asked, as he felt for the Boundaries of his Head.
“You did,” replied the Entertainer. “And you gave me your Watch as a Keepsake. I have brought the Watch and all the Money you had left after you bought the Dog.”
“What Dog?”
“The Dog that you gave to Bob.”
“Did we go back there again? I remember the First Time.”
“Yes, it was In There that you wanted to Run a Hundred Yards with any Man Present for Chalk, Money, or Marbles.”
“Where are we now–at the Hotel?”
“Yes, and Everything is Smoothed Over. The Night Clerk has agreed not to swear out a Warrant.”
Jim did not Comprehend, but he was afraid to Ask.
“It may be that I was a mite Polluted,” he suggested.
“You were a teeny bit Pickled about Two, when you tried to upset the Lunch Wagon, but I don’t think any one Noticed it,” said Mr. Byrd.
“Take me to the Noon Train,” requested the Country Customer. “Tell the Conductor where I live, and send me the Bills for all that I have Broken.”
“Everything is Settled,” responded the Entertainer. “But why Tear yourself away?”
“I am Through,” replied Jim, “So why Tarry?”
Mr. Byrd took him to the Train and arranged with the Porter of the Parlor Car for a Pillow.
When the Country Customer arrived at Home he accounted for the Eyes by saying that the Night Traffic makes so much Noise on these Hard Stone Pavements, it is almost impossible to get the usual amount of Sleep.
The Head of the Concern put his O.K. on a Voucher for $43.60, and it occurred to him that Stereopticon Lectures seemed to be Advancing, but he asked no Questions.
Ever after that Jim bought all his Goods of this one House. He had to.
MORAL: Scatter Seeds of Kindness.