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 <md tea in the dining room. Ellen and Fred out with friends, Polly doing a little work on a dress she must wear to a tea to-morrow, and I looking wer my Bible, which is a good habit, as a man should read at least one chapter from the Bible every day. Feb. p. Jim Wilkins was in to see me to-day about a new machine, and I told him that I looked my wagon over yesterday and she's a good little bus and just what I need to wheel the family and dog around in this summer, as I am saving a good deal of money this year, with a view to having a little fluid capital put by for anything good that may come along. He as good as saying that I must be afraid to spend a dollar to keep the ball rolling, but I saying nothing, as he is only a business acquaintance of mine and does not know me well enough to make allowances for a hot one or two I might have shot back and I might have offended him. Mrs. Walker, whose husband is still away, at our house again this evening, Polly and Ellen calling February 33 her Janet, so I did, too, which made her feel a lot better. Fred out in the evening and talking of dancing and showing Janet some new steps and dancing with her, then with Ellen to show how it went. I asking Janet if her husband was a good dancer and she saying he didn't dance. I replying courteously that I supposed he was too old for that sort of thing. Feb. 10. Getting breakfast for Pep and me, both eating in the kitchen, as it is warm there early in the morning. Taking Pep for a turn around the block, then to the office to work hard all day. Home in the evening to find the house dark and chilly and remembering that Polly and Ellen were at some tea; so taking Pep for a walk and still no one at home; so finding some bacon and eggs and potatoes, which I baked, and making some coffee. Getting an excellent supper, as a man ought to be able to do, not get sore be- cause women show so little regard for the com- fort of their families as to herd around a tea table till all hours of the night. Polly and Ellen blowing in after a time and I saying nothing, but reading the newspaper with Pep in my lap. After all, there's no friend like a dog. Polly and Ellen talking about what each woman wore and how most of them showed little or no taste, until I took Pep for a walk to get away from their talk and came home and put the dog in his bed and went to bed myself. 34 Sam Blick's Diary Feb. ii. My dog and I having breakfast to- gether this morning and I taking him for a run around the block and hating to go to work and leave him, as he and I have become great friends and I don't know how I've got along without a dog around the house. Overhauling my depart- ment to-day and rinding out where I can save company some money. The last of the January bills for the house paid and I figuring where Polly will have to cut down expenses if I am to put by some money this year. Getting my dinner downtown this evening, as a man should not be a slave to home meals, and home to find the house dark, but a note on the living-room table from Polly saying, "We had a good dinner and have gone to the movies." They must have felt remorse because of not being home yesterday evening to get something for me to eat, and de- cided to be away when I came home this evening. This suiting me all right, as Pep was there with bells on. Taking him for a long walk and spending the rest of the evening reading a magazine, then to bed. Pep is a good dog and I think more of him every day. Feb. 12. No work at our place to-day, so sleeping a bit late and spending most of the morning, after a good breakfast of Polly's getting, fooling around the basement and the garage and thinking some about Abraham Lincoln, who was a great and good man. In the afternoon two girls February 35 in to see Ellen and one of them suggesting a penny-ante game, I never knowing before that Ellen knew anything about poker. They getting me in to make four and I going easy on them until I found that one of the girls, Margie Shanley, with whose mother I went to school thirty-five years ago, was out for blood. But you can't play poker with a woman, as their minds never work twice alike. In my day girls didn't play poker, and for all the good they do the game they shouldn't play now, as it is not a woman's game. I held back when I saw that they were all trying to make the game steep, but even at that they got better than $4 from me. They all went over to Margie's house, where Fred and some of the boys were expected to show up for dinner, so Polly and I having a bite together, she telling me I should not encourage gambling among young girls, and I suppose she is right. Feb. 13. This is Friday, the thirteenth, and I suppose a lot of superstitious people are going around with their nerves on edge to-day wonder- ing if the sjreet car will be wrecked or a building will fall into the street, killing hundreds. A man should not be superstitious, although I always say, jokingly that it's bad luck to walk under a ladder, as you never can tell when it will fall on you. Ellen saying that the girls got the boys into a game at Margie's last night and the boys won every cent that the girls won from me, 36 Sam Blick's Diary and more. She saying that the girls wanted to know if I would play again this evening, but I saying that a man should not strain his luck on Friday, the thirteenth, this being my way of following Polly's advice not to encourage idle card playing among Ellen and her friends. Fred coming in the evening and asking me how I expected to win last evening when I had only one deal to their three. I saying nothing but letting Pep out of the basement and giving him the run of the house, and Fred and I having a lot of fun chasing him till I knocked a floor lamp through the front window and decided to quit, making everybody laugh with a remark about breaking up housekeeping. Feb. 14. This is pay day, a good thing, as it will cost me something to get a new glass for the front window, the neighborhood handy man telling me that no plate glass is to be had, all going into glass automobiles, but he agreeing to get a piece big enough from a building that is being torn down. I pointing out to the family the need for strict economy so that the little mis- hap may prove a blessing in disguise. Ellen dropping in at the office just at noon and going to lunch with me, which I enjoyed, as she cer- tainly looks good in her new coat and a credit to her family. After lunch Ellen and I strolling around looking in shop windows, she getting a lot of fun out of this inexpensive pleasure, and acting February 37 like a child about it and laughing heartily at my jokes. Going back three times to look at a window full of silk hose on sale, very cheap, Ellen thought, compared with window glass. I buying six .pairs for her and she as much pleased as if I were a millionaire and had bought her six dresses from Paris. Feb. 75. Missing church last Sunday, so get- ting out early this morning and taking Pep for a walk in the park. John Hartman coming along with that ragged Airedale of his and his dog got rough with Pep, who is only a pup and got scared, and I telling Hartman he'd better get a chain for his dog, as he might get into trouble with some stranger about letting a fool dog run loose. One word leading to another until I took Pep up under my arm, as Hartman has a chronic grouch, and I wonder how a smart Airedale sticks to him. Getting back just as Polly and Ellen were start- ing to church, so telling them that I would come later, but fixing the fire so Pep would be warm; and then it was too late to go, so reading the Sunday paper and getting my sermon second hand at the dinner table, though Polly and Ellen knew little about what was said, as is usually the case, but could tell what every woman wore and how often each woman had worn the same dress or hat, as the case happened to be. In the after- noon to a lodge funeral, Dave Bishop having died, as I put it, of too many charge accounts. 38 Sam Blick's Diary Feb. 16. This afternoon a fire breaking out in the wholesale millinery house across the alley from the office and that gloomy fellow Lowder getting it into his head that some girls were trapped on the third floor. We tried to stop him, but he ran down into the alley and through the police lines, and the next thing seen of him was when some firemen carried him out in a blanket. He was dead and the fire had got at him. A lot of other clerks were looking where he was looking and no one saw any girls or anyone else, and as a matter of fact there was no one in the building after the fire got under way. The company authorized me to see that Lowder was properly buried, no doubt realizing that I was the one person who understood him and knew the stuff of which he was made. I wired his mother in Mondell, some little upstate town, the news and for orders, and we shall ship his body to-morrow. He had a queer streak of some kind in him, but it took a good man to run into fire to save life. The firemen agreed that he had more nerve than they would have had under the same circumstances. Seeing an undertaker and home late to tell Polly and Ellen about it, making a good story of it and bringing tears to their eyes. Feb. 17. Polly getting my breakfast and I taking some clerks from the office and going before the coroner and then sending Lowder's body to Mondell and sending two clerks along to February 39 represent the company till after the funeral. Back to the office and thinking of the letter Lowder gave me to open in case something happened to him. It began, "This finds me a suicide." He went on to tell about how he saw no other way out. There were four inclosures, notes to his mother, each of his sisters, and to a girl here in town. They were stamped and addressed, but I tore them open and they were all about his sui- cide. The note to the girl was full of reproaches showing that I was right in my suspicion that he had been disappointed in love. The newspapers are full of stories about his heroism, and the chief told me that the company wired from the main office to see that his family was rewarded. Officially he is a hero. So I burned all the letters in my furnace and decided to carry a flag in Lowder's parade along with the rest of the office force and every newspaper reader in town. No one will ever know the truth from me, and I hope he didn't plant other letters around that might cost him his fame. . Feb. 18. Polly and I having a few words at breakfast about feeding Pep, she saying that she will not feed him, even though I may be up- set by troubles at the office and forget him once in a while, and I saying as long as we kept him we had to be human and feed him, and she miss- ing the point and thinking I was hinting at getting rid of him, which I was not, as I intend to keep 40 Sam Blick's Diary him until he dies of old age. She said that of late Pep seems to be my first thought around the house. I seeing that I have made a mistake with him, so resolving to say something bright and personal to Polly and Ellen every chance I get. Beginning by telling Polly that the rice muffins she made for breakfast were the best I had ever eaten, but getting in wrong there, as Mrs. Walker, our new neighbor, had brought them over while I was fixing the furnace. Going to work in low spirits and trying to get the office down to work again after two days of doing little but reading about Lowder in the newspapers and talking about him. Home on the street car with Bill Hines and feeling sorry for him on account of the way people gave him the cold look. Feb. 19. Taking Pep for a run around the block while Polly was getting my breakfast, and away to work in good spirits. The two clerks who went to Lowder's funeral reporting that he was buried with the honors of a hero and that the preacher paid a fine tribute to his memory. Glad I have done the right thing by the Lowder family and that I am through with them. Al Jackson dropping in on me to talk more about putting a piece of money into the patent he is interested in, but I telling him I was putting nothing into speculative ventures, but was stick- ing to sound investments. I also talking a good deal about money matters to keep from telling February 41 him that he had better hold on to what he is getting every week and make it cover his bills and not bother his mind with gambling on a patent. It does a man no harm to give a fellow like Jackson to understand that I am not worry- ing about running expenses, but give a good deal of thought to big-time financial matters. His daughter, Beatrice, at our house for dinner when I got home. She has some advanced ideas and talks about the liberation of the women -from domestic bondage, and the freedom of the soul to drift on whispered zephyrs, which sounds like a book. That's all she'll have to drift in if Al keeps on throwing away his money. Feb. 20. Polly and I having words at break- fast about Ellen running around with Beatrice and her revolutionary ideas, I saying that Beatrice needs a husband, three children, and six rooms on her mind and hands eighteen hours a day, but Polly saying Beatrice is a genius in her way and it would do Ellen no harm to know that there is solace in the world of ideas above and beyond the cares of a household and a conceited husband. Thinking while on the way to work that Polly is not too old herself to take up with some of Beatrice's ideas and if she does there will be hell to pay at our house, as I am in no mood to put up with domestic unrest. Eating dinner downtown and when I got home Polly and Ellen wanted to know where I had been. I 42 Sam Blick's Diary came back with a hot one about how my soul was wafted on a whispered zephyr to a good restaurant and cruelly deserted there, so that the only thing I could do was to eat a square meal, free from the thought that my food was pre- pared by the drudges of my household. Taking Pep for a long walk and enjoying every step of it, as there is no friend like a dog. Polly and Ellen to the movies. I going to bed early, glad that I took the matter in hand promptly and settled it decisively. Feb. 21. This pay day, so I getting myself a pair of cheap overshoes as a present for Pep, he having chewed mine up. Calling up the house, but getting no answer, so out to see if anything had happened to the family, but finding no one at home, not even Pep. Looking around the neighborhood for him and seeing him looking out of Walker's window, so inquiring about him, and Janet saying that she saw him whining on our front porch and supposed Ellen and Polly had forgot to put him back in the house when they went away. She likes Pep and we talking about him for some time. Walker is certainly a lucky man to have a beautiful young wife waiting for him at home, always there when he returns from a day's hard work, tired and hungry, and wishes food and sympathy. Getting my own dinner of bacon, eggs, and baked potatoes, thinking she must be Walker's second wife, as few men wait till February 43 they have sense enough to choose well before they get married, and then marry a girl and train her right. Most men make a bad bargain early and put up with it as long as they live. Spending a happy bachelor evening with a novel and early to bed. Feb. 22. Sleeping late on this, the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, a good man. Saying to Polly and Ellen, "Good morning, how are your souls?" But they not getting the point and I having to laugh it off as if nothing had happened. Then, thinking of Pep, telling them that a dog had a soul, too, and did not enjoy being locked out in the cold, but that it turned out all right, as he was taken in by a charming woman who had room in her heart for a kindly feeling for dumb animals. This getting a rise out of Polly and she asking where I found Pep, but I holding that out on her, merely saying he was in good hands. She asking me where he was while we were going to church, and twice during the services she asked me if I was sure I had locked him in, but I saying that was not worrying me, as I enjoyed finding him where I found him yesterday. In the afternoon Polly went alone to call on two or three neighbors and hasn't said anything to me since, leaving me alone with my novel. Feb. 23. I guess Polly is more sensitive than I thought, for she has found out where Pep was 44 Sam Blick's Diary when she locked him out and acts as if Mrs. Walker and I had conspired to have Pep locked out so we could have an intimate little talk about him. Polly and I having a few words about the incident at breakfast, Ellen not being there, and Polly crying a little, the first time I've known her to do that since I refused to jump into a cold river, her new fall hat having blown out of the car into it. It does a man no harm to let it be known that he is an object of friendly interest to certain parties. Telephoning in the afternoon to learn that Ellen and Fred had a dance on, so asking Polly if she would come downtown to dinner and a show, and she saying that she would, so I sending some violets to her. She showing up in good time and happy with the violets, and we to as good a show as I've seen in many a day, then getting a soda and home. Thinking that a man certainly gains a lot by marrying early in life and he and his wife sharing their joys and what troubles they have and pulling together for the good of the family. Pep having been in the house all day, I took him for a run and then read until Ellen and Fred came home from their dance. Feb. 24.. Polly sending me to work with a good breakfast and a pat on the back, so I guess she's over her jealous spell and not afraid that Mrs. Walker is trying to vamp me on account of being unhappy with Walker, who certainly took a chance in thinking he's young enough to hold the February 45 affections of a girl. Beatrice Jackson sitting down beside me in the street car on her way to work at the library, and I telling her what a beautiful coat she had and what a good fellow her father was to manage to get it for her, as it does a man like Jackson no harm to get a little advertising in his family circle. She saying that she worried about her father sometimes, as he was so given over to business that he had no time for higher things. I said no, I thought he had gone as high as could be expected when he got the coat, but she not getting the point, saying nothing more all the way to town. A good dinner waiting for me when I got home this evening, and I enjoyed it, as a man never relishes foo.d so much as at his own table, food prepared with loving care by his devoted women folks. I returning the favor by keeping up a steady stream of jokes. Feb. 25. Polly and Ellen both down to break- fast this morning, and Polly making waffles, of which I am very fond, though I don't think they're the thing for a man to load up on when he needs a clear mind all day at his business. Ellen remarking about the bright morning and saying that it would soon be time to get the car out and enjoy the first spring days, and asking me if the car would hold together for another season, which it certainly will, as I have given my best attention to it and not hesitated at 46 Sam Blick's Diary getting up early Sunday mornings and working on it. It could probably stand some paint, as I washed it in the sun a couple of times before I knew better. Figuring to-day how I am going to save some money this year and deciding not to be a nickel pincher, but to live well and to keep up appearances, at the same time putting a little money away. Already I have a tidy little sum tucked away, and you can trust me to hold on to it in a tug of war against the adver- tising writers. Fred Thomas out in the evening. He's about the only one left of a crowd that used to loaf here a good deal. Feb. 26. Putting in a good day at the office. Jim Wilkins in to say that he was passing my house to-day and dropped in to ask if he might take a look at the wagon, being interested in it as the man who talked me into buying it, and my Polly and Ellen to the garage with him while he looked it over. He said that it was in good mechanical condition and showed that it had been properly cared for by an expert mechanic. I explained to him that it had hardly been touched by any one except me, he being surprised. He then began to talk about trading it in on a new one, as according to him it is just ready to begin to show the kind of wear that will cost money, but could not be sold at a good price. I told him to look me up later. Wilkins is a good fellow and he knows motor cars. Home to a T-bone February 47 steak dinner. Polly and Ellen saying Wilkins showed up in a new car and took them for a spin, as they wanted to see how the riding qualities of our old boat had been improved. They talking about a new car nearly all evening. Wilkins surely got them going, taking advantage of their inexperience. Feb. 27. Another fine morning, so I calling up the battery people and telling them to take my battery out to the house and put it in the car, as I intend to put the old money consumer into shape by Sunday and take a spin if the weather is at all warm. Out to lunch as usual with a bunch from the office, and Arthur Rogers telling how he had been playing the stock market for five months in a notebook and if he really had $1,000 to begin with and had played his hunches as he figured, he'd be better than $100,000 to the good. I saying that he was like the rest of us. If he had $1,000 to play the market he would buy clothes all round for his family and probably lose about $200 on the deal, but it set me to thinking and I believe I'll look around for a place to put a little money, as it jazzes a man up to have a little jack stuck around where it may either evaporate like bootleg whisky or put him on his feet for life. Home to find the batteries in the car, so putting in some gas and oil and trying the engine out, which runs like a sewing machine. Feb. 28. When I got home this evening Polly 48 Sam Blick's Diary asked me if the car could be run to the agency on its own power or would it have to be towed down. I explained that it is in perfect condition and good for the season, and she said she thought I was going to apply it to the cost of a new one. Ellen joining in at this point and she and Polly rooting for a new car till I was about ready to give in, but Polly changing her tune and saying that if I was in some kind of financial trouble which I was keeping to myself it was the plain duty of my family to stand by me even though it involved riding in a car which would soon be eligible for the neighborhood first settlers' club. I saying nothing to this except that the car was in such bad shape that she and Ellen would probably have to push it if we got any good out of it, and taking Pep for a walk, smuggling him into a movie, which I had to leave on account of him sniffing a nervous woman's ankles under the seat in front of us. Feb. 29. Up early and getting my own break- fast, and taking Pep in the car to limber it up and work it in after the winter's rest. About ten miles out in the country when she went dead on me, owing to trouble somewhere in the electrical system, so I was laid up for some time, finally having to get a man from a garage. A rain coming up and he towing me in to his garage, where he took $4.60 worth of time to find the fuse blown on the starter, which I should have February 49 noticed at the start. Testing it out and finding that it ran all right, so starting home, but missing Pep, who should have stayed in the car. Looking for him for about an hour and finding him with some boys down along a creek. They were teaching him to swim by throwing him in, and he was covered with mud. Getting a puncture, and as I had no spare, not thinking I would need it, losing some time fixing it. Finally getting home about dark. Polly saying nothing about the car, but getting a good meal for me. Ellen gone somewhere with Fred. Giving Pep a bath and going to bed early, as I am tired, as a person always is after the first ride of the season. March Mar. i. Not feeling very well to-day, as I exerted myself too much yesterday doing all a man could do to work the car in so his family could have a ride in the afternoon, as they enjoy. Not disturbing any one this morning, but getting my own breakfast and taking Pep for a run and going to work and doing my duty as a man should that has a family to look after and a good job to live up to. As I expected, at dinner Ellen and Polly began to get curious about why I was out so long in the car yesterday, and I figured that if I blamed the car they would ask for a new one on the strength of my own experience, and that if I blamed Pep they would demand that I get rid of him right away, so I said that I didn't care to risk tire trouble with the family along in the car, so I picked up a couple of friends and gave the car a good work out, at which Polly remarked that the speedometer must have broken down after I went twenty miles. I said nothing, as a man should be a little reserved at times, when people are poking into my affairs, but went to call on our preacher, who is a victim So March 51 of drink, this being my little joke, he having caught cold in the rain and slush while going to a prohibition meeting. Mar. 2. Polly sending me away with a good breakfast, but just as I got started on my day's work I caught a couple of clerks shooting craps on a desk blotter. I called them hard, as a man cannot stand for this in his department, even though it seems that everybody is gambling. One of the shooters saying that he would shoot me to see whether he must quit then or could go ahead and make his point, which he said he was just about to do as I came up, and as I don't wish to blue-law my department, I took him up. He won from me and then won his point, and in ten minutes had cleaned the other fellow. I never saw a man handle bones like that, but that doesn't mean much, as I've never seen much craps shooting, nor do I care to see any more, as when I turned around the chief was standing there. He said nothing, and I guess he doesn't care as long as my department delivers the goods, which it does, as I have the discipline. Fred Thomas at the house in the evening and I telling him about it, and he tried to show me a few things with some bones Ellen had in her handbag, I losing $5.60. A young girl like Ellen ought not to have dice. Mar. J. Working hard at the office all day and home to dinner hungry and tired. Meeting Pep 52 Sam Blick's Diary at the end of the block, and he was glad to see me, as he always is, and never asking for any- thing but food and shelter and such attention as a man is bound to give to any living thing that is always in good humor and has lots of pep. We walked home together and Polly met us at the door and refused to let Pep in, saying that while she was out this afternoon and forgot to lock him in the basement he got loose in the house and pulled the curtains from two windows and tore up a cushion, spilling feathers all over the house. She said there was no longer any room for argument, I'd have to give Pep the air for life as far as our house was concerned. 1 told Pep to wait on the porch while I inspected the damage. No harm to speak of was done. I kept still till after dinner, as a man should go easy when he's hungry, then I took Pep over to Mrs. Walker's house and she agreed to keep him for me for awhile. I to the movies and home to find all in bed. Mar. 4. Polly and Ellen both up for break- fast and wanting to know what has been done about the dog, but I giving them no satisfaction, merely saying that I had found a temporary home for him where he will be in sympathetic hands until they decided to let him come back where he belonged or until I could find a little flat down- town where he and I could live in peace. Calling up Mrs. Walker two or three times to-day to find March 53 out about Pep. She has a sweet voice and I wonder how a clod like Walker ever managed to get a sensible girl like that. She enjoys Pep, as she says she is lonely and he brightens the house with his cute antics. Home to find Fred there for dinner, and a good dinner it was. Polly and Ellen acting queerly. Fred asking about Pep and I saying he is doing all right. Fred said the man who first owned him now wishes to have him back again and is willing to pay a fair price for him, but I not falling for that line of talk and saying I'd think about it. Getting Pep and tak- ing him for a long walk and coming back through the rear of the house with him under my arm and putting him down in his bed, where he is happily sleeping. Mar. 5. Up early this morning and taking Pep for a walk. Breakfast ready when we got back and Polly, seeing me coming with Pep, came to the door and said that he could not come in. I said that that would be all right with me, as I would take him back to Mrs. Walker, who had a kind heart as well as a sense of humor. Polly's eyes flashed the way they do when she makes a costly misplay at bridge, and she said that if that was the case bring Pep on in and put him in the basement, as the neighborhood was probably seething with gossip and the sooner it was stopped the better. Pep still here when I got home this evening and now he is back where 54 Sam Blick's Diary he is happy and contented, and all's well. I suppose the gossips are busy. I know what I'd think about Harry Vicker's wife, for instance, if she ran his dog away and almost caused him to leave home in reprisal, as they say in the news- papers. But I make it a rule never to consider what other people may think about my actions. Mar. 6. A man never knows who his friends are till he overhears them talking about him. Sitting in the street car this morning behind that Jackson girl, and she was telling some hatchet- faced woman with her that men are pure selfish- ness itself, like the father of a friend of hers who keeps a destructive dog which nearly ruined the house furnishing, so that his wife attempted to persuade him to get a gentler dog, but he flew into a rage and threatened to desert his family and go elsewhere to live with the dog, and actually did secretly take the dog to a rather queer woman who lives within a stone's throw of his own home. That only goes to show how a lot of foolish women will pass a story along like the village bucket brigade, suspecting a thing one minute and repeating it for a fact the next, until a man stands no chance at all. After dinner calling up some men in the neighborhood and getting up a poker party, as it hurts no man to be known among his neighbors as a good fellow and happy in his home. We playing till late and enjoying every minute, I winning $2.37. March 55 Mar . 7. Working on the car most of the day and finally getting it to run all right and asking Polly and Ellen 'if they would go for a ride. Things going all right, as they seemed glad to go, and Pep sat on the front seat beside me and en- joyed himself all the time. I driving around the neighborhood for a few minutes, as it does a man no harm to be seen out in his car with his family and dog all looking prosperous and well and living happily together. But as luck would have it, as soon as we got out in the country a few miles the car went dead, and while I was looking for the trouble the sun went down, through no fault of mine, and the wind got cold, and Polly and Ellen began to ask how soon the car would be up and around again. Letting Pep out to run around to keep himself warm. Finally, when we were all pretty cold, finding the wire to the battery disconnected, as I forgot to put the nut on when I cleaned the terminals. Just then Pep started across the field after a rabbit, and it was dark when I got hold of him, so the trip was not what I expected; but a man's family should make allowances for a car that has given a lot of service. Mar. 8. Asking Polly at breakfast this morn- ing how she squared herself with the neighbors after boasting that she would never have Pep in the house again, and she said that a woman whose husband had threatened to leave her for a 56 Sam Blick's Diary dog didn't have to square herself with any except those who believed that she made a mistake in not taking advantage of the chance to get rid of two nuisances at one stroke. I can tell from that that Polly is still a little jealous of Pep, but she will get over it in time and appreciate me all the more. To show that I was bluffing when I talked about getting a place to live with Pep, inviting Polly, Ellen, and Fred to dinner and to the theater, and, as luck would have it, one of the characters in the play said, "show me a man that dogs like and I'll show you a good husband." Glad to see more realism of this kind on the stage, showing that the authors are going to real life for their material. I'll have to go to the theater oftener, as that sort of thing should be en- couraged. Mar. 9. Polly saying something about a new dress this morning, and I saying that I hoped she would get what she wanted, as a man in my position should treat his family right and not be tight with his money within certain limits. Riding down on the car with that Jackson girl, who seems to get some kind of pleasure out of sitting beside me when I would rather read the newspaper. She asking how Pep is and I saying that he is still displaying more than human in- telligence, at least not running around repeating idle gossip about people. This would have floored an ordinary person, but she acted as innocent as March 57 a doll and merely said that, judging by a dog's standards of decency, perhaps he saw nothing scandalous worth gossiping about. I said nothing as a man cannot say things that might be repeated among his daughter's friends and cause them to think things were not all right in her family. Talking about the weather and glad when she got off the car. Home to a good dinner and reading the newspaper, as I didn't get to read same this morning on account of that Jackson girl. Mar. IO. Getting my own breakfast this morning, not wishing to disturb Polly and Ellen, as they have their hands full taking care of the house and need all the help they can get, and a man should be able to get a meal for himself once in a while so he will appreciate the efforts of the women of his family to make him comfort- able and happy. Working hard all day. They are putting more work on me at the office every day now, but I'm not kicking, as I don't let any one disturb my peace of mind. A letter to- day from Ethel Lowder, one of the sisters of Scott Lowder, saying she was coming to the city soon and would like to see me, I replying in the affirmative, as it will do her good to express their gratitude for what I did for her brother. Fred out in the evening and Margie Shanley coming in with a fellow named Ashcroft. Margie suggesting poker, and all agreeing, including 58 Sam Blick's Diary Ashcroft, who said he was willing if we would teach him, which we did, he learning rapidly, winning $4.15 from me when I tried to bluff him just after we started. I had to work on my income-tax return then, and the young people made Ashcroft take them to the movies and for candies and sodas. He was a good sport and said he would go if they'd let him pay for every- thing, which was all right with me, as I was ready to read the newspaper and talk to Polly. Mar. n. A bright day to-day and the temper- ature about right, which I put down through having run across John Hartman at lunch to-day and hearing him arguing with someboily, remind- ing me that he started me on this record. 1 had nearly forgotten about it, but keep the diary, anyhow, because people are always starting diaries and not keeping them up, but none of that for me, as, whatever my faults, nobody can accuse me of not knowing how to make up my mind to what is right and then doing it in spite of anything. The same is true of the way I have been saving money this year, as I now have quite a little put away to the credit of my resolution to save some money this year. Telling Polly and Ellen about how I am keeping my resolutions, but saying nothing about this diary or my savings account, as a man should use a little judgment about talking of his personal affairs around the house. In the evening telling Polly and Ellen March 59 that I would read editorials from the paper to them when I came back from taking Pep for a walk, but they had gone to the movies when I got back. Mar. 12. Polly not well to-day, having got a cold from wearing pumps through the slush to a meeting to raise money for the starving and freezing children of Europe. I called her up dur- ing the day and found out from Ellen that Polly is staying in bed. Planning a surprise for her, so going around to a place that is pretty well adver- tised in the newspapers through being raided so often, and getting a little something for her cold. Also taking some violets home to her. She liking the violets, but saying she had all the medicine she needed, as they put anything in bottles these days, and to try it on Pep, but, instead, trying a little of it myself and rinding it good stuff, and, Pep having chewed up my overshoes, taking a little more, as the best time to cure a cold this slushy weather is before you really begin to notice it. Reading a story to Polly and explain- ing it as I went along, which cheered her up a good deal, as she dropped off to sleep, and I went down stairs to read the rest of the story to Fred and Ellen, but Fred had to go right away, and Ellen to bed, so to bed myself. Mar. 13. Polly staying in bed this morning. About noon I telephoned to her that I was sorry that she could not come downtown and have 60 Sam Blick's Diary lunch with me, and she saying that she would bring Ellen and come right down, as she felt much better at the prospect of getting out in the air and jazzing around a bit. She looking well when she showed up, and I saying she must have taken some of that real medicine, after all, and she giving herself away by saying she couldn't find it, and I joking her about looking for it, and she saying she found the bottle all right, but Pep must have got into it, which is strange, as I remember leaving a little in the bottle. So I said nothing, but mentioned a matinee and they were strong for it. After the matinee I was hungry, so we had dinner downtown and then Ellen said she was going to the theater with Fred, but I called him up and he met us and we all went together. Counting the bottle and to-day's expenses, I won't save a cent this week, but a man has to get out of the rut now and then and enjoy life. Mar. 14. After jazzing around so much yes- terday, Polly and Ellen sleeping this morning, which was bright and mild, so after getting my own breakfast as a man should be able to do, went out to the garage and fooled around with the car, which runs like a new watch, except that it makes a little more noise, as any car would. Taking Pep on the seat beside me and we going for a spin in the country. Pep is good company while driving a machine, as he never gives a lot of advice about which road to take and never March 61 keeps asking if a tire is down and if the brake bands are all right and if I am sure we have enough gas, but as long as the wind whizzes past him he is happy and so am I, though, as a rule, there is little that a dog and man have in common. Meeting two girls on the road who said they were country school-teachers going to the interurban line to take a car to town, so I hauling them into the city car line and they enjoying it. Passing that Jackson girl in a speedster with some simple- looking nut. Home before noon and spending the afternoon fixing up the car for spring. Mar. 75. Up a little late this morning and Polly getting my breakfast in a hurry and I rushing away to the office. About four this after- noon a girl coming into my office carrying a suit- case and saying she was Ethel Lowder, sister of that fool clerk who was here, and that since the company thought so much of her heroic brother, she had come to take his place and seek adventure and fame in the city as he had done, as the family at home needed the money. What could I do but give a job to her, though she has no experi- ence in an office? She is quite good looking, for which I am sorry, as anything I might do for the Lowder family might be misunderstood by a certain class of people. She asking me where there was a good hotel at a dollar a day till she could find a boarding house, and I taking pity on her, as she is not used to the city, and taking her 62 Sam Blick's Diary home to supper with me, figuring Polly or Ellen would know a place she could stay. I was sort of afraid Polly and Ellen would be sore about bringing her home, but they saw that she should not be wandering around in a strange city at night, and asked all about her folks and made her feel at home. We had a good dinner and went to the movies and Polly and Ellen made her stay all night. Mar. 16. Snow falling during the night and was cold this morning. Polly up to get my breakfast and I asking her if she and Ellen would try to find a place for the Lowder girl to stay, so she could get settled to-day and come to work to-morrow, as it will be hard for her to catch on and there is no use rushing matters, and Polly coming through like a good sport and saying she was glad to do something for a hero like Lowder, so I leaving Ethel in their hands, she not being up, knowing she was in good hands, as you might say, and going to work. During the day telling the chief about the girl and he saying I was doing the right thing and had shown the right spirit in taking the girl home with me where she could have the protection and comfort of a happy family. Home in the evening to find no one at home and no note to tell where they were, so getting a snack of supper, as a man must do who has to put up with a couple of women that chase around and are movie-mad half the time March 63 and can't be found, and early to bed, thinking they might at least have let me know. Mar. 17. This has been some St. Patrick's day, as when I got up this morning Polly was al- ready downstairs and when I went down to fix the furnace she was sitting in the kitchen as if she had nothing to do. I asked her what was the matter, old dear, did she feel remorse over run- ning off last evening without a word about where she was going? She couldn't see the point at all, and I suppose I shouldn't have tried to joke about something like that, as you never can tell in the morning whether a woman is doing penance or sleepy. By the time I was ready for breakfast she had it on the table, but she would not say a word to me or even sit at the table. On the car going to work that Jackson girl sitting down beside me again and asking me if I enjoyed motoring Sunday morning and I saying I did, who was that nut she had picked up, trying to silence her so I could read the paper, but she saying that as she was not married and went riding with only one man at a time she couldn't see that I had any room to question her, showing she's too fresh for Ellen to be running around with, as I'll tell Ellen. Mar. 18. Well, that Lowder girl showed up to-day about noon, and when I said where have you been? she began to cry and asked me if I didn't know that she had taken her suitcase and 64 Sam Blick's Diary sneaked out of our house Tuesday morning with- out a word to anyone. She did it, she said, be- cause she had resolved to be independent and could not bear the thought of being treated as a little girl alone in the big city. She said she was now living at the Y. W. C. A. and had not been to work because she had been hanging around a movie studio, trying to get into the films. She said she had given up the idea of a career and decided to go to work. I put the case up to the chief and he said to put her to work and keep an eye on her, which I will. Home in the evening to tell Polly and Ellen about it and asking them why they didn't tell me what had happened to her. They looked at each other kind of funny and laughed as if it was a good joke, but they looked as if they had been caught stealing dolls out of an orphanage, and I gave them a piece of my mind about harmony in the home. Mar. IQ. Polly cried on my shoulder this morning and said she was sorry that she and Ellen kept still about the Lowder girl, but they thought I would be terribly worried and would blame them for not locking her in her room. I said it was all right with me, as what else can a man say in a case like that? Riding down on the street car with Albert Jackson, who sat down be- side me and nudged me in the ribs and winked as if we were the only two men that knew where the last quart in the world is, and said something March 65 about daylight joy rides. Well, Jackson is an easy one and I gave him a line about a man owing it to himself to keep in touch with youth, as he gets in a rut on a down grade and is likely to land in the grave any time, and as far as is known a man has only once to live, anyhow. Jackson is an old man and he gave me some friendly advice about the straight and narrow and I let him rave on, as it is good for a man like that to give advice, as he might overhear him- self talking and take it to heart. In the evening to a jazzy film with Polly and Ellen and home to play with Pep till bedtime. Mar. 20. Pay day again and I took no chances, but slipped a piece of money in the bank to the credit of my savings account, as a man never knows when something good will come along where he can put a little money and make enough to take care of himself through old age, if he lives that long, or otherwise leave his family well off. Home in the evening with a box of candy for the girls, and Polly breaking the news that there is a vacancy in the new dancing club organized out here since the war and we have been invited to join if we care to. I saying I wasn't conscious of getting old, but if there were enough people around who thought they were tottering on the brink of the grave and had to skip back to safety, all right, I'd join up. Fred and Margie and Ashcroft coming in the evening 66 Sam Blick's Diary to play cards and Ellen saying, "What do you think, mamma and papa are going to join the creaking knees?" and I said ,a man's knees don't creak till his daughter is too old to spank. Not that I was sore, but young people should be more respectful, so Polly and I to the movies. Mar. 21. Up early this morning, but not too early for Polly and Ellen, as they looked as if they had been up long enough to want to take a nap. "What is the matter, is the house afire?" I said, and Ellen said it wasn't, but they were wakened by Harry Vickers making such a noise getting his car out of the garage to take his family riding in the clean air before church. I saying nothing, but after breakfast saying I was going to take Pep for a walk, but instead going around the house to the garage and dusting the old ship off and running her out and then asking the girls if they cared to go. They were certainly willing, as I thought they'd be, as sometimes you can read a woman's mind like print. We were out all morning and the boat ran like a bird, and both Polly and Ellen admitted that it had a lot of pep yet and might be made to last another season, so I figure I just about made the price of a new car on the trip. In the afternoon sort of dozing, as a man who's been out in the air will, and spending most of the evening reading the Bible, circumstances having kept me from church. Mar. 22. That Jackson girl sitting down March 67 beside me in the car this morning and saying, "Well, did you have the same ones yesterday?" I saying no, I had a couple of good lookers, why was she curious ? She said she was writing a book on the stupidity of men, and I said she ought to get plenty of pointers from the ones I'd seen her out with and I was grateful for an explanation of her curious taste, thinking I would silence her, but she had nothing to read and said something about me being the inspiration of the booic and chattered that way till I got to thinking that she works in the public library and may be in earnest about writing a book about the stupidity of men, as there is certainly plenty to say on the subject, and I sort of closed up, as you might say, and let her do the talking. Between her and that Lowder girl at the office I'm beginning to wonder if I hadn't better drive my car to work and get a new job. The Lowder girl has her desk littered with pictures of movie stars and works in a sort of daze, as if waiting for her chauffeur to change a tire on her limousine. Mar. 25. Bill Hines in to see me to-day and saying he has quit his regular job and joined the sales force of some sure-fire oil company, a new company just organized last week and now on the verge of leasing a farm in Arkansas which is near a town in which some oil prospectors re- cently make inquiries which point to the success of any play made in the neighborhood. Bill 68 Sam Blick's Diary finally told me he had lost his job on account of being unable to get along with the people at his place because of that oil deal he put over, and he is going to play the game alone from now on. He tried to sell me some, and I said no, I wouldn't take it as a gift. He then said he would give it to me less his commission, and I still said I wouldn't take it as a gift, but he failed to get the point. Too bad about Bill, peddling blue sky and may- be on the road to the poorhouse when he might be taking life easy, as I do, and not worried about my friends, whether they are his or his money's. Home in the evening to chase Pep all over the house, he being almost human, but, fortunately, not enough to talk or sell oil stock. Mar. 24. Taking Pep for a walk this morning, having got up early on account of the clock being fast, and passing Walker's house as Walker was leaving and Mrs. Walker lighting up when she saw me, as if Walker was mistreating her and I happened along just in time. She calling Pep to the door while Walker and I talked for a minute in front of the house, Walker acting to me as if he thought it was not a mere happen-so that I came along just as he was leaving. I suppose he's jealous of his wife, as he has reason to be, and I'll say she looked as if she was happier to be with my dog than to be with him, which speaks well for Pep, as I have brought him up right and am glad to see that she knows March 69 he's a good dog, properly trained. Keeping my department running smoothly all day, as I always do when the chief or some one doesn't interfere, but worried about the Lowder girl, who looks like a total loss. Home to a good dinner, and in the evening to Harry Vicker's house to play poker. Mar. 25. Getting my own breakfast this morning, as a man should, and not let himself be a slave of household routine so that when he gets off the schedule he has a grouch at his work and gets the reputation of being a sorehead. Some of the clerks in my department complaining that the Lowder girl will not learn anything and can't even copy a list of figures without making a lot of mistakes which some one has to correct. I asking her how she liked her work, and she saying it suited her all right till she could find something worth while, but she could not live on the salary she was getting, much less send money home to her mother and sister, who are in need, the sister being a country school-teacher. I asked her why she didn't go to night school and learn to be a stenographer, and she said that after bending her knee all day to the iron discipline of a grasping corporation she had no energy to devote to self- improvement. I said all right, as what else could a man say to a girl that has no sense of gratitude and talks as if she was studying to be a Russian suffragette ? 70 Sam Blick's Diary Mar. 2.6. Some of the girls in our neighbor- hood that Ellen runs around with a good deal deciding to have a party at our house to-night, so they could have a good time without a lot of men hanging around, so Polly and I deciding to let them have the house to themselves and going downtown, but too late to get theater tickets and so going to a movie and having a soda and home a little earlier than expected, but at that it was late enough and all of those children should have been at home and tucked in bed. When we walked into the house six or seven girls were in front of the fireplace, standing there looking busy, and a couple of them were just getting up off their knees, and that Margie girl was half under the davenport. Ellen explained that one of the girls lost a button and it must have rolled under the davenport, as they'd looked every place else for it. I said that hereafter we'd better stay at home, as the boys had been here and left their smoke, and pretty soon the girls began to drift out and Polly and Ellen cleaned the room, which needed it. Mar. 27. Polly to some meeting this after- noon, and, as Ellen had no place to go, I asked her to come downtown and have lunch with me, which she did, and after lunch I intended to take her to some points of interest in the city, like the State House, which, although born here, she'd never been in, but on the way over there March 71 passed a window and she began to rave about a suit until by the time we had gone in and looked at several hundred suits more or less, and finally bought one that looked jazzy to me but seemed to suit Ellen, it was too late to go to the State House, so we went home. The suit had to be altered a little, so will not be delivered till Monday, and Ellen and Polly sat and talked about it all evening, Ellen, who can't remember a telephone number two minutes, describing every stitch of the suit and talking a streak about it for an hour. That suit cost a peck of money, but it was worth it to get a line on how Ellen's mind works, as, although I employ and understand women, I'm always learning something new about them. Mar. 28. Another Sunday rolling around as usual and it rained too much to have any fun in the car, so all of us went to church, where the minister talked at great length about studying the Bible and making it your constant companion. I deciding on the way home to have more religion in my home, as a man sometimes forgets his responsibility as head of the house and the spiritual guide of his family, so in the afternoon reading the Bible aloud to Polly and Ellen until Fred came and took Ellen calling somewhere. I said to him that it was too bad he was not at the party at our house Friday night with the rest of the boys, as I had heard Ellen say nothing of 72 Sam Blick's Diary him being there. He said he had to work, but hoped to get here next time, and I said if he did I wished he would hold the crowd till I had a chance to look them over and find out how they could leave so much smoke that it was thick here long after they left. While we were talking Polly said she guessed she'd go to see a neighbor for a minute, so I put the Bible away and played with Pep, breaking the china-closet door. Mar. 29. Going down on the street car this morning with Al Jackson, who said we must be flying pretty high at our house, as he heard his daughter Beatrice talking about a big crap game at our house last Friday night. He said he drew the line on this modern stuff for his daughter, but, anyhow, she had too much sense to be shoot- ing craps like a pool-room loafer, but, of course, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I'll have some words with Ellen about that, but Al Jackson has no right to call my daughter a pool- room loafer and I cut him down with a few hot remarks about critics being outsiders without enough life in them to do anything but talk about people who have the pep to get out and do things. Anyhow, I told him, maybe your daugh- ter might win a hundred dollars if she had any luck. That closed him up for good, showing that he hasn't forgot he owes me a hundred, and I guess that after this he'll confine his moralizing to people who can't come back at him with a March 73 squirt of liquid fire. Few of them get the best of me in an exchange of hot shots. Mar. 50. Ellen down to breakfast this morn- ing and I saying something to the effect of how about the crap game here at the house Friday night? She saying the girls were just having a little diversion to while away the time. I said I didn't care about the girls, though I thought they might be in better business, like bridge, which is all right for women and can be gambled at, but that I thought girls had no business deceiving their parents and luring a lot of boys into a crap game, and as for me, I wanted it understood that it had to be stopped, which it will be. Ellen then saying that to tell the truth there were no men here, the smoke came from a cigarette one of the girls smoked and they'd vowed they'd never tell who brought it into the house. Ellen was about to cry and I saying nothing, as a man should kind of hold in a little and Ellen is going to spring her new suit to-day and I didn't care to have her feeling badly about anything, so going to work. In the evening Harry Vickers calling me up about a little game, but just as we were getting ready to play his wife's parents coming, so we had to play at our house, which was all right. Mar. 37. Walker hauling me down to work this morning in a new sedan he just got and tell- ing me he is worried about his wife, as she seems 74 Sam Blick's Diary to spend a good deal of time to herself and he is afraid she will get morbid, but he is doing the best he knows how by her and trying to show her a good time. He has a heart, after all, and seems to be a pretty sensible man, and I heard the other day that he makes $12,000 a year. Who knows but she sort of vamped him and he didn't wake up till they were married and she had him anchored for life? She is a little flirtatious and that's about it, she sort of married him against his will. He hauled me to the office in his big car, and as I got out some of my clerks were getting to work on time for once and it does a man no harm to be seen riding with a man like Walker, who is prosperous and a good fellow to boot, as you can see by getting acquainted with him a little. I inviting him to drop over to the house any time for a pleasant hour or two and to bring his wife along, as she could have a lot of fun with Pep. April April i. Ellen looks like a million dollars in her new suit and Polly is getting herself rigged out for spring, so I guess my family is not so bad off. The whole family turning out for break- fast this morning and I suspecting that they would try some prank on me as they once did some years ago, but I guess they did not know what day it was or more likely concluded that I was getting too sharp to fall for anything they could think up. Ethel Lowder telling me to-day that her sister Minnie wishes to come to the city and take a job in my office, but will not come unless I pay more than I am paying Ethel. Ethel seems to think that I can do any- thing, probably because I treated her right and showed that I was willing to do anything for the good of the Lowder family, but I must say she might have asked me for a job for her sister instead of saying the sister was coming right along as soon as I agreed to pay more. Ask- ing Ethel about her work and finding that in the time she's been here she has learned nothing but the life history of two more movie stars. 75 76 Sam Blick's Diary She's not worth desk room. If I can get rid of her in some decent way I am going to swear off on Lowders for all time. April 2. When I got home this evening Polly was crying and alone, and all I could learn was that she had always suspected it, but after about fifteen minutes of questioning I discovered that the real trouble was that Al Jackson's wife had been to our house this after- noon, and for Polly's own good and not that she wished to meddle, had stated that Beatrice had seen me with her own eyes out jazzing with a couple of girls the other Sunday. I started to explain, but I was too shrewd for that, and merely said that if the Jackson girl, whose reputation for truth was beyond question, had seen me with her very own eyes, that should, of course, settle the matter. I held my temper and did not get sore as a man might have because that crazy Jackson girl is trying to break up my family and wreck my life, but instead I gave Polly a friendly pat on the shoulder to show that I had nothing to be remorseful over, and fixed the furnace and took Pep for a run. If they are that quick to think the worst of me, there's little I can do to stop them, especially as there's not a gray hair in my head and I'm younger than I look. April j. This morning at breakfast Polly was as meek as a kitten. She must have spent a April 77 hard night, and I felt sorry and told her that any woman who had a husband as open to suspicion as her husband was deserved a lot of praise for sticking to him when he was the subject of gossip, and she might easily blow up and tell her troubles to the neighborhood and have everybody saying what a pity! She said that she had been a fool for taking in all that old lady Jackson said with- out a word of protest or denial, but it was not too late, as she had said nothing one way or the other to the old lady. I let the matter rest there and went to my work as cheerful as a man could be. Several people I spoke to on the car looked at me as if they had heard that I was getting to a place in life where I could hk the high places once in a while, if so inclined, and I must say it does a man no harm to be an object of interest to his neighbors, especially when his conscience is bright and clear and his family knows that he is falsely accused. Polly and Ellen and I to the theater this evening. April 4. A beautiful morning and there was nothing I wished to do more than to take the old surrey out for a whiz along the country roads before the afternoon crowds of joyriders began to clutter the place up, but going to church instead, as when a man is the hero of a neighbor- hood scandal it does him no harm to be seen with his family in a place of unquestioned respectability. The minister preaching a fine 78 Sam Blick's Diary sermon on the sanctity of the home, and I looking over at the Jacksons lined up in their pew as much as to say to Al that he ought to take it to heart and not let that family of his make a fool of him over money matters and in the end probably send him to an early grave, but he not getting the point, as I could tell by the sanctimonious way he stared back at me. After church Polly telling the minister that the parish needed a sermon like that to silence some of the gossips and he said, "Did it?" and blushed, and you could see that Polly had busted him one in his spiritual solar plexus. In the afternoon all for a spin in the old rocking chair, which runs like a fish and looks all right. April 5. That Jackson girl getting on the car this morning, but not sitting down beside me, so as soon as she sat down I went and sat down beside her and told her that I was certainly glad she saw me giving a couple of country school-teachers a lift the other Sunday morning, as some fool neighbor had also seen me and circulated a false story which had got home to my family, causing a lot of distress, and was certainly glad that one of Ellen's friends knew the facts and had seen the teachers with her own eyes and, if called upon, would be glad to tell the truth. This floored that Jackson girl, as I figured it would, much better than if I had let on that I knew she was responsible for the story. She April 79 had no comeback, but said that she would imme- diately tell every one she knew that there was no truth in the story at all, as I had explained to her that the girls were country school-teachers unknown to me. This will square me all right and people will admire me for managing to make that Jackson girl eat her words. Spending the evening teaching Pep to sit up, which he hates to do. April 6. Riding down on the car with Harry Vickers this morning and he saying that last evening that Jackson girl called his wife up and asked her if she had heard the story about me and the girls I had out the other Sunday, and when his wife said she had heard the neighbor- hood gossip to that effect, the Jackson girl said it must be a mistake, as she had only seen me out with a strange woman or two that morning and that I asked her to say that I was only doing a favor for some school-teachers or some one like that. Harry said the Jackson girl has told this new story all over the neighborhood, so I guess I am square and people will know that I don't give a hang for their opinion one way or the other, but only wish to shut the gossips up. Harry gave me the laugh over the whole thing, showing that he knows that Jackson girl has it in for me for some reason or other, which I'd like to know. Home in the evening to a good dinner and a bunch of young people coming 80 Sam Blick's Diary in later to play bridge, but lacking one player so I suggesting poker, and all playing till late, Ellen winning the money. April 7. Telling the chief to-day that that Lowder girl ought to be given the air ;n some nice, decent, gentle way, as she is knocking the pep out of my department, and he getting a little sarcastic, as he does sometimes when some- body shows him up, and saying that if my department is so weak as to be demoralized by a single incompetent employee, I ought to get rid of more than the Lowder girl, showing how little he knows about my department, which is running like a clock, as he'd soon find out if I was to quit and leave the company stranded for want of some one to give the service as I can. Anyhow, he said to put the girl by herself some- where and let her know that she was on pro- bation, which I did, she saying it was all right with her, as she was glad to do anything she could to help out in the office to which her dear brother had given the best years of his life, and if it was better for her to work alone, where she would not lure the men from their tasks, all right. I then saying nothing about the probation, as a man should use some judgment now and then and not be hasty. April 8. Polly getting a letter to-day saying her sister at Oldcastle is not well, so Polly and Ellen going down there. Her sister is having April 8 i a hard time, as her husband died last fall, leaving her with a little girl about five years old and a baby boy now about one year old, and not enough jack to pay funeral expenses, they having lived up to all he could make as fast as it came in. I send her $25 each month and each of her four brothers at Oldcastle gives the same, so she is making out all right as far as money goes in a little town like that, but, of course, if she gets sick she will be in a bad way, but luckily she has brothers there who can take care of her. So I am left alone. Planning to put on a little party with a bunch down at my lodge club, but finding out the game they play is too steep for me, as a man never knows when he will lose, sometimes holding just enough to stay on all evening and dropping a pile of jack, so I staying out and home to take Pep for a long walk and calling at Walker's house and Mrs. Walker saying she will keep Pep till the folks come home. April Q. Thinking I would go to a show this evening, but wondering if Pep got any exercise, SO out home and dropping in at Walker's to ask about Pep. Mrs. Walker asking me to sit down awhile, as Cyrus, which is her husband's name, would be home any minute, but I saying I believed I'd take Pep for a run, as, anyhow, you never can tell, as this neighborhood is a hotbed of gossip. For instance, I said to Janet, Mrs. Vickers or somebody might drop in this 8i Sam Blick's Diary minute, and if so, before two hours there would be a story floating around this neighborhood. Just then Walker drove in with his car and on back to his garage, and I took Pep and went out, as you never can tell about an old man married to a young girl like Janet Walker, as sometimes they get jealous for no reason whatever, you might say. Meeting Mrs. Vickers in front of Mrs. Walker's house and, remembering what I had just said about her merely by way of illustra- tion, acting as if I did not see her. Taking Pep for a long walk through the park and home to read Lorna Doone, which is a great novel. April 10. Figuring up my finances to-day and finding I am in pretty good shape and will get through the year with a fair saving to my credit, which is something that doesn't often happen, as, of course, I've been paying for my home or something most of the time. Polly and Ellen blowing in from Oldcastle to-day and I surely glad to see them, and they asking me if I had been painting the town red while they were gone and trying to have a little fun at my expense, but they got nothing out of me, as a man should say nothing about what he does when his wife is away, leaving her to guess, which makes him a riddle to her and she won't lose interest in him, and will always have something to worry about. All going to the show, including Fred, who seemed as glad to see Ellen as I was, April 83 only I didn't hold her hand in the theater and I can't say that he had any business to do that, a couple of children like that. When we got home I spoke to Polly about it and she said I had too many eyes and, anyhow, she and I did the same thing the first time we went to the theater. I saying there was no similarity in the cases and putting an end once and for all to that kind of talk. April ii. This was a fine day and I telling Ellen to get hold of Fred and we'd all four take a ride in the car and get dinner at some country hotel. The roads good and everything going all right till after we had dinner, when Fred climbed in the front seat with me an Pep, instead of in the back with Ellen, and after we were about halfway home, and as I was easing around a sharp turn in a long hill with a big car crowding me for room, he leaned over and said he was making $40 a week now and able to support a wife, and between the brakes shrieking and what he said I found out that he and Ellen wish to get married. I nearly ditched the car and finally I said I'd have to talk it over with Ellen's mother and would give him an answer some day soon, as, of course, there is no hurry, they probably figuring on getting married in about four years, as both are only children. Fred saying nothing and staying for supper and I finally treating him all right, as if nothing had 84 Sam Blick's Diary happened, as he is a good fellow and all right, and he and Ellen are good friends and I wouldn't do anything to break up their friendship, anyhow. April 12. Instead of saying anything to Polly about what Fred said to me yesterday, I said nothing, as there is no use worrying her about a thing like that until they begin to talk in earnest about getting married, but Ellen and Fred and a bunch of their friends all to the movies, leaving Polly and me at home, and after I read the paper and took Pep for a run I relented and remarked to Polly that Fred seemed to be interested in Ellen, and Polly said I must have read it in the paper, as I never would have known it otherwise. But I in no mood for foolish talk and asking her if it wasn't about time to break the thing up and tell them to be nothing more than friends and keep on having a good time, and she saying she thought it was a little late for that, as they had been secretly engaged for a month, nobody but Polly and a few of Ellen's friends knowing it, and Ellen's trousseau was a third done and Fred had signed a lease on a bungalow down the street beginning the first of June and now all they wanted was my con- sent. I said I would think it over, as a man should not use snap judgment in such important matters. April 13. Saying no more about Ellen and Fred, but doing a good deal of thinking and April 85 about coming to the conclusion that Fred is a good man, as I know a department head where he works who says Fred was the second best salesman they had last year and ought to be sales manager in no time at all, as he has the old stuff that rings the cash register. Al Jackson in to see me to-day and he handed methat$ioo the first thing and said he had cleaned up in good shape on that patent he was interested in, which turned out to be a play some big company had been trying to make for ten years. He had on new clothes and talked about buying a machine. Well, I'm glad to see him make some money, as he needs it, and if he can keep it a secret from his family maybe he will have a little peace at home, but money is not everything. I'll bet he'd give nearly every dollar he has if that daughter of his could land a bright, promis- ing young salesman and settle down to the normal life intended for all women. If she gets married now people will say the man was at- tracted by her money. April 14. That Jackson girl riding down on the car with me this morning and I saying, in a very friendly way, just what was it made her jump on me all the time? She saying, to be frank, it was the way I had attempted to influence her father in managing his own private domestic matters, and I finally got out of her that Al told his family all that bunk I gave him about 86 Sam Blick's Diary economy and an early grave, and all that bunk, and he had used my name pretty freely, and his family had got the idea that I am the cause of most of their troubles, and that I actually tried to keep Al from buying that fur coat for Beatrice. Well, I smoothed things out as best I could, telling her that her father and I are old friends and might have given each other rather intimate advice at one time or another and she said she was glad to have it explained, as she did not enjoy getting even with me for the whole family, especially since she and Ellen are such good friends, and I felt better all day from learning the truth about the way that girl treats me. Home in the evening to a good supper and to read the paper through. April 15. That Lowder girl getting on my mind again to-day, and after thinking her case over getting a bright idea, that is to appoint some young fellow to take her case in hand and teach her the essentials of business life. It's funny that that solution never occurred to me before and I think that I have the man who will fill the bill, a young fellow in my department named Ancil Carder, a good, steady worker and about her age. No sooner said than done, I called him in and told him that I was going to intrust her instruction to him, as it was an important assignment, she being a very domestic girl, a homemaker, and not accustomed to the hurly April 87 burly business world. Telling him to be tactful and take a real interest in her, to find out how she spent her time outside of business hours, and to see that she was properly amused if possible, etc. He jumped at the chance, as I thought he would, having sized him up right, and I think my troubles are over. Home to a good dinner and after dinner suggesting that we invite the Walkers in for bridge, but Polly against it for some reason, so to read all evening. April 16. Another fine day and some of the boys saying that it would soon be time for a little spring fishing before long, so in the evening, after a good dinner, I went to the attic and got my fishing tackle and brought it down to the living room, where there is a good light, and gave it a thorough overhauling, finding a little rust here and there, as is likely to happen no matter how careful you are to put tackle away in good condition. Fred dropping in for an hour, as he does nearly every evening now, and I explaining all about the tackle to him, showing him how to cast with a short rod, as he had never fished with anything but a hook and line. He was interested and we spent the greater part of the evening with the tackle, I telling him about the different fish I had hooked with each bait, especially the black-and-white plug that I hooked the four-pound bass with three years ago. Polly and Ellen finally going to the movies, 88 Sam Blick's Diary as I could not blame them for doing, they having heard my fish stories before, and such stories are apt to lose interest when heard too often, but I felt that my first duty was to my guest. April 77. This pay day, and I putting by quite a little money, as a man never knows when he is going to need all he can lay his hands on without robbing a bank. But thinking it over and deciding to increase Polly's allowance for the house and her clothes and Ellen's to $45 a week, the extra $5 being not enough to make her suspect that I got a raise the first of the year, as if she knew that I would have to come through with more. The extra $5 will furthermore probably come in handy in getting some little things a girl like Ellen is likely to yearn to put in her hope chest for her marriage. Telling Polly and Ellen about it in the evening and they having little to say. If they had been surprised I would have been disappointed, as their surprise would have shown that they thought I was in a rut and not a man still in his prime and doing better right along. It's worth a good deal to a man to know that he is making ample provision for his family and they do not have to bully him for a nickel, as that Jackson family used to bully Albert before he accidentally, as you might say, made a piece of money. All to the movies. April 18. Up at daylight this morning and careful to wake no one till my minnow bucket April 89 rolled down the attic stairs, when I had to explain to Polly that I was taking it to the cellar to see if it leaked. Getting Pep and myself some breakfast and making my getaway in my car and going up the river four miles where I fished a few times last year, and hiring a boat from a farmer and out on the river early enough. Having no luck at first, but soon getting a strike back of a big rock. Working upstream and back to the rock with the current again and this time I got a real strike. He left the water to grab it and he must have been hungry and an old timer at the game, as it took me ten minutes to get him near the boat, and then Pep barked till I was tempted to throw him at the fish. Finally getting the fish in, a three-pound black bass, and then going home, where Polly and Ellen raved over the fish. I went to church with them, telling several about the fish, and calling up others. Most called it great luck, but there is something in knowing how to land a big fish like that. April 19. This evening at dinner Polly and Ellen talking about nothing but the fish, and it was certainly fine, Polly being a good cook at things like that. Polly and Ellen insisting on hearing all about how I caught him, so I telling them every detail, as you must humor women with your sport stories, as they crave out- doors sports, but are unable to indulge in 90 Sam Blick's Diary them, and if they get any good out of hearing about them a man should not hold out. Having a little family council in the evening in which Polly explained that Ellen would need a good deal of money in order to live up to the family standard in the matter of her wedding, and I saying that it was all right with me and to hit up the charge accounts on me, as a girl is entitled to the best wedding her dad can give her, and I'm no pauper and will do the right thing by my daughter. Getting out my tackle and putting a spool on the line and using the davenport as the rock, showing just how I caught the bass, explaining as I went along so that Polly and Ellen understood. Fred coming in, and giving the show over again for his benefit. April 20. The chief coming through my department to-day and, seeing Carder and that Lowder girl hanging over a desk with their heads almost together, asking me what was I running here, a matrimonial bureau? I saying nothing, but remarking that what youth needs is sym- pathy, which it can get only from those still young at heart, which will hold him for awhile. But I was glad to find out that Carder is right on the job, as I hadn't noticed it before. Looking them over a couple of times during the day, I came to the conclusion that the chief may have stumbled on to the truth and that Carder and Ethel might be getting April 91 really interested in each other. So much the better; then he would marry her and I would be through with the Lowders for good and all. Furthermore, noticing that two or three other pairs in my department are killing a good deal of time hanging around each other's desks. I thought I had weeded that out of my department years ago, but I see I must begin all over again, yet must allow Carder a free hand. Polly saying at dinner that Ellen's wedding day has been set for Wednesday, June 16, and I saying well, all right, and not remembering till an hour later that the same is our twenty-second wedding anniversary, but saying nothing about it, as Polly will be surprised when she remembers it herself. April 21. Well, Fred coming out this evening and I taking him down cellar, telling him I needed help to lift a box, but after the box was lifted, which there was no need of doing, I sprung a surprise on him by saying I had an answer ready for the question he asked me the other Sunday when we were going down the steep hill, and since he was a good fellow and all right and all that, it was all right with me for him and Ellen to get married, as while I thought they were both too young, at the same time Polly and I were about the same age when we were married and we had no cause for regret, as I have taken care of my family and Polly has reason to con- 92 Sam Blick's Diary sider that she has done well, as I am a home- loving man and have never, as you might say, given her a moment of anxiety. He shook my hand and gave me a manly promise that he would try to do as well as I had done, so upstairs, where I broke the news to Polly and Ellen and gave Ellen and Fred some good advice about making allowance for the other's point of view in domestic trouble, then all of us to a movie, which turned out to be about why change your wife ? April 22. Polly telling me this morning that we are to go to that dancing club to-morrow night and must be prepared, and asking me if I knew the new dances, as she did, having learned them when Ellen's crowd was dancing around the house to the phonograph. I getting a bit worried, as, while I used to be second to none when I came to tripping the light fantastic, as they say, I may be a little out of date on some of the new dances. So at noon asking this boy Carder for a few pointers in my office and he showing me about the fox trot, camel walk, one step, etc., and saying that the Lowder girl could show me right, so calling her in, and while Carder whistled she and I picked up the steps in no time, not noticing what time it was until the chief stepped in and made one of his sarcastic remarks about this being a cabaret, or what? I sending Carder and Ethel back to work and telling the chief the plain April 93 truth, and he said, "That's good," and laughed, but the laugh is on him, as he doesn't know about my plans for the Lowder girl and Carder, which are working out all right, else how did he know she is a good dancer? I can see through him, all right. April 25. Fred and Ellen to a show to-night and Polly and I, togged out in our best, hitching up the old surrey and wheeling over to the dance, and I'm now sorry we didn't renew our interest in dancing years ago and don't see why we ever stopped, as all the people in the club are about our age, people we know and nevef before thought they were having so many good times that we were missing out on, and I must say it's partly my fault, as I remember saying that we were past that stage several times when Polly mentioned it. I danced the first dance with Polly and she wanted to know where I learned that jazz stuff and I saying one of the boys at the office gave me a few tips to-day, which she said explained it. But we got along all right, she teaching me a good deal, as did the other women I danced with, so I had a good time, and as for Polly, she's a wiz at it, and, being slender and quick, surely made a hit, as I found out when I tried to get a dance with her. Some of the women not caring to dance when I asked them, so sitting around getting some valuable pointers for future use. 94 Sam Blick's Diary April 24.. Feeling a bit stiff this morning, as a man is likely to after that fishing trip last Sunday, but putting in a good day at the office. Carder and Ethel in to ask me how I got along and saying that, if I wanted some real dancing, to come and go with them to-night to a real drag where the jazz birds shook a mean foot, but I not caring for such a suggestion, as even if I do want to get rid of that girl I must have discipline in my department and not have the employees breaking in on my morning to talk about dances, so I said I was sorry I had a pre- vious engagement and could not go. Fred and Ellen downtown to dinner together this evening, and Polly saying that we should give them more time together, as this is the happiest part of their lives and they should not have to drag us around with them. I took the hint, so Polly and I had dinner at home and went to the theater together, a detective play with a fine murder in it, enjoyed by all, then home. Noticing that Pep was dirty, so giving him a bath in the cellar, and he hated it, showing that he is a good dog, a sure sign. April 25. As fine a spring day as ever I saw, but we went to church. Fred came out to dinner, and after same we all loaded into the car, I kidding Fred along a little by asking him if he didn't prefer riding in the front seat, and he said no, unless Ellen was going to drive, so in the end Ellen driving, which was all right with me, as, April 95 while I like to drive, I want to see Ellen have as good time as she can for the next few weeks, and if she wishes to drive, all right, that suits me. Besides, a girl makes a good driver, as every- body gets out of her way, fearing that she will pay more attention to her nose's reflection in the windshield than to the road ahead. Anyhow, we had a good time, Polly and I holding hands, as we are not too old to do, going to dances and the like. Pep getting the habit of barking at farm animals and other automobiles, and I had to call him down a couple of times, but he will do better as he becomes used to riding. Reading the magazine part of the paper and early to bed, as the country air always makes me sleepy, this having nothing to do with being old enough to have an engaged daughter. April 26. Trouble in my office to-day, as Carder came into my office and said that Ethel has a sister Minnie and he wished I would give Minnie a job in the office, as she was smart and as pretty as a chorus girl, only different. I asked him some questions, and found out that Ethel went to her home over Sunday and Carder went up Sunday to see her and met Minnie, and must have neglected Ethel and fallen for Minnie. I told him I would think it over. Calling Ethel later and asking her if her sister still needed a job, and Ethel saying she did not, that the city had brought death to one member of her family 96 Sam Blick's Diary and nothing but hardship and despair to another, and Minnie must stay at home, where she would be safe from fickle office clerks and the like. " Do you ever think of going back home to stay ? " I asked, and she said she didn't, as she still had hopes of a career, so, of course, I could do nothing, merely saying that I thought one representative of the Lowder family at a time was enough. In the evening playing a little poker with Vickers and his crowd, his wife giving me a hard look, as I guess she doesn't like to have poker at her house. April 27. Polly somewhat worried about her sister at Oakcastle, who writes that she is ailing again, after seeming to be all right when Polly and Ellen were down there, so I sending her some flowers by wire to buck her up, and telling Polly about it in the evening and she not thinking much of it, for some reason, saying it would be different if her sister were sick in bed and all that. The neighborhood buzzing with gossip this evening, as Mrs. Walker went away with two suitcases this afternoon, and this evening Walker came home as usual, and after a time he came over and asked Polly if Mrs. Walker had spoken to her of going downtown or anything, as she was not home yet, and Polly saying that Mrs. Walker had said nothing. After about an hour Walker came over again and asked me if I would keep an eye on his place, as there would be no one there for a few days, and I saying that April 97 I would. Polly asking me what he said, and I told her that he made me an offer for Pep, as a man must use judgment now and then, even if Polly does get sore and demand to know the truth about everything. April 28. That Jackson girl sitting down beside me in the car this morning and asking if Ellen was going to have a big wedding, and I saying that it was going to be the biggest one in our end of town, and she asking if Ellen had selected her attendants. I never thought to ask Ellen about her wedding plans, and it does a man no good to have a girl like Beatrice chasing around saying he does not know what is going on around him, so changing the subject as best I could, which was hard, as she did not seem to care to talk about the library, as you would think a girl would who works among books all the time and might pick out a lot of stray pieces of information. She asking where the wedding was to be, and what social functions had been planned for the bride, and I finally saying that, if she must know, to find out from some of Ellen's friends, as I was giving out nothing, letting her down easy, as she is all right, only brought up wrong. And not the kind of person to tell all my daughter's plans to. April 29. Riding down with Walker this morning, he stopping at the house for me, showing a friendly feeling which a man surely 98 Sam Blick's Diary appreciates. Asking about his family and he saying all are well except his wife's mother, who was taken suddenly ill the other day, so Janet made a hurried trip to see her, just having time to catch the train, and it seems Walker went east, too, and found the mother much better, so he and Janet came right back; so it seems that all of the gossip buzzing around the neighbor- hood the other day was bunk, and the unhappy bride, as the women call Janet, is merely a dutiful daughter kept from her sick mother's bedside by love for her husband, which is enough to make any girl a bit sad, so she does not sing around the house all day. Polly calling me up as soon as I got to the office and asking about the Walkers, and I saying that they were all right except for the neighborhood they live in, which answer was more expressive than polite, as must have been evident from the way I spoke. Nothing said about it in the evening, as Polly and Ellen were busy. April 30. More talk about the Walkers, as their maid told somebody's maid that she heard Janet tell Walker that the next time she left she would not yield to persuasion so easily, but would stay away long enough to get a good view of her life and would do as she pleased. I telling Polly that Janet must be torn by conflicting desires to be at home with her mother and here with her husband, and needs sympathy, but April 99 Polly saying that two women in the neighbor- hood called on her this afternoon and received hardly more than civil treatment. Well, who knows, for, as I have noticed, a man of Walker's age runs an awful chance picking out a young girl that way and trying to mold her high ambi- tions and the like to his set habits. Now Ellen and Fred make a good match, as rhey are about the same age and upbringing, and Carder and Ethel will get along all right, and I think I have made a wise play in both cases. Taking Fred, my new son, and the rest of the family to the movies, and a good one it was, a cop falling off a building through four skylights. May May i Well, here's another month here. They seem to roll around faster than ever after a man gets to the point where he is doing pretty well in life and really has nothing much to worry about, except, of course, his daughter leaving his roof to make her home, as it seems only yesterday that Ellen used to climb up on my knee and ask for one of those stories I used to make for her. But far be it from me to stand in the way of my daughter, as she is doing the getting married and is old enough to know what she is doing, and there's nothing to worry about, as Fred is a good fellow and all right, and they will live close to us here, so Ellen and Polly can run back and forth every hour or two during the day and exchange cake receipts and the like, which is better than if she went away to live. Taking a few liberties with my savings account to-day and giving Ellen $50 pin money for sundries now and then, as that is the thing a man should do on such occasions, as Polly pointed out to me, and I give her credit for having the right idea. 100 May ioi May 2. Ellen's engagement announced in the paper this morning, also her picture with three other June brides, and I must say they gave her a good write up, though on such occasions a little more should be said about the parents, as when you come down to bedrock it is the father who gives his consent to the wedding and sets off the skyrocket, as you might say, yet you never see in the paper that John Jones has generously consented to permit his daughter to take a chance on marrying some young man, as such things are governed by custom and not by the truth of the matter. All to church and everybody gathering around Ellen and saying what a lovely bride she would make, and the women and Polly seeming to have a good deal to say that I wasn't asked to sit in on, so I slipping out and going home, where I found Pep jumping for a run, so taking him for a long run in the park and turning him loose on spite of the law, as a dog is a man's best friend and should have more rights. For a ride in the afternoon and reading a book all evening. May j. Getting my own breakfast this morn- ing, as is quite usual, Polly being so busy getting Ellen ready, and Ellen not getting up till a sewing woman who's at the house most of the time now gets her out of bed for a fitting or something. But I don't mind a little thing like that, as a man should be independent of house- 102 Sam Blick's Diary hold routine and not a slave to meal hours and the like, a sign of old age. Carder and the Lowder girl are as chummy as ever, as I noticed when I saw them whispering over a book that neither one of them had anything to do with, so I guess he must have got over Minnie and proved that I was right in figuring that Ethel was the one girl in the world for him, once they were left alone long enough to get acquainted, showing that I was wise in not sending for Minnie. The day bright and warm and the peo- ple at the office staring out of the windows and dreaming of being in the country, I suppose, where they would soon find out what real work is and be glad to get back in an office under an easy boss who understands human nature. Ellen smashing a lamp on the car to-day, just when I am short of money, but a man has only once to live and so I saying little or nothing. ; May 4. Learning this evening that the wed- ding is to be at our house, which is all right, as while a church wedding is all right, there's nothing like a girl being married in the ancestral home, as they say in the books, though I suppose it will clutter the house all up and I will have to make some plan to get rid of Pep for awhile that day, as it would never do to have him get excited at so many people in the house, as he did when Polly had her card club at our house, and start to barking in the cellar, which would scare a May 103 lot of women. I could leave Pep with Mrs. Walker, but I suppose she will be at the wedding. I don't like to hire some boy to take care of him during the wecTding, as boys are always throwing things for him to chase, and as there are too many automobiles, so you never know when he will chase a ball or stick across the street in front of a machine and be killed; but I suppose I could ask Mrs. Walker to lock him in her basement during the wedding, which would be a good plan. Glad to know that I have all plans for the wedding now made, and nothing more to worry about. May 5. Going to a dinner to-night given by the company for department heads, officers, some salesmen, and a few others whose brains go to make the company what it is, and enjoying the dinner all right till we got through eating and one man after another got up and told how production could be increased, or costs lowered, or sales promoted, or one thing after another, from polishing the brass sign out in front to gilding the ball on the flag pole. The big chief calling on me out of a clear sky and I had nothing on tap but the temptation to say that the business is all right, but what it needs is to be left alone and run by the old timers around here. But as soon as I got to my feet I got an idea and let them have some advice straight from the shoulder about the advantages of co-operation among all 104 Sam Blick's Diary departments, saying that the motto of everybody should be all for one, the one being the welfare and prosperity, prestige and reputation, of the company. The idea thus tersely put left them all pretty thoughtful, as they didn't raise a big racket, as they did after some of the speeches, but remained thoughtful. They probably expected me to get off some good ones, but I thought it was the time to be serious. May 6. These are great days at our house, with all hands busy with preparations for the wedding. Polly telling me this morning that the car went dead on Ellen yesterday and she left it in a garage, so waking her up and finding out about where the garage is, and going around there to-day and they telling me that the engine was pumping oil and badly shot up and probably needing new rings and overhauling, so I calling up Jim Wilkins and he saying they could promise no date on it if they ran it into their shop, as everybody is buying a new car in the spring rush and they have all they can do to make minor adjustments on new cars, and so on, so I telling the garage to give it the once over and let me know the damage, as what else can a man do who cannot afford a new car and has the bad luck to buy his of a fellow like Wilkins, who can't give service, though the car is about new, as you might say, having been run less than 20,000 miles. Saying nothing about it at May 105 home, as there is no need of clouding Ellen's life just on the brink of her wedding, and, besides, getting little attention to my remarks on any subject. May 7. The bandit chief of the garage calling me to-day and saying the tax would be about sixty berries and I finally saying to go ahead, as what can a man do when he is helpless in the hands of an armed garage? But, anyhow, the man talked all right and I believe he will do a good job, which often happens in some small garages where the proprietor takes a personal interest in every job and tries to build up a steady trade. Fred and I having quite a talk this evening, as Polly and Ellen were at a neigh- bor's house, Polly saying she was too busy to go to the dance to-night, but wished to finish some napkins the neighbor was showing her how to do. I told Fred that married life is all right, but a man must make allowance for the fact that a woman is human and as likely as not has temper and will show it if she can find company, but will keep her temper if the husband keeps his, and, while Ellen knows all about running a house, a man should give his attention to expenses, etc. Talking till Ellen and Polly came home, Polly to bed and Ellen reminding me that I hadn't taken Pep for a run, which I did, and glad that she is getting thoughtful about my dog. io6 Sam Blick's Diary May 8. Settling a bunch of bills by check to-day, and I must say that Polly and Ellen haven't spared the family mint any in buying for the wedding, and I a little peeved at first and inclined to say that they had better put it off till I got to be a millionaire, but withholding such sarcasm, as I am able to give my daughter a wedding such as perhaps she has dreamed about, and the worst that can happen is that I shall have to sell a few of the Liberty bonds that I picked up during the war and have held on to, not dumped on the market to cut the price down, as a lot of foolish investors did, people who had not figured on a rainy day or an emergency like a wedding. Making up my mind that I will will- ingly part with them in order to make my share in the wedding a big success, but I hope there are no more parties like that one last Saturday when Ellen let the cat out of the bag to her girl friends, but, after all, on second thought, a girl is married the first time only once, so I have nothing to worry about, as sooner or later Ellen will get all I have accumulated, and what will be hers then is hers now. May g. This didn't seem like Sunday without the car, but we managed to get through the day all right. To church, where Polly and Ellen both wore new dresses that were as spring as the wild flowers in the park, and Fred and I were certainly proud of them, as why shouldn't a man May 107 be, as a little pride does a man no harm, he having as much right to think about how he is getting on in the world as other people have to think the same thing about him. In the afternoon all for a walk in the park, but Fred and Ellen soon getting tired, as they were not equal to the pace set by older and stronger people, and they sitting on a bench looking out over the lake and basking in the comfortable sun like a couple of birds, but Polly and I hurrying on, as I wanted to give Pep some exercise, having to keep him on a chain, as the park was full of people who have nothing to do but flock around a park on Sunday, and many are afraid of a dog, thinking he is going to jump them, probably because their ancestorswere thieves and had reason to fear dogs. May 10. Well, you could have knocked me over with a club this morning, as not long after I reached the office Carder and that Lowder girl walked into my office and she held up her left hand and said what do you think of that? And I got the point, as she had a new wedding ring on. I cleverly got the facts out of them, and it seems that they have been engaged for ten days and were married at her home Sat- urday evening, which was all right and strictly according to Hoyle as far as my plans are con- cerned, but it seems that they have decided that since they are broke, and two can make more money than one, they are going to move into a io8 Sam Blick's Diary couple of rooms somewhere and both work here till they get enough jack and Carder's salary is boosted so they can set up for themselves and Ethel can stay at home. There was little work done in my place to-day, as the men were all kidding Carder, and Ethel was running from one girl to another all day. Telling Ellen and Polly about it in the evening, and they said a girl who acted as funny as she did got just what she deserved and maybe she'd be happy, I saying little or nothing about my part in this affair. May II. The chief came in to-day and asked what was it he heard about a couple in my department getting married, and I told him a few of the facts of the case, and he said the company would do something for them, which it did, sending a committee of girls from my department to buy something for the newlyweds, which, when the committee came back, proved to be a tablecloth, six napkins, and enough candy to supply all the girls in the office during the rest of the day. I made the gift speech, getting off a few witty remarks about the table- cloth and the courses of true love that would rest thereon, some getting the point, but I drew it a bit fine for most of them, I guess, which is why they are only clerks, in all probability. Winding up with a few remarks about discipline in my department and a full day's work, but even at that there was little work done during May 109 the rest of the day, and I shall have to fire some of the ringleaders if they don't settle down to business. Telling the folks at home about my speech, and repeating it for them, and they saying that I was up to my usual form all right, and laughing heartily. May 12. Meeting John Hartman at lunch, which reminded me that he's the man that started me on this diary, which was intended to be mainly about the weather, but has departed somewhat from its course. As a matter of fact, we have had no weather to speak of lately, the days, as a rule, being bright and sunny, and the spring being normal in all respects, no big April snowstorms or any killing frosts this month to ruin the peach crop. But I am not much in- terested in crops any more, as, since we got the machine I raise little if any garden, except to keep the perennial flowers in some kind of con- dition and to take care of the shrubbery around the house and garage and back fence, but even at that we have one of the neatest places in the neighborhood, which is a neighborhood of small but pretty homes, all looking about alike except for class in some. Getting my car out of the garage to-day, and it has more pep in it than it had the day I bought it and runs like a new car, so I am well satisfied with my little investment and took the car for a spin this evening to give Pep some air without wearing him out. no Sam Blick's Diary- May JJ. Noticing this evening that Polly and Ellen are getting nervous from chasing around for one thing or another to make some- thing for Ellen's wedding tackle, and saying to them that they had better just let things slide, as Ellen will be right in the neighborhood and there will be plenty of time after the wedding to embroider things, and to come along and we'll run over to the state park Saturday in the machine and stay at the hotel there and come back Sunday and take Fred along and have a great time in the open. They getting the point, and grateful to me for considering their health, but seeming to think that some fun is to be had out of working like the head of a big family and wondering how many of each size bath towel there ought to be, etc. Ellen's friends are giving parties for her, and she comes in too tired to enjoy her happiness, and the other evening, when I joked her about whether she could cook to suit Fred, she sat on my lap and cried against my shoulder and acted more like a nervous wreck than a buoyant bride, but a man can't do much in such cases. I told her she must not expect too much of Fred at first, but perhaps I did not choose the right time for this speech. May 14. As near as I can tell, I did not need to worry about how Pep would act during the wedding. He was a good dog, and as soon as the excitement around the house is over and a May in man can settle down to normal habits again, I am going to have another dog. And they needn't have blamed me for it, nor Pep, either, for that matter, as neither of us made it rain so Polly and Ellen had to hang a tablecloth, which they had just finished and washed, in the cellar to dry instead of in the yard, and Pep couldn't be expected to lock himself in the furnace room, where he sleeps; but, of course, he might have left the tablecloth alone, and I suppose that if I hadn't left the door to the coal bin open he wouldn't have dragged the tablecloth in there and played tag with it, being only a puppy. Anyhow, hiring the ash man to get rid of him was going pretty strong, but I saying little or nothing, as Polly and Ellen are worked up over this wedding and I can expect no sympathy from them. Wondering where Pep is sleeping to-night probably on an ash dump somewhere, and hungry at that, and it's raining, too, and pretty cold. May 75. Here it is pay day again, and I would give my week's pay to have Pep back again, for I never realized how much a dog could mean to a man until they gave Pep away to the ash man and bribed the ruffian to get rid of him. And Pep probably slept on an ash heap in the cold rain last night, which he is not used to. Home in the evening about ready to say some- thing about Pep being mistreated that way, but ii 2 Sam Blick's Diary finding that Ellen and a bunch of her friends were having a party of some kind at our house, they having arranged a picnic in the afternoon, but it rained. They had been here quite a while and seemed to be losing their pep, so I handing out a few remarks offhand about when they were going to be brides, and getting a laugh or two, and finally asking Ellen on the side if I could take the whole bunch in the car downtown to the movies, and they jumping at the chance. It was quite a load, but we made the grade and afterward I took them all home, as I like to do a little thing like that for Ellen's friends, they being a fine crowd of girls and I not too old for companionship. May 16. Raining this morning and unfit for a trip into the country, but a good day to do a little fishing if a man was foolish enough to go after bass when they are nesting, which ruins the sport, so no more fishing for me till the middle of the summer. All to church in the car, which runs better than ever except that the battery is getting a little weak and I suppose I will have to have a new one some day to remind me that, like a family, it isn't the car that sets a man back, but the upkeep. Fred not showing up to-day, as his mother is sick at Hamilton, the little town which he came from to the city, and he is down there to see her, leaving Ellen moping around the house as if her wedding had been May 113 called off. Rain all afternoon and I reading a story aloud from a magazine until Ellen and Polly decided to take a nap and left me to finish it to myself, they probably knowing that I get more pleasure out of reading to myself. The rain stopping toward evening, and I taking a long walk in the park and keeping a careful lookout for Pep, but no sign of him, so I guess that to-morrow I'll see the ash man. May 77. This morning I was awakened about 3 A.M. by a burglar cutting the screen in the back door, but on looking out the back window saw that it was not a burglar, but Pep pawing at the screen. Without waking Polly or Ellen, going down and letting him in, and he was surely glad to see me, jumping up and trying to lick my face, and it was all I could do to keep him from barking. Taking him to the cellar, where I got some warm water and gave him a bath, which he surely needed, and then giving him the chicken we had left from dinner yesterday, and he ate as if he hadn't been fed since he was thrown out of the house. Back to bed about 4.30, and in the morning waking Polly and tell- ing her that Pep was in the cellar. I made it clear that he was back for good, at which we had some words leading up gradually to an agree- ment that he could stay at the house twenty- four hours, but must be got rid of, so to-day I arranged with a dog boarding-house keeper to ii4 Sam Blick's Diary keep Pep for the time being, till Ellen gets married and I can call my home my own again. Taking Pep to the kennel this evening and seeing that he is all right, but surely hating to leave him there. May 18. Fred not showing up this evening, and when I asked where he was Ellen started to cry and went to her room, and I finally got out of Polly that Fred reported last evening that his mother was all right, just had a spring cold, but he spent the whole evening talking about what a great old town Hamilton is, and how many friends he has there and what good times they used to have, till Ellen, being somewhat tuned up over going to so many parties, showers, and the like, said he'd talked himself into being a stranger to her, and one word led to another, and so on, as such things will, and she said something about a hick town, and he took it as a reflection upon himself, and in the end took his hat and went home mad, and Ellen has not heard a word from him to-day. Well, as I told Polly, it is far better that they discover that they cannot get along together now, rather than after their marriage, and I wishing to comfort Ellen by telling her there are plenty of other men, but Polly saying to leave her alone, which I did, as there are some cases where a man had better go easy. May 19. Ellen spent a very unhappy night. May 115 as we could tell by hearing her cry once in awhile, and Polly going into her room and they having a talk or two, so at the breakfast table I telling Polly that I guessed I would take Fred out to lunch to-day and give him a raking over the coals and finish the job right, as, although Ellen shouldn't have let him get cross if she thought so much of him that she was likely to have a hard time giving him up, we could not side with Fred in this matter, but must do what we could to protect Ellen, and for my part I am willing to take the young fool by the scruff of the neck and let him know that he fooled with the wrong man when he abused my hospitality. But Polly saying to do nothing whatever, but let matters take their course, and not to say any- thing about it to any one, for if I did it would be all over the neighborhood like wildfire and Ellen would grieve more than ever. Troubled about this and finding some of my clerks loafing to-day, and firing three of them without cere- mony and calling others down. Ellen better this evening, but about all in. May 20. When I got home this evening I thought the wedding date had been changed, as flowers all over the house, it seemed to me, or at least four vases of them, and Ellen was sitting on the davenport, eating out of a five-pound box of candy and staring into the fireplace, which, of course, had no fire in it, and when I entered n6 Sam Blick's Diary the room she jumped up and kissed me and gave me a hug and ran on upstairs, singing like a bird. I went out to the kitchen to see what happened, and Polly said Fred had called Ellen up early this morning and said he hadn't been able to sleep a wink since they had a few words, and he had done nothing but walk the streets in the depths of despair, and he wanted to know if she would take him back. I was hoping Ellen let him broil for awhile, but as near as I could find out she said all right, and asked him to come out to the house for luncheon, which he did. I suppose that if Ellen insists upon taking him back it will have to be all right with me. I went alone to the movies, and did not see Fred when he came out this evening, as he's still in bad with me. May 21. Fred Thomas calling me up to-day and asking me to have lunch with him, and I finally said I would. He is worried about Ellen, saying he wished I would put in a word for a plan he had to get to cut out some of this jazzing around that she is doing, as she is so nervous that he is afraid that she will be a wreck by her wedding day, and he seemed to be so much worried about her that I could see that there was another chapter to that quarrel between him and Ellen, so I said I would do what I could. In the evening asking Ellen about it and telling her what Fred had said and how serious it was, as he had felt May 117 that he ought to get me to help him. But she is still up in the air, for she said to me that she thought that she was equal to her own affairs, and she thought Fred was going out of his way to tell her what to do, so I changing the subject, as a man should use diplomacy in a case like this, and not force, so I asking her to go with me to the kennel to see Pep. We got home and took a long drive and she felt much better, and said she guessed Fred and I were right about taxing her strength, so I have settled another difficulty all right. May 22. Thinking about those clerks I fired the other day, so sending for them and offering to take them back, which two of them jumped at, but the other one called me a hot-tempered old skunk and refused to return to work, which was all right with me, as I want no clerks around me that have no more sense of loyalty than to use violent language toward a man who has befriended them. Figuring on my expenses, which run pretty heavy these days, and deciding to save every cent I can to defray the cost of Ellen's wedding, for I am going to spare nothing to give Ellen what she asks for, within reason, for a man should not lose his head. Fred out in the evening, and Margie and this Ashcroft, and we got into a poker game and I pulled a few old ones on them, like passing four treys under the gun and hesitating about staying and then run- n8 Sam Blick's Diary ning into a full house and an ace-high flush and winning $3.10, even with a ten-cent limit. Get- ting even with that fellow Ashcroft by saying that I wanted excitement and would go out and walk around the block, which I did, Polly and I going to the movies and to buy candy and cigars. May 23. An ideal day and I planning to give Ellen a good rest by taking a long trip with Fred along, and also persuading Polly to let me pass the kennel and get Pep, who was glad to see Polly, and she finally patted him on the head and asked him how he was. That shows how forgiving a dog is, as he does not blame her for giving him to the ash man, but is willing to over- look her temper and start over again. I drove for a couple of hours, and then Polly and I traded seats with Fred and Ellen, and Ellen drove. Presently I noticed that we were in fresh gravel and Ellen was having a hard time keeping the old bus in the road; and as a matter of fact I should have noticed sooner, as she was almost exhausted, for the old wagon steers a little hard now, as I guess she needs oil in the steering housing. Polly bawled me out in front of Fred, and Fred said something about me being the only one who knew how hard the boat steered, and by the time I got home you would have thought I was a criminal, so I taking Pep back to the kennel, and, leaving the car there awhile, taking him for a long walk. May 119 May 24. Riding down on the car with Albert Jackson this morning, and I thought I would kid him a little and asked him if he had bought that automobile he was talking about. This started him, and he finally told me that his syndicate had not really sold its patent, but had sold the privilege of making certain tests of it, and if it would do what was claimed for it a company would buy it outright; but as yet the patent had not tested out, but he was satisfied with his investment so far and hoped for the best. I figured that this company which they expect to sell out to will find out how the machine works and put some sharks on the job and manage to get around Jackson's patent, so it may be that, after all, Al is no better off than the man who saves his salary and does not jump at every chance that comes along to throw his money into some scheme that he knows nothing about, but who tries to do the right thing by his daughter. Al is right and I hope he makes a go of his invention, but if he doesn't he will make about as much as he could have made if you figure the money value of his lesson in following the advice of a man who knows when I am well off". May 25. Bill Hines blowing into my place to-day, looking like a million dollars, and saying he had certainly thought a lot about me during the last few days, as I am one of his best friends and about the only one that is not sharing in the 120 Sam Blick's Diary profits of that little deal he spoke to me about the other day. But I saying that I am satisfied, as a man is bound to make a few mistakes now and then when he has a number of small invest- ments to keep active, and I hope that when he has a sure winner to offer again he will look me up. Hines is a good example of a man that took a long chance, even at the expense of losing some friends, and won out. He had the nerve to back his judgment against a lot of petty fault-finders who could see nothing in his new venture but sure ruin. Looking over my financial affairs and wondering if I will ever get anwhere on a salary, and thinking that as soon as the wedding is over and we have only small bills to meet I will look around for something like the scheme Hines has. Home to a good dinner and to read a fishing story by an author who knew nothing, as he called a fisherman an angler. May 26. This evening I thought up a little scheme to get Pep back, as I miss that dog and see no reason why Polly and Ellen should not be cooled off enough by this time to make some concessions to a man whose daughter will soon be married, leaving him without children in his home and with a soft spot for a dog, as people have when they have no children on whom to bestow their affection, and poor Pep is down there in that kennel with a lot of dogs of one kind or another, and is probably having to fight May i2i for what he gets to eat and may lose his good temper. Thinking it over and deciding that the way to win Polly and Ellen over is to give them a shock -that will make them appreciate Pep nothing rash, as when I once threatened to leave home on account of him, but something that will impress them. A man might put on a fake robbery of some kind, showing that if Pep had been around the house we should not have been robbed. Deciding finally that this will be a good scheme, and only waiting for a chance to carry out the plot, deciding first what I can best steal. May 2J. That Lowder girl getting huffy to- day because I forgot she was married to Carder and called her Miss Lowder, and when she got mad and said she would leave if I persisted in for- getting that she is now Mrs. Carder, and would do so, anyway, if her husband was not on a star- vation wage. This putting an idea into my head, and with my usual promptness I put it into immediate effect. I called the Carders into my office at closing time and offered him a substantial raise, making it quite clear that he could now afford to support a wife without her assistance, they falling into the trap and Ethel agreeing to resign. So at little cost the company is rid of the Lowder family queen. Now going ahead with my other plan, as a man who could get rid of an incompetent girl can easily get back a dog that others have got rid of. 122 Sam Blick's Diary In the evening saying casually at the dinner table that I had heard of several robberies in the neighborhood among people who are so careless as not to keep watchdogs. Polly said there was nothing in the paper about it, but I said that people who are so foolish as not to keep a good watchdog are ashamed to report burglaries to the police, hence the newspapers never learned about them, which was killing two birds with one stone, for I don't want Polly to report my fake robbery to the police when she finds it out, which will be soon, my plans being nearly com- plete. Telling Polly, to change the subject, about my clever scheme in getting rid of Ethel Carder, she replying that it was a clever scheme on some- body's part. May 28. Working around my yard this eve- ning and talking with Janet Walker, telling her about Pep and asking her to put in a word for him if she got a chance, saying something to Polly and Ellen about how much she misses Pep in the yard. Hinting to Janet that it will be all right with me if she intimates to Polly that I look worried lately and am losing flesh, sort of mourning, so to speak, the loss of my dog. A little propaganda like that does a man no harm, but I doubt if Janet helps me much, as I don't think she is on very good terms with the neigh- bors. When I came in the house, Polly asked me if Walker came home and scared me away. I May 123 asked her why she said such a thing, and she said something about how chummy Mrs. Walker and I were while she was down at Oakcastle to see her sick sister. I had a few words to say about idle women having nothing to do but run a man down, etc., besides, I told her Mrs. Walker was kind to Pep and naturally a man would show some interest in any woman that didn't give his dog to the ash man. May 29. Well, the house is quiet and the robbery scheme is all worked out. Fred and Ellen to the theater, and while Polly was out somewhere to a meeting of the membership com- mittee of her club, I broke the cellar window. Reading till all returned and went to bed, then I took the silver-backed mirror from Polly's dressing table and put it away in my tackle box in the attic. The whole scheme shows what a man can do in the way of gaining his ends by using his head instead of by asserting his au- thority, as I have no doubt that I could have had Pep back at any time by getting sore and raising a rumpus, threatening to have my way about some things. But Polly and Ellen would have taken it out on the poor dog, whereas now they will look to Pep for protection and treat him right. I broke the glass with a piece of coal and cut my finger a little, but it is on the inside of my hand and not likely to be noticed. The plot is complete and this time to-morrow night I expect 124 Sam Blick's Diary to have Pep back in the house for the rest of his life. May 30. This is Decoration Day and I guess I ought to be decorated for bravery, as I still have the mirror. Polly missed it the first thing and went to Ellen's room to look for it, while I pretended to be asleep yet, though my head was aching. Finally I got up and she asked me if I had seen her mirror, and, of course, I said I hadn't, but I said I thought I had heard glass crashing during the night. Together we ex- amined the house, and when we reached the cellar I pointed to the window and said, "That's where the burglar broke in, and he never would have got in if Pep had been here to raise the alarm." Polly ran upstairs to the phone and would have had the police here if I had not stopped her by saying that it was our fault and we would be the joke of the neighborhood. All would have been all right if Ellen had not noticed that the glass from the cellar window was on the outside, and I had to explain that the burglar probably expected to take the glass away with him and forgot it. Anyhow, I now have Pep back, and all is well except Polly said that since Pep was back she thought her mirror ought to be returned. May 31. Polly or Ellen must have told about the burglar at church yesterday, as that Jackson girl sat down beside me in the car this morning May 125 and said she heard we had burglars. Well, no- body knows the truth, so I told her that it was nothing much, as I discovered the man just as he was reaching for Polly's jewelry and chased him downstairs and thought I had him trapped in the basement, but he plunged headlong through a window and escaped, the only loss being a beautiful silver-backed mirror of Polly's. And I asked Beatrice not to tell, as Polly and Ellen did not know that I saw the man and would probably be badly frightened if they knew the truth. That Jackson girl will tell our whole end of town, and such things do a man no harm, showing that he has courage to defend his family. Polly noticing the cut in my finger as I reached for bread at the dinner table and asking me about it, so I saying that I cut it while picking up the glass which was broken out of the cellar window. A new window to-day costing me $i .65, which is a lot cheaper than paying board on Pep, and I have him back where he belongs. Some day I may tell Polly the truth and we will have a good laugh together. June June I. New trouble to-day at the office, for Carder came in and said that Minnie Lowder was here to see me about the matter talked over with Ethel. I was at loss to know what he meant, but asked him to send her in, Minnie proving to be a very pretty girl if a man likes that kind of thing. She said she had come to take up the burden which Ethel had laid down, since I had said the family had to be represented. I had never said any such thing, but did not tell her so, as a man cannot tell a pretty girl she is lying, especially at first sight so giving her a job at low wages. Think she will prove to be more intelligent than Ethel, having learned to judge people pretty well. Polly saying at the dinner table this evening that she thought the right thing to do was to report our robbery to the police, as they are probably searching second-hand stores every day and can look for her mirror, which was a wedding present from her rich aunt the one who died and left all her money to be divided among six churches and a lot of lawyers who defended the will and she prized it for its tender 126 June 127 associations and ought to have it back. This setting me to thinking, and I finally decided that I will contrive some scheme to return the mirror without doing anything that will cause them to suspect that the robbery was a fake. Later I said something about my tackle and went to the attic for the mirror, which I took out and hid by the garage. June 2. This morning I dropped a casual remark to Polly about the garage lock being broken and I wondered if the garage was locked, so I went out after breakfast to see, and pretty soon I ran back to the house breathless with excitement and gave the mirror to her, telling her where I found it, in the bushes near the garage, where the thief had thrown it as he ran out the back way and through the alley. Polly was qertainly glad to get her mirror. The whole scheme was worth while for the sight of her face as she reached for the mirror and kissed it, as if she had recovered a long-lost child. She could not wait till Ellen got up to break the news, but went right up to Ellen's room and told her about it, and as I went to work I could hear them laugh- ing, so I guess the incident is closed and I have done by tact a thing that could never have been done any other way. I have my dog back, Polly has her mirror back, and Ellen no longer fears that a burglar may steal her wedding clothes, and it is certainly fine to have Pep back. 128 Sam Blick's Diary All showing that it is better to use my head than mere brute strength. June 3. Charley Quinn, head of the repair department at our place, trying to put one over on me to-day about some stuff which he said was billed out wrong, and he caught me just right, as I have wanted to land on him for sometime, and I let him have both barrels at once, saying that while some one in my department might have made a mistake, as was likely to happen in any department, no one was trying to get his depart- ment in bad, as no one in my department was so dumb as not to know that his department is too far gone to be helped, anyhow, and the best thing he could do for the company is to lock up and quit as he is unmarried and has no responsibilities. He changing his tune, merely saying that he wished to correct an error which might be costly to the firm and that he had no intention of causing me to lose my temper in the presence of my clerks. I secretly determining to watch for a chance to put one over on Quinn. It helps a man to let it be known around the works that I will allow no one to run my department down, but will make a fool of anybody that knocks it. In the evening Polly saying that she had lost her scissors and Ellen saying that I might find them near the garage, but I saying nothing, as I did not want to risk saying something that would make her suspect. June 129 June 4. Well, tonight was the last dance of the season for that fool dancing club that Polly made me join against my will and better judg- ment, and between the heat, which must have been around a hundred, and some women who cannot dance but think they can and crave a lot of fancy capers instead of regular dancing, I am about all in as I write, which is long after mid- night. But I will say that some of the women I danced with were not trying to act like sixteen- year-old girls, and they knew good dancing when they had the right kind of partner, as one woman said to me that for a man who had not danced for years I was doing very well indeed. I let it go at that, as it would probably have disappointed her to learn that I was at a dance a month ago, when she wasn't there. Summer is no time for dancing, especially when a lot of women forget that they are grown up and are not supposed at this late date to act like high-school girls. Polly saying on the way home that I should take some dancing lessons, but, as far as I can see, it is most of that crowd that needs the lessons, as I am satisfied. June 5. Calling in Minnie Lowder and asking her how she was getting along, she saying that she found everything hard and strange, but that all the young men had been kind in helping her to learn, sometimes two of them at a time, no doubt out of respect for her brother. She is living 130 Sam Blick's Diary with the Carders, but will move when her own circumstances permit. Suppose she is already hinting for a raise, but I pretending not to under- stand. The invitations for Ellen's wedding are out and some of the presents are coming in, and I must say that Ellen's friends and relatives are doing the right thing by her, no doubt feeling that anything they do for her is not wasted on the rest of the family, myself included. Fred's people must be all right, as they are sending any number of pretty things for Ellen, including a check. This afternoon Ellen and Polly started to fix up that bungalow which Fred got possession of to-day, and this evening I went down with them and Fred to look it over. It is just the thing for them and I gaVe it my O. K. Polly and Fred talking furniture, and from what I can gather the boy has saved his money and is pre- pared to furnish the house right, although I told Ellen, while Polly and Fred were talking, that she was to furnish the kitchen to suit herself and charge everything to me, as I know the kitchen will be her great pride and she will enjoy having it to suit herself without having to defer to Fred's views about it. Ellen is as happy as a bird and Polly and I feel that we have done the wise thing. June 6. All down to the bungalow to-day after church and Ellen talking about where the piano would go, and I finally learning that what she meant by "the piano" was my piano, the one June 131 I bought for her when she was five years old and first started to take music lessons. It is a good piano and is an ornament to our home, and it never occurred to me that Ellen would care to take it along with her when she was married, especially as she will live so near and can run up to our house and play it whenever she feels like playing. But she talked as if there could be no two sides to the question of whether she should have the piano, so Polly and I only looked at each other and said nothing one way or the other, as there was nothing to say that I could think of. Anyhow, the piano will be near us, and when we wish to hear Ellen play we can go down to her house in the evening, as neither of us plays. Fred and Ellen doing nothing all day but make sketches and notes and figures and discuss how rooms would be furnished and not calling on Polly or me for advice, so we said nothing. June 7. No sooner home this evening than Ellen rushed me down to see her new kitchen, showing she must have lost no time taking ad- vantage of my liberal offer to furnish it for her. A range, kitchen cabinet, refrigerator, electric ironer, electric washer, electric dishwasher, fire- less cooker, floor lamp, table, and chairs, and I was tempted to ask her why she didn't get a flivver, as it would be handy to run around in while she was waiting for the machinery to get her work done, but saying nothing, as what can 132 Sam Blick's Diary a man do when his only daughter is getting married, as I have some Liberty bonds tucked away, anyhow, and will go the limit, within reason. Having some private words with Polly about the kitchen while Fred and Ellen were at the movies in the evening, and Polly admitting that Ellen was going pretty strong and should have used more judgment, but she said it was my fault, as I did not tell Ellen what I meant by kitchen furniture, so I taking Pep for a walk and passing Al Jackson's house, where his daughter was sitting on the porch instead of getting into a home of her own, having no generous father to indulge her every whim. June 8. That Jackson girl sitting down beside me in the car this morning and asking me about Ellen's wedding presents and I telling her in detail about the kitchen outfit I bought for Ellen, which, the more I think of it, is a good gift, as Ellen is a home girl and will get a lot of satis- faction out of her kitchen. And she knows how to run it, too, and is starting off right, and not starting off the way so many girls do these days, with a lot of clothes and business experience, but no money saved out of their earnings to help furnish a house and no practical experience in home making, and I telling that Jackson girl about it and she said I am behind the times and must not have had a new idea since the Spanish- American War, to which I replied nothing except June 133 that if she ever got married she would learn that I told the truth. Home this evening to find the house looking strange and discovering that some pictures are missing, Polly saying that Ellen took them to the bungalow, saying two of the water colors I bought at auction several years ago are just what she needs to complete her living- room color scheme. June p. A hard day at the office. Straight- ening out some difficulties caused by that new Lowder girl, who has not yet begun to show her abilities, in spite of much help from the new clerks, and home to a meal that I couldn't say much about, except to remark that I wished I had got my dinner before I came home. Out to the garage to get the car for a spin, intending to stop somewhere and get food, but the car not there. Asking Polly about it and she said Ellen used it this afternoon and ran it into the garage at her bungalow and came home and left it there. Ellen and Fred downtown to dinner, which was all that prevented a few remarks that I might have regretted, but I laying down the law to Polly and saying it was up to her to let Ellen know that getting married did not mean taking the family furniture with you. I went down to the bungalow and ran the car home, and then took Polly and Pep for a spin, as I saw that Polly is worn out preparing for this wedding and needs some recreation. We looking up a colored 134 Sam Blick's Diary woman who used to work for us and she agreeing to come and stay till after the wedding. Men- tioning to Polly that if we have any money left after the wedding we'll have to take a long trip in the car and enjoy life and possibly get in a little fishing. June 10. Home to find that the movers have been here to-day, and I guess that we are lucky that we have a place to sleep to-night. Ellen's mahogany bedroom suite, which I bought for her a year ago when she was graduated from school, is the biggest item on the missing list, and the other items range down to a waste-paper basket which matches the wall paper in Ellen's spare bedroom. Fred was here for dinner, so what could a man say, as it does no good to say any- thing at such a time which might in any way mar the pleasure they are getting out of building their nest, and when I consider how Carder and that Lowder girl, for instance, have to depend upon my generosity to make a home for themselves, I guess it is worth while to let Ellen take what she has to have. But I did hide some of my books and fishing tackle, and I took my big wicker chair to the basement and wired it to a post. Down to look at the bungalow. The new furniture that Fred bought is good stuff, what there is of it, which is the right way to buy, and I told both of them that they are certainly making good use of their heads. June 135 June II. Things are about ready for the wedding, as to-day I told a florist to fix things up for the occasion. This evening Polly and I talk- ing things over, and I putting my O. K. on the plans. It seems that Ellen and Fred are going on a two weeks' trip on the lakes and will be back around the first of July. Ellen has her head set on the bungalow being ready for them to go right into, so Polly is going to have it ready for them, even to a steak on the ice in the refriger- ator, and after they are back a couple of days Polly and I are going to run the old bus out and go where we please without any plans at all, except to rove to the north, where I may be able to get in a little fishing. Polly needs the rest and agrees that it will be a good plan, as we shall sort of go on a second wedding trip ourselves, celebrating our release from twenty years' care of Ellen, so to speak. July is early for my kind of fishing, but if we get far enough into the lake region I may have some sport. Getting my tackle out this evening and putting everything in good shape, so, as a matter of fact, I am all ready to go now. June 12. This is pay day, but I am not in- terested in such things these days, as my pay means nothing to me compared with the happi- ness of my daughter. Lowder's wife coming to see me and urging that I raise Minnie's pay, as while she had every confidence in Carder, it was 136 Sam Blick's Diary better for a young couple starting out in the world alone to live by themselves, which they would do when Minnie could afford a place of her own. I promised to give the matter consideration, as what else can a man do? Fred not at the house this evening, as I understand some of the boys at his place are giving a dinner in his honor, so all at our house going to bed early to get a little rest after our hard week preparing for the wedding. June 13. Planning a day of recreation, but when I came downstairs I found that my day had been planned for me. My first job was to polish the floors, which I said they might have hired some one to do, but Polly said she never could get anyone to do the job right, all leaving spots unpolished, which was I careful not to do. Also putting up a lot of curtains and moving furni- ture around and missing church, and poor Pep looking out at the bright day and then at me, as if to say he certainly pulled a boner when he happened on an owner that was a household slave and had no time to play with his dog. Fred showing up in the evening, looking as if he had spent the night in jail or in a Turkish bath, and Ellen getting curious, but I coming to Fred's defense with a caustic remark about a man being entitled to a last fling, as he would probably wind up by spending a fine Sunday polishing floors, as other good men had wound up. Taking Pep for a walk in the evening. June 137 June 14. The Minnie girl showing up late this morning and, as far as I can learn, doing nothing of value after she arrived, so I finally called her into my office and kindly explained a few things about the company expecting some work in return for the pay given, also giving her a lecture on the value of discipline, punctuality, neatness, and industry. If this has no effect I must consider other plans. I was clever enough to get rid of Ethel and I guess I am clever enough to get rid of Minnie. Home in the evening to find the place so cluttered up with wedding presents that I could hardly get around. Many of Ellen's friends who work all day find time in the evening to come to the house and see what she has got and to rave over her clothes, which would be a credit to any bride, as I have not put the brakes on the charge accounts, but have dug up for what was needed, as a man should, there being no other way out of it that I could see, as I have only one life and one daughter and she can have anything she wants, though I try not to lose my head, as it seems to be the only one in our family these days. June 75. To-morrow is the wedding and I was thinking to-day that it would have been much better if Ellen had waited a year or two, but I suppose it is too late now. A letter from Oakcastle saying Polly's sister is bedfast now and seriously ill, and Polly is very much upset, as she 138 Sam Blick's Diary would like to be there, but owes her first duty to Ellen, so not telling Ellen about the letter. Helping this evening to put the finishing touches on the bungalow, which is a bright and dainty little place, a credit to all concerned, especially the kitchen, which has been praised by all as a model, complete in every respect, even to a vacuum cleaner, which Ellen just thought of yesterday and which will come in handy to clean the linoleum. All practicing for the wedding, and everything all right, as there was little they needed to tell me about my part, as in such matters I merely follow my instincts. And, any- how, my main part in this wedding is not visible to the guests, which is all right, as I am about broke and I guess I am lucky to escape without hanging a mortgage on the house, as some men would have done. June 16. Well, I can't say much for this wedding, except that on such occasions it's a good thing to have a dog around. The wedding itself went off without a hitch, that Jackson girl catch- ing the bouquet, as she was the only one with a reach like a big-league first baseman, and Fred and Ellen getting away in a taxi about two P.M. to catch their train, with a string of people trailing after them as if they had stolen the taxi, and before we quite knew what had happened there was no one left at the house but Martha, the colored woman, the guests, caterers, and June 139 florist all having melted away. Looking all around for Polly and finally finding her upstairs lying across her bed and all in, poor girl, and we getting out some baby pictures of Ellen and trying to laugh about how cute she used to be in her curls, but not having much luck at it, as neither of us felt much like laughing, and for my part I don't know how we'll get along around this house without Ellen. Bringing Pep's old cushion out of the cellar and fixing a bed for him in the living-room. Reading nearly all night, being unable to sleep. June 77. Back to the office this morning and finding that things went along all right yester- day while I was away, as I have my force all trained, as a good executive should have his force. One clerk spoke to me about how much they missed me yesterday, as he was stuck for an important decision and had to wait till I came this morning to set him right. He is a good man and I shall have to look into his request for an increase in pay, which he spoke to me about a week ago. Home to find the house looking as usual, except that you might think an auctioneer or delinquent tax collector had taken liberties with my furnishings unless you knew about the bungalow. Another letter from Polly's sister, and Polly saying she would have to go down there right away, so planning to go to-morrow. Getting out my fishing tackle in the evening and seeing 140 Sam Blick's Diary that everything that I'll need is in the tackle box, as Ellen and Fred will be back pretty soon and Polly and I can start on our first real va- cation in twenty years, and figuring that Polly might want to try fishing, though it is not a woman's sport. June 18. Well, Polly got away to see her sister all right, leaving me here alone, but in no mood to enjoy a little liberty. At noon to a rail- way ticket office to get some folders showing vacation resorts where the fishing is good, having found out that while the resorts advertised by the railroads may be fished out, there is usually some good fishing near same, which a man with a car can reach all right. Out home in the evening to ask Mrs. Walker if she would care to look after Pep for a few days, and she saying she was glad to, as she is very fond of the dog. Then spending the evening figuring out a trip we can take as soon as Ellen comes home and finds the steak on ice at the bungalow and Polly and I are free to call our time our own and to roam where we will, without having to think of the comfort, health, and future of a child, as we have earned the right to live our own lives. Planning the whole trip and figuring that we can cover about 1,000 miles easily enough and have several days of loafing without any cares at all. Also looking over my tackle again, as a man ought to have everything he may need and plan things ahead. Beginning, June 141 for the first time, to feel reconciled to Ellen's marriage. June jp. Pay day again and going over my accounts and finding that except for the Liberty bonds I sold I am not so bad off, and that by saving more, which will be easy now that only Polly and I are left, I'll be able to come out on the year just about as I had planned. Estimating how much I will have to save each week, and putting myself on a sort of budget, and beginning to-day by putting this week's share in the bank. I am now in a place where I can put away enough money so that with my insurance and property I need not worry about a comfortable income in my old age, which is a long way off; but a man should figure on such things. Writing this on the train, as Polly wired to-day that I had better come to Oakcastle for the week-end, as her sister is worse, so out to the house to see that every- thing is all right and to tell Mrs. Walker that I would not be at home for a few days and to say good-by to Pep, then on the train to Oakcastle. I hope Polly's sister gets better right away, as otherwise Polly will not get the rest that she needs after the hard work that she did for the wedding. June 20. Staying last night at the home of Bob Pence, Polly's eldest brother, and this morning over to see Mary Stark, Polly's sick sister, and getting a shock, as it is plain that the 142 Sam Blick's Diary poor girl, Polly's only sister, cannot live, which is a pity, as she's only twenty-eight, the baby of the family, and a widow with two children, Louise and Conrad, Louise being five, and Con- rad, the poor little devil, being only a little over a year old. She's had more than her share of hard luck now, as her four brothers, all living in this little town, haven't done what they could have done for her, and at that two of them have no children. Mary seems to have lost courage, and I was not surprised when Polly told me the doctor said Mary was likely to die any time. I could see her for only a minute, then went over to Jake's house to see the two kids. They were playing around as if nothing serious were the matter. Back home this evening feeling pretty blue, and to a movie downtown to lift my spirits, but still thinking of Mary and hoping she will somehow manage to pull through. June 27. Hardly reaching the office when I got a wire from Polly saying that Mary died early this morning. I saw the chief about some leave, then out to the house to get Pep to take along with me, as I noticed that Louise and Conrad have no dog to play with and they will have a great time with Pep while I am down there, as he will help them to forget the tragedy in their lives. Polly meeting me at the station in a car and saying that I would have to make all arrange- ments for the funeral, as her brothers seemed to June 143 think that it was up to me, so I taking Pep over to the kids, and they making friends right away, Pep even letting Conrad pull his ears, which he won't let me do. Spending most of the day look- ing after little things and finding that Mary has her home mortgaged to the hilt to her brother, Bob, who confided to me that none of the funeral expense would fall on me. I saying nothing, as a man should hold his tongue sometimes, as when among his wife's relatives, but wondering what will become of the kids, as they are the main item. June 22. Thinking we would get some word from Ellen to-day, as I wired her at the hotel which they expected to reach about Sunday, but no word, so I guess I missed them, which is as well, as there is no reason why she should come, for it would break up her honeymoon. Playing with the kids most of the morning, helping Louise to build a doll house in the yard at Jake Pence's, where they are staying, and watching Pep play with little Conrad, who has just learned to walk and is having a lot of fun finding out what a heck of a man he is now that he can walk. A family conference this afternoon, which I left in about ten minutes, as they began to divide Mary's belongings among them, which I suppose is all right, as the estate will probably not net even a nickel for the children. Back after awhile, and they all trying to pass the buck about the kids, none caring to take them unless they are sepa- 144 Sam Blick's Diary rated, and some arguing against separating them, but only showing that no one cared to take them, and when things got warm I settled the matter once for all by saying to put it off till after the funeral. June 23. Holding the funeral this afternoon at two o'clock and the preacher giving a fine sermon on adversity and sacrifice and the future rewards of courage against great odds. After the funeral Polly and I taking the kids over to Jake's house and seeing that they were all right, which was easy, as the baby did not know what was going on and pretty little Louise could not realize what had happened. Eating supper there, then Polly and I back to Mary's house, where Polly cried and told me that she hoped I wouldn't think badly of her brothers for not seeming to care for Louise and Conrad, but the fault was not with them, but with their wives, some people being selfish when it is not their own side of the family which I, not being that way, could scarcely believe. Finally I getting a bright idea and springing it on Polly, to her great delight, so as a result we are going to say that the children should not be denied by the city's good schools and propose to take them home with us. Bob Pence's wife coming in just then for a floor lamp, and I giving her a piece of mind and going for a lawyer, making up my mind that if the estate will net the kids a nickel they shall have it. June 145 June 24. Well, here we are at home again, with Louise sleeping in Ellen's old bed, and Conrad sleeping in Ellen's old iron crib, and Pep sleeping on his cushion in the living room, and Polly telling some women in the neighborhood all about it, at the same time looking at children's fashions in the back of a magazine, as both of the kids are pretty low for clothes. Several letters and cards from Ellen and Fred to-day. They are as happy as a pair of birds. A picture of them bathing at a lake resort, and a fine-looking couple they make. As yet I haven't had time to figure out where we stand on this new arrangement, but Polly and I have decided to keep the kids a secret from Ellen and Fred and have a surprise for them when they show up with a lot of stories about where they have been and what they have done. Polly finding a lot of Ellen's old dolls and toys in the attic, but I finding nothing for Conrad to play with but my $8 reel, which he hated to give up when he had to go to bed. He and Pep are life-long friends, which is all right, as Pep would have gone stale in no time with no one but Polly and me around him. June 25. Back to the office this morning in good time, as Conrad wakened up at five o'clock and as near as I can make out wanted the reel, Pep, Polly^ Louise and me and his breakfast all at the same time. Anyhow, that's what he got before we could get him quieted. Things in 146 Sam Blick's Diary fairly good shape at the office, as I have my force well trained for just such emergencies; but, of course, training wears out in time, as the chief would soon find out if I should go away for about two months. The Lowder girl still a problem which I must solve. Home early in the evening, but too late to play with Conrad, as he was in bed, and when I wakened him for a little talk, I -doing the talking, as he is not that far along yet, Polly raised the deuce and said he was on a schedule laid down by some woman in the neigborhood and was not to be disturbed, so I telling some stories to Louise as I used to tell them to Ellen, some of the same stones, as a matter of fact, and they are still good, as Louise got sleepy at once. The children almost wore Pep out to-day, as when I reached home he was too tired to get up from his cushion. No movies, as we have to stay at home with the kids, which is a good thing, as the pictures have not been any good lately. June 26. Leaving the office at noon to-day and rushing home to take care of the children while Polly went shopping for them, she taking the car alone, as it would be too much for the children to hang around with me in the car, waiting for her. I taking Pep and the children to the park, where we taught Pep to chase a stick into the pond and bring it back. Louise could not get enough of the swings, and while I was swinging her and Conrad was playing in the June 147 sand box, Pep thought he smelled a rat, I guess, as he began to dig in the sand, throwing sand over Conrad and some other children and getting it in their eyes and hair, so I taking him and the kids away, as Pep should have been on a chain, anyhow. Staying so late at the park that both children were too tired to walk, so I having to carry them home, where Polly was waiting to give me the devil for not showing more discretion. The children had their bath and their supper and went right to bed, and Polly and I planned a picnic for to-morrow. Neighbors in to see the children all morning, Polly reports, and asking all about them., and no doubt thinking that I had done a fine thing. June 27. Up at five o'clock again this morn- ing, and I saying to Polly that if Conrad is on a schedule, for Heaven's sake cut out the five- o'clock station or put him on a through sleeper, but she saying nothing, as by the time I was through talking she was in Conrad's room, telling him what an abused baby he is. Not that I care to crab the deal, or anything like that, but as long as a man doesn't have to get up at five o'clock, and as long as a baby can do his sleeping any time, I favor letting him cry it out a few mornings till he learns to turn over and go to sleep again, as he will have to learn some day. All in the car, up the river ten miles to a place where I have fished, and spending most of the 148 Sam Blick's Diary day there, getting along all right till Polly told me to watch the kids while she set out the picnic dinner, but Louise chased a butterfly into the woods, and, just as I went after her, Conrad tried to throw a stick in the river for Pep, and fell in, and I had to wade in with my clothes on and pull him out, while Polly chased Louise, and Pep got into the sandwiches, knowing no better, for he is only a dog. June 28. Riding down on the street car this morning with that Jackson girl, and she asking all about Louise and Conrad, and I saying that with Ellen happily married, as a girl should be, and settled for life, we made up our minds at our house that since we are still young, as you might say, we had better make some use of our time, so we took Polly's sister's children to bring up, as children are hardly any trouble at all to experi- enced parents. Considering my success in finding a husband for Ethel Lowder, I believe I'll look around for a man for Beatrice. Telling her also that, as I am doing pretty well, I might as well spend some of my extra money on these children, so somebody will get the benefit of it. Beatrice is a great talker, and it will do me no harm to have her going around our end of town saying that I certainly did the right thing by Mary's children, even if she does add," Well, he ought to, he has the money." Home with a doll for Louise and a ball for Conrad, but he was June 149 asleep. Louise taking the doll to bed with her. Polly and I were tired, so we spent the evening on the porch, I telling Polly that we might in time grow somewhat fond of the children. June 29. This morning Polly got a wire from Ellen saying they expected to arrive this eve- ning, so Polly taking the children down to the bungalow and getting it in shape, including the ice and the steak in the ice box, and seeing that everything was ready for them to step into the house and say, "This is our home." A little trouble with Quinn to-day, he saying that he was overworked in the repair department, while I had things pretty soft with plenty of help. I merely replying that a winning team always appeared to be taking things easy. He getting the point and not expressing himself to any more hot shots. Home in the evening with a pair of roller skates for Louise and a linen picture book for Conrad, as he likes to tear books to pieces, and at dinner Polly telling me all about the house; so when Louise went to bed I got the key to the bungalow and, without telling Polly where I was going, went down for a look at the kitchen, to see that everything was all right, and that Ellen would have no reason to complain that I had failed to do all I could to make her home coming a success. Having a narrow squeak, as, just as I was ready to leave, Ellen and Fred blew up in a taxi, and I had to escape out the back way. 150 Sam Blick's Diary Home to sit on the porch with Polly, and pretty soon here came Ellen for a minute to borrow some salt. She is tanned up from being on the lake and looks like a million dollars, and glad to see us again. June 50. Hurrying home this evening to see how things went, and Polly reporting that when Ellen walked in about noon and saw Louise and Conrad playing on the porch, she almost fainted and for a minute would not believe that her aunt Mary is gone and the children have come to live with us. She was so jealous that she went right back to her bungalow and stayed an hour. Evidently she fought it out and decided that we have lives of our own to lead, now that she has left us. I never thought of Ellen being jealous of the children. Ellen and Fred up to the house in the evening, and Polly and I letting them do all the talking, hearing all about their fine wedding trip and how glad they are to be back to make a real start in life. They taking the car out for a spin to see some of their friends, but Polly and I sitting on the porch, it just occurring to me that there will be no fishing trip, as we have to look after the kids; but it's really too early for good fishing, anyhow, so I saying little or nothing to Polly about it. The kids keep her on the hum all day, though, and I hope that she gets out oftener in the machine. July July i. Well, here it is another month, as I see by the top of this page. They certainly do come and go. No weather to speak of, as things are about normal, except that it got pretty hot to-day, being ninety-two degrees in the shade. The clerks in the office are now taking vacations. Two or three are away all the time, while most of the others are talking about where they went, or what those who are away are doing, or what they intend to do when their vacation time comes. For my part, I favor locking the office up for two weeks and having it over. There is too much lingering to suit me. Besides, a vacation is not much use to anybody, anyhow, as I have observed that the clerks who do the least work spend the most time talking about what they are going to do when they go on their vacation. Many of the young clerks feel that they must confide in the Lowder girl, who would demor- alize any office force if it were not for my firm discipline. The kids will keep me at home this year, I guess, so I don't like to hear all this talk about vacations from people who have no 152 Sam Blick's Diary responsibilities. Ellen kept the kids this after- noon while Polly went shopping, and this evening she told me she hoped that Polly and I knew what we were doing when we took them, as we did. July 2. As I went to the car line this morning I saw a girl taking a couple of kids out for an airing, and thought that Polly should have some one to help her with Louise and Conrad, as other- wise they will wear her out or something like that, so in the evening saying something about it to Polly, and she thinking it will be a good thing and saying she thinks she can get a school girl to help her for a few weeks, until she can find some one with experience. This will shave my savings a little, but it does a man no harm to have people see a nurse girl taking a couple of children out and saying, "Those are the children the Blicks took to bring up, and from the way Sam is going about it he must be getting some- where in the world," which would not be far from the truth. Most men my age would not think of assuming the responsibility for bringing up two babies, but I'm not that kind, and only regret that I hardly ever see them except when they are asleep. They are looking better on proper food and plenty of play with Pep, and Pep is losing weight but gaining muscle. July j. Pay day again and I buying a lot of fireworks for the children, which the police won't July 153 let us shoot in the city, but that not bothering me, as I phoned to Walter Martz, who lives up the river where I used to fish some, and has seven or eight children and a farm, and telling him I'd furnish the fireworks if he'd furnish the show grounds, and he saying to come along. Polly objecting, saying we could not shoot the rockets till dark, and that would mean getting Conrad home long after his bedtime, but I saying the Fourth of July comes only once a year and Con- rad has only once to live, anyhow, and he might as well enjoy life as he goes along, as I remember when I was a boy we looked forward to the Fourth of July for a month. Anyhow, I finally won out, as Martz's kids were probably expecting big things and I had the fireworks bought, anyhow. A man must be firm sometimes, as women don't go to war and can't realize how much a lot of noise and sparks mean to a boy on the Fourth of July. Ellen and Fred going to a picnic; but I don't worry about them, anyhow, as I have troubles of my own. July 4. Everything went off all right to-day, as it was bound to, I having planned all details, like buying the fireworks, but leaving the children and the lunch to Polly and a girl named Etta Berry, about sixteen, who is to come every day and help with the children and leaves her mouth open all the time. Taking the kids to church in the morning, as it will do them good to 154 Sam Blick's Diary get the habit, and it does a man no harm to be seen coming into church at my age with two young children he has taken from his wife's relatives to bring up right, as I can say for myself that not every man would do that. Driving up to Martz's place in the afternoon, and after his children and mine got over being afraid of one another and got to shooting firecrackers, we all watched them till dark. Then I shot the sky- rockets, as children should not be trusted with fire that way, and having a great time, except that it was after Conrad's bedtime and the little fellow went to sleep and missed it all; but Louise had a good time learning about the Fourth of July and will make a good citizen and vote right, when I have explained to her the differ- ence between the right and wrong parties. July 5. One of the clerks back from his va- cation to-day and telling me about catching nine black bass in three mornings' fishing, casting at daylight with a wooden plug along some lily pads in a little lake up north; and though at first I thought he was lying, he may have had a little luck at that. Thinking that even with the kids to look out for I might get in a little fishing this year, as it unsettles a man's mind to sit around and think that one of his clerks, making thirty berries a week, has been out and had some real sport, as you might say, while I have to sit in the office and grind away all summer. Any- July 155 how, a man needs a change of scenery every so often. Speaking to Polly about it in the evening, and she suggesting that I get away by myself for a few days, but I saying that I would not do that, but would stay at home, unless all could go, and help take care of the children and not waste money on a vacation. Louise grew lonesome this evening and cried for her mother and I had to tell her fairy stories till nearly ten o'clock. July 6. Riding down with Walker this morn- ing and he asking how the children are, I saying that they are all right and he has no idea what a comfort they are to a man and how it bucks him up to know that they are dependent upon him and that he is largely responsible for what they will be in this world, and a lot more talk like that, I figuring that his best chance to hold Janet is to have a large family, as otherwise she is likely to get tired of him alone and never be content. He saying nothing, however, but talk- ing about the weather and asking me if my car runs all right and a lot of other things not on the subject that we were talking about at all. In the evening asking Polly if Mrs. Walker ever sees our children, and she saying that Mrs. Walker is crazy about them and cries because her husband thinks children are a nuisance, but I saying nothing, as a man should not tell all he knows all the time. Conrad is getting to be quite a man, saying something that Polly says is 156 Sam Blick's Diary Pep's name, but I notice that Pep gets out of the way when he hears it, as the children wear him our every day, which is all right. July 7. This is Louise's fifth birthday and Polly having some little girls from the neighbor- hood in to a party, at which I guess everybody had a good time, as Pep hasn't come back from Walker's house yet, where Polly says he goes when the children razz him till he can't stand it any longer. I getting a set of little dishes for Louise and a little cart for Conrad, as you have to be careful when there are two children that way. When you get something for one you must get something for the other at the same time. I asking Louise who was the prettiest girl at the party, and she saying she was, not being old enough to know how conceited it sounded, and I giving her a little talk on conceit, as these children now have a chance to be brought up right with people who keep their heads and are doing more for them than most people would do. The children seem to feel at home now, calling Polly "mother" and me "dad," but they can't figure Ellen and Fred out, so I told Louise to call them aunt and uncle, as I am young enough to pass for Ellen's older brother, having lived right all my life, especially lately. July 8. Calling that Lowder girl into the office to-day and asking her some questions, finding out that she knows a good deal about the July 157 office force, but very little about the office work, I had a serious talk with her and was considering letting her go, but she saying that it was hard to do her best work because on account of her low pay she was compelled to live with her sister and things were not altogether happy there. Her large blue eyes filled with tears and she looked very helpless. She said she was sorry to take the young men from their work, but this seemed to be due to a cause beyond her control, I getting the point. I ended by giving her the raise she asked for so she could leave the Carders' roof. She was pathetically grateful and I think will now do better and be a credit to the department. July 9. While at lunch to-day with a few men from the office the talk turned to life insur- ance, which reminded me that while I am getting along all right, I should carry a little more life insurance, putting my savings into it, for if something was to happen to me now, Polly might get along all right, but she could not take care of the children very well and I might as well boost my insurance while I am still a young man, as you might say, and can get a comparatively low rate, and will have no trouble about my health, having always taken care of myself and gone on a vacation every year to keep myself in good con- dition. Saying something to Polly about it in the evening, and she not saying much, but sort of lukewarm on the proposition, perhaps thinking 158 Sam Blick's Diary how much it cost, but more likely thinking about what would happen if I was to have something happen to me, which would naturally depress a woman who has a good husband and provider. July 10. Hurrying home at noon to-day and spending the afternoon working on the car, ex- cept that Louise gave a tea with some dishes that I gave to her on her birthday, and came out to the garage and invited me to the tea and finally talked me around till I took off my overalls, washed up, and went to her tea, which was a great success, except that I was supposed to be another little girl and had some trouble getting my imagination to work, and then Conrad finished his nap and played around, as a boy will, finally pulling the tablecloth, with all the dishes, off on the floor, and causing a row, which I settled by allowing Louise to help me wash the car, which she did all right till she turned the faucet the wrong way and shot a stream of water in my face. I can't see that girls are any easier to bring up than boys, as it seems that girls try to do not only everything that girls do, but also everything that boys do, like helping to wash the machine. All for a ride in the after- noon, mostly around the neighborhood, as it does a man no harm to be seen taking his happy and well-dressed family for a ride. July II. To church this morning, as all-day automobile trips are too tiresome for the children July 159 and we might as well go over to church in the morning, as I believe the children should be brought up right. A good sermon by some young preacher who filled the pulpit while our preacher is on his vacation, but the congregation didn't have much pep, and as for my part, I don't think a man should be blamed for nodding a little, and perhaps blinking from trying to keep his eyes open, although Polly said that it created a bad impression, leading people to believe that I had been sitting up all night playing cards or something like that, whereas I was not, but sat on the porch till bedtime. Taking the children for a ride in the afternoon and not having much fun, as the roads were all cluttered up with cars, there being too many of them, so that some law ought to be passed prohibiting a man from driving a car unless he can pay cash for it, etc. But there are too many people, anyhow, and most of them would probably get around the law one way or another, that being what most people think laws are for, these days. July 12. Home to-night to find the neighbor- hood buzzing, as Mrs. Walker came over to our house this morning and told Polly that she was going back east to her home to stay for good, as she was convinced that she had made a mistake in leaving her family and in marrying a man so much older than herself. While they were talk- ing, Mrs. Vickers came in, and Mrs. Walker told i66 Sam Blick's Diary the story to her, so it is in general circulation. This afternoon Walker came home and in about an hour he took Mrs. Walker and her baggage away in his sedan, and no one has seen them since. As far as I can tell, this is about what I expected, as Walker should have known better, though Janet should also have known better than to encourage him; but as it was up to him to make the decision, he is really to blame; but that makes no difference to me, as I told Polly, for it is their business and not ours, and I told her that I didn't care to hear another word about it, which does me no harm, showing that I am above prying into neighbors' affairs and will have nothing more to do with the scandal, if it is a scandal, as we shall soon know. July JJ. Riding down with Walker this morning and he telling me that he is a pretty flat tire, as he supposed I knew, his wife having told him that she had to tell her troubles to some one, and came over to our house and spilled the beans. Walker is a good fellow and, as far as I can see, he was probably led to believe that the girl was crazy about him, when she probably only thought of how she could make out on his $12,000 salary. I finally suggested that some of us in the neigh- borhood ought to write to Mrs. Walker and tell her how we miss her, etc., as maybe that would make her homesick. He grabbed at the straw that broke the camel's back and said he thought July 161 it was a good scheme, and gave her address to me, so as soon as I got to the office I sat down and dictated a long letter to her, explaining that Conrad cried for her and we all missed her and thought she ought to come back to her husband, as was her duty, she having married him with her eyes open. Home in the evening to a good dinner and to hear Louise tell about going to the park with Etta and playing with a lot of other children which is good for them, especially if the children are all right. July 14. Remembering at the breakfast table this mprning what Walker said about the neigh- bors writing to Mrs. Walker, and telling Polly about it. She asked who suggested it, and I took the credit, as was true, whereupon she said that for a man that was through interfering in the neighbors' affairs I was showing a peculiar interest in Mrs. Walker. I said nothing, letting her be- lieve whatever happens to be on her mind, but merely remarking that I saw no harm in trying to reunite a married couple temporarily separated by a little tiff, as you might say. Riding down town with that Jackson girl, who asked me if it was true that Walker had locked his wife out of the house and made life so miserable for her that she had to leave him. I said no, but I did hear that he had poisoned her coffee and set fire to the house at least five times, but she not getting the point, so I explained that I was joking, as 162 Sam Blick's Diary you must be careful what you tell a woman like that, who must have a card index of her gossip to keep her from repeating it to the same people, as otherwise she would lose her clients. July 75. This was a hard day for Polly, as, while Etta and Louise were hunting four-leaf clovers, and Pep was getting a little rest behind the garage, now that Walker's house is closed, Conrad strayed down the street and gave them all a fright until they found him eating gravel in a driveway, and, not knowing how much he had eaten, they sent for the doctor and worried about him and thought he was going to die until the doctor looked him over and asked who was sick. I am sorry that I cannot stay at home and take care of the children, as it should be no trick at all to keep them in sight, but a man has to leave such things to his family. Ellen and Fred up in the evening to sit on our porch. Now that they have been married a month they are beginning to act human again, and I guess, from something Polly said, that they had a little argument over how a grapefruit ought to be .prepared for the table, and Ellen came to Polly for advice, and Polly had to beg off, saying that her husband always said a grapefruit wasn't worth the trouble of eating, as I guess I did once say. July 16. Al Jackson coming into my place to- day grinning all over and saying that the patent he is interested in has turned out to be all that July 163 it promised to be and that he has been offered a carload of money, more or less, for it, and that any time I need a little jack to call on him for it, as he will return past favors. I always knew that Al would hit it right sooner or later, as a man who is always playing some game like that on the side generally manages to make a piece of money in the long run. Al took me out to lunch and said that the fact is that the things look so good that he is going to quit work this fall and get a good machine and take his family for a tour of the West. I suppose he knows what he is doing, all right, but I told him a few things for his own good, saying he would probably have a good deal of tire trouble in the deserts, but I could not shake him in his determination. Telling Polly about it in the evening and she saying that she was glad to hear that Al had nerve enough to break away from his desk and get out and take a look at the world. July 17. Pay day again and I figuring where I stand, and none too well pleased, as, when I count in the Liberty bonds I had to sell on account of having some wedding expenses to meet, I am not much ahead so far this year, but in fact am in the neighborhood of $469 worse off than I was the first of the year, which is not worrying me much, as the money was spent for good purposes and not squandered on some patent or a bale of oil stock. But at the same 164 Sam Blick's Diary time figuring how much I will have to save every week to have plenty of money put by at the end of the year, and figuring that by pinching a little here and there I can come out all right and have the satisfaction of keeping my resolution to save something this year. Taking home candy for Polly, a story book for Louise, and a ball for Conrad, as he must sooner or later learn to play ball. But when I got home the whole family was out in the machine, and I felt pretty blue about it, as when a man comes home after a hard week's work and brings some trinkets for his family, he likes to find some one there, if nobody but Pep. July 18. A hot day and the children fretful and hard to please, so I telling Polly to stay at home and have a minute to herself and I would take them for a ride out to the park where the so- called zoo is, which I did; but as both children and Pep insisted on sitting on the seat beside me, I was cramped and nearly ran over a traffic cop who made me pull into the curb while he bawled me out in front of the children, saying a man my age ought to have more sense than to drive a car with children and dogs on the seat beside him, and I saying that if he had more sense he would be driving a car instead of standing in the middle of the street all day Sunday telling better men how to keep from running into one another. He not getting the point, but giving me a summons to