LUCKY BEGGARS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 21 June 1926, Page 7

LUCKY BEGGARS

(By, Kathleen O’Brien, in the Daily Chronicle) ' The poor hoy, digging in his father’s; little patch of garden, watched the farmer go by -n his pony trap. “How happy the farmer must he!” sighed the poor boy, leaning oh his spade, “lie lias one of the prettiest houses in the neighbourhood, a lino horse to ride, and that dear little pony and trap. I expect he can buy a new suit of clothes whenever he waves one. while I have to cut my father’s old clothes down for me. And he can have a good meal at least once a day, while I am often hungry when I go to bed. Lucky beggar!” The farmer sitting in his pony trap I near the market place, saw the squire’s son standing beside his new motor car. “How happy the squire’s son must he!” sighed tiie farmer, “he is Young, good-looking, well oft’, and has been to the university, 1 where he will spend a lot of his time in lown, where, there is' such pleasure brilliance .and gaiety as we country people never get a glimpse, of. And he will go abroad, too. and get to krio v the wot id; while I shall probably spend and end my days in the same 'ittle village where I began them. And now bed,as a fine new car all his own. I had meant to have one myself ibis year, blit things have gone badly, and now I shall have to put it off agaiii. I wish I had had his -chances when I was his age. Lucky beggar:” The squire’s son sitting in. the dress circle on the first night of the new play to which all London had eagerly looked forward, listened to the, storm o‘ applause that greeted the young playwright- as he came forward, when the piaVwas over, to make liis speech. “How happy- the young playwright must he!” sigo-d the squire’s son. “he has four other plays already running in London, and is easily the most-talk-ed-of man in town. How splendid to he so brilliant, witty and popular! I suppose. I inn . better-looking, than lie is. But looks count for precious little without something to back them; and T am a dull fellow for all they tried to cram into me at Cambridge. People are quickly bored by my society.'Lord. I would give my good looks, and my new ear. and even my footer Bluo, to b.e as brilliant and popular as the young playwright. Lucky,beggar! ” ’The young playwright, leaning his elbow on the ’.uantlepiece of his study, aiul his forehead on his hand, watched the embers dying in the grate. He had not switched on the light when he returned from the theatre, and the red glow from the fire in the dark room was reflected in the plain, sensitive face that brooded over it. “How happy that ass Lord Suminernoodle must be!” sighed the young playwright, “and wliat virtue there is in n title! Like Charity, it. covers a multitude of ineompeteneies. I should say he’s about as exciting as a hurdygurdy on a wet Monday. Yet Loretta lias "thrown me over for' him. Loretta of the lily face. Loretta of the Madonna brows. Loretta . . . Telia! Loretta with the soul of -a gimlet. Heavens, her white beauty to-night in the part of Jessamine! So innocent, so fragile . .. icy-hearted, little devil. Oh, she loves me all right—she admitted that—but what would you, mon cher? One does not get a part like Lady Summernoodle every day in the week. T saw him in the box while T was making my speech to all those cheering boobies, and 1 thought, my boy, I’d giro my brains, wit and brilliance for your title without the smallest hesitation.

and take on your pimply, mug into tlm bargain. Lucky beggar!” ' t i Lord gummernoodle watched drift uncle, the Duke of Squandermefe, talking to a ‘prominent member of the / Cabinet. ’ " ; : ‘ , ■ --“How."'happy Uncle Squandermere ; must .bed” sighed Lord Sunimernoodle. “He has such personality, such pre-' sence; he carries everything before him. Now/ I am shy and awkward, and aw- i Hilly frightened of important people, like the Cabinet Minister he is talking / to. I know I shall be under Loretta’s' thumb when we are married, and shan’t he able to call my soul my own; and she won’t like me any the better for it. I’m not such a fool that I don’t know she’s only marrying me for my title. If I had Uncle Spuandcrmere’s personality I could tell Loretta to heel wuth tho flicker of an eyelash, and she’d adore me for it. Lucky beggar!” , The Duke of Squandermere watched the poor boy digging in Iris father’s little patch of garden. J - ../ “How happy that poor hoy must be!” sighed the Duke of Squendermere, “lie has- no worries, burdens .or responsibilities. His life .is a round of: