Sam Blick's Diary Sam Blick's Diary By Stephen C. Noland Harper & Brothers Publishers New York and London MCMXXII SAM BUCK'S DIARY Copyright, 1922 By Harper & Brothers Printed in the U. S. A. First Edition K-W CONTENTS PAGE January I February 26 March 50 Apr* 75 May loo June 126 July 151 August 176 September 2O2 October 227 November 253 December 276 2137450 Sam Blick's Diary SAM BUCK'S DIARY January Jan. I. Starting a diary this date to keep a record of myself, family, friends, the weather, and the neighbors for future reference in dis- putes about what happened and when, having been contradicted to-day by John Hartman when I said the cold New- Year's Day was in 1865, which, according to him, is not right, but a year late, as he says he remembers hearing his father talk about it. But he is wrong, as usual, as I can remember hearing my father say it was in '65, but I'm not saying much, as when Hart- man gets his mind set you can't change it. Anyhow, I can flash this diary on him if he starts an argument twenty years from now aboflt how cold this New- Year's Day was, showing what I now set down, namely, that the day was bright and that the temperature never fell below fourteen degrees above zero. Hartman is stub- born in his opinions, but he can't change my mind, as I have schooled myself to take a firm stand on whatever I believe to be true and not 2 Sam Blick's Diary to give in to any man simply because he has a good flow of words and ideas and can talk longer and louder than I can and maybe offer to bet a little money. Jan. 2. My wife and daughter talking at the breakfast table about whether it is worth while to make New-Year's resolutions and how funny it is the way some people make them and break them, and I saying it was all right when people resolve to limit their expenses for the year to a little less than, the family income and keep the resolution. They pretending not to hear me, but talking about how nice it would be to resolve to say nothing but cheerful things at breakfast for a whole year. I kept it to myself that I had their goat, but I must say now, as Fm sorry I didn't say then, that they were not starting out very well by talking around the bush and insinuating that the family needs a larger income, when what it really needs is a firm hand at the head of its financial department. This year I intend to save a little money every week and see that the family spends no more than is left, even if we have to eat less or perhaps even cut out a few automobile trips next summer when the roads are decent again and a man can take his car out on Sunday for a look at the world. Jan. j. Working hard at the office to-day and coming home to a good dinner of tomato January 3 soup, thick T-bone steak broiled medium with a lake of butter on it, baked potatoes, half a head of lettuce with Thousand Island dressing, deep apple pie, and coffee just what I like in the way of a dinner. I felt fine and got off" some good ones that made my wife and my daughter Ellen laugh till I thought I'd have to let up, as they might get hysterical. After dinner Ellen gave me a good cigar Fred Thomas left for me, and I topped the dinner off in fine style, reading editorials aloud from the paper to the family and explaining them so the family would miss none of the good points. There ought to be more of this in every family. Finding a mistake in the newspaper and correcting it for them, and Ellen saying she wondered if the newspapers ever made mistakes in the ads, as they might during the January sales, especially fur-coat sales, where the prices were reduced almost to nothing as compared with what they would be next fall, when a person had to have one, any- how. So I went to bed. Jan. 4. Up early and getting my own break- fast and out of the house without waking my wife and daughter, as I believe a man should be independent to some extent about such matters and not afraid of his own cooking, even if only toast and coffee, but able once in a while to show his wife and daughter that he is not a slave of household routine, but a free hunter, going out 4 Sam Blick's Diary every day to capture the elusive dollar and bring it home or not, as he pleases, but hardly ever not, for the family is the backbone of the nation. Finding the work in my department at the office behind, so working all day and late this evening to catch up, and home late to find my wife and daughter out without saying where they had gone or what time expected back, so getting my- self something to eat in the way of toast and coffee and going to bed. Weather satisfactory and the health of all good, so that only a pessi- mist or nickel snatcher could complain of this life, even if I did have to work on Sunday. I suppose my wife and Ellen are at the movies, but that's nothing to me. Jan 5. Waking at the first tinkle of the alarm clock, for I sleep light, on the alert even in my sleep, as a man should be, but letting the clock ring, giving my wife a chance to hear it and get up to get my breakfast, for I figured that she might have felt hurt by me getting out so early and quietly yesterday morning and want to hop up and ease her conscience by getting my breakfast and sending me to work with a word of cheer and encouragement, which goes so far with a home-loving man who gets his pleasure out of the fact that he has done his duty as a man and married and bought a home and dedicated his life to keeping the bills paid and a little laid by for taxes, repairs, and the like; but she not hearing January 5 the alarm, likewise Ellen, and I guess they must have been out late, in which case the least I could do was to let them sleep undisturbed, and, as for myself, getting some toast and coffee and out into the crisp morning air to join other men going out to do battle for a living while the women languish in indolence at home. Going to a show and home late to find all asleep. Jan. 6. Hearing a noise last night and asking my wife if she heard it, but she not answering, so listening again and discovering that it was her shaking the furnace grates. The house cold, so I down to the cellar to tell my wife to go on back to bed, as I would get the house warm in a few minutes, it being almost time to get up, anyhow, and I telling her it was a wonder she didn't wake me, as it was my business to look after the fur- nace, and she saying that from the way I was getting my own breakfast lately it looked to her as if I was the cook or maybe wanted to be grouchy and get my breakfast myself rather than to ask members of the family to do their share, as they took pride in doing. She back upstairs and I building a fire and pretty soon hearing her in the kitchen getting breakfast, which was probably her way of showing that she appreciated me taking the furnace job off her hands and she wanted to do something in return. To work, she saying as I left that she supposed Ellen got chilled during the night and I saying I supposed she did, 6 Sam Blick's Diary too, if she wore no more clothes than she wore skating the other afternoon. Jan. 7. A good breakfast of my wife's getting this morning and to work in good spirits. Meet- ing Albert Jackson on the street car and he telling me how he is unable to hold his family down to his income and they running up the bills faster than he can meet them, so that he carries his family troubles around all day with him at the office and is losing his pep and afraid some of the younger men will get his job. I giving him some good advice about asserting his authority as head of the house and making the family choose be- tween driving him to an early grave and scaling their living rate down to something within reason, as I have done, beginning the first of the year; not that I'm broke now, but a man always likes to have a little put by. His daughter Beatrice and my daughter are together a good deal and I figure Al won't lose me anything by praising me at his house so Beatrice will maybe say something to Ellen about it. Working hard all day, and in the evening taking my wife to a musical show, we needing some new records for our singing machine. Jan. 8. My wife and Ellen both up for break- fast this morning and bright as could be, showing they must feel that I am doing the right thing in deciding to save money this year, both even kiss- ing me good-by and Ellen telling me not to work January 7 too hard at the office, as the work may be heavy there from the fact that I worked last Sunday, and the temptation to overload a willing horse must be great, and not to let myself be imposed upon. She needn't worry about her dad, as I can take care of myself, but it certainly makes a man feel right to start off to work with a pat on the back from the women, who are staying at home wearing themselves out with a monotonous round of household duties, as my wife and Ellen are doing, now that Ellen is staying at home to help her mother until she rests up after finishing school, which she did last June. Doing my share of the work at the office all day and home to as good a dinner as ever I sat down to, and com- plimenting my wife and Ellen on it, and they saying it is no trouble at all to cook for a man who knows good food and is generous with his praise. Jan. 9. My wife and Ellen sending me to work in fine spirits. On the street car meeting Albert Jackson again, and he saying my economy pro- gram for the year must be a winner, as he heard I was in the market for a fur coat for my daughter Ellen, who told his daughter that, while my mind was not made up, it was headed in the right direction and no doubt I would see the true economy of a fur coat, which lasts for years, and it would appeal to my sound business judgment. I keeping still, as it will do me no harm to have a fellow like Jackson blowing around about me 8 Sam Blick's Diary buying a fur coat for my daughter, as I am known to be conservative in money matters and people will think I am stepping up in the world, which is not far from the truth. Another good dinner and my wife out in the neighborhood to talk about our neighbor on the east selling his house; so Ellen and I to the movies, and Ellen trying to persuade me to buy myself a new overcoat, as the worst of the winter is before us, but I saying that mine is good enough, which I am right about. Jan. 10. Getting paid to-day and finding $10 more than usual in my envelope, making $85 a week, which is something like what a man that's been with the firm for twenty-five years ought to get, also a note from the chief saying he was sorry the raise had not been approved in time to come through the first of the year, when it should have. This makes $500 this year that I had not counted on, and if I tell the folks at home they'll want to spend at least $1,800 on the strength of it; so mum's the word for me, but, just to cele- brate, calling Ellen up and saying to meet me for lunch, and she coming. Then to look at the windows, and I suggesting offhand that we look at some coats, as she seemed to be interested. Going into a place where the clerk said, "Have you decided to take it?" and Ellen explaining that she and her mother had looked while out shopping the first of the week; so I looking it over and paying the $249 as a good business January 9 man should, as there is nothing in holding out on a good investment, likely to last some years and save money in the long run. Jan. ii. Doing chores around the house and then rousing Ellen and her mother out in time for a good breakfast. All to church, Ellen walking between us and looking like a million dollars in her coat, which I helped her off with in the church and laid across the pew back so the lining, which looks like another million dollars, would show up well. Meeting the Jacksons after church, and I could see from the way Al acted that he's a little sore because I made good on the coat proposition; but I hope he won't give in to his daughter on same, because a man in his position cannot afford to be bullied by his family. He'd better wait till he's doing a little better, when he can afford to buy the best on the spur of the moment, surpris- ing the family and getting a lot of satisfaction out of giving them some pleasure. Fred Thomas, the young fellow that has been around here so much lately to see Ellen, staying so late I had to knock a chair over, which hint he did not take, and my wife telling me to take up the matter of hours with Ellen to-morrow. Jan. 12. Getting a note from the chief this morning telling me to lay off five clerks in my de- partment, and believe me I made short work of the worst loafers, the ones that have been holding out on me when I needed them the most. Hardly io Sam Blick's Diary had I passed the word out till most of the others humped to the job as if their lives depended on it. One fellow, a clerk named Scott Lowder, telling me he was a sick man and would commit suicide if I laid him off; so I kept him and will watch him, as he has been a flat tire for some time and looks sick all right. Laying off a girl then, but she crying and saying she expects to get married in the spring and must have clothes, which she can't buy unless she works, so laying off a desk lizard that shoots craps during working hours, as he had no excuse. Home to find that Ellen was going to the theater with Fred, so not saying anything to her about Fred staying late, as a man should use judgment. Polly talk- ing about the house next door being sold to a middle-aged man named Walker and his young wife just come to town from the East, he an executive in a new factory recently established here. Jan. Jj. Getting my own breakfast this morning, the morning being cold and the house chilly, and there is no use of getting my wife and daughter up in a chilly house just to get a man's breakfast. At the office all day and looking for- ward to a dull evening, but Harry Vickers, a neighbor, phoning to know if I cared to sit in on a little penny-ante game and I consenting, for it does a man no good to turn down an invitation from a neighbor like that, especially as a man can January n sit in on a harmless game like that and play close. So playing along easy and 33 cents to the good when the phone began to ring and so many husbands having to leave that the game broke up, and I home to find Fred Thomas here and telling him about winning. He saying rhum was the game, so we getting into it for a cent a point, as a man should do the right thing by his daugh- ter's friends. Ellen going to bed and we playing till I A.M., and I finding him all right, I winning $1.15 cents from him. Jan. 14.. My wife asking Ellen at the break- fast table what time Fred left last night and Ellen saying she didn't know, as he was still here when she got tired playing audience to a rhum game and went to bed. This leading my wife to talk about what would the neighbors say if they saw him hanging around here till all hours, probably starting talk about Ellen being engaged, which remark got Ellen's goat, as naturally it would to think of a girl her age thinking of getting en- gaged for several years yet. I was tempted to say something about how long he hung around Sunday night, but saying nothing, as a man should exercise a little restraint now and then when around women who are worked up about trifles that amount to nothing, anyhow. Home in the evening on the street car with Bill Hines, a neighbor, who talked all the way about a man never getting anywhere on a salary and he is 12 Sam Blick's Diary making a little on the side selling oil stock to friends who are broad-minded enough to know it's a gamble and sporty enough to take a chance, but I not stopping the car to buy any from him. Jan. 75. Ellen rather cool about that rhum game, so, thinking to square things all right, I hatching up a little surprise for the family, and calling up Fred and asking him if he wanted to take in a show to-night with a couple of girls, meaning my wife and Ellen, but he thinking I meant girls and saying that I must be in worse out at our house than he is, to be driven to such desperate reprisals, all over an innocent rhum game. I putting him right and calling up my wife and Ellen to tell them they were to go to a show to-night, which they accepted, and then calling Fred up again and telling him to meet us in the lobby, as it was all right, and getting four tickets. The plan didn't work well and my wife and I had to sit between Ellen and Fred at Ellen's request, and when we started home Ellen asked Fred if he was still here. When we got home the furnace was nearly out and there were some chores to do around the cellar till by the time I got through my wife and Ellen were in bed and we had no chance to talk about the mistake somebody had made. Jan. 16. Getting my own breakfast this morning, which is not a bad thing, as a man never knows what will happen and should be able January 13 to take care of himself. Seeing Al Jackson on the street car and he saying I had got him in bad on the fur-coat business, because his daughter Beatrice had to have one or die of shame, and if he doesn't get it for her she is going to give up her job in the public library and go to work in a box factory where she can earn some money. I came back with a hot one, saying it was a good thing she didn't have a friend with a couple of limousines, and he saying he guessed they managed to enjoy life at their house as they went along and he was going to see that she had the coat to-day, as she was going to a dance to-night with Fred Thomas. I saying nothing, as a man should use judgment in a delicate case like that. Home in the evening to find Ellen doing tatting, which I said was pretty, she replying that she was glad it was, as no doubt she would have to earn her living that way in her old age. My wife and Ellen to the movies, I deciding to stay at home and figure on what it will cost me to have the car overhauled, the weather looking like spring. Jan. 17. Getting my own breakfast, and, this being pay day, calling up Fred and taking him to lunch to square myself with him, and he taking it all right and telling me he took another girl to a dance last night to see if Ellen would get jealous, in which case he could figure that he was not permanently barred from my house. I 14 Sam Blick's Diary hardly knew what to say to that and let him go ahead and tell how he and Ellen had planned to go to that dance for a week and she had backed out over the rhum game, and he had taken Beatrice on account of her not getting to go much. Intending to say something about it in the evening, but forgetting it till some fellow named Caldwell showed up to take Ellen to a party, when I thought of it and asked him if he knew Fred, but not getting to find out if Ellen was jealous, as her mother called me to come and see why the kitchen sink was stopped up, the reason being a piece of newspaper that had some- how got into the dish water, as anybody could see merely by looking at it. But, of course, women do not understand such matters. Read- ing the newspaper all evening and figuring out my income tax, as I shall have to fill out the blank soon, which is one of the drawbacks of getting on in the world. Jan. 18. Ellen acting sort of absent-minded at the breakfast table, so I cheering her up with a remark that not to worry, as Fred was probably a good fellow, but not worth worrying about, being perhaps like most other fellows, attracted as much by her pretty clothes and comfortable home as by anything else. This, however, being a little mistake on my part, as she immediately said she would not stand for such abuse in her home, Fred having been at the party last night January 15 and been very attentive, even bringing her home while that Caldwell fellow was looking for his hat and overcoat, which were lost some way or other, and Fred was all right and a dinger if only not misled by older people with a mania for winning a few pennies at a card game; so I to shovel the snow off the walks, about a foot having fallen overnight. Who should show up but Fred, say- ing he had come over to go to church with Ellen, as no doubt my wife and I would not care to venture out in the storm, but, as the storm was over long ago, I finally argued my wife into going with them, making things all right. Jan. ig. Ellen getting breakfast for me this morning and singing around the house like a wren back for the summer. It certainly does a man good to be able to doll his family up so they are happy all the time, even the daughter getting up bright and early Monday morning to get her father's breakfast, knowing that he's able to get his own. Her mother down just as break- fast was ready, and asking what was the matter, did she have insomnia, but Ellen ignoring the question, probably thinking that her mother was a little jealous from being a little late in getting her husband's breakfast and having some one else getting all the pleasure out of it. Working all day, and in the evening figuring what I am going to do with the money I am going to save this year. Nothing risked nothing gained, as they 16 Sam Blick's Diary say, and I've found out that a man never gets anywhere on a salary and must look around for something good and use his head. Jan. 20. Ellen getting the breakfast again this morning, and she and her mother sending me away to work in fine spirits, which is good for a man, as there is nothing like a friendly pat on the back when you are setting out for your daily struggle for the dollar. But that fellow Lowder, who said he would commit suicide if I fired him, worrying me to-day. He came to me with a sealed envelope, saying to keep it and not to open it unless something happened to him, as was likely, for the wages of sin is death, and a lot of other bunk like that, which made me suspicious, as he looks and acts like a sick man. I trying to get him to go to the company doctor, but he wouldn't. Asking him to come out to the house to dinner, as he lives alone in a furnished room and eats wherever he happens to be, but he saying never mind, he was past that stage. Ellen having a lot of friends in for bridge, and from where I was sitting reading, down in front of the furnace, I could hear Fred's laugh, indicating that I am square with Ellen again. I know how to handle them. Jan. 21. Bad weather to-day, the night turn- ing warm and a rain coming to make slush out of the snow and make the walking bad, and things go wrong at the office, as they do in bad weather, January 17 the clerks being affected by the weather, which I guess is why they are clerks, as the weather never affects busy men with minds on something besides bad weather such as we had all day, cloudy and damp, so that a man could hardly help wishing spring would come, also looking out the window and being thankful he had an inside job and did not have to go out and work in the slush and rain all day. Figuring on what I am going to do with the $500 I will get this year over and above what I expected to get, and seeing that I am getting to a place where a man must not figure too close, but must think in big figures and turn a little of his salary into something likely to produce a hand- some return. An oil circular coming through the mail stating how new oil ventures are mostly a gamble and now appeal only to men and women with enough money to risk in large figures for handsome returns. Jan. 22. No weather to-day to speak of, the weather being clear after the rain, and cold enough to freeze what is left of the slush. My wife up to get my breakfast, and a good one it was, reminding a man that he can do his part in the middle of the day if he is fed well at the begin- ning of the day, and the end, when he comes home worn out from work and worry and desiring only the peace of his own fireside. She telling me that she and Ellen are going shopping to-day, and I saying by all means shop while the sales are i8 Sam Blick's Diary on, and almost telling her about my increase in pay, but catching myself in time, as a man must not tempt women to spend too freely. Lowder asking me if I still had that letter he gave to me, and I saying I had but what was the matter with him, and he said to tell the truth he was de- spondent and likely to do anything. I cheered him up getting off a couple of good ones and sending him back to work feeling all right. In the evening hearing about the shopping trip. Thinking some of seeing Hines about some of that oil stock, as a man surely likes to see a little money coming in on the side, especially if he has a wife and daughter to indulge in their every whim. Jan. 25. Getting my own breakfast and away to work in good spirits, as becomes a department head, who must be punctual, setting an example for his force, who make a habit of being ten minutes late. Jim Wilkins, who sold me my car two years ago, coming in to see me about a new one, saying mine probably needed overhauling, and when I figured what I could trade it in for on a new one and the satisfaction and prestige I would get out of a new one, I could make about $300 over and above the expense of the trade, but I would have to get my order in right away if I expected to have the use of the new car in the spring, as the factory was now closed down for inventory and would probably fall behind on its January 19 production schedule, but, of course, would favor present owners as against outsiders who are just getting to a place where they can own and drive an automobile for pleasure without being talked about among the neighbors for their extrav- agance. His line of talk is good and I can spare the money all right, as I informed him, but a man should not buy on the spur of the moment. Jan. 24. A fine, bright day and everybody at the office, self included, working hard, as Fve noticed people do when the weather is good. Scott Lowder seems in better spirits now, show- ing that all he needed was a little sympathy and cheer from an older person who understands human nature and has a sense of humor. Settled for the evening with my slippers on and the paper to rerad, when Fred Thomas came and pretty soon he and Ellen got ready to go to the movies, and just as they were going out the door Fred said "better come along" to me. I had no desire to go, as after a week's hard work a man likes to sit at home and rest through one evening, but never- theless saying I would -go if they would wait a minute while I got ready and persuaded Ellen's mother to go, too, but they saying not to go to all that trouble and Ellen panning Fred for dis- turbing me when I was settled for the evening. But I was ready in no time, having difficulty, though, in persuading my wife to join the gay party, as she whispered to let them have a 20 Sam Blick's Diary moment to themselves, but I saying she is losing her pep and must get out more with young people. All to the show, but my wife and I not staying long, as she did not seem to like the picture as the film was about an elopement and there was a draught in the theater, so home to read the paper and to bed, not caring whether Fred liked it or not, as a man should not care what other people think. Jan. 25. Ellen not down to breakfast when my wife and I ate, and the wife criticizing me for not letting Ellen and Fred have more time to themselves, as one could plainly see, she said, that Fred was interested in Ellen, and a girl has a right to look around a little and see how different men act under different circumstances and for me to show some regard for Ellen's future and not to tag along to movies and the like. She even saying something to the effect that she was no better off for having jumped at the first man that wanted her, the same being me, not that she would have chosen another, but no doubt she would have been able to appreciate my sterling qualities had she been free to pick me from a bunch, as she was urged to do by her parents. I came back hard with something about when was Caldwell coming out to the house again, so Ellen could see how he acts, but it seems that he has been dropped along with the boys who used to come here when Ellen was in school. All January 21 to church. After dinner taking a nap, as a man should do after a week's hard work, and in the evening reading a novel of Ellen's and to bed. Jan. 26. Riding down on the street car with my new neighbor, Walker, and asking him how he liked the town and he saying it was all right he guessed, although he knew little about it, he and his wife being newly married and content to stay at home in the evening. He surely waited a long time to get married, as he is older than I am, and I am married and have a daughter that looks to be about the age of his wife, but there's no telling what a man will do once he realizes that it is his duty to get married and settle down to a peaceful life with all the comforts a loving family can provide. Telling my wife about it in the evening and she saying that she and other women in the neighborhood were to call on the newlyweds this week and would try to make friends with the bride, who must have a history, else why would she be married to a man old enough to be her father? Talking about our neighbors, including Mark Pond, a widower of six months, who mourns poor Mrs. Pond all right, but is looking ten years younger on downtown food. Jan. 27. Getting my own breakfast, including some pancakes made by mixing water with a box of something on the pantry shelf, as directed, but the direction being wrong, as I was compelled to throw them into the furnace, the same being a 22 Sam Blick's Diary lesson on a man confining himself to a simple diet when preparing his own meals. My wife rushing down in her kimono just as I was leaving, but not in remorse. "Sam," she said, "I smell smoke. Is something burning?" I told her no, it was only the furnace and perhaps a piece of toast, as will happen when a man's trying to make coffee and toast at the same time and wondering what life would be like if he never had to get his breakfast but found it waiting for him every morning when he was ready to go out to his place in the world of affairs. Working hard all day. Keeping up my interest in Lowder, who seemed to be in low spirits again, recommending that he seek the companionship of some nice girl. Possibly this was the wrong thing to say, he replying that girls were a hollow mockery. Home to a fine dinner and to hear about the Walkers, where my wife called to-day, she reporting the bride lovely but unhappy, far from home and friends and merely a girl in age and experience. Jan. 28. This morning a fine breakfast of my wife's getting and away to work in high spirits, thinking of my finances, which are good, pro- vided I can invest some money in a more or less risky venture of some kind, like the Hines oil stock, which may turn out to be a gold mine, a fellow like Hines, with lots of friends and a good business reputation, hardly daring to unload a January 23 lot of stock on his friends if he wasn't pretty sure it would pay big money some day. Trying four times to get Hines on the phone, and every time he was out of his office but expected back soon. Asking the chief if he knew a good investment for a man in my shoes, and he saying the company could arrange to let me have a little of its stock half a point under the market and to see him later about it. That's all right for some clerk who can't afford to take a chance and wants to play close, but not for me. In the evening Ellen and Fred to a dance and my wife and I to a show, a bright girl show with good music, just what I needed after a day's hard work. Jan. 29. Calling my wife Polly as we sat at breakfast and she blushing with pleasure, as I haven't called her that in years, having called her mother since Ellen came. Deciding to call her that hereafter, as any little thing a man can do to keep his wife in mind of her girlhood is a good thing. Calling Hines up and asking him to have lunch with me. When he showed up he looked fifteen years older and said to me," Sam, it's sure good to know I have one friend left." And I saying he had that all right, what was hurting him the most. He saying he had the greatest confidence in the world in that stock he was sell- ing and was as much surprised as anyone when the company blew up and had no assets but some forged deeds and leases. He was knocked cold. 24 Sam Blick's Diary Said he could count the friends he had left on the fingers of one hand. I saying nothing at the time, but Hines got about what he had coming to him, as he is a salaried man like me and old enough to know better than t risk his standing on shady deals that might cost him his job and a new start in life at his age. Jan. jo. Polly getting my breakfast this morning, which helps some, as no doubt a wife is better off for feeling that she has started the day right by doing the right thing by her husband. Figuring on my income to-day and wondering how I had better invest what money I can save. I was certainly right in passing up that Hines deal, as at lunch I heard a dozen men say he had surely used his friends rough and about ruined his chance of going into business for himself, as he was planning to do when he got hold of a little more capital. I said the suckers that bought blind, instead of using their heads, as I did, were as much to blame as Hines, and nobody saying anything. It does a man no harm to let it be known that he has been too smooth for a little game that looked all right on the surface. One man asked me if I was buying anything at all, and I said the only thing I had in mind was some of my company's stock; then I went back to work to let them talk. My friendly interest in Lowder is bearing good fruit, he admitting to-day that he is glad he has one friend in the world. Happy January 25 to know that I have handled another matter with good judgment. Jan. jj. Polly and Ellen both up to get my breakfast and I returning the favor in kind by inviting them to have lunch with me to-day, which they did, the bill being $4.55, or $5 in- cluding the tip, which is pretty steep for a man on a salary and with two exacting women to support and keep looking so that he is not ashamed to be seen in public with them, where he is always running across business and lodge friends who are shrewd enough to go a long way in judging a man by the way his family looks. But they enjoyed the luncheon and it is over now and cannot be helped, and I also enjoyed it, too, except for the outlay, which was not as much as it might have been, but every little spent means so much less toward getting a new car in the spring, as I explained to Polly and Ellen, as they will probably insist on having one, as they say the old one is getting to the point where it looks old and needs overhauling. But a new one will do me no harm, as a man rises in the esteem of his friends when he shows up in the spring with a well- dressed and happy family in a new car. All to the movies in the evening. February Feb. i. Fine weather to-day and all to church in good spirits, and afterward talking with Albert Jackson, among others, and he asking me if I lost much in the Hines oil deal, and I saying no, how much did he lose, and he saying he lost some, and between what he had lost and the family expenses he was hard hit and would like to have a little personal talk with me some day soon. I told him I was in my office any day and every day, as a man can't turn another man down cold on a loan proposition sprung like that right in church. In the afternoon Polly and I going downtown with Ellen and Fred, they to the movies, we to the art institute to see an exhibition of landscapes, which I like to look over every so often, as a man that is country born has got to have some relief from streets and buildings now and then or go stale inside. Glad to see some American painters handling colors as if they are not afraid of them. Home Reeling a lot better, resolving to see more art exhibi- tions from now on. Fred staying for supper, and after supper I read a story aloud till 26 February 27 I sort of dozed and, finding myself alone, went to bed. Feb. 2. Getting my own breakfast of toast and coffee, and a good one it was, too, and to the office to make things hum all day. Glad to note that Lowder is not coming to me with his troubles any more, but is standing on his own feet and will soon be all right. Al Jackson in to see me and telling me he has to have money, so I letting him have a hundred, as a friend indeed is a friend in need, and he, poor devil, saying he was happier to know I had faith in him than to get the hundred. Home in the evening to a good supper and Fred Thomas showing up with a Boston terrier puppy in a shoe box, given to him by a friend; and as Fred had no place to keep it, he brought it to Ellen as a gift. Polly and Ellen both asking wouldn't the friend take it back again, but Fred saying it was too late to give him back, I saying the pup would stay at our house, as we need a watchdog, anyhow, and I'd always wanted a pup. Naming the pup Pep, as he is so full of same, and feeding him milk till he looked as if he had swallowed a baseball. Spending the evening fixing him a comfortable bed in the basement, and at present writing he is down there, but wailing pitifully, being only six weeks old. Feb. j. After writing in this diary last night I went down to the cellar in my bathrobe to see what I could do for Pep to make him stop crying, 28 Sam Blick's Diary and found him out of his bed and at the top of the basement stairs; so, taking him back down and drawing my steamer chair up in the warmth of the furnace and holding him in my lap, scratching his head, he went to sleep in no time. Not caring to start him howling again, so holding him awhile, and dozing longer than I thought, when I looked up the basement was cool, so to fix the fire and feed Pep again and seeing by the hall clock that it was time to get breakfast. Leaving Pep on a cushion in front of the living-room fireplace, I went to work. Phoning about three o'clock to find out how he was, and Polly saying she let him out for air and he ran away; so getting out home as soon as possible and finding him in the park playing with some boys. Polly and Ellen to the movies, but I home with Pep, as a dog is a social animal and should not be left alone in a strange house while a pup. Feb. 4. Pep doing well enough last night. He howled some, but I let him howl, as a man should use judgment in raising a pup and teach it some good habits at the outset, as he would his own child. The weather cloudy, with snow falling now and then all day. Pep is a smart dog. I played most of the evening with him. He pulled on a furnace glove till I thought he would pull his teeth out. As soon as I let go he lost interest in the glove, being somewhat like some people, liking the fight better than the victory. Getting February 29 my own breakfast this morning and taking Pep out for some exercise before going to work. Polly and Ellen saying they will give him away if they find some one who will take care of him, and I having to give some pretty strong orders about him. Buying a book on the care of dogs and reading it all evening, but finding it wrong in some places. This dog will be raised right, with plenty of red meat to eat to make him dangerous to prowlers and the like. Taking him for another walk in the evening and rolling him in the snow to harden him. Feb. 5. Up early and romping with Pep, chasing him and he chasing me and barking, waking Polly and Ellen, Polly then coming down and getting my breakfast, and we having words because I put a saucer of milk for Pep on the floor in the dining room, she saying he must eat in the cellar or back yard and that she had no milk to spare for him, anyhow, so I ordering her to get an extra pint a day from the milkman, for if a man is going to keep a dog the least he can do is feed it right. Walker, our new neighbor, away on a business trip and his wife and Ellen to the movies in the afternoon and his wife at our house for dinner. She a pretty girl with a hurt look in her big blue eyes and setting me to thinking that she ought to be playing around with Ellen and her crowd instead of married to an old duffer like Walker. After supper playing bridge and I telling 30 Sam Blick's Diary a few stones to cheer her up, b&t she seeming to enjoy her game more, being a wiz at it. Pep sleeping all evening in front of the fireplace, looking satisfied with his new home in which there is one who knows what is good for his welfare. Feb. 6. Getting my own breakfast and Pep's this morning, giving him some exercise, and rid- ing down on the car with Al Jackson. He asking me if I had a piece of change to put into an in- vention which looks good to him and a couple of engineers with his company. I saying I be- lieved not, what was it, a nonrefillable fountain pen, but he not getting the point. He said he thought of buying a fourth interest in it to help the inventor get his patent, and a salesman at his office thought he could market the thing. I said nothing, but a man as hard up as Jackson is had better stick to his salary and spend his money for paying his debts and keeping his family. Getting a brace of theater tickets for Ellen and Polly, I not caring to go, as Pep might howl and disturb the neighbors. Having Harry Vickers and a few neighbors in for a little penny ante. Fill- ing a full house against Tom Burrage's one-card draw and he finally winning on four queens, I saying that a man should play for the fun of the game and not for a few paltry dollars. I showing Pep to them and all agreeing that he has the points of a good dog and should take a few prizes some day. February 31 Feb. 7. This being pay day, splurging a little bit by getting Pep a blanket, brass-studded collar, and a chain. He looks like a million dol- lars in them, so dressing him up in the evening and taking him for a walk to the drug store to buy a box of candy for Polly. Polly still thinks she will get rid of Pep, as he is a nuisance in the house sometimes, perhaps, being only a pup, but I figure that with this new outfit she will take him for a walk now and then and perhaps get attached to him. He no longer howls, but thrives on his milk and seems to be glad he has a good home where there's a man to look after his interests. Fred Thomas out in the evening to take Ellen to the theater and saying his friend would surely be glad to know that the pup has a good home, so perhaps Ellen will quit talking about getting rid of Pep. My wife asking what present I was going to bring Pep next pay day. This set me to talking over the January bills with Polly and telling her how we must cut down expenses. Feb. 8. Out to the garage this morning where I have the car jacked up for the winter, as it is an open car and we use it only for pleasure, and finding it in good shape except for some rust here and there and dust all over it. Polly and Ellen to church, but I taking Pep for a long walk in the park, as a man must get out in the open at least once a week. So must a dog. Enjoying wading in the snow and feeling like a boy again. 32 Sam Blick's Diary Pep getting tired and cold, as he is only a pup and is kept confined in a warm house all the time, so I carrying him. A good dinner and after dinner feeling a bit tired after the long walk, so lying down for a few minutes on the davenport in front of the fire and sort of falling asleep. It was six o'clock when I wakened, and Polly, Ellen, and Fred were having a salad and cake a-week clerk at my place who had such bull luck fishing and he saying he did same at Lake Hammond, so deciding to go there, for if a clerk can catch fish in a little lake like that, so can I. Writing to the proprietor of the Pickerel Inn at Lake Hammond for a room, and saying that anything 184 Sam Blick's Diary would do, as I expect to be on the lake fishing most of the time and will have little time for sleep, as a man can sleep at home. As soon as I hear from the hotel, all arrangements will be complete and Polly and the children will have a fine vacation, as I bought the things I needed for my tackle to-day, including some new lures, war- ranted to bring the members of the finny tribe to time, and there will be nothing to hinder my pleasure, as I am leaving the car and Pep down at Oakcastle with Polly, so she and the children will have what they are used to at home. Glad that I have fixed matters up, as Polly needs the vacation and will be a new woman when she gets back. Urging her to take Etta with her, but she saying she does not need help, as the girl would only be in the way, which is probably right, saving money. Minnie Lowder still giving me concern and I giving her a little friendly advice about her work while I am away. Quinn of the repair department coming in just as she is leaving, and I could see that he was im- pressed by her chorus-girl type of beauty. Suddenly the whole solution came to me in a flash. I would get rid of Minnie and get even with Quinn in one stroke of fine genius. Maybe he would end up by marrying her. So I told him that since he was always complaining of being shorthanded, here was his chance to get help and I would have her transferred. He asked what August 185 was the matter with her, and I said if being promoted once or twice already since she was here was a sign of feeble-mindedness, his depart- ment could stand a few such imbeciles. He finally agreeing to take her on trial, I merely telling Minnie that Quinn's department was shorthanded, she never suspecting the truth. So now I am through with the whole Lowder business forever and can take pleasure in my fishing trip. Aug. 12. Fred having to go to some kind of sales conference this evening, so Ellen at our house for dinner and I seeing that she and Louise are now great friends, which is as it should be, for we did the right thing by Ellen and she has no business nursing a grudge because we took two children to bring up while she was away on her honeymoon. Ellen telling Polly and me that she and Fred are having trouble living on Fred's salary, and I guessed from what she said that they are in debt, Ellen finally intimating that I might put up a piece of money to help them out, as now they have realized that they had to watch every cent, and they know enough not to get into a tight place again. I not taking the hint, but saying that there is nothing like a little hardship in early married life to test out people's devotion to each other and to their home life, also getting off a few more good ones of the same kind, as a man who reads a good deal and i86 Sam Blick's Diary observes more can easily do, and letting her know that they will never get anywhere except by their own efforts. Polly saying, after Ellen left, that I ought to be less firm in such matters, but I was not impressed by her advice and regarded the matter as closed. Aug. Jj. Deciding to-day that I ought to do something to help Polly with the children so they will have a good time, so looking around and buying a kite for Conrad, as, while it is not kite season, he has never had one and will enjoy it. Also buying some string and home in the evening, carrying the thing on the car, as I am not ashamed to do, as it will do a man no harm to have people say that I am always carrying something home to my children, even a kite, which is hard to carry on a rush-hour street car. There was some wind, so I fixed it up, and, Conrad being too small to fly it, I flew it for him and let him watch and showed him how it is done. Also showing Louise, and all going well till I tried to show her how to start it and was looking back while run- ning, thus falling into Polly's geranium bed, letting loose of the kite, as a man would when falling, and it fell and I had to chase it about three blocks, but recovered it all right; so now all is ready for the vacation, Polly having only a little more sewing to do, women being particular about how they dress on a vacation, even though going to a hick town. August 187 Aug. 14. Pay day, but that not bothering me, as I said good-by to all at the office and took my pay home, with the two weeks in advance coming to me for vacation purposes, and giving half of it to Polly, telling her that it was a little something for her to have a good time on. Getting a letter from the Pickerel Inn and finding that the vacation will cost me very little, so doing the right thing by Ellen and giving $50 in cash ta her, as a man could not enjoy his vacation thinking that his daughter is at home worrying over some little bills. Conrad got hold of his kite to-day and tookit outdoors, where he and Pep and Caesar tried to fly it, I guess, as all had a hand in tearing it up, which is all right, as Conrad is too small to monkey with a kite. Spending most of the afternoon tuning the bus up for the trip to Oakcastle, 63 miles, to-morrow morning, and in the evening smoking my pipe on the porch and telling fish stories to Ellen and Fred, who came up for a visit, as they enjoy my company, and I supposed they are blue at the prospect of me being away from them for a couple of weeks, but will get along some way. Aug. 75. An eventful day. All got up early, and Polly, the children, three suitcases, the wagon I bought for the children, and two baskets, all away to Oakcastle, getting started at eight o'clock and getting there before noon, as I am best at shooting a car along on a long trip. Hav- 188 Sam Blick's Diary ing dinner at Bob's and they showed some real affection for the children, but I did not warm up to Bob's people much, being merely decent and polite, as I don't care for them to get the idea I am licking their boots for the $40 a month, which makes no difference to me one way or the other. Coming back on the five o'clock train. Sorry to leave Polly and the kids and Pep, but glad to get out of the town, as you could not hire me to hang around a hick town like that for any amount of money. Back to the house in time to go over my fishing tackle and make things shipshape for a long stay away from the house, and Ellen saying she would look in now and then to see that all is well. Quite a relief to know that I am doing what I can to give Polly and the kids a good vacation, which they surely deserve, even though I am practically forced to take a fishing trip, though I had not planned to do it. Aug. 16. Well, here I am at Pickerel Inn, and I can't say much for the place, as there are too many people around here who clutter up the porch all day playing bridge; but that may work out all right, for if they are playing bridge they are not out on the lake worrying the life out of some poor fish. Taking a swim as soon as I reached here this afternoon, and in the evening rowing around the lake a bit to look things over. Taking a rod along and casting a few times, but not wasting much time that way, as a man had August 189 better use his fishing sense on strange water and find out first where the fish are likely to be. The lake is about nine miles long and narrow, not over a mile and a half across at the widest place, so there is probably plenty of room for everybody. Talking with a native this evening and he telling me that no one has had much luck on the lake this year, a few bass being caught, and, of course, bluegills and such panfish, that no real sportsmen would look at. This pleasing to me, as it shows that a lot of dubs have been fishing here and left the good fishing for men who have been at it long enough to know how to think like a fish. Aug. if. Up this morning before three o'clock and out on the lake before sunup, as that is the time to go after the fish, long before the easy- chair anglers, as they are called in books, get up. Rowing over to a little cove that I picked out last evening as being likely to harbor some fish, and going alone, as, while it is hard to manage a boat and cast at the same time, I'd rather do that than have some boatman along to worry me. Circling the cove and casting into the lily pads and then working down the shore and studying the lake pretty carefully. Getting a good strike, but he missed the plug and only churned the water. I could tell from the rumpus he raised that he must have been a four-pound bass, and where there is one there must be many, if a man igo Sam Blick's Diary knows how to look for them in the right place. Breakfast time before I knew it, so rowing back to the hotel. Dozing awhile after breakfast, and in the afternoon for a row about the lake and a swim. Casting again this evening and study- ing the lake, which may have something in it. Catching nothing to-day, but that's all right, as I am here to get the air and outdoor exercise. Aug. 18. Up at daylight again this morning and trying other parts of the lake. Seeing a man haul in a two^pound bass almost in the center of the lake, where any one would know a bass had no business being in the morning, but should be near the shore, looking for minnows feeding in the shallow water. Catching nothing, but mak- ing a study of the lake and figuring out several promising places where I should get some good fishing this week. Some people are lucky at fishing, but I pay no attention to luck, as real luck is nothing but knowing what you are doing and using your head in casting instead of your wrist only. A wind coming up and making the lake too rough for fishing, so I loafed on the porch awhile and finally got into a bridge game? as when a man is invited he does not like to turn people down when he is likely to be thrown with them for two weeks. A nap and swim in the afternoon, and as it was too dark in the evening to fish, finally consenting to dance a little, as there was no getting out of it, and managing to August 191 show some of the women a good time, as that is what they came here for, not to fish, as I did. Yet there is no reason why I should not make myself agreeable, for these women do not have much pleasure in their lives. Aug. IQ. Up at daylight, as usual, and out on the lake when most of these loafers here were just settled for the night. Casting in the cove again, and just as I was getting ready to leave it I got a fish which must have been at least three feet long. He acted like a pickerel, coming in sort of sluggish, but when I got him about half- way to the boat and was thinking what a sensa- tion he would create at the hotel, he gave a flop which almost pulled me into the water, and jerked loose. Spending most of the rest of the day going over my tackle, and writing to the bait company which made the lure I had him on, and telling them about the defects in the bait. Out again in the evening and seeing an elderly woman with as fine a string of bluegills as ever I saw. She said she caught them with crickets. But that's no way to fish, except for a woman. Intending to go to bed early, but there's a dance here every night, and a man can't sleep with a lot of jazz buzzing in my ears, so dancing to kill time till the acrobatic orchestra left and a man could enjoy himself in peace. That music probably scares the fish half to death and, of course, a thing like that will counteract anybody's skill. 192 Sam Blick's Diary Aug. 20. Out on the lake at sunup this morning and fishing for four hours. Seeing a big pickerel loafing in the shade of some water- lily leaves, showing that I am fishing in the right place, but when I drifted away from him and cast in his direction, he wakened up and made for the center of the lake. Taking a little more care this morning, but not even getting a strike, which leads me to believe that this lake has been fished out, probably by fellows like that clerk who sent me up there, fish hogs who come along with a streak of luck and land all the fish and then go home and blow about it to their su- periors. A letter from Polly to-day saying that she and the children are having a good time and that she is enjoying renewing girlhood friend- ships. I suppose that they appreciate my getting away from home so they can have a vacation without having to worry about me. Polly saying nothing about Pep, which disturbs me, as a dog might get into all kinds of trouble at Oakcastle, such as chasing sheep. Loafing around the hotel to-day and helping a boy repair a reel, and going to the dance this evening, as a man cannot very well get out of it. Aug. 21. No real fish in the lake again this morning, so I listened to a man named Miller, who said he knew all about catching bluegills, which is not much, and invited me to go along. I went, as I could not very well get out of it, and August 193 caught nine pretty good ones to his sixteen, I getting fewer because I am not used to that kind of lazy fishing, but favor the game fish. Anyhow, we had enough fish to make a meal at our table at the hotel, and the morning was not wasted. This evening a boy caught a three-pound bass off the hotel pier, showing that accidents like that will happen. I went out after dinner and fished for an hour, but caught nothing, as it was probably too dark. Worrying about Pep this evening, so writing to Polly to ask about her and the children and if Pep is still with them. Not caring to go to the dance, but I had to, as a man cannot read or sleep with all that music pounding in his ears and everybody dancing and having a good time. Some widow trying to vamp me, but not having much luck at it, as I am up here to fish and not to get caught by good-looking ladies. Aug. 22. Fishing again to-day, even though it is Sunday, as, while I believe in observing the Sabbath, I also believe in making the most of the few short days a man gets away from home every year, so out at daylight and trying a couple of new places that I picked out yesterday. Meeting a man with three nice bass. He said he came up here for the week-end and had to make the most of his time, so went out early and got his fish. I saying nothing, but it seemed to me that he did not do the right thing in coming 194 Sam Blick's Diary up here just for the week-end and grabbing off fish that rightfully belong to people who have really earned them by fishing for a whole week. Getting a strike, but I think he was not on the hook. Buying some new bait and out again after breakfast, but having no luck, as the lake was so full of excursionists that a man could hardly pull a boat without bumping into them. A high wind in the afternoon, so joining a penny-ante game in the lobby of the hotel, some gray-haired woman who should have been sewing for grand- children taking all the money, playing poker like a professional gambler, though she looked like a saint, that probably being her poker mask. Aug. 23. Not waking up this morning till the breakfast bell rang, which is strange, as I usually wake up well before daylight, when the fishing is good. That widow, Mrs. Eastman by name, practically compelling me to go with her to pick water lilies, which I did, and she trying to find out all about me, but getting nothing out of me, as a man should be careful in such cases and keep his affairs to himself. Then she told me the story of her life, and it is too bad what a hard time some people have in the world, especially people who crave affection and are bereft of their dear ones and left alone in the world. She is a beautiful woman, too, once you know her, with large brown eyes and olive complexion, and cheeks that glow with perfect health. She asked me to August 195 teach her to cast, so taking her out this evening and showing her the rudiments of the art, and as luck would have it, she hooked a three-pound bass right away and then screamed, as a woman would, and I had to bring it in for her; and it surely was a beauty, giving me as much sport as if I had caught it myself. Fishing around there some time, but catching no more, so going home with our fish. Aug. 24. Out early this morning, as after landing that big one last night I took more interest in the sport and had a lot of fun fishing around the same place, but caught none, as I suppose fish have a sort of way of learning where one has been caught and they avoid that spot for a few days. Mrs. Eastman and I walking to the village near here, where she had to buy some thread, and she telling me how much she enjoyed learning to fish, and a lot of bunk like that which did not impress me, as I took no pleasure in having her remind me that she had a little luck and knew practically nothing about fishing as a real art. Feeling sorry for her, though, as she seems to be so helpless. She lives alone in the city, she says, and has only a few friends. She has said nothing about her husband, but she acts as if he had never understood her and had died almost without warning. Playing in the sand with some children this afternoon. A letter from Polly saying that Pep roves around all 196 Sam Blick's Diary over Oakcastle and seems to enjoy his freedom. Trying to fish in the evening, but finally going to the dance, which is exercise, at least. Aug. 25. This finds me at home, as I am disgusted with the lake and the hotel and the whole place and feel that I have wasted most of my vacation. Overhearing some women refer- ring to me on the porch this morning as "that grumpy old bird that Mrs. Eastman is flirting with, v and deciding that if that is the kind of people I am thrown with I had better get out. Not that I care what they say about me, as they cannot be much or they would not be at a bum place like Pickerel Inn. So I packed up my tackle and told the proprietor of the place that I was going somewhere to get some fish, thus letting him know what I think of his lake, where about the only way you can catch a fish is to shoot it with a rifle. Not seeing Mrs. Eastman when I left, as she is nothing to me. Getting home here at ten this 'evening and finding everything all right. Down to Ellen's, as I was homesick to see her, but no one at home, as I guess they are out having a good time on that piece of change I gave to Ellen before I left. Neverthe- less glad I am away from that bunch of loose talkers on the porch at the so-called Pickerel Inn. Aug. 26. Well, it was quite a surprise for Polly and the children when I blew into Oak- castle without letting them know I was coming. August 197 They were glad to see me, of course, but I had to look the town over for Pep, and finally found him with a cat treed down near the bridge. He didn't like to leave the cat, but I made him come on to Bob's house, and I looked him over and found that if he has been in any scraps he shows no signs of it. Polly and the children well and looking better for their vacation. Working on the machine all afternoon and most of the evening, as they have been running it fast and loose and jolting it to pieces. They asking about my fish, and I used a little judgment, as a man should in such cases. Besides, no one at that mud puddle of a lake knew me, so there is no reason why I should not have a little glory out of my vacation, even if the lake was fished out when I got there. Saying that I would have brought some of my fish down, but the weather was too hot and fish packed in ice are too hard to carry. Smoking my pipe on the porch in the evening and enjoying the quiet of the town. Aug. 27. Washing the car this morning, as we must get ready to go home and get ready for another year of life in the crowded city. Think- ing that I would like to settle down here in this peaceful, shady town and spend the rest of my days here. After all, it is the people in small towns who really enjoy themselves. Saying some- thing about it to Bob, and he saying that there is not a man in this town who doesn't regret that 198 Sam Blick's Diary he didn't go to the city as a boy and become a millionaire with a country home and five cars. He's like a lot of men, never satisfied with what he is or what he has done, and killing a lot of time wishing that he had made another kind of start when he was young and had the pep, instead of staying here in a hick town. Bob's wife giving a party in our honor, a quiet affair, so soon after Mary's passing on, which I forgot and suggested poker, shocking the women. Sitting around till all got sleepy; then the guests went home. Polly and I deciding to go home to-morrow, as I would like to get settled before I have to go back to the office, where things are probably in pretty bad shape by this time, I being away. Aug. 28. Making an early start this morning, and somewhat sad, as Polly and both children had tears in their eyes when we left, which made a good impression on the family down there. Getting a puncture about half way home, and this seemed to start all the tires on a sympathetic strike, as I had three more punctures and had to fix every one of them, there being only one spare tire on the car, that being all a man needs in town. We reached home about three o'clock tired, dusty, hungry, and wondering if the visit was worth the trip, but feeling better after Polly got the house opened up and we all ate something. Pep glad to get back, as he ran around and barked when I let him out of the machine in the garage. August 199 Conrad picked up quite a few words at Oak- castle and now talks like a child twice his age. He is remarkable in many respects, and so is Louise. Both have developed rapidly in the refining influence of our house and the neighbor- hood, and I am glad we took them to bring up right. Ellen and Fred up in the evening to hear about our vacation, and I telling them several fish stories, knowing their weakness in this respect. Aug. 29. All to church this morning and every one telling us how well we look after our outing, making a man feel that he did the right thing in arranging for his wife and her sister's children to go back to their old home and visit with their relatives for awhile. I telling a few fish stories to those who asked how I got along, which Harry Vickers did, but I staying in the background, as it does a man no harm to have people say that he is not disposed to blow about what a fine vacation he arranged for his family, but takes it as a matter of course, as if used to it, which I am. Fred and Ellen asking for the car in the afternoon, so I letting them have it and spending most of the afternoon in the yard playing with the kids, showing them how to make a whistle, and fixing the bed of their wagon, which they pulled apart while playing with the young roughneck cousins of theirs at Oakcastle. Seeing Mrs. Walker in her yard, I started over to talk with her, but she went into the house, 200 Sam Blick's Diary probably feeling that Walker ought to provide a vacation for her and she not caring to hear about our fine vacation. Aug. 30. Back to the treadmill this morning and finding things in pretty good shape, as I have my force well trained and they know how to run the details of my department while I am gone. All asking about my vacation, and telling the story so often that there was little work done. One of the best parts of a vacation is talking about it afterward, and a man should enjoy the post mortem to the fullest extent. That clerk who gave me that rotten tip about the so-called Pickerel Inn asking if I caught anything, and to get even with him I told a few fish stories which left him breathless. While things have gone smoothly in my department, it seems that same is not true of Quinn's. He, hearing that I was back, came hurrying in to complain about Minnie Lowder, claiming that she was not only no good herself, but that she had reduced the efficiency of his force thirty-five per cent. I handed him a hot one, saying that it was news to me that he had that much altogether, which floored him and he could only reply weakly that he could not put up with the Lowder girl another day, and if that was the kind of people who rise rapidly in my department, it looked bad for the others. So I told him to send her back to me, as the girl was not lazy when directed with in- August 201 telligence, and what else could a man do ? Home at night, thinking that my plan for marrying her to Quinn was not working well and I must think up one that is now better. Aug. j/. Ellen and* Fred at our house this evening for dinner and Ellen saying something to Louise about her manners at table, which are practically perfect, and I saying something to Ellen about who was boss in this house, and one word led to another until you would have thought I was a Bolshevik of some kind, whereas I only meant to imply that Polly and I are bring- ing Louise and Conrad up right and do not enjoy having Louise's manners criticized at our table, especially when about the worst she did was to feed Pep at the table, which is all right, as I told them, the dog being hungry and Louise having a tender heart. Ellen and Fred going back home right after dinner, and after Louise went to bed Polly made a few pointed remarks about using a little tact once in a while. I say- ing nothing, as naturally she would be sensitive about her sister's children and would side with Ellen against me, I being only her husband. But she is nervous, and a man should use some judgment now and then, and so I went down to Ellen's to square things up, but they had gone to the movies, I guess. September Sept. I. Walker was starting out in his car this morning just as I was starting to business, but he did not ask me to ride with him, on the contrary, he gave me one glance, then acted as if he were running a car for the first time and two fire engines were coming his way. Mrs. Walker acted the same way when I saw her in the yard the other day and started over to say something to her about how she and her husband are getting along. I don't know what could make them act like that toward me unless it is the fact that whenever I am around either one of them they get to thinking about how different things might have been if they had started life as I did and married some one about the same age and got along all right instead of quarreling and separating every month or two. I am sorry that I make them feel that way, but if a man's example hurts other people's consciences it is not my fault, but theirs. This would be a heck of a world if a man acted so that no one would envy him because he did the right thing. Telling Polly about it this evening and she said that I 202 September 203 might have offended them, showing how her mind runs. Sept. 2. To my surprise, the check for $40 from Bob Pence coming to-day. I thought maybe he might not send it at all or might keep out half of it as payment for board for Polly and the kids while they were down at Oakcastle. Putting the money away and writing to Bob, telling him that the check arrived all right and would be kept for the children as I do not need the money and am able to take care of Louise and Conrad and a few more, as, for instance, if my only brother out West should die and leave his six children on my hands. But I also told Bob that the children would some day be grateful to Polly's people for doing the right and only square thing by them, as people with any sense of decency would do. Telling Polly about it in the evening and she saying that I am getting to be a terrible pessimist here lately, and too surly. Thinking this over and deciding that she is more than half right, as a man should make some allowance for the world's opinions, even when they are wrong, and look at the bright side of things, so resolving to try to see the best in everything for awhile and see how it goes. Sept. 5. Starting out this morning determined to see nothing but good in everything that happens, but the first thing of importance that happened was when the street-car conductor 204 Sam Blick's Diary bawled out a woman for giving a $5 bill to him, and told her he had a notion to put her off and make her walk. I tried to make allowance for the chance that the fellow might have had a few words with his wife when he left home, or some- thing like that, but had no luck, so paid the woman's fare and gave her my name and address, as seven cents is seven cents. Minnie Lowder coming to me to talk about wages, and, since I had praised her highly to Mr. Quinn and asked to have her back, was I now prepared to do the right thing by the sister of one who had practically given his life for the company? I trying to make allowances for the inexperienced girl and finally giving her the raise she asked for, together with some straight advice about doing her work and letting the clerks do theirs. Sept. 4. Pay day today, so I figured a little bit on where I stand in money matters and found that I will have to save a little more. But that does not worry me, as the money goes, anyhow, and as long as we are comfortable and healthy I have nothing to worry about. Etta taking care of the children this evening and I inviting Polly, Ellen, and Fred to Hemper's roadhouse for a country chicken dinner in honor of Polly's birthday, which is to-morrow, as Ellen said when she called me up this morning to ask if I knew whether the dinners at Hemper's are as good as ever, we not having been there this September 205 year. Taking flowers home to Polly, and a pair of silk stockings, which with the dinner made a fine surprise for her and she was greatly pleased. The dinner was up to Hemper's standard, and all would have been well if some lizard hadn't sprung a pocket flask at his table and made the rest of us crave a chance to do something unopti- mistic, so to speak, as you might say. Home late, but feeling better after our spin in the cool air and thinking that we shall have to go out there again before winter sets in. Sept. 5. To church this morning, and who should be there but the Walkers. We thought they never went to church, as we never saw them leaving home Sunday morning. After church I stopped them and shook hands, which they did not hesitate to do, and welcomed them to our church and said that I hoped they would come every Sunday henceforth, which they promised to do. On the way home Polly telling me that I had better do less talking about the Walkers, as the real reason they acted so cool toward me was that it had got back to Janet that I was talking around the neighborhood about her domestic troubles. I was tempted to say that it was their fault that they had domestic affairs to create talk, but saying nothing, as here lately Polly flares up when I exercise my gift for hot comebacks on her, and it's not good for her to get into the habit of opposing every one. All 206 Sam Blick's Diary for a ride in the afternoon, and Louise, Conrad, and I having a great romp with Pep in the eve- ning, breaking the china-closet door again, but laughing about it, as a man has only one life to live, and with a family his money all goes for something, anyhow. Sept. 6. Labor day to-day and no work at our place, but a lot of work at home, as I got up early and spent the day till two o'clock working on the car, cleaning the clutch, tighten- ing the steering gear, grinding the valves, and then washing the old bus and polishing her till she looked like new. Giving Conrad a rag and letting him work on the wheels and praising him for his industry, as there is nothing like giving a boy a word of praise now and then when he shows a desire to do something useful, even though he is too young to understand. For a ride in the afternoon, and in the evening down to Ellen's house to sit on the porch awhile and smoke my pipe. Pep now knows how to find their house, and when the children razz him till he can no longer stand it he goes down to visit Ellen, and for some reason she has taken a lik- ing to him and feeds him, so he now spends a good deal of his time there. Ellen and Fred are getting along all right. They spend most of their evenings playing cards with some other young married couples, which is all right as long as they get along fairly well that way, September 207 and a girl should learn to be independent of her parents. Sept. 7. Riding down on the car this morning with Beatrice Jackson, and she said that this is her last week at the library, as they are all going to California in their new car pretty soon and spend the winter there, while the rest of us stay at home and shovel coal and snow. Glad to see the Jacksons getting somewhere in the world, even though they owe it all to luck. Giving Beatrice a little advice about men marrying her for her money. Seeing that it pleased her to think of a man being interested in her for any reason, so filling her up with stuff like that, telling her the world is full of sleek adventurers looking for charming heiresses, and she will have to use all her brains developed in the library in guarding her heart against a tendency to surrender to one of the many handsome men who will swarm abdut her. By the time we reached town she was in the clouds. A little of that bunk hurts neither her nor me. Telling Polly about it in the evening and she saying I went too strong, as the Jacksons made only $8,000 on that deal and will soon be back home, flat broke. Sept. 8. A steady rain falling this afternoon and evening. Harry Vickers calling me up and asking if I would sit in a 25-cent-limit game, which I decided to do, as he is a good fellow with nothing wrong about him except a twisted 2o8 Sam Blick's Diary sense of humor. Five others from the neighbor- hood in on the game and I played close, as a man loses nothing by being known as a good poker player, keeping a straight face and playing a pair of jacks or four aces with the same face. Things going much as usual till I stayed on the makings of a straight flush and made it. Twenty- five was bet and she was raised twenty-five before she got to me, and, of course, I upped it and it went around. I studied my hand every time and when there were only two of us left I started to back down, but raised instead, and when I raked the pot in I was a little better than $14 to the good. I'll admit that I had the hand and it was better than four aces, but I played it right, and after I was seen I explained every step, showing that I am willing to share my poker knowledge with people who mean well and do their best, but simply lack the power to think. Sept. 9. Getting news to-day that the chief at our place is quitting and this causing a buzz of excitement, for it seems that some department head will go up to manager at $7,500 a year. All hating to see the chief go, as he is going into business for himself, where he may fail and lose all his money, but glad that a change will be made, as every one knows that I could hold the job all right, and if I get in which is practically certain they all know there will be some dis- September 209 cipline around the place, but all will get a fair deal. The chief leaves at the end of this month and I suppose the directors will say something to me within a few days. I can show them a few things about how the old plant ought to run, even if I have kept pretty well to myself and not butted into the affairs of other departments. Running the whole works is like running a department, only a little bigger job. I am next to the oldest department head in length of service, hence the job is as good as mine right now. Saying nothing to anybody at home about it, as I do not care to spoil the thrill they will get when they read about it. Sept. 10. Walker hauling me down in his car this morning and acting pleasant enough for a man who wouldn't act more than civil toward me last week. He may have got some hint from our place that I am soon to be made manager, and decided that he cannot afford to risk offending me again after acting all right at church, where I had him cornered so that he could hardly do less than shake hands with me. The chief coming into my place this morning and I asking him about how things are going, and said that I hoped he would make a big success of his new venture. But he gave me no hint as to who his successor will be, saying that his sudden quitting must have left the company up in the air, for as yet it had done little but try 210 Sam Blick's Diary to persuade him to remain, offering him an increase in his salary of 33 per cent. I said nothing, but if the company is that crazy to hold him I believe it needs a general shake-up at the top, as there are plenty of men, self included, who will take the job for what the chief is now getting and the plant will never notice the change, except, if anything, it will get along better than ever. Sept. ii. Pay day to-day, and I thinking that as likely as not I will be getting a lot more money this time next month, which is no more than a man who has been with the company as long as I have deserves. Hearing to-day that the president of the company is coming through here on a general inspection tour of all plants, and deciding that when he shows up I will get a word with him and tell him a few things about how the output here can be increased. Home at noon and working on the car awhile, and then deciding that I was wasting money, so taking it down to the garage and having them fix it up for Sunday. It does a man in my position and with my prospects no harm to have people say that I am too busy to give any time to my car, but run it to the garage, even to have the grease cups filled. Taking the children for a walk in the park, where they enjoyed the bright fall weather and ran and played till they were ready to drop and I had to carry Conrad home. This is the life for me and Septembe 211 the kids, as I know they don't enjoy the machine after about fifteen minutes and would rather travel on their own power. Sept. 12. All to church this morning, as every family should do, as it starts them off right for the week and does me no harm to have people saying that I am a little strong on churchgoing. In the afternoon out for a drive, and passing Carder and Alice in a flivver which looked as if somebody had abandoned it after a wreck. Ill bet they have less than $10 between them and poverty, but they look happy in their flivver, and if they are happy I guess it is all right. Say- ing something to Polly about it and she saying that it was no worse than the Jacksons starting out in a car to spend the winter in California on $8,000 and having $2,000 mortgage on their house. So I saying that if she felt that way about it maybe we had better cash in and take a trip around the world with the children, which she said would be exactly the thing for her, so I said no more, as a man who expects to get somewhere in the world had better be careful about putting wild schemes into his wife's head. In the evening Ellen and Fred in for a bite, and I am happy to see that Ellen and Louise are getting to be great friends. Sept. Jj. Calling Minnie Lowder into my place this morning and asking how she is getting along. She seems to think she is doing very 212 Sam Blick's Diary well, though reports reaching me are otherwise. Asking her if she expects to be married soon, and she said that she had made up her mind never to get married, but will devote her life to a business career and to strengthening the position of women in the business world. Where she gets such Bolshevik ideas is more than I know, and they do her no credit and hold out no hope that she is. Perhaps when I am made manager I can put through the right place for her disposal by exercising my authority. Home in the evening to find that Conrad ate some hard grease out of a can in the garage, which the doctor said would do him no harm, but I sitting by his crib nearly all night, as doctors do not know everything. Sept. 14. Busy at my desk to-day when the chief came into my office with a stranger and look around, and before I could say anything they were gone again. Learning later that the man with the chief was the big gun from the East and that he was here only a couple of hours and spent nearly all the time looking over the plant. Asking the chief if the president had any important news to break, and the chief said no, except that he raised the devil about this plant and said that the company might as well close it up. I suppose the chief is passing that word around the plant to make every one buck up and have things in good shape for the new manager. Unable to figure out what is going on, September 213 and saying nothing about it at home. Our plant is not making the company a million dollars a month, for I know about what it is making, but at the same time it is making money, and if the president really said that it is a poor plant, it looks to me as if what the company needs is a new president, as a lot of these men get crusty and lose their hold long before they let go. Smoking my pipe all evening. Sept. 15. Albert Jackson into my office this evening and saying that he now has his car, for which he paid $1,900, and has learned to run it, and that he and his family start Monday for a tour of the West. He is not leaving his job for good, but has permission to be away for six months, showing that he still has some sense left in him. But in such cases a man should not say what he thinks, so I told him that I thought he was doing the right thing, as he would get a new slant on the world and would probably be a much better man, both physically, and mentally, after the trip. This seemed to please him, as he trusts my judgment and probably thinks that the last thing I would do is to hand him a line of bunk just to make him feel right. I saying to him that he is lucky to put $10,000 into a trip like that, and he looking guilty and leaving no doubt in my mind that what Polly said about him having less than 36,ooo above the mortgage on his home is right. 214 Sam Blick's Diary As for me, I'll get more satisfaction out of staying at home and doing the right thing by my family than he will get out of worrying a car all over the West. Sept. 16. Well, the worst that could happen has happened, and I never suspected it, for Walker always looked to me as if he was doing all he could to please his wife and make her happy, and no one around here ever thought he was anything but a hard-working man who had put off marriage till well along toward fifty, and then married a girl with whom he probably could not have had much in common. Polly broke the news when I reached home, saying that Mrs. Walker had spent the morning at our house, telling Polly all about Walker and some widow beingseen together at lunch in a downtown cafe almost every day recently by a waiter who knew Walker from coming out here to see the Walker cook. The waiter told the cook, and Mrs. Walker and the cook had a few words, the cook being new and used to having her own way, and the cook spilled the beans to Mrs. Walker. This evening Mrs. Walker and her husband had words which we could hear at our house, but not understand, though we tried, and Polly has been standing at the window all evening, expecting to see Mrs. Walker leave with a couple of trunks, but everything at Walker's house is quiet. Sept. //. No sign of Walker this morning, September 215 but when I got home Polly reported that he left soon after I left this morning, and Mrs. Walker has not been seen about the house all day. The neighborhood buzzing with excitement and all wondering if they will be called upon to testify at the divorce trial. Two or three women sitting on our porch this evening, and I could not help overhearing what they had to say, and all agreeing that they thought there was something like that going on all the time, but had said nothing about it for fear of arousing Mrs. Walker's suspicions. You never can tell about a man, of course, but I will say for Walker that I never thought it of him, as he looks to be too slow and deliberate to make a hit with any gay widow who might be running around stealing old husbands from young brides. But even at that a man ought to have some sense and not lose his head every time a woman gives him a second look, especially an elderly man. He has no business treating Janet that way, and I, for one, am in favor of getting up a committee here in the neighborhood and presenting him with a resolution saying that he is in bad and had better move, but Polly opposing the idea, perhaps she still being jealous. Sept. 18. As I suspected, that Walker busi- ness was all wrong. Mrs. Walker came over to our house this afternoon and told Polly that the cook said that there had been a case like that in the last home she worked in, and when she lost 216 Sam Blick's Diary her temper she told Mrs. Walker about Walker and the widow just to start something, as she thought she was going to be fired, anyhow. When Walker came home and Janet managed to tell him why she was crying and to say that she was going home right away, Walker got hold of the cook and made her admit that it was all a lie. They still have the cook, as Walker probably figures she's worth more as a liar than the risk of another who may have to be proved a liar. Janet was so ashamed that she could not come over yesterday. She asked Polly to keep the incident a dark secret, but Polly has been busy all evening telling the women in the neighborhood that it was a false alarm. Glad that my opinion of Walker proved to be right, and tempted to say a few things to Janet about thinking the worst of her husband on the bare word of a cook who probably had too much vanilla extract, but saying nothing. Sept. IQ. Walker and his wife at church this morning as if nothing had happened, and I wondered how all the women who were talking so much about them a few days ago could look them in the eyes and say how glad they were to see them and a lot of such bunk. As for me, I made it plain to Walker, without saying so in so many words, that I never believed the story from the first. I would have said something to Janet, but Polly asked me to look for Conrad, who was September 217 toddling down the aisle, not ten feet from us, as anyone could see. Fall is now coming, so we all took a long drive in the country, Ellen wheel- ing the car along in fine style, and I glad to let her drive, as I never get enough of the country in the fall, when the air is sharp and the foliage is turning and the trees blaze like fire in the afternoon sun. Stopping every now and then at a stream to give the children and Pep a chance to stretch their legs and learn something about the water, which every child should know well enough to love instead of fear. Thinking that if I am made manager I will get a place in the country, where the children can grow up strong and a man can do a little fishing once in awhile. Sept. 20. Putting in a hard day at the office, spending some time trying to get a line on who is going to be next manager and thinking it strange that no one has dropped a hint to me, one way or the other, as all know that I am in line for the job and other department heads are dropping in to ask me what I know about it. Some acting as if they expected to get the job themselves. I saying little, but sawing wood and waiting for my chance. I'll certainly make a housecleaning when I get the power around the works. There are too many shellbacks there who think that just because they have hung around the place for twenty years or more the plant 2i8 Sam Blick's Diary cannot get along without them. What we need is new blood and lots of pep under the direction of a man who has been there for a good many years and still retains his youth and optimism, and I will show them what I mean by pep when I get the job. Janet Walker sitting on our porch when I got home this evening, and telling Polly that some one has stolen Caesar, so I taking Pep and hunting for him, finding him prowling around down toward the park, where he had probably gone to get the exercise that he needs. Sept. 21. Home this evening to find Polly and Ellen talking with looks on their faces as if Pep had been run over by an automobile. They brightened up when I asked what was the matter, but would not let me in on the serious business, but continued to act as if they had given Pep away or something. Ellen stayed for dinner, and when I asked where Fred was she said he was detained downtown. She and Louise played with Louise's dolls after dinner as if they were the same age, and both hopped on little Conrad when he seized Kathleen, Louise's favorite doll, by the hair and dragged her across the floor, with Pep trying to pull Kathleen's shoes off. After the children went to bed Ellen jumped at every sound she heard in the street, and went to the door a dozen times to look down toward her bungalow. When it grew late I asked Ellen if Fred was coming for her, and she saying she didn't know, September 219 so I went to bed, leaving her and Polly sitting up, and each talking a streak, but I could make none of it out, so writing in my diary and going to bed. Sept. 22. Asking Polly this morning at the breakfast table how long Ellen stayed last night and she saying that Ellen stayed all night, as she did not hear from Fred and was afraid to stay alone in the bungalow, also reminding me that this is Ellen's birthday; so I went out this noon to buy a present for her, and remember- ing that she said something one day about a frame for a picture she and Fred had taken the day they were married, so buying a gilt one for her at a jewelry store. When I reached home in the evening she was there, so I handed it over to her, but instead of even as much as thanking me she began to cry and ran upstairs. Asking Polly what was the matter, and she saying that I might as well know the truth, that Ellen and Fred are separated and Fred is going downtown to live. They had a few words yesterday morn- ing aboufc some coffee, and one thing led to another until Ellen threatened to go home and stay, and he told her to go ahead, and Ellen went. She was upstairs all evening, and would not come down, but she did the right 'thing and is lucky to have a good home to come back to when in trouble and a father who will take her part. 220 Sam Blick's Diary Sept. 23. Ellen still at our house, where she is safe from that young savage of a Fred Thomas. This evening she and Polly let me in on the whole story. It seems that Ellen and Fred have had words pretty often here of late, and Ellen has put up with him for the sake of all our neighbors and friends, who might be shocked. He accused her of being indulged by her parents and of being brought up to be waited on by a dozen servants all the time, and a lot of other bunk like that, which shows what kind of people he comes from and that he has no regard whatever for Polly and me, never thinking, I guess, that before he and Ellen were married he often told her that her parents were the finest people he had ever met. He has not shown up at the bungalow for three days and Ellen will not go near it, as she says she is afraid of the place. Polly saying nothing, but I half believe that she sides with Fred, and if she does there will be another split in the family. Telling Ellen to do as she pleases, and if she cares to get a divorce I will hire a lawyer who will show Thomas up so that no girl who knows his record will speak to him. Feeling pretty low. Sept. 24.. Well, the chief dropped into my place to-day and said he supposed I would be glad to learn that he will continue in charge of the works. This killing my engine, but I managed to ask him how it came about, and he September 221 said that after going over the field, the com- pany decided that they could not get along without him and made such an attractive salary offer that he could not resist, but renewed his contract for another year. I told him that was fine, but if the company had taken a look around the works it might have found what it needed in the way of an executive that could handle the job, as I will not stand for him casting slurs on my ability to hold his job. He had no comeback, but gave that affected grin of his and went out. As likely as not he merely resigned to wring a little more pay out of the company and feed his vanity. Home to tell Polly about it, now that it is all over, but not getting to it, as she could talk of nothing but Ellen, who went to the bungalow this morning to take some things out of the ice box, etc., and found Fred getting his breakfast, so they have gone to the state park for a week-end in the woods. I am sorry that a daughter of mine has so little pride, but all is settled and I'm glad that I did not interfere in a mere lovers' spat. Sept. 25. Pay day to-day, and while I was figuring where I stand in the world, Charley Quinn dropped into my place and we got to talking about the chief going to stay and who might have had his job if he had been compelled to make good his bluff to leave, and Charley told me that as a department head for nine 222 Sam Blick's Diary years he thought sure he would get the job. I saying nothing, as Charley is a good fellow in some ways, and we have worked together for about twenty years and always got along all right, but if he had been made manager of the works I'd have got another job. We agreeing that the chief is all right in some ways and that we will stick to our jobs, although neither of us could be blamed for quitting and going somewhere to make better use of our ability. Learning to-day that the Jacksons left yesterday without saying good-by, merely calling Polly up to say that they were on their way. I suppose we'll begin to get wish- you-were-here cards from them about Monday, or I'll get a letter from Al saying he is broke and would like to borrow enough money to get home. Telling Polly about the chief's bluff, and she agreeing that the job belonged to me. Sept. 26. All to church in the morning and I holding little Conrad on my lap and he falling asleep, and I got to thinking that I wish I had a son of my own, the preacher saying something about the progress of the race is made on the feet of the children, and thinking that as yet Polly and I have not talked over the question of adopting Louise and Conrad and having them bear our name, so they will have the benefit of the reputation which I have built up around it in this end of town, where I am well and favor- September 223 ably known among the better class of people. A damp wind in the afternoon and Walkers asking us if we cared to go riding with them in their closed car, which we did, having a pleasant time except a couple of times when I gave Walker some friendly advice about his driving, he driving as if he had a fire whistle on his glass boat and everybody had to get out of the way. After we returned home and put the children to bed, Polly gave me the devil for talking that way to Walker, and I explained that Walker probably invited me to go along for that purpose, but she not getting the point. Sept. 27. Fred and Ellen up to see us this evening and acting as if nothing had ever hap- pened, and I guess perhaps it didn't, so I used a little judgment and said nothing to Fred about how ready I was to back Ellen in court and ruin his reputation. Polly and I talking it over after they left and she saying that Ellen insists upon cooking everything as she was taught to cook at home, and, of course, Fred has his ideas about some dishes and is very particular about his coffee, and Ellen has learned by this time that she cannot have her own way in everything, and in the future probably will get along all right with Fred, as he also learned a lesson from the quarrel and he vowed to Ellen that he will never speak a cross word to her again as long as he lives. I guess all young married couples have such 224 Sam Blick's Diary troubles, but saying to Polly that she and I never went so far as to separate, and she saying no, but she put up with a good deal, and I saying that she put up with no more than I did, and one word leading to another until I said she ought to be grateful to me for rescuing her from Oakcastle, and she said that it had been one of the regrets of her life, so I for a walk to let her cool off before she says something she will always regret. Sept. 28. Asking Polly this morning if she still wished to go back to Oakcastle to live, for if she did I would make liberal provision for a home for her and the children down there, and she could keep a maid and take life about as it came, with no worries, and she saying that she suspected my liberality, but would think it over. But perhaps I shouldn't write the above down, as about two o'clock she telephoned that Conrad, fell against his wagon and cut a long gash in his head, so I hurried out to the house and got there just as the doctor finished sewing it up. He was a game little devil and was ready to play again in an hour, so Louise and I got the car out and went downtown, where we got some red and yellow balloons and a stuffed dog and two picture books for him. When I started to rock him to sleep this evening, Polly made no objection, saying nothing, and after both children were asleep, I said something to her about adopting September 225 them, and she began to cry and said she had tried to ask me about it a hundred times, but thought I might object, and we had better talk it over with Ellen, who ought to know about it, which is true, and a man of property must con- sider such things. Sept. 29. Things going easy to-day. Keeping my department humming, as I can with half my mind and half my time, as I have discipline that gets results. The chief coming in to-day and asking who was that pretty girl over there and hadn't he seen her not long ago in Quinn's department? I told him that Quinn had used her while I was away, but that I had taken her back at increased pay as she was a corker and a member of the famous Lowder family. He saying he was glad to hear it, as he took great interest in the welfare of his employees. I believe he is a little attracted to the girl himself, perhaps being lonely, being a widower for five years. Home in the evening to a good dinner, Polly having a ham omelet, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Little Conrad's schedule calls for bed before our dinner time, so the three of us Polly, Louise and I have our dinner together, and Louise tells in detail about the dress worn by every little girl at her kindergarten. Pep and I for a walk after dinner. Sept. jo. Going to a lawyer to-day about adopting the children and finding that he can 226 Sam Blick's Diary file the papers now, but that we shall have to wait three months before we can adopt the children, which will make about New Year's presents of them, which mention of New Year's reminds me that we have had no weather to speak of here lately, all days being about alike, bright or cloudy, with a little rain and no very cold nights. This will make the children's new birthdays come about Christmas time, so that we can have a special celebration without telling them why, as we plan to have them grow up thinking that they really are our children, the lawyer saying that he thought we could put up a little story that would sound all right to Louise, though I doubting it a little, as I can remember that I knew my name when I was five years old, though the cases are not exactly similar. Home to report my visit to the lawyer to Polly, and in the evening we asked Fred and Ellen to come up and talk it over, and when we sprang the proposition Fred said nothing, as there was nothing he could say, and Ellen cried a little and said it was the thing to do and kissed Polly and me. October Oct. I. Pretty sharp weather these days, but not bad, being merely sharp enough to make a man wish he could get out of the city and spend his days in the open, where people don't crowd a man, till sometimes I think I'd like to buy a little farm and try to make a go of it, as hard as it is to make even a living on a farm, just for the pleasure of getting away from town, where people crowd around each other as thick as flies, making everybody, including them- selves, half sore all the time. There are so many people in the world as it is that there is no reason why they should herd together in cities and make matters worse. Fred and Ellen up to our house this evening and saying something about poker, which Polly refuses to play, so Ellen calling up Mrs. Walker, they having played together some- where, not long ago, and she coming over and we playing seven-card stud, ten-cent limit, the game being all right, except that I won nearly all the money that was won, so that I was tempted to turn down good hands, just to spare the other players, but did not, feeling that if 227 228 Sam Blick's Diary they couldn't afford to lose it was a good lesson, and if they could afford to lose I might as well win the money. Oct. 2. Calling that Minnie Lowder into my office today and telling her the chief was in- quiring about her and glad to know that I was doing, the right thing by the sister of Scott Lowder, Minnie pulling down the curtains over her eyes and saying that everybody had been most kind to her. I wondering where she got that "everybody" stuff, as it seems to me I am the only one who has done anything for her, but saying little or nothing along this line. I would like to pass her along to the chief to use in his own office, but it would do me no good to have him find out what a false alarm she is. Home to play with Louise, whose dolls have the measles, and I am the doctor. Smoking my pipe and thinking all evening. Oct. 3. To church this morning, after spending two hours working on the bus, which is worse than a baby, needing attention all the time, so that if I had my way about it I would leave the thing parked somewhere till a thief came along and stole it, giving me a chance to get even with the insurance company, and the thief, too. There is no sport in having to take care of your own car, and if you hire some one to take care of it the cost is so much that a man can't afford it, so, as far as I am concerned, a machine is no October 229 good unless somebody asks you to ride down- town or something like that, where it doesn't cost you a cent any way you look at it. A good sermon, our preacher being better this fall than ever, as he knows everyone and says nothing that makes anyone in the congregation feel badly, or even ill at ease. In the afternoon taking Fred and Ellen with us for a ride and passing the traffic cop who arrested me this summer, and he giving me the sign when he saw me coming, causing people to look to see who I am, which does a man no harm, as some of them may have known me and wondered how I got in strong with the traffic cops, and strangers probably thought I was the mayor or a judge. Oct. 8. Minnie showing up to-day in a new skirt, blouse, and shoes, and showing that the raise I gave her is being put to good use. She hanging around my desk till I said something about how well she looked; then she told me that her sister Ethel, who now works in a department store, helped her to pick out the stuff, accounting for the general effect, which is good. Telling Polly abo.ut it in the evening, and she saying little or nothing, merely remarking that she had been wearing a new fall hat for nearly five weeks and I had never noticed it. Etta staying at the house in the evening so we could go to the movies, even though it was raining a little, and I saying something about Polly's hat, but getting in a 230 Sam Blick's Diary little bad, as it was not the new hat she had been hiding from me, but the hat she had last fall, so I saying no more, but enjoying the movie. Oct. 5. Hearing from Al Jackson to-day, not a card, but a letter written from St. Louis, ad- vising me to sell out and arrange to follow him, as he is leading the life. He had some trouble, having been hit by a truck loaded with bootleg whisky, which tore a wheel off and bent an axle, holding him up two days for repairs. All are well, according to him, but he said nothing about whether Beatrice has captured a man yet. Show- ing the letter to Polly, and she thought he was serious about us selling out and putting our money into a trip like that, when all we'd have left in the end would be a ruined automobile and maybe a bad opinion of a large part of the country. I telling her that there was no chance for anything like that, as even if I had money I would not squander it that way, but would de- vote more time to bringing these children up as they should be brought up if they are to get the most out of life. We having a few words about what people are on this earth for, and then I looking after my patients, Louise's dolls, which are doing much better, but as yet are not able to play in the light. Oct. 6. Polly telling me this evening that while she was out walking this afternoon with Louise and Conrad, an elderly man stopped them and October 23 1 chucked Conrad under the chin and said he was one of the finest babies he ever saw in his life, the picture of health, and with a shrewd, smart look about his eyes which shows that some day he will be a good business man. Polly was very much pleased with what the stranger said, but I saw nothing to get excited about, as it is plain to be seen that Conrad is a remarkable boy and has developed wonderfully since we took hold of him and I began to get the right kind of tops for him, and to let him play around when I was working on the car and not getting sore when he lost a wrench now and then, but giving him a chance to see how men do things, something not everyone will do, but will take a baby like that and raise Cain with him if he gets dirty or gets hurt doing something he's been told not to do. Conrad has quite a lot of words now and promises to be a good talker, saying nothing unless he knows what he is talking about and is in earnest. Regretting that I cannot take him walking as an example to some people in this neighborhood. Oct. f. Things, have taken a serious turn at the office to-day, as that fellow Carder looked a little pale this morning, and when I asked him if he was feeling all right, being interested in the welfare of my employees, he told me he was out on a little party last night and got in late. He wanted to talk about it, so I let him go ahead, being curious to know how my match is turning 232 Sam Blick's Diary out, and I soon found out that what he wished to do was to boast that he had been out on a party with the chief, he and his wife and Minnie and the chief. I said nothing, as there was nothing I could say at that time, but it didn't take me long to see through the chief's little game. Of course, it made some difference since Minnie's sister was along, and I'll give the chief credit for using more sense than he usually displays around this place, but I spent most of the morning try- ing to think up some way to let the chief know that I consider myself responsible for Minnie's future and would rather he left her alone. Minnie will be less use than ever now, dreaming of a life of ease and luxury. Oct. 8. The chief came into my place to-day on some business and I ringing for Minnie about some invoices. The chief and I were busy when she came in, and he gave her no more than a glance, and neither of them acted as if they had ever seen the other before, which stumped me. Thinking that maybe Carder's wife is trying to work a little game to get in right with the chief so Carder will get a better job. When Ethel and Carder were married and all were talking about it, I remember that Ethel asked the chief to come to their house for dinner some time, and he said he would consider that an invitation and would be there whenever she said the word. The chief is not old in years, but in holding a job too big October 233 for himself he has worried himself ten years ahead of his real age, and when a bunch of young people begin to work on a man who is far enough along to see that he is soon going to be lonely, there's no telling what kind of fool they may make of him. I saying nothing, but will drop a bomb among them some day. Oct. g. Pay day to-day, and, as usual, I figured on where I stand in this world, counting what I have put away for the kids, that being the money Bob Pence sends every month, as he could not very well get out of doing as long as he professes to be half a man, and also not count- ing it, in which case I am not what you might call rolling in wealth, but I can see that by the end of the year I am going to have a neat little sum put by as the result of my resolution to save some money this year in spite of every tempta- tion, as any man can do if he has some strength of character and is not too soft-hearted with his family about luxuries which they do not need. Buying candy for Polly, .and a folding cardboard doll's house for Louise, and a fine top for Conrad, which he cannot spin, being unable to wind it up, but which I can spin for him. Also buying a new collar for Pep, somebody having stolen the one he had. When Polly saw that the collar was gone, she said Pep must be a good watchdog, and she was glad he was around in case the mirror thief came back again, but I saying 234 Sam Blick's Diary nothing, as she cannot understand about a dog being kept gentle for kids. Oct. 10. Out early this morning to get the car fixed up before church, but hardly had I reached the garage when Harry Vickers came along with his hip boots on and said this was some day for fishing and asked me to go along with him up the river to try some flies he tied last night. Getting myself some breakfast and leav- ing a note for Polly saying I would be unable to go to church, and getting my tackle and up the river with Vickers in his car. I never learned to cast a fly, so taking my short rod along and cast- ing plugs for bass while Harry worked the river in his waders. He landed a couple of bass and I watched him play a game which I'll admit is a good one and he seems to be an expert at it. I was tossing my plug out now and then just for fun, when suddenly I got a strike that almost pulled me into the water, and after ten minutes of trying to keep him out of some roots I pulled in a nice two-pound bass. Back home by noon, running into the church crowd, which does me no harm, showing that I am not a slave to habits. Vickers and his wife came to our house, and at four o'clock we had a fine fish dinner. Oct. ll. Louise calling me up to-day about her dolls, and while I was giving some learned medical advice over the phone the chief stepped into my place, and when I got through he said October 235 to me, "What are you doing, practicing medicine on the side by telephone?" I thought of a hot one about like this "No, I am attending to my own business." But I said nothing, merely asking him what I could do for him, paying no attention to his question, ignoring it as if some fresh kid had asked it, which is not far from the truth, as I understand the chief thinks I expect to get his job, and that accounts for the way he is picking at me all the time, like a jealous child. Making up my mind, though, that I will get up some scheme that will take the sarcastic streak out of him and maybe leave'him regretting to the last day of his life that he ever crossed the path of a better man. Home in the evening and look- ing over Louise's dolls and telling her that they are entirely well and will need no attention or advice over the telephone, as I do not care to risk another chance to jump on the chief as I might have to-day. Oct. 12. This being Columbus Day, celebrat- ing it by telling the children the story of Christo- pher Columbus, who, after many snubs by people who thought he was crazy, set out to discover the New World, which then had plenty of room for everybody, but has since become so crowded that a man can hardly get around in a machine on Sunday, and is scared to death half the time by the flivvers shooting out of side streets. For a ride and nearly smashing two glass flivvers, 236 Sam Blick's Diary both driven by women who acted as if I was a collision cruiser working for the garage trust. Thinking that I will get a five-ton truck, which seems to stand some chance against everything but railroad trains. This afternoon who should come past our place, while I was spinning Con- rad's top on the back walk, the Indian summer being here and the day warm, but the chief and Minnie in the chief's roadster? They said they were just passing by and heard that I had a beautiful place and did not intend to stop, but saw me. Polly down at Ellen's, so I entertain- ing them for a minute, as a man cannot bawl his chief out on his own premises. Besides, the children were there. Oct. Jj. The chief coming into my place this morning and saying he was glad that he stopped at my place yesterday, as he has been living down- town so long he had forgotten what the suburbs are like except that they are places a man goes through to get to another town, and he was reminded of the pleasure a man must get out of a nice house and lot among congenial people in the same financial class. He talked like a man suddenly smitten with the idea that a man is on this earth to get married, establish a home, and do what he can to start a few children in life a little better than he was able to start. Feeling sort of sorry for him, for when he talks about something of that kind, something outside the October 237 regular routine of business at the works, he acts almost human, as if he held his job because people liked him and worked for him out of affection rather than because they are afraid he will bawl them out in front of a lot of people. Saying nothing to him about Minnie, except what was he trying to do, undermine the discipline in my department? Hoping that he got the point in spite of my joking manner. Oct. 14. Polly telling me to-day that Walker is going to be away over the week-end and she has invited Mrs. Walker to go to church with us and to have dinner with us, which news proved to be just exactly what I was looking for, as my brain acts like a flash in such cases, and I acted immediately, saying to Polly that the Lowder girl who was out here with the chief Sunday is very lonely and I thought that in view of the heroism of her brother we ought to do a little something for her, as I know she would like to see more of our place, and maybe we had better invite her to dinner and be kind to a poor girl trying to make her way in the world. But it took some persuasion to make Polly see that this should be done, as I did not care to tell her my real reason, but finally said that the chief is interested in Minnie and through her I may make myself solid with the chief and get an increase in pay the first of the year. This finally worked, so to-morrow I am to say to Minnie that Polly was 238 Sam Blick's Diary sorry she was not at home Tuesday and would like to have her come to dinner. Saying nothing about the chief coming, too, as he is nothing to me. Oct. 75. This morning at breakfast Polly try- ing to hedge on the invitation to Minnie, but I finally winning out, and as soon as I got to the office calling Minnie in and asking her if she could come, feeling that maybe she had a date with the chief and would hold out, but she jumped at the chance, saying that Ethel had told her of my kindness to her when she first came to the city a stranger, and the way she ran away from our house, being merely frightened and knowing no better, and Minnie was eager to do what she could to show that the whole Lowder family was not like that and to try to excuse Ethel's conduct to Polly and Ellen. This fitting into my plan as if I had thought that she would accept for that reason and had dropped a hint or two. Telling Polly about it in the eve- ning, and she took a different view of the matter, getting a little curious about Minnie, her appear- ance and all, and deciding that, after all, there was nothing wrong about inviting a person she didn't know to the house for dinner. Mrs. Walker in her yard looking rather sad, and prob- ably thinking how happy she might have been with a husband her own age. Oct. 16. Pay day to-day and finding that I October 239 am getting ahead a little on my savings. Work- ing on the car most of the afternoon, using some new polish which makes it look well in spite of the way I abused it by washing it in the bright sun when I first got it, not knowing any better, as no one ever told me. All set for the climax of my plot, which comes to-morrow, the point being that the chief is a much older man than Minnie, and I figure that sooner or later, espe- cially if I get in a hint, Mrs. Walker and Minnie will get to talking and Mrs. Walker will have something to say about what a fool a girl is to marry a man so much older than herself that they can have nothing in common except a desire to be rid of each other. Minnie, being a smart girl, outside of office hours, will believe a personal experience like that, and if she is sensible, she will give the chief the air for life, seeing not his money and his job, but life with him day after day as his wife. Mrs. Walker over in the evening, and when Polly said something about Minnie, I said, "Yes, and she's a girl that could profit by some advice about marrying a man her own age." Oct. 77. The dinner was a great success, the chief and Minnie driving up in his car just as we got from church, so that Mrs. Walker had a chance to size him and Minnie up together Polly said something about him staying, but he excused himself on the ground that he had a golf engagement at his country club, which may or 240 Sam Blick's Diary may not have been a bluff. Minnie was soon the life of the party, making a great hit with the children, and she had on a dress which showed she is not only making good use of her increased salary, but also of her taste, as, taking her alto- gether, she was enough to set any man guessing, especially her eyes. The dinner went off all right, and after dinner, while Polly was giving some attention to the children, I strolled out in the back yard and left Minnie and Janet to talk it over, which they did, Janet filling Minnie to the brim, as I could see by the way Minnie listened. Taking Minnie home in the car, and I must say she could look farther and do better in the way of a place to live if she ever does get married. Oct. 18. The chief into my place again to-day for something besides business, trying to find out from me about what my family thought of Minnie, and I saying nothing at first, but finally, when he hung around till he was interfering with my work, which must go ahead as if the place was run right, under the direction of a real man- ager, I told him we were very much pleased with Minnie and would like to have her come out again, when we could have some of my daughter's friends in for her amusement, as she is a bright girl and it is a shame for her to waste her time with people who are old enough to be set in their habits and cannot appreciate her at her full value. He failed to get the point, but acted as October 241 if he thought he was about her age and she had better be jazzing around with him instead of killing time at our house. I said nothing to this, as I have planted the dynamite and expect to hear any day that it has exploded and blown some of the conceit out of him. Saying nothing to Polly about it in the evening, as she persists in thinking that my interest in Minnie is per- sonal. When a girl allows an elderly widower to pay her attention she is open to all sorts of suspicions. Oct. 19. Another mellow fall day and the clerks around my place getting a touch of spring fever, for which I could not blame them, as people will be human in spite of all you can do to keep them hard at their jobs. With every- body loafing that way, Minnie Lowder does not seem so bad, though running around with the chief has done her no good. Fred and Ellen up to our house in the evening, probably being broke and no place to go, and they and Polly talking about nothing but the price of groceries, telling how they could save a cent here and two cents there, provided they looked long enough and maybe spent more for gasoline than they saved, the gas, however, being on me, as from the way Ellen runs the Car around you would think that it was hers and she merely lets me have it long enough to take care of it so it will run. This making no difference to me, however, as she is a 242 Sam Blick's Diary bride only once and the car will probably make life a little easier for her until she gets used to the idea of having a home to take care of and a husband to look out for, which she is good at, Fred looking happy and prosperous. Oct. 20. Bill Hines into my place to-day and telling me that the world looks rosy to him and having the nerve to ask me what was the matter with me, as I looked as if I had lost my last friend. Saying nothing to this, as he is the last man that has any business to speak of a man losing his last friend, the way he trimmed all his friends on that oil deal and lost nearly all of them. If he had a conscience in his head he would look like something pretty close to a swindler. But I did ask him where he got the nerve to think that because he was well dressed he looked like anything more than a slick bunco steerer of some kind, not wishing to offend him, and knowing that as long as I called him well dressed I could call him nearly anything else and he would not hear me. He had some sort of oil proposition, but I told him to try it on some young fellow who had just inherited about $5,000 that his dad had spent a lifetime getting together, and he saying that he might do that if he knew of such a man, but he preferred a person of ripe judgment, like Al Jackson. They are all talking about Al's luck and calling it judgment. Home to a good dinner and glad of it. October 243 Oct. 21. Fine weather these days, Indian sum- mer being with us, according to some, and accord- ing to others it is just the end of the summer, but I am not one to dispute about seasons and weather, taking what comes as it is served up and making the most of it. Louise and I for a walk in the evening, getting a lot of pleasure out of walking, as she asks me dozens of ques- tions and I take the time to give the best possible explanation I can of everything she asks about, not cutting her off short as many people do with their children, so that the children grow up timid and ignorant. Louise wanting to know who hung the stars out at night and I told her that God did, giving her to understand that there is a great power which no one understands, and not going into a lot of scientific explanations about the sun, moon, and planets, which she would never have understood and would prob- ably have thought me foolish for trying to explain. Meeting Herbert Koontz on the way home and he telling me his domestic troubles, which I closed him down on, as he acted as if Louise wasn't there, showing what he knows about children. Oct. 22. To-day I lost a good man in my department when I lost Carder, as he goes into the chief's ofHce as a correspondent, which I'll admit he is qualified for, as I put most of this work on him in my department and developed 244 Sam Blick's Diary him for the good of the firm. He and I had a little talk when he came into say that he was sorry to leave me, and I found out that the chief got mixed up in their affairs about as I expected, that Ethel girl having met him on the street one day and reminded him that he had promised to have dinner with them, and one thing led to another till he promised to come that evening, and Ethel had Minnie along to make it four, and in the course of the evening the chief and Minnie got to talking shop, as two people of that kind would, and from that time since the chief has been rushing her. After what Mrs. Walker probably told Minnie about the Walker troubles growing out of too many years between them in age, it looks to me as if Minnie ought to throw him over instead of dangling him along; but he's a good spender, I suppose, and she is human enough to like joy rides. Meanwhile his work is suffering and my discipline will soon be shot to pieces. Oct. 23. Fred calling me up to-day and we going to lunch together, and he asking for some advice about family matters, telling me frankly that he is up against it financially. He and Ellen hadn't figured on clothes, so when the cool days came this week he bought a suit and fall over- coat, as he had to in order to keep looking well, as a salesman must if he is to unload the stuff, and then along came Ellen about a fall suit, hat, October 245 shoes, and other clothes, and there was no money on hand for them, so I guess that's what started the rumpus, though Fred hurried over that part. He figures that he has to have the clothes, which is right, and yet he thinks it is unfair to Ellen to have to go without, having to wear last year's clothes and feel a little out of place among the girls she runs around with. I told him that it was my experience on clothes that a man must get them and trust to luck to escape bankruptcy, but when Polly and I were first married we wore our clothes for years. Telling Polly about it in the evening, and she knew the other side of it from Ellen, so I finally saying I could go $100, which is a lot. Oct. 24.. Ellen came out to the garage this morning while I was fixing a tire, and acted as if she had done something terrible, saying that she didn't know that Fred was going to talk to me about her clothes, and that Fred was sore be- cause she had gone to Polly on the same subject, and when Polly told her that I had said I would stake her to a fall outfit, she was sure I would think that she and Fred had been working a game to get some money out of me. She said that rather than take the money she would go without any clothes at all. That getting my goat, and I telling her that it was funny that a man in my position could not make his daughter a gift of a few clothes without being thought a 246 Sam Blick's Diary fool. Telling her that if she did not get the clothes at my expense I would consider myself insulted, and she finally seeing it my way. The news may get out, but it will do me no harm to have people saying that I am certainly doing the right thing by my daughter. To church, and in the afternoon, the day growing warmer, for a fine ride, enjoying the yellow and red foliage, which is now at its best. Pep chasing a rabbit, but missing it. Oct. 25. A dull day to-day, as it was cloudy and a cold mist flew around most of the day anck I must have eaten something yesterday that did not agree with me. A man's health makes no difference, anyhow, as when he is ready to die he will die, and when you get down to rock bottom there's nothing much to live for, anyhow, just plugging away and paying the bills, and for my part the weather can be whatever it cares to be. Home in the evening to play with the children, fixing Louise's skates, and thinking that the children will soon be grown up and married and gone away from us and then there will be no one left but Polly and Pep and me, and as likely as not Pep will be gone by that time, as dogs hardly ever live to be more than fifteen years old, and he is nearly one year old already. Smoking my pipe all evening and reading in the paper about a murder and several divorces, robberies, suicides, and a race riot, showing that human life is not October 247 held very high in this world. Taking some pills, as I guess I am getting old and about ready to pay for spending too many years at a desk, where a man has no business being. Oct. 26. I got more done in my department to-day than any other department head can get done in his department in three days, in spite of the chief's doing all he can to ruin my dis- cipline. Home early to find that Polly had a bad blow-out on an old tire to-day and had to get a new one, but that making no difference to me, as a man has a long time to live and a tire more or less means nothing to me. Taking the children for a walk in the brisk late afternoon air, and enjoying every step of the way, noticing that people turned to look at me, and probably they were saying to themselves that I look young to be the father of those two children. Romping on the floor with the children before they went to bed and showing them that, although I may have lived a few years, my heart is still young and I have pep enough to amuse the most active of children. Pep bringing an old stocking to me for a tug, and I wore him out, even though the children helped him, swinging him around my head several times. In the evening getting in a few neighbors, rousing them from their reading lamps and easy chairs, and putting on a little game, winning $4.60. Oct. 27. Riding down on the car with Harry 248 Sam Blick's Diary Vickers this morning and he telling me that after the game at my house last night he got to thinking that perhaps I was the man he was looking for to go with him on a sales agency here in town. He knows the motor game from A to Z and claims that there is a great future in farm tractors and he has a chance to hook up with this territory for a new firm which has a world beater. He can handle the sales end all right and he has a line on a man who can handle the service end, but he is looking for some one with about $5,000 who will go into the office end and work like a horse till the thing gets going. I'd have to hock my home to the hilt to raise $5,000, but telling him that I would think it over, which I will, though I can't see much chance of getting a good start in that game now, when the prices of farm products have dropped to less than cost and farmers can't buy what they have to have, let alone take a chance on a new kind of tractor. Telling Polly about it in the evening, and saying that I might lose everything, as it was a big chance, and she having little to say, preferring to leave these matters to my better judgment. Oct. 28. The chief all excited and blowing into my place this morning as if the plant were burning down and I had started the fire, and jumping all over me about a mistake some clerk made which nearly lost a good customer. I telling him to cool off and get it off" his chest, and October 249 he looking at me as if he thought I was going pretty far in acting like a human being in his presence. One word leading to another and I finally telling him that he would gain nothing by trying to run down my department, as the whole plant is going to ruin under his management, and for my part I was even now entertaining a propo- sition to go with a firm that knew ability when it saw it and believed in putting the best man at the head of things. Giving him no chance to recover from this, I let him have the other barrel, telling him that if there was any mistake in my clerical department it would not be diffi- cult to find the cause, as some girls, however able, are not strong enough to stand attention, and tend to ruin an entire department. The chief went out and I suppose I went too far, but I am not a slave to my job and can get another one any time by turning my hand. Oct. 29. The chief saying no more to me to- day about the matter that came up yesterday, except that he hopes I will not make any outside arrangements until the first of the year, when we will settle the whole matter. I am not sure what he means by this, but I notice that he is a little more pleasant, and I think I have him now where, if he starts anything, I'll get back at him by taking a good crack at him in the presence of that Minnie girl, calling him something like a cackling old man, so she will get to thinking 250 Sam Blick's Diary along the lines Mrs. Walker started her on and feel ashamed to accept his attentions, even though he probably spends a lot of money trying to entertain her. Down to Vickers's house this evening and telling him that I will have to have some more time on that sales proposition, as my company may make me a very attractive proposition, and yet it may not develop till the first of the year. Making this strong, as it will do me no harm in this neighborhood, where I am already known as a substantial citizen and have twice been listed in the newspapers as among leading citizens who protested against wasting public funds, to have a man like Vickers going around saying that I seem to be in line for some- thing big in my line, which is true. Oct. jo. Pay day and figuring where I stand, including the increase in salary which the chief practically promised me after the first of the year, and which will be at least $15 a week, making $100 a week for me, which is about half what I would be making if the company were run on an efficient basis, instead of to provide jobs for a lot of men who are a disgrace to the word executive. Seeing that I am fixed all right, speaking in the evening to Polly about winter clothes for her and the children, and this after- noon going around to my tailor, where I have not been since the first fall after the war started, and ordering a suit, as a man who is in line for a October 251 higher executive position should look and act the part. As for acting it, I have been doing that for ten years, but I have to dress well to look it. Polly delighted, and asking me what was the occasion for this splurging, and I saying that I got a boost of $10 a week in pay, which is right, even if ten months late, so relieving my conscience of that little deception, which was justified at the time, and has since slipped my mind. Polly and I to the movies, Ellen and Fred volunteering to stay with the kids. Oct. JJ. Working on the car awhile this morning and not noticing that Conrad was play- ing with an old rag that I had used to wipe grease cups and the transmission housing with, and before I knew it had black grease from head to foot, so I let him go ahead and enjoy himself, as both of us would get the devil, anyhow, and he got down on his back in the oil on the garage floor and worked as hard as I did. Then we went to the house and took our medicine, which was not bad, as Mrs. Walker had stepped in for a minute to ask Polly how she made apple dump- lings, and Conrad was so dirty that he looked funny. All to church, where Fred and Ellen showed up in their new clothes, looking like a million dollars, and I could see people looking at them as if to say that they were surely prosper- ing for a young couple who were married only a few months ago without anything, which will Sam Blick's Diary do me no harm, as, while I have said little or nothing about my generosity toward Ellen, I suppose it is being talked of in the neighborhood, where nobody's affairs are private. For a ride in the afternoon, but the wind too cold for pleasure, so home and all racing over the house with Pep till worn out. November Nov. i A cold rain falling this morning when I got up, but I never let anything like that inter- fere with me, as a man who gives in to the weather, unless he has to work out in it, is looking only for a chance to loaf on the job. Down on the car this morning with a bunch of men from the neighbor- hood, and from the way they talked you would think the fate of the world depended on the way they vote to-morrow. I saying nothing, as politics means nothing to me, as I found out years ago how to vote. Some of the clerks arguing about who will be elected and betting more money than they can afford to lose. Com- ing home on the car this evening, there was an- other argument, everybody being cold, wet, and hungry, and one or two loud men acted as if they wanted to fight, which was all I cared to know about them, and I said nothing more. Playing with the children until Polly said they must go to bed, which is all right, I suppose, but telling her that for my part I would as soon they took a longer nap during the day so I could have a chance to get acquainted with them, now that it 2 S3 254 Sam Blick's Diary is dark so early and there is nothing much to do in the evening. Nov. 2. A lot of loose talk at the office to-day, especially among the girls, about how they should vote, and from what I could make out they are all voting the way their fathers vote, which is all right, as I vote the way my father voted and will not stand for any arguments to the contrary, being too strong-minded to have my opinions changed by a lot of spellbinders and newspaper editors. Home early this afternoon, and Polly, Ellen and Fred and I all in the bus over to the polls, where we all voted the straight ticket, and then all back to our house to dinner and intend- ing to play cards this evening, but Harry Vickers calling up and asking if I cared to join a little party in a hotel downtown where we could see a newspaper bulletin board, so going down with him. Herb Koontz went down with us and three other men came in, all friends of Vickers's, and we had a little game which went all right till Koontz lost his temper on a misdeal and after that he got sore twice because I beat him with pairs. Staying later than I intended to stay, and losing no more than I can afford, which is good diversion for a man sometimes. Nov. 3. Carder coming into my place this morning and acting as if he had something on his chest, so I letting him talk, as that is the only way to get rid of him, and he finally saying that November 255 the chief and Minnie are getting pretty thick and he does not quite know what to think. I saying nothing, as there was nothing to say, merely remarking that as Carder is her only male relative around this part of the country it is up to him to do something one way or the other. He needs a bigger hat already, and I suppose that he feels that he is already as good as promoted to the first good job open around this place, and I am glad I don't have to put up with him any more in my department. Home in the evening and telling Polly about it, and she saying that it looked to her as if I was taking a lot of interest in people's love affairs, and as a matter of fact that Walker woman gave Minnie a line of talk about how a girl had better marry some one much older upon whom she could lean in time of trouble and be petted, etc., showing that she must have decided that Walker was the best she could get and she had better put up with him, but that finishes her with me. Nov. 4. That story about Minnie running around with the chief has leaked out and run all over the shop, and this morning the girls around the place were all buzzing away and doing no work whatever. It suddenly seemed to me that the situation was threatening to get beyond my control, a thing which I never allow to happen in my department. If Carder, whose natural business it is to look after Minnie, will not do it, I 256 Sam Blick's Diary must. With me to determine, is to act. So send- ing for Minnie. Telling her that what I was about to do might seem a little severe, but it was for her own good and the time would come when she would thank me for it. I then fired her, telling her to take a week's salary, but under the cir- cumstances it was better for her not to come back. She seemed surprised more than dis- pleased. And so at last I am through with the whole Lowder tribe. Nov. 5. Some snow flying to-day, causing me to think that it is about time to jack the old bus up in the garage, send the battery down- town, take the tires off and store them in the cellar, and put her away, as we have no use for a car in the winter, the thing being more trouble than it is worth. The dancing club danced to- night, and Ellen and Fred up to our house, bringing two other couples to play cards, while Polly and I went to the dance, where I had a good time for awhile, but finally only danced so that no one would have to sit around, as there were the same number of men and women, and getting no good dancers later in the evening, as they were all tired, or at least acted that way. Some people not coming till nearly time to quit, acting as if they had rested nearly all day in order to have pep enough for two or three dances, whereas for my part I had plenty of pep and could have had a lot more fun if most of the November 257 women I danced with later in the evening had not been so tired that I had to drag them around. But Polly had a good time, and, as I told her, I'll go again for her sake, she saying that it is a good way to show that I am still young. Nov. 6. The chief coming in to-day using a matter of business as an excuse, but, seeing that it was no use trying to fool me, asked whether it was true that I had discharged that Minnie Lowder. I giving him as much of the truth as he is capable of understanding, saying that, while I had once thought the girl had possibilities, it now appeared that a little attention from certain quarters which probably meant nothing had quite turned her head, her work had suffered, and the place had reeked with gossip. I ended by saying that we would all be better off without her, giving him a meaning look. He getting the point all right, for he flushed up and soon went away. Telling Polly about it in the evening, and she saying that I should use a little more tact around the chief. Nov. "/. To church this morning, Ellen and Fred going with us, and all of us togged out in our new clothes, so that we made quite a hit, not that anyone got up and told us how well we looked as we came in, but you could see that everyone was looking at us and I saw three or four people whisper to people near them, so the trip to church was well worth while, as it does a 258 Sam Blick's Diary man no harm to have people say, "There comes Blick and his family all togged out for the winter, so Blick must be getting along in the world all right/' Which is the truth, as, although I never made much money, I live within my income, pay my debts and take good care of my family. After the sermon I talked to the preacher a while, suggesting subjects for other sermons, such as a little talk on thrift for the benefit of a few people in our church who never save a cent, but spend all they can make or get hold of on clothes and cars. Home to a good dinner, and in the after- noon all for a ride in the bus, which is about too small for all of us, and I will see about getting a new one in the spring. A little penny-ante game in the evening, as I had too much pep to read. Nov. 8. Riding down on the car this morning with Harry Vickers and he saying something more about me going into business with him, but I telling him that while I was sure that he would make a go of it and all that, at the same time my company needs my services badly, explaining to him that the manager is not as efficient as he ought to be and is rather a gay bird. Vickers saying no more about his new business after that, as I guess that he came to the conclusion that in fishing for me he is shooting a little wild, and that when I decide to strike out for myself it will be with some one who can put up better than $100,000 against my experience and give me full November 259 authority to run the business the way it should be run. Home in the evening to teach Conrad to talk, as he now does very well, and giving Pep a bath, as he now plays in the house with the children and must be kept clean. Reading in a magazine about how to succeed in life and thinking I will try it. Nov. 9. This morning at the breakfast table Conrad was sneaking spoonfuls of his oatmeal to Pep, who had no business being in the dining room, and Polly got two or three clean spoons for Conrad, calling him down each time and refusing to let me take Pep out of the room, as she said a child should be taught to obey, not robbed of a chance to disobey, but encouraged to respect discipline and to strengthen its character by resisting temptation, and one word leading to another till she slapped Conrad's hand and he yelled in pain, and I saying something about picking on some one your own size, or words to that effect, till we had words and I left home in bad humor, which is not good for a man, as his wife owes it to him to send him to work in high spirits, so he will be able to do his best along with men who have not had words before they left home, this being mentioned in the article on success that I read last night. Discharging two clerks in my department to-day, as they have both been loafing on me and thinking they are getting away with it. Not telling them why I 260 Sam Blick's Diary fired them, but merely saying that we have to cut down expenses. Nov. 10. The chief coming into my place to-day and asking what* it was he heard about a shake-up in my department yesterday in which I let a couple of valuable employees go, and I telling him a few things about discipline, and adding that somebody in the office had to con- sider such matters or everything would go to pot. I practically asked him whether he had seen anything of Minnie since she left the place, but he replied evasively that this need not worry me, as it was no longer a matter of office dis- cipline. I told him nothing suited me better than to be rid of the entire Lowder lot. Nov. ii. Having a few words with several clerks again to-day, as, this being Armistice Day, most of them stood around half the day arguing that it ought to be a holiday, and two or three who were overseas saying that during the war everybody said that nothing would be good enough for the boys who served overseas, whereas now, as a matter of fact, everybody seems to think that nothing is good enough for them. Thinking that they almost told the truth, and remember- ing that when the war was going on I used to say that any time in the future I would always make room in my department for a man who had been in service, but I have several who were not in service, and I am not giving the former service November 261 men any preference. Saying something about it at home, Fred being there, and he was overseas. He saying that for his part he had never expected anything, hence had not been disappointed, so I feeling a little better about it, and reading a book of facts, sold to Polly by a smooth talker, finding therein who Thor was and the height of Washington Monument. Nov. 12. The weather chilly these days, but Polly wrapping the children up well and letting them play outdoors most of the time, so when I reach home in the evening they have rosy apple cheeks and look 100 per cent, better than when we first brought them here, showing what plenty of sleep, plenty of good food, and a happy home, such as I have made for my family, will do for children who were having a pretty hard time in the world. Taking Louise for a walk in the eve- ning now, and whenever we stop to talk to neigh- bors or meet friends in the drug store or in the branch library, where I take her to get children's books about fairies and animals, I always refer to her as my daughter, and we have explained to her that she might as well call herself Louise Blick, which she now does. Going to the library this evening and the girl there asking me if I did not wish to take out one of the books I was looking at while Louise was picking out a book to suit, but I saying that I had a book of facts at home which would last me through the winter, 262 Sam Blick's Diary and I am not much of a hand at reading books, having all I can do to read the papers and a magazine or two. Nov. 13. Pay day again to-day, but the same amount of pay, not that I thought the chief was going to make good on his promise before the first of the year, but since he probably realizes by this time that I brought him to his senses and saved him from a fatal error, I thought he might revise his ideas of gratitude and do what nearly any reasonable man would do. A big romp with the children in the evening, and Ellen and Fred staying with them while Polly and I went to the theater, where we haven't been in a coon's age, and enjoying the girls and music and lights and color. A bite to eat and home. Nov. 14. This being a fine, mild day, probably the last before next spring, thinking I might do a little good fishing, so persuading Polly to remain away from church once, as it will not hurt us any, but will cause people to say that we are not slaves to church, and she and the children and Pep and I going up the river road in the bus this morning, and I trying a few places in the river which looked good, showing Conrad how to cast, as I would like for him to grow up well versed in some outdoor sport which will take him away from the city and along streams and among trees, where he will be at peace with the world and enjoying himself as God intended. November 263 Polly and Louise tramping along the stream with me, which was not to my liking, as a man should fish, alone or with some one who has gumption enough not to throw sticks in the water for Pep to chase, but I saying nothing, pretending I was having a good time, as a man should make some sacrifices for his family, and as long as they thought that I enjoyed having them along it was all right. Home late in the afternoon, tired and hungry and a lot better ofF for a day in the open, where a man has real pleasure, even though the fish are not biting. Nov. 15. Out bright and early this morning, feeling like a boy after being outdoors all day yesterday, and down to the office ready to do more work than any two men around the place. The chief in to ask me whether I needed any- body to take the place of Minnie Lowder, and I giving him a hot one to the effect that her absence meant nothing in my well-oiled depart- ment, except that there was a little less gossiping done. He evidently thought that I resented his question, which I did, and saying to me that he had always felt that we ought to get along better, so I told him that I felt the same way, and one word led to another until we agreed that in the future we would make a little more allowance for each other's ideas, and have less trouble. I was willing to meet him halfway in spirit, as he means well and would be a good fellow if he quit his job 264 Sam Blick's Diary and got one that was cut down to his size, so he could hold it without having to worry himself half to death. Home to a good dinner and to take Conrad and Pep for a walk. Nov. 16. Snow flying again to-day and every- body in the office standing around looking at it as if there was only one snow every ten years and a man had to pay to see it. I letting them loaf, as a man cannot be asserting his authority all the time and bawling people out so they will get to hate him and loaf on the job every time he turns his back, and get together on some scheme to lower the standing of my department. Home in the evening to shovel snow off the walks, Conrad turning out to help me, using a little broom of Ellen's and working like a man. You can tell from the way he works that when he grows up he will kill no time, but will be at something all the time he is awake, as a man should be, as I have noticed that the more a man does the better he feels, that being the case with me, and the first clerks around my place to get sick when there is an epidemic of colds in the office are the ones who work least, this being an original discovery of mine. Hearing Louise read her lessons till bedtime, which she does very well. She expects to become a school-teacher and I am encouraging her in her ambition. Nov. 17. Snow falling all night, so I had the walks to shovel again this morning, noting that November 265 several neighbors had gone to work, as I could tell by the tracks in the snow, without cleaning their walks, showing what kind of people they are, but that making no difference to me, as my motto is live and let live, or let die, as the case may be. The Walkers over to our house this evening, and I was tempted to say something about the way Mrs. Walker tried to double-cross me and how she chose the wrong person for that sort of thing, but remembering that she was my guest, so restraining myself and playing bridge as if nothing had happened. I have got to the place in the world where I can afford to have people think that I am too broad-minded and busy to feel offended about little things like that. Mrs. Walker is probably punished enough by her conscience, and I have the satisfaction of having won out, though getting no credit for it, so I acted as if I had forgotten the incident, .which I have. i&. Nov. 18. All the snow melted to-day and I was glad to see it go, as winter will come soon enough without starting it in November, even before the football season is over. Home in the evening to find that Polly had ordered a sled for the kids, other children in the neighborhood having them, so it was up to me to take them out on the sled before dinner and hunt for patches of snow which had withstood the sun. Pulling the sled along on the grass beside the walks and people looking at me as if to say, "He is surely a 266 Sam Blick's Diary devoted father," which is not far from the truth. Conrad insisted on taking the sled to bed with him, and was so determined that he would eat no dinner, showing that he has a little temper, which is a good thing. Finally agreeing to put the sled on the floor beside his bed, which was not a good compromise, but worked all right, as he soon fell asleep. Spending most of the evening putting my fishing tackle away for the winter, as the fishing season is over and I have little to show for it except a few stories which I have not learned well enough to tell twice alike, but will do better next year. Nov. ig. Ellen and Fred agreed to stay at our house this evening while Polly and I went to the dance, Polly inducing me to go. It seems from what Polly says that Ellen and Fred are saving their money and figuring on getting somewhere in the world, which is a good thing, Fred prob- ably having found out about how I had to scrimp and save when I was his age, and decided that he would set out to be a man like me. Mrs. Stivers, a neighbor, telling me at the dance that she had always been interested in me and was eager to get my opinions on various subjects, and we having a good time together, dancing three times, and I would have asked her to dance again if Polly had not come around and demanded a dance. Mrs. Stivers is a bright woman and a good dancer. I got a lot of satisfaction out of November 267 finding out that she has observed me with interest for seven years, showing that a man may stand much higher among his neighbors than he thought, if possible. On the way home Polly saying that Mrs. Stivers is a vamp, and I saying that if so it was because she regarded me as something beside a pay check, and saying no more, for fear of offending her. Nov. 20. Taking home a box of candy for Polly and a toy telephone for Conrad and a story book for Louise, and Polly glad to get the candy, as, while I said nothing, she understood that I meant no harm by preferring Mrs. Stivers yesterday evening. This making me feel better, as when people get our age a man should be careful and not do anything that would remind his wife that she is showing her age more than he is and he may get careless toward her. Work- ing around my cellar most of the evening and doing a little carpenter work, as to-day I got a hint about where I might buy a case of good Bourbon for $105, which is a lot of money, but the case will last a lifetime, as I wish merely to have it on hand when some one drops in who expects a drink, and if no liquor was produced might go around saying that I was either scared of the law or too tight to spend a nickel on a friend. Saying nothing about it to Polly, figuring that she will be all right if she knows nothing about it till the liquor is in the house, when it will be too 268 Sam Blick's Diary late to say anything. Making a strong box which I can bury in the coal pile. Nov. 21. Too cold and wet to go to church to- day, so, instead of wasting time complaining of the weather, organizing a Sunday-school class of my own this morning and teaching Conrad and Louise a few things about the Bible which are not taught in ordinary Sunday schools, but having some trouble with Conrad; and finally I had to strap him to a chair, as there is nothing like teaching a child early in life that it must obey superior authority. Going through King Solo- mon's Proverbs, and putting in a few new ones, so that it was a very profitable morning for the children. There was a little sun this afternoon, so Polly and I taking the children for a walk, I pulling Conrad in his wagon, which he likes better than anything he has. Afraid at first that when we passed people on the street they would say to themselves that it was strange we were pulling a child along the street in a wagon, as we look as if we were able to own a car, but thinking that they probably saw that we were doing it for novelty, and maybe it will become the fashion in this end of town for people to pull their children along in wagons. Reading all evening. Nov. 22. Herb Koontz on the car this morn- ing and giving me a line of talk about how he and his wife have decided to get a divorce but cannot agree on how they will divide their household November 269 goods, both wanting to keep the floor lamp. Telling Koontz that if he is that kind of man his wife ought to be willing to give the floor lamp to him to get rid of him, and he saying that he told her the same thing, but she could not see it. The chief is away to-day and nobody seems to know where he is, showing what kind of executive he is and what would happen if it was necessary to get hold of him quickly. Home unusually early, know- ing that I can trust "my subordinates whether their boss is there or not. Telling Polly about the Koontz troubles and making it clear that I was not interested in these family squabbles, Polly reply- ing that she had noticed this in the Walker affair. Nov. 23. Who should stroll into my office this morning but Charley Quinn, saying the chief had left him in charge of the works and asking me how everything was getting along in my department, and I told him, "All right," feeling that the chief had put him in charge to reward him for long service and not because he really has any chance of becoming manager some day. Asking him casually where the chief is, and he looking as if I was joking and saying of course I knew that the chief and Minnie Lowder were getting married on Thanksgiving Day. I replied casually, oh yes, for it does a man no good to have it known that he has been kept in ignorance. Of course the chief is sore because of the way I have given Minnie the razz and I suppose I can 270 Sam Blick's Diary expect nothing but the gate when he gets home. Saying nothing to Polly as she would probably worry over my losing my position, women being that way, merely telling her that, after all, that Lowder girl seems to have hooked the chief, she pretending surprise at my being so slow finding this oift. Hearing that Caesar and Pep had a fight over a bone and Caesar narrowly escaped death by running home. Thinking that this is a world of unhappiness and needless cruelty. Nov. 24. An easy day at the office, letting things run themselves and not worrying much, as I have found out that if you put off till to- morrow about half the things that look as if they had to be done to-day you won't have to do them at all. Home in the evening to find that Polly has everything set for a big 'dinner to-morrow, including a nine-pound turkey. So I went over to the drug-store and bought some candy, grape juice, etc., to make the meal complete, for it may be the last chance we have at a square meal. Fred and Ellen are coming up and we are going to have a real dinner. Walkers over at our house this evening to play cards. They said nothing about that dog of theirs, and neither did I, as it is bad enough to have a coward dog with- out having people remind you of it all the time, so I merely remarking that I had heard from various sources that Caesar is developing into quite a runner and must have some greyhound November 271 in him. Mrs. Walker and I beating Polly and old man Walker at bridge, which was not hard to do, as, although we held the cards, we played them right, and I will say that Janet is good, though I'd as soon she had less to say about my style of play, which is good. To bed resolved not to worry about the office, as we have only one life to live. Nov. 25. I suppose that by this time the chief and Minnie are bound somewhere on their wedding journey, although I would not be sur- prised if she got her senses at the last minute and deserted him at the altar, as they used to say in books. All to church to-day and hearing a fine sermon on how grateful we should be for all blessings, which, in view of the big dinner we were all thinking about, made quite a hit. Our preacher gets better all the time. His policy is that a preacher should serve the church so as to have no discontent on account of his sermons. He believes that the best preacher is the preacher who is kept in one church the longest, and as far as I can see he will be with us as long as he is able to climb into the pulpit. Dinner at three o'clock, and we ate and talked for an hour. Fred and I loafing in luxury and ease in front of the fire- place till Polly and Ellen finished in the kitchen, then trying to get up a card game, but they too tired, so telling Fred the story of my life, which he enjoyed up to the point where I quit school, when Ellen took him home. 272 Sam Blick's Diary Nov. 26. Carder in to my place this morning and telling me that the wedding was a big success, as the four of them went to the church in a taxi, had the wedding, ate dinner at a hotel at the chief's expense, and then the chief and Minnie went to the train and departed on their honey- moon. I said something about it being funny that Minnie did not go back to her old home to be married, but Carder said I would not think it was funny if I knew how little the Lowder girls were appreciated in their home town. He also told me they are making a collection for a gold- mounted cane for the chief, when he comes back, which in my opinion should have been a crutch, but I said nothing about that, as I have an idea that Carder tells the chief everything he hears, and parted with a ten, as what else can a man do? The people in my place are buying a pair of silver candlesticks for Minnie, so as far as I can see the newlyweds have no reason to complain of the way we shelled out for them. Looking around for a girl to fill Minnie's place, and glad there are no more Lowders to inherit the job. Loafing all evening, just thinking. Nov. 27. My pay the same to-day as last January, which is all right with me, as I suppose I cannot hope for the promised raise even in January after the trouble the chief and I have had. I decided to quit figuring every Saturday on where I stand, as it looks tight in a man who November 273 has reached my place in life and can afford to spend his money with some care and trust to luck to see him through. I will say, though, going on record here, that I am not as well fixed as I thought I would be, but, of course, a man can- not look ahead and see the unexpected expenses that will come up, such as weddings. Maybe if he could he would give up the ghost. Riding home on the car with Bill Hines and he gave me a line of bunk about the advantages of a man breaking away from a job and striking out for himself. I said that it sounded all right if a man didn't collect from his friends at the outset, referring to the time that Hines unloaded all that fake oil stock, but he failed to get the point, as he had no comeback. I notice that people are getting so they leave me alone unless they have a pretty clear record. Nov. 28. The old bus standing in the garage with the radiator drained, so instead of going to church I turned out early and put her up for the winter, jacking her up and shoving some blocks under her, taking the tires ofF, letting half the air out of them, washing them, wrapping them in newspapers, and putting them in the cellar high and dry. To-morrow I will have the battery man come and take the battery down to his place and store it for the winter, and I will have one less worry off my mind, as from the way the old battleship ran here lately she is likely to 274 Sam Blick's Diary fall apart one of these days. But I got through the season with it, as much as I thought last spring that I would have to buy a new one before the summer was half over. As things look now, I shall have to make it do still another season or even sell it entirely. Not that I am worrying, for I only did my duty. After a day's hard work in overalls, spending the evening loaf- ing, as a man should on Sunday, the day of rest. Nov. 29. Getting my own breakfast this morning, as the children both have bad colds and Polly made them stay in bed till the house was well warmed, so I telling her to look after them and pay no attention to me, as I am able to get my breakfast, as a man should be, and not a slave to household routine. Polly thinking that the children have the whooping cough, as there is a lot of it in the neighborhood, but I laughed at such a guess, as I figure that children who are well and warmly dressed and have their food and exercise looked after will not get any kind of cough, much less whooping cough, which is not much of a disease, anyhow, and nothing to worry about. Getting some toast and coffee, which is not enough, but a man has to put up with anything when he has his wife's relatives' children to bring up and worry about in addition to his own troubles brought on by being over- zealous in the company's interests. Taking things easy at the office, because if we do too November 275 much work the chief is likely to get the idea that he is not needed around the place and feel that he made a mistake in going on a honeymoon and letting us find out that he is merely a figurehead, as you might say. Nov. 30. The children coughing some last night, so Polly had the doctor for them to-day and he said they might or might not have the whooping cough, which is what I call a conser- vative opinion and a great credit to the medical profession. Going home on the car this evening an elderly woman sat down beside me and looked as if she knew something about children, so I asked her what were the symptoms of whooping cough, and she said a whoop, which the children have not got, so that matter is settled to my satisfaction, yet I must admit that they cough a good deal and little Conrad has great trouble with his meals after he eats them, and if he keeps it up he will starve to death. Polly says the children cough just the way Ellen did when she had the whooping cough, which I had forgotten about, as I guess she had a mild case, but I believe in taking the optimistic view of such things and argued that it must be some new disease and we had better get a new doctor. Calling up a few neighbors about a card game, but having no luck, as they seem to think we have whooping cough and they will track it home. December Dec. I. The children coughed a good deal last night and Polly was up with them several times^ not getting the sleep she should have, which is one of the drawbacks to being a woman, having to worry about children and be up and down with them in the night if they are sick. For my part, I never lost any sleep when Ellen was a baby, as she was seldom awake in the night, and when she was I never heard about it till the next day, when Polly might mention it, as if proud to be able to get up in the night and do something for her child. A man who has to Worry about keeping forty people busy in his department needs all the sleep he can get. Things going all right at the office. You would never know the chief is away, except that it seems strange to see everyone in good humor, for we now have a sort of unwritten agreement to do all we can to make the place run smoothly for Charley Quinn, as he is probably at the peak of his career and from now on will occupy a second- ary position in life. I have a particular reason for taking things easy, as I have no great interest 276 December 277 in the future of a concern which has for a chief a vindictive man who rewards good work with ill treatment. Dec. 2. The doctor coming again to-day to see the children, and from what he says I guess they have the whooping cough all right, as he telephoned to the Board of Health and a man came out and nailed a sign on the door saying there was whooping cough within, $10 to $50 penalty for removing this sign. The man telling Polly to be careful, as he just came from taking the sign down at a house where a baby just Conrad's age died of whooping cough, this up- setting Polly so that after she told me about it I thought some of going before the board and getting them to fire an employee like that, but decided not to do anything so rash, for the man is probably good for nothing but tacking signs on people's doors, and if the board fired him they would get another like him for the money. The children coughing a good deal, and Conrad having more trouble with his meals, but game about it and grinning after he coughs, as if he is glad it is over till the next time, showing that I have brought him up right and done my best to overcome the inferior training of his earlier life. Dec. J. Getting a wish-you-were-here card from the chief, who is in Florida, showing that while he was too sore to write me a letter he probably got to worrying about how things were 278 Sam Blick's Diary going back home here at the works and thought he had better make himself solid with a few of the more important department heads around the place, as he is probably shrewd enough to know that they are finding out how smooth the place runs without him and is afraid he will have no discipline when he gets back. Ellen and Fred staying with the children while we went to the dance, where we'd have had a good time if we had not been worrying about my wife's sister's sickly children, but a man cannot have every- thing his way in this world, so I made no com- plaint, as I am not that kind, merely saying to Polly that it might be worse if we did not have Ellen and Fred handy to help us take care of them. Dancing with a woman named Mrs. Harmont or something like that, who could not keep away from my feet, and not enjoying the evening very much, as a man will worry about his sick children, even though he has sufficient strength of character not to worry about his impending discharge from a company to which he has given his best years. Dec. 4. Home early this afternoon with presents for the children, as between the snow and cold wind outdoors and their whooping cough, they are shut in all the time and keep Polly busy looking for new ways of amusing them. After I reach home they get along all right, as I am resourceful and merely have to December 279 draw on my large stock of stories and ideas to keep them amused. Besides, it is then almost time for them to go to bed, and they don't have time to get tired of me as they do of Polly. That girl Etta who used to hang around here is back in school again, but comes in every afternoon for an hour or two, and Polly has a colored woman in three afternoons a week, so I guess she is not faring so badly, especially if she stops to think what might have happened if she had married a husband like some of the men in this neighbor- hood, who are hardly ever at home except to sleep, and whose children hardly know them. Polly telling me that the children are awake now half a dozen times in the night, and that Conrad wakens up and cries for me, so I deciding to move his crib in beside my bed and take care of him at night when he coughs. Dec. 5. Conrad coughing about every half hour last night and I thought two or three times that he would choke to death, but I held his hand and told him to be a good sport, and he recovered each time, showing what a little en- couragement will do for a baby that has been brought up lately in the proper atmosphere and got the habit of looking at the bright side of things. He did not cry for me, however, but cried for Polly, as naturally he would, being her own flesh and blood, and no relation of mine except by marriage and because I agreed to 280 Sam Blick's Diary bring him up after his relatives acted as if they did not care for him. Nothing said about church this morning, but all stayed at home and I took care of the children, reading to them from the Bible and making them sit still except when they had to cough, as children should be dis- ciplined young, even though Polly and I have words about how young to make them respect authority. Several neighbors reporting other cases of whooping cough in the neighborhood, probably due to parental neglect of children. Dec. 6. Taking care of Conrad again last night, and when he brightened up about two o'clock this morning and wanted to play I got his basket of toys and we were settled for a good time when Polly came in and laid down the law, saying that I was teaching him bad habits and he would want to put on the same stunt every night, so I saying all right; but after she went to sleep I found that Conrad was still awake and I played with him for about half an hour, as in such cases a man should humor a woman and not try to argue with her in the middle of the night. Not going to work to-day, as I was up most of the night and decided to sleep this morning, merely telephoning to the office that I was not feeling well and telling them to go ahead as if I were there. Intending to take care of the children in the afternoon after I took a little nap, but Polly forgot to call me and it was nearly dinner time December 281 when I wakened, and Conrad was in bed for the night. Having a few neighbors in for a little game, losing $3.80, as Herb Koontz had all the luck, that being the only way he can win at penny ante, as he gets sore when losing. Dec, 7. Conrad putting in another bad night, but I was up with him every time he coughed and took the best of care of him, as it is by such devoted care that many people survive an illness which might otherwise be fatal. He wanted to play again, but I remembered what Polly said about him getting the habit, and I would not play with him, although he cried pretty hard, and finally Polly came in to see what was the matter with him, and I having a few words to say about not running to a baby every time it cries, but letting it know that it must stick to its schedule. Going to work to-day, but taking things easy, as a man who has to spend his nights taking care of his wife's relatives' children should not be expected to set the world on fire during the day. A heavy snow to-day, remind- ing people that Christmas will soon be here, and the papers full of advice to shop early, which a lot of people swallow whole, as if it wasn't an advertising campaign. Changing the children's medicine, but for my part I agree with the doctor that no medicine will cure whooping cough, but may help some. Reading a magazine all evening. Dec. 8. The children coughing much less 282 Sam Blick's Diary last night, and I am beginning to believe that I was right in the first place when I said that they did not have whooping cough at all, but, even so, we might as well go ahead and admit that they have it, for the sign is on the door and we get all the blame for it, anyhow. Having a few words with Charley Quinn this morning when I was reading the paper at the office and a couple of dumb clerks were waiting for me to make decisions for them which they should have made themselves. Charley is all right within his limits, but when he tries to hint to me that it is bad for discipline to be reading a newspaper half the morning he is out of his depth and probably thinking how soon his department will go to pieces if he did such a thing. The work in my place is falling behind a little, but I will catch up before the holidays, when it is next to impossible to get any work out of my force, anyhow. Out to lunch with Fred to-day and he telling me that he and Ellen are out of debt forgetting the $50 I lent to them last summer, I guess and they feel a lot better and are saving money to buy a home. Dec. 9. A letter to-day from Al Jackson in California saying that he had a bad smash-up with his car, costing him nearly $500 to make it right, so he decided to sell it and come home by train as soon as winter is over. He also said he is in with a good bunch out there and likely to December 283 make a lot of money this year, and sold his car partly to get capital to put into a little deal he has on his hands. Showing the letter to Polly in the evening and she saying that it is just like Al to make $50,000 out there this winter, having nothing to do but look for good investments and investigate them thoroughly before risking anything. Polly asking about how much money we can afford to spend for Christmas, and she and I having a few words about blowing a lot of money on gifts that are no use to anyone, but I saying finally that a hundred dollars ought to cover everything, as I intend to give nothing at all, but will economize, as I do not know very much about the future and cannot be squander- ing money on a lot of Christmas presents. But the children are shut in and we'll have to spend maybe $6 on them. Dec. 10. Bob Pence's wife blowing in at our place to-day without a word of warning, having, I guess, heard from Polly that the children have whooping cough and deciding that the least some one down at Oakcastle could do was to come up and see if they are getting proper care. After she saw how sick they are and heard from Polly about how I take care of them at night, her heart was a little softer and she insisted upon sending Polly and me to a show to get a little relief, while she stayed at home and took care of the children. At first I held out, being tactful 284 Sam Blick's Diary about it, merely saying in a sort of offhand way that the children required something more than mere service when coughing violently, something in the nature of an affectionate pat on the back, but Polly assured me that they would get along all right, so we went to the show and had a fairly good time, although worried about the children, and all the more worried when we got home and found Bob's wife sound asleep in front of the living-room fire, where she had probably been since we left the house, so saying something about the need of a sense of responsibility and going to bed. Dec. n. Pay day, and I spending most of the morning figuring that if I buy no Christmas presents and tell all my friends and relatives that I do not expect any, and we spend only about $6 or $8 on the children, I may be able to get off at the $100 which I promised Polly in a rash moment. That will buy something nice for her and Ellen andleave a little for her to spend on the house, so that matter is settled. Finding that I am taking on a little weight, which is all right, as I notice that most prosperous men have a little fat on them, and it will never do not to look prosperous, no matter what happens. It will do me no harm to have people say that I look prosperous, which will be the truth, as although I have not made a million dollars, I have put by a little for a rainy day and treated my family December 285 right. Home early with some fairy tales for Louise and a box of blocks for Conrad to throw around the house. Playing with the children and in the evening down to Herb Koontz's to play cards to celebrate his wife being away till after the first of the year, and staying a little late. Dec. 12. Going to church alone to-day, as it does a man no harm to have people say that, although his family is stricken with a dread disease and he has many calls upon his time, he is steadfast in his devotions and keeps up his family's reputation for churchgoing and right living. The preacher talking some about the family being the cornerstone of society, and I could not help looking around and noticing the number of people who looked at me, as the preacher himself did two or three times. Only about twenty people at church, most of the members being held up by the heavy snowstorm, I suppose, being slaves to the weather and not knowing that the worse the weather the better a man feels when he goes to church and does the right thing. Home to a good dinner, and when things got a little dull in the afternoon I played hide-and-seek with the children, Conrad having the time of his life when he got on to the game and Bob's wife acting as if shocked. Taking her to the train at seven this evening and glad she is gone, she being more trouble than one of the children. 286 Sam Blick's Diary Dec. 13. Well, the chief showed up to-day without any warning whatever, dropping into my place while I was reading the paper, and saying that things in my department seemed to be getting along all right without much executive work. I said that I was merely looking at the paper to see how the weather in Florida was, where some people are lucky enough to be able to go at this time of year. This getting his goat, as he had no more to say along that line, but sat on my desk and talked for an hour about catching fifty-pound fish down there, probably with the aid of a guide who showed him where the fish were and how to catch them, and them pulled in for him. He said that he wanted to have a talk with me one of these days when he got into running again. I said all right, showing that I am a good sport and can take what is coming to me without squalling. I asked him about Minnie, and he said she was as happy as a lark, so I suppose their marriage may turn out all right, after all, though if it does Minnie will deserve all the credit for it. After the chief got through bothering me I settled down to work, as things in my department are a little behind. I ^bawled out a few of the clerks and got things going all right again, as I am the man that gets the work done around our place, and they all know it. Dec. 14. The children still coughing a good December 287 deal, and from what the doctor says they will cough nearly all winter, if you can believe what he says, which may or may not be true, depending on whether they have the whooping cough, as I am inclined to doubt, although they do cough and whoop and have difficultieswith their meals. Who should blow into the office to-day but those two Lowder girls, looking like a million dollars apiece. They wanted to know if I could find a place for a girl friend of theirs from their home town, and I said I could manage it, feeling that the chief had probably sent them to me. Those two girls have certainly stepped up in the world since they struck this town, one with the manners of a wild man, running away from our house after we had befriended her, and the other with a stupid look that should have queered her anywhere, and they have me to thank for getting good husbands for them, as it was probably my opposition to Minnie's marriage to the chief that made her do it, as she is stubborn. Telling Polly about it and she saying those girls are no fools, which is true. Dec. 15. The children pretty sick again last night, and I worrying a good deal about them. They get along all right in the daytime, but cough hard when they go to bed, as I guess the night air is not good for them, although I keep the furnace roaring and the house hot, so no one can say that we do not take the best of care of 288 Sam Blick's Diary them. I still take care of Conrad at night, as I believe that when a man marries a woman for better or worse he runs a chance of having trouble with her relatives, and if the trouble comes he should make the most of it, and not grumble, but now and then taking pains to let his wife know that he is wise to the situation and deserves some-credit for his sacrifice. Read- ing in a magazine about how to make a success of life and finding that pep is the best policy, something I could have told the author of that article long before he was born. Ellen and Fred up to our house, and very welcome, as the neigh- bors are afraid of the whooping-cough sign on our door, which deprives us of their company. Mrs. Walker afraid, too, as she never had it. Dec. 16. A big snowfall last night, so that I had to get out early this morning and dig the walks out, but that not bothering me much, as, since my wife's relatives have the whooping cough, I am used to being up all hours of the night and am not bothered by disturbance of my sleep, which would drive an ordinary man from home. At the office to find a very con- fidential letter from Al Jackson saying that, to tell the truth, he is nearly broke and also the people who took his house have wired that they will give it up the first of the year, so he is coming home, and needs a little money to see him through, and could I send him $100. I spent most of the December 289 morning writing him a long letter of ad vice, telling him that I would see him through for the sake of his family, but hereafter I expected him to use the advice of his friends in financial matters and not make any more money until he had learned to keep it. Showing the letter to Polly in the evening, and she agreeing that perhaps I was right in saying it was all luck in Al's case, showing that she is getting some respect for my judgment. Dec. 77. Working hard at my place all day and hinting to the chief that I am still listening to a few propositions about going into business for myself soon, but he changing the subject and probably half afraid to put his personal grudge into effect. The children doing better to-day, but when it came to going to the dance to-night Polly and I held out, thinking that it would not look right for us to be dancing around, carefree and happy^, when the children are stricken with a serious malady, as they are, so instead of going to the dance we asked Ellen and Fred up to the house to play bridge, and things would have gone all right if that bootlegger I left an order with several weeks ago had not come to the back door with the liquor. Polly answered the door and called me, and I had to put up a bluff about not knowing the man at all and saying that some of my friends must have hatched a scheme to embarrass me, and he started to argue, but 290 Sam Blick's Diary evidently saw that I was in a tight place and left the house without raising a rumpus, as I expected, so I suppose I am on the bootleggers' blacklist, which does me no good. Dec. 18. With Christmas one week away it looks to me as if the people have gone crazy over Christmas presents, as when I was in the shopping district this afternoon buying a dozen pairs of socks I could hardly get through the crowds. Home early to take care of the children while Polly and Ellen went shopping, and having a few words with them about the folly of Christmas presents, as we are broke and cannot afford to waste money that way; but they went ahead, saying they were in a hurry. I suppose that because I managed to scrape together $100 to send to Al Jackson, Polly thinks I am holding out on her and she will put a bulge in the charge accounts. When Polly and Ellen got home they were all in, so I did the right thing by getting a bite to eat, the same being scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee, with some oatmeal which I found in the kitchen for the children. It is no trouble at all to cook and run a house, and I would have washed the dishes, too, but Fred insisted on doing that, and I made no objection, as it was good experience for him. Ellen and Fred back home early and I reading my book of facts. Dec. 19. Another snowstorm last night and I was the first one in my end of town to have December 291 my walks clean, setting an example of civic pride, as a man should who is a man of some prominence in his end of town. Thinking of going to church, but so many people failed to clean their walks that I decided not to risk wet feet and maybe a cold church, and I stayed at home, as a man who works indoors all the time should not take too many chances with his health, and as a matter of fact churchgoing is largely a matter of habit and a man should not be a slave to any habit. Playing big bear with Conrad until he laughed so hard that he began to cough and I had to let up, although it seems a crime that a man should not be allowed to exercise his talent for amusing people. In the afternoon making Pep play, too, as he is getting lazy and fat from loafing in front of the living- room fire too much and not getting to play outdoors with the children. Getting my tackle out and looking it over and seeing that I need a larger tackle box, so thinking I will buy myself one for Christmas. Dec. 20. Walker on the car this morning, having decided not to run his sedan in the snow, and "I asking him how they are getting along at his house, but not getting much out of him, as would be natural, for a man of his standing would not be likely to discuss his domestic troubles on the street car, where he might be overheard by by a lot of curious people who have not got to 292 Sam Blick's Diary the point in the world where they know how to mind their own business and let other people do the same. Clerks in my place beginning to ask if they can have an afternoon off to do their Christmas shopping early, and I letting them go, as I cannot be a hard-boiled slave driver all the time, but must be human, even at my work, especially when everybody is talking about what they are going to give and get for Christmas, many of them probably not knowing what Christmas means. Polly was downtown again to-day, leaving Ellen with the children, and Ellen is going to-morrow. Between them I suppose they will break Fred and me, but Christmas is coming and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I will not throw away money on fool- ishness. Dec. 21. Charley Quinn blowing into my place to-day and asking what I knew about salary increases the first of the year, but getting nothing out of me, I merely intimating that I knew about what was coming to the more important department heads, but knew nothing at all about him. He failed to get the point, but laughed and went on out, probably feeling that I would ask him how it feels to be a little frog in a big pond again after being the whole works for a few days. This evening telling the children a good deal about Christmas, and Louise writing a letter to Santa Claus which makes the $8 December 293 limit on presents for her and Conrad a little small. Saying something about it to Polly, and saying that she had a new coat for Louise which cost three times $8, but clothes are different, so I saying nothing, as the coat is bought. Polly also saying that she had ordered a Christmas tree from the grocer and would I get decorations for it? I suppose the chief has decided not to spoil my Christmas with his news, not knowing that I am man enough not to worry. Dec. 22. Out shopping this noon for some ornaments for the Christmas tree and getting into a crowd of shoppers and wondering where all the money came from. Buying about all that I could get my hands on, as I figured that since Polly had got the tree the least I could do was to see that it is fitted up to look like a real Christmas tree, so spending $4.35 on knicknacks for it, including electric lights, which will do for another year and should not be charged against this tree alone, but only depreciation. Telling Polly about it this evening and getting the packages from the porch, where I hid them when I came home, and she saying that it was money well spent, as there are several items in Louise's list which she will have to do without, including a doll's bed and bureau, and Conrad will have to do without a few things, too, including an electric train and track, and a kiddy car, which he can just as well do without until spring. 294 Sam Blick's Diary I was tempted to say that perhaps we had better do a little better, but I am nothing if not firm in my decisions, so we will economize this Christmas and not squander hard-earned and much-needed money. Dec. 23. Nearly everybody at my pla*ce ask- ing to go shopping for an hour or two to-day, and, although the children coughed a good deal last night, causing me to lose a lot of sleep, which always clouds my otherwise even and quiet temper, I mastered my temptation to announce that there would be nothing but hard work around the place, and let the clerks run in and out. It is none of my business if they insist upon throwing their money away like that, but it shows that they will never get any place in the world, not having the thrift habit. The chief stepping in and seeing that the place looked as if some one had said it was infected with smallpox, but saying nothing, as I guess he has come to the conclusion that I know everything he has in his mind and am letting up accord- ingly. Looking the Christmas tree over this evening and wishing to-morrow night were here so I could show my skill as a decorator. Polly showing the children's presents to me and saying nothing about how few they were, but hinting at it, but I saying nothing, as I have spent my last cent on Christmas and will be glad when it is over. December 295 Dec. 24. The children better last night, so I was thinking a little about them to-day and deciding that I would slip out during the after- noon and buy them a little candy or something; but at noon the chief came around and said to let everybody go, as they probably would like to get ready for Christmas, so I doing some shopping, Christmas coming only once a year, and buying the bed and bureau for Louise, and also a fine doll and two smaller ones, also a fine electric railroad for Conrad, with trains, stations, and everything, which I can run for him, and a kiddy car, drum, horn, pistol, and several other trinkets, as well as a tie for Fred and a wrist watch for Ellen, and, remembering that Polly spoke of her clothes being run down, buying her a $75 dress, and not trusting to any delivery system this late in the day, but getting a taxi and bringing the things home myself. Finding Polly and the children upstairs, so making them stay there till I got everything in the cellar, as Christmas comes but once a year and no telling what next year will be like. Spending the evening fixing the tree beside the fireplace, where every- thing is now ready for morning. Dec. 25. Up at three this morning, as Louise was so curious last night that I was afraid she would get at the tree this morning without wak- ing us. Rousing Polly, but she would not let me disturb the children, as they need the sleep, 296 Sam Blick's Diary so fixing the furnace to have the house warm and darkening the living room, except for a few coals in the fireplace, and waiting till I thought it was about noon; but it was only a little after five when Louise started pattering around upstairs, so I rushing up and waking Polly and Conrad and bringing all downstairs. At first Louise thought Santa hadn't come, but I told her to try the light switch, which she did, lighting up the tree, and a prettier sight no one ever saw, and no one can say that I did not do the right thing by the children. Spending most of the day running the railroad for Conrad, he being too small to run toys like that, but liking to look at them. Ellen was happy over her wrist watch, and Polly liked her dress, but will exchange it next week. As for me, I got four ties and tackle box, the kind I wanted but forgot to get for myself, though I may have mentioned it to Fred one day. Dec. 26. The Christmas presents still going big to-day, we having to darken the room about every hour and light the tree to make sure it is still there. Conrad insisted on trying to pull some of the ornaments off", pulling the tree over on himself, but not getting hurt. Louise is as busy with her dolls and their furniture as Polly is with the whole house. Conrad and I playing most of the day with railroad, he being so anxious to find out how it runs that I had to December 297 strap him in his chair and run it for him, learning a lot about electricity that I did not know, and glad I got the present for him, as it is instructive as well as entertaining, Fred having almost as much fun with the railroad as Conrad did. If the children did not get excited once in a while and have to cough as if every breath was their last one, they would be as happy as any two children would be, but I will say that they don't seem to mind the coughing as much as I do. Mrs. Walker looking in the window and I feeling sorry for her, having no children of her own and having to enjoy Christmas through my children. Dec. 27. Leaving all well, down to work to find every one acting as if he had spent a strenu- ous Christmas, some having what looked to me like a hangover, and I giving a few orders about getting caught up by the first of the year and starting out with a clean slate, not behind, as we were last year, and having to work overtime and Sundays to catch up, for it will not do for my subordinates to suspect anything. Christmas is all right, and a man should have all the fun at that time that he can afford to have, but when it is over it is over, and I made that pretty plain to everyone. Starting to figure out where I stand, but deciding to let that go for a day or two. The chief into my place with a little package a handkerchief from him and his wife, but he did not know what it was till I opened it, 298 Sam Blick's Diary so I guess Minnie has forgiven me if the chief has not. Showing it to Polly in the evening, and she saying that it is very expensive and I should put it away to wear on special occasions, which I would have done if it had not fallen on the floor, where Pep got it and tore it when Louise tried to take it away from him, as any good dog would do. Dec. 28. Who should blow in to-day but Al Jackson, looking the same as when he left, only with a few more worry wrinkles in his brow. He was surely glad to be back home, and I finally got the truth out of him namely, that he ran into a slick bunch out there and after some difficulty managed to place his money with them, but they were suddenly called home by illness in the family or something and he was unable to locate them later and finally found out that he had been trimmed. I giving him some advice about staying at home and holding on to what money he can get hold of, and he said that he was through fooling around and was glad to get his old job back the first of the year and to settle down to try to get as far ahead in the world as he was a year ago. I saying nothing about the $100 I sent to him, as a man should not press his friends for money, merely intimating that it would be welcome any time he can spare it, as I have heavy investments which after the first of the year generally need attention. The December 299 children much better this evening. Polly and I talking about the Jacksons, who, after all, are our friends. ' Dec. 29. Turning much colder overnight, so I was a little late to work this morning, having stayed around the house awhile to see that every- thing was warm and snug. Hardly ever am I late to work. That has been one of the secrets of my success in my chosen line of work always early on the job and seeing that everyone gets down to work and keeps at it all day. Jim Wilkins in to talk automobile with me, he probably having nothing else to do this time of year but keep in touch with his regular customers, and I telling him that from the way things look now the only interest the automobile business has in me is what harm I can do to it by selling a used car to some one who might have bought a new one, as I can see right now that if I do not count the money sent from Oakcastle, which they could not get out of sending if they had any conscience at all, I cannot say much for my finances this year, but, on the contrary, counting the Liberty bonds I sold, I am worse off than I was at this time last year, and my prospects are also worse. It is a good thing that I am not the kind to worry over money matters, or I would be depressed. Dec. 30. The thermometer down to fifteen degrees below zero to-day and this evening there 300 Sam Blick's Diary was a piece in the paper about the cold New- Year's Day being in 1 864, so I suppose that in that argument I had a year ago with John Hartman he was right and I was wrong, though I doubt if he knew it, probably having had his mind set on that date by some one. To-day the man from the health department came and took the whooping-cough sign off the door, saying that the twenty-eight days have passed and officially the children are well, which is far from the truth, showing that it is time we had some new officials in this town. But as soon as the sign went down several neighbors came in to see the children, and Polly kidded them along about the children being well, as she has been lonely for the company of some of her friends who have shunned the house as if we had leprosy. Running the electric railroad this evening after Conrad went to bed and learning more about it all the time. Also putting my tackle in my new tackle box, which is the best of the kind I ever saw, and should help me to catch the fish this summer. Maybe at least I shall have lots of time to fish. Dec. JJ. This is the last day of the year and it turned out to be the best, the chief dropping in to-day to say that beginning to-morrow I would be his assistant at $100 a week, as he is too busy to attend to all the details and needs a man he can trust to take charge when he may be called away to look after other plants owned by December 301 the same company. This was no surprise to me, as I have long had such a job coming to me, and I was right not to worry over offending the chief in a personal matter, I telling him that I hope he bore me no ill will for firing Minnie. He laughing heartily and saying that my action had forced his hand and made him realize how much he cared. He was frank to say that I was responsible for their happiness and that Minnie realized this, too. Now I suppose that as soon as my promotion is known I will have stock and automobile and real-estate salesmen chasing me, thinking that I will have a lot of surplus money to spend, which is not the case, but next year I intend to put by a little every week, and at the end of the year have a lot more money than many men making twice as much though probably not earning it have. Polly and I sitting up till after midnight talking about it, and she agreeing that I did a good day's work when I brought those two fine people, although not quite of the same age, together. THE END