traffic court in the morning, and I saying all July 165 right, I'd be there, as a man should not argue with a cop too long. After I get through telling the judge about the way the cop bawled me out I have an idea there'll be a vacancy on the traffic force. Going for a long ride in the afternoon out in the country, where there are no traffic cops and a man is free to conduct his own affairs in his own way. July ig. Going over to the traffic court to- day and finding myself charged with violating the traffic ordinance and disorderly conduct. The judge asked me what I had to say about it, and I told him it was pretty warm and I guessed I spoke up pretty quickly when the cop stopped me, and probably offended him, which I had no intention of doing, telling the judge just what I said. The cop then telling his side of the story, and I could see that a man who has to stand out there and dodge flivvers eight hours a day must have a pretty hard job. The judge finally dis- missing me, saying that if I ever came into his court again he would throw me in jail. I said nothing, as a man should keep his thoughts to himself once in a while. Deciding not to try to get the cop's job, as for all I know the man has two or three kids at home and cannot afford to be out of a job. In the evening buying a box of cigars and driving out that way, getting there just as the cop was leaving, and giving him the cigars and hauling him down to the station and i66 Sam Blick's Diary finding out that he is all right after you know him. July 20. Home this evening to find a letter from Mrs. Walker which Polly handed to me already opened, the letter saying that she ap- preciated the interest the neighbors took in her affairs and that she was really sorry that the children and Pep missed her so much, and they were having lovely weather at her old home, and a few more remarks like that. But nothing about coming back to her husband. Polly asking me what I had written to Mrs. Walker and I saying little or nothing, except that I told her she had better come back to her husband, as every- body in the neighborhood sided with him and she was losing out. I then saying that I would take the letter over to Walker, as he had probably had no word at all from Janet and would enjoy even a look at a letter from her, but Polly saying that I had made a bad matter worse and to keep away from Walker. I guess maybe she is jealous of Janet, thinking it funny that Janet and I should be writing to each other about domestic affairs and her separation, so I saying nothing, but playing with the children a while. Polly's idea is absurd, of course, but still it wouldn't happen to everybody. July 21. Riding down this morning with Walker in his sedan and asking him how he liked being a bachelor again, but he saying nothing, as July 167 he is not a talkative man, but rather standoffish. Then asking him if his wife was still set on de- serting him, and if so how soon did he intend trying to get a divorce. He saying that it had not occurred to him in that light, and then about what a hot day it was yesterday, which it was, as I have failed to note in this diary, always forgetting to put down the weather every day as a man should, especially if he has fished or gardened much and learned to keep close track of the weather. Conrad is staying up a little later now, as it is too hot for him to go to bed early, and I am getting acquainted with him. He is a husky youngster, weighing thirty-three pounds and looking to me like good material for a ball player, as he throws his ball all the time, trying to get Pep to chase it, which Pep does for a while till he gets tired, when Conrad beats him with a stick. Pep is having a hard time these days, but he can put up with it. July 22. Bob Pence, Polly's brother, dropping in for dinner this evening, saying he was in town to a lodge convention and thought he would come out to the house and ask about the children. I giving Polly the wink and telling Bob that the children are perfect in every way, which is the truth, and then I went ahead and told him that all of our neighbors and friends think they are wonderful children and that we are fortunate in getting them, as it would have been a shame to i68 Sam Blick's Diary leave them down in that hick town where they would have been neglected and probably never would have amounted to anything. Letting him have it with both barrels, so he will go home and tell his relatives that we are proud of the children and that the children should have been kept in Oakcastle. Few people would have taken a chance on bringing up two children as I have done at my age, and it won't do me any harm for that Oakcastle bunch to realize that I showed them up as a lot of pikers, etc. Bob staying all night and I talking all evening about the children, not letting him get in a word. July 23. I guess what I said to Bob last night about the children had some effect, as after I went to work this morning he told Polly that they had had another meeting down at Oak- castle and decided that since all had been con- tributing to the support of Mary and her children before Mary was taken, it would be no more than right that they should contribute to the support of the children now that I have them, saying they would give $10 a month each, or $40 a month for the two children. At first I was tempted to tell Polly to write to them that we are perfectly able to take care of the children and scorn their money, but on second thought deciding that the best thing to do is to take the money and put it in the bank to the credit of the children. By the time they are grown up it will amount to enough July 169 to send them both through college, so I saying all right, as, anyhow, it would probably make Polly's brothers feel mean to think that their brother-in-law is the only one in the family willing to do the right thing by their sister's children, so deciding to take the money. July 24. Dictating a long letter to Bob Pence to-day and telling him that I was glad to learn from Polly that he had seen the error of his ways in not taking the right interest in the welfare of Mary's children, and that since he had reformed I would do what I could to ease his mind and would therefore take the $40 a month for the kids. But also saying to him that the money is nothing to me, as it is the principle I am interested in, and if it will pinch them to spare the $40 a month, not to think of sending it, even though anybody can see that it is the only fair thing to do. I didn't spare him much. Figuring to-day that with this 40 each month for the children I will be able to come out pretty well this year, for although I suppose the money is not really mine, the Pences don't know that I am keeping it for the children, and what they don't know won't hurt me any. Home to play with the children and for a ride in the car, Ellen driving, as she keeps the car at her house a good deal of the time, which is all right with me as long as Fred takes a little care of it. July 25. Remembering when I got up this 170 Sam Blick's Diary morning that this is my birthday, and thinking that no one else remembered it, as there was no necktie at my place at the breakfast table, but after we all went to church and finally had dinner with Fred and Ellen up at our house, Polly sur- prising us all with a big cake, but only ten candles on it, and it was hard to tell whose birthday it was till I spoke up and said it was mine. Enjoy- ing the party, as few things make a man feel better than to have some one remember when his birthday is, especially if they tell him he looks so much younger than he is. For a ride in the afternoon, and in the evening, after the kids were put to bed, tired out and happy after their day of playing and riding, seeing Walker pottering about his little yard and asking him to come over and sit with Polly and me on the porch, which he did, I asking him when Janet was coming back to him and he saying he expected her to-morrow, showing that I must have read his mind, a gift I have when people are troubled with things I know about. July 26. Everything going all right at the office. Noticing to-day that Carder seems to be losing his pep, as I guess probably that Lowder girl he married is sitting at home all day thinking of something for him to do when he gets home in the evening, or reading about some new movie star to tell him about at dinner, which talk no man cares to hear from his wife, but would like July 171 to hear something in praise or at least appreci- ation of his efforts to make ends meet. I'll have to keep an eye on him and see that he does not slump off. He's with us for life, I can see that, as generally happens when a clerk with no special ability or ambition gets married on nothing but his pay. Such men make good workers, as they are generally too scared to take a day off and look for a better job. Carder is probably that kind, as I can tell by looking at him now, al- though I'll admit that I once thought he was a comer and might advance to the head of a department. But even a man like me will some- times make mistakes in judging men. Minnie Lowder has gone to a boarding house, true to her promise to me, but her work has not yet shown the improvement expected. My secretary telling me that the other girls in the office think I have made a special favorite of Minnie because of her good looks, but I have made it a life rule never to consider what other people may think. July 27. Mrs. Walker didn't come yesterday, as expected, having missed her train, but showed up to-day, bringing a Boston terrier almost like Pep along with her, and hardly had the cur landed at her house till he came over in our yard to get an eyeful and got too close to Conrad, which made Pep mad, as it would any respect- able dog, so Pep did the proper thing and got the cur by the neck, and women came running from 172 Sam Blick's Diary all directions and tried to part them, and Mrs. Walker finally did so by putting pepper in Pep's nose, which made him sneeze and let go. When I got home in the evening Louise and Polly and Conrad all tried to tell me about it at the same time, so I finally got the whole story, and found Pep in the cellar without a scratch on him, which was lucky, as otherwise I would have made short work of that Walker woman's mongrel. She coming over in the evening and trying to laugh about it, and asking me what to do for her dog's wound, and I saying that as she put pepper on Pep she might try salt on her dog's wounds, but laughing about it, so as not to offend a guest even though owning a vicious dog. Mrs. Walker say- ing nothing about my part in bringing her back to her husband, perhaps not realizing that Polly knew all about it. July 28. Polly saying this morning at break- fast that maybe we had better keep Pep in the basement for a few days until Mrs. Walker's dog, which is named Caesar, which is an insult to Caesar's memory, I think, gets used to his new home, as he was a gift from her father and she is very proud of him and cried when he was hurt, but I saying that since she brought a savage dog into the neighborhood and he was licked by a better dog, I thought it was up to her to cage him and not up to us to tie our dog in a dark cellar, which Polly presently thought was right. July 173 I suppose this is what I had coming to me after bringing Walker and his wife back together and saving him and her both from the divorce court, as it was none of my business and I should not have interfered. At noon going to a lawyer to find out my rights, and he saying if the dog trespassed on my property to attack my dog I could go as far as I liked, which, as far as I am concerned, is a grave in the dog cemetery for Caesar. Home in the evening to find that Mrs. Walker had a veterinarian for her dog to-day and he is better, but I hope he has learned his lesson. July 29. That Jackson girl riding down on the car with me this morning and saying that she had been to see Ellen and thought I had certainly done the right thing in fixing Ellen's kitchen up with all modern conveniences, as housework and the care of children are the two great drawbacks to marriage, otherwise nearly all girls would be married, and a modern kitchen cuts the house- work in half. I saying that as far as I could see the shortage of men is another drawback to some marriages, and she saying it wasn't the quantity, but the quality, which reminded me that I intend to find a husband for her but haven't got around to it yet. Home in the evening and sur- prised to find Mrs. Walker and her dog both over in our yard playing with Etta and the children and Polly and Ellen acting as if they had been i74 Sam Blick's Diary playing, too. Pep must have made up his mind that it will do no good to kill Caesar, and if he cares to associate with him it will be all right with me. Looking Caesar over and finding that he is not much hurt and is only a pup, probably knowing no better than to jump Pep. July jo. All down to Ellen's house this eve- ning for dinner, and I must say that she certainly did well. She has her bungalow fixed up as snug as a nest, and with everything bright and shining she could not ask for a better start in life. Polly and I going all over the house again. Every- thing is perfect. The washing machine and ironer have been moved to the basement, where the tubs are, and both show that Fred has seen to it that Ellen takes good care of them. The way Ellen has her kitchen cabinet, range, electric dish- washer, and refrigerator arranged could not be improved upon. She hardly has to move out of her tracks to get what she needs. The more I think of it the more I think I did the right thing in sparing no expense in furnishing her kitchen, as housework is one of a girl's burdens when she gets married, and it will do me no harm to have people say that I was thoughtful and con- siderate, providing just what was needed in the kitchen. The dining room, living room, hall and two bedrooms are pretty. Polly and I saying on the way home that Ellen should be happy, especially in her kitchen. July 175 July 31. Riding down with Walker and he looking ten years younger since I persuaded his wife to come back and live with him, as she should do, as he is all right, the mere fact that a man is a few years older than his wife making no difference one way or the other if both are determined to make a success of marriage, as I have done, always making allowances for Polly's opinions and getting my own breakfast nearly every morning before we got hold of Louise and Conrad, who naturally get up early and get us up at the same time, which is all right, as early to bed and early to work is a good motto to impress upon children while they are yet young. Asking Walker if his wife expected to stay with him, and he saying she appears to be very happy, so I saying no more about it, as in such cases a man should use some tact, Walker probably being sensitive about being deserted and thinking that the neighbors are all talking about him, which they are. Pay day and putting money in the bank, in my economical way, then home with little presents for all and to spend the evening smoking my pipe on the porch. August Aug. i. Up early this morning, a good habit about which there is no choice, as Conrad wakes up and demands food and his playthings, of which he now has a small basketful, mostly balls which I have brought home to him, being very thoughtful in that respect. Grinding the valves on my car, and while trying it out, along came a flivver full of young people with a girl in front learning to drive, and a young fellow teaching her. She started toward me and he grabbed the wheel, and although I climbed the curb trying to get out of their way, I hit the flivver a glancing blow and turned it over on its side and smashed a front wheel and fender on my bus. The young fellow admitted that it was his fault and the cop arrested him for driving on the wrong side of the street. Nobody was hurt, but we were knocked out of a ride to-day, which is all right, as it rained and the young fellow said he would arrange with any garage I named to have my car put back in the best of condition, so I will lose nothing by the accident, but will go to court and tell the judge that it was an accident. 176 August 177 Aug. 2. Down to police court this morning where the traffic judge tried to make me say that the young fellow, Beecher by name, was guilty of about six violations of the traffic ordinances, but I saying he was a good fellow and all right, so they let him go. Trying to find him after court, but seeing nothing of him. Thinking to-day that maybe I should have made that letter to Bob Pence a little stronger, as he is likely to get the idea that I will be sore if he sends money to me for the support of the children. It would be like him, as he can hold on to a nickel as long as any man I know. Home to find all well. Pep and Caesar romping on our lawn, and Pep getting rough and I giving him smack, as an older dog should not abuse a puppy that way, a smart young puppy like Caesar, who looks to me as if he would grow up to be a fine dog. Beecher came to my house this evening in his flivver, which looks as good as new, and took me to the garage and arranged to have my bus fixed up, which is all right, as I didn't really think that he gave me the slip this morning, for judg- ing people is one of my strong points. dug- 3- When I got home this evening I found a letter from Bob Pence inclosing a check for $40, showing that they got together down at Oakcastle and did the right thing, as I knew they would if they got the point in my letter that I thought they were a lot of pikers, and it would 178 Sam Blick's Diary make no difference to me one way or the other what they did. Polly asking how we had better spend the money, and I saying by putting it away where the kids could make some use of it when they grow up. Explaining my plan to her and she agreeing that it was all right and asking how we would invest the money, showing how her mind runs, as if there is enough yet to invest except to put it away, but saying nothing to her about it except that we'd wait and see, as it does no good to make my wife think that I have a poor opinion of her financial ability. Talking with Mrs. Walker in the front yard this evening and asking her if she and her husband are getting along all right now, and she saying nothing, but talking about her dog, which may not show that things at their house are not all right, but I too tactful to pursue the matter and not interested in other people's private affairs. Aug. 4.. Riding down on the car this morning with Al Jackson and he telling me that he has closed his deal and is now fixed for life and has bought a car and intends to start pretty soon for a trip through the West. He was certainly lucky to have got in on that deal, and luck is the word, as when he went into it any level-headed business man would have stayed out, as I told him when he came to me about it. As I see it now, he didn't tell me all that he knew about the deal, but merely mentioned it to me so as to square August 179 himself for a little favor or two that I had done for him. Asking if he intended to take the whole family, and he said that he did and would stay all winter. This relieving my mind some, as I intended to get a husband for Beatrice as soon as I got around to it, but if she gets out West where no one knows her she will probably land a man on the strength of her money. Saying nothing to Al about this, as he is probably sensitive about that subject, and I don't care to say anything that might mar the pleasure of his trip, if he gets any pleasure out of it. Aug. 5. The garage man calling me up to-day and saying my car is ready and asking about the young fellow who promised to settle the bill, so I trying to find Beecher and getting no trace of him by telephone till about noon, when he came to see me, saying he was broke and couldn't pay the bill without raising money on his flivver. I said that if he could get his flivver fixed he could get my car fixed, and that he had made terms with the garage man and would have to fight it out with him. Telephoning for the garage man, who came down and said the bill was $47 and Beecher would pay it or go to jail, so the young fellow pulled out a $50 bill and asked for change, showing what a four-flusher some of these young upstarts can be. Out to get my car, and the garage man told me Beecher is a bootlegger making $20,000 a year, so I sorry I i8o Sam Blick's Diary was so hard on him, as it might come in handy to be in right with a bootlegger. The car runs like a new watch, only a little louder, and I would not trade it for a good many new ones I see this year, owned mostly by people that think paint makes a car, and know nothing about the inside of the thing. Aug. 6. Home this evening to take Conrad for a ride in a little wagon that I got for him and Louise, and which they enjoy more than the bus, showing that people who say they can't have a car, but stretch a point for the benefit of their kids, are not around their kids long enough to find out what a kid really likes in the way of a wheeled vehicle. Conrad is doing pretty well now as a talker, but it is hard yet to tell whether he will talk English or Chinese, although Louise can understand every word he says. While I was pulling him in the wagon he cried, and I found out that he was a good sport and would like to try to pull me in the wagon, which, being a strong wagon, would stand the weight, so I sitting in the wagon to humor him and letting him try to pull it while I pushed it along with my foot, and an old lady coming along and bawling me out for a heartless brute, to make a child like that pull a grown man. I saying nothing, but putting Conrad back in the wagon and bringing him home, as the woman was probably cracked and a man should use some judgment in such cases. August 181 Aug. 7. Some talk at lunch about fishing and this reminding me that I'll get no fishing this year on account of having to do my share toward staying home with the kids, as it would be too much trouble to take them along on a fishing trip this year, but might be all right next year when they are a little older. Talking to Polly about it this evening, merely saying it was the first time in several years I had not had a vacation, and not making any complaint, as a man should use tact in such cases and not give the impression that his wife and children are holding his nose to the grindstone to the danger of his health. She saying she had a plan in mind, but I saying nothing, as I am resigned to my fate and will stay at home and let men go fishing who have not taken on new family responsibilities late in life, but have settled back to the selfish en- joyment of every minute of their time. Getting out my fishing tackle and going over it, as a man should keep his tackle in condition, even if he feels that he ought to stay at home on account of doing something for his wife's relatives, as a responsible business man should do. Aug. 8. Working on the car this morning and figuring that a man who takes care of his own car spends enough time on it to make him a millionaire if he used the time thinking up ways to make money, and figuring that a good many cars are sold to men who want some excuse for 182 Sam Blick's Diary having a piece of machinery to tinker with. All to church and Ellen and Fred at our house for dinner, and after dinner all for a spin in the bus and having a good time except that Conrad couldn't get along with Pep in the front of the car and we had a dispute as to which should ride in the front and which should ride in the back which reminded me that I was going to train Pep to ride on the running board, so putting him out there and driving slowly. Everything went all right till we passed a cat on the sidewalk, when he made a jump for it and rolled over two or three times, giving the cat time to climb a tree. I will not have my dog abused like that, so mak- ing Conrad ride in the back with Ellen and Louise and Fred, and letting Pep in the front and pay- ing no attention to what they said about a dog's life, if that is their idea of humor. Aug. 9. Getting the surprise of my life this evening when I got home to dinner, as Polly showed me a letter from Bob Pence and his wife inviting Polly and the kids to come down to Oakcastle next Sunday and stay for two weeks. They say they are eager to see Polly and to have the kids visit around among their relatives down there, and I suppose that it is best for the kids that they keep in touch with their old home. This lets me in for a fishing trip and I will make all plans right away. Planning that I will take Polly and the kids and Pep down in the machine August 183 next Sunday and leave all there, and come home and then start out Monday for some fishing. Thinking it over and deciding that I will not go to a wild lake, but will go where there is a com- fortable hotel and I can take things easy when it is too hot to fish. This suits me all right, as it will do me no harm to say at the office that I have sent my family to one place for a vacation and am going to another myself, showing that we have various places to go and do not favor tagging after each other to spoil a fishing trip. Pep will be in good hands and no cause for worry. Aug. 10. Speaking to the chief to-day about my vacation and he saying all right, but failing to say anything about how hard it will be to get along at the office for two weeks without me. Home in the evening to help Polly get ready for her visit. Going over my tackle and finding that I will have to buy a few little things, including a pair of scales, as the ones I have are not right, making a two-pound fish weigh about half a pound. Now that the tackle is in shape, all ready for a vacation, except a place to go. Aug. II. Speaking to-day to that $3<>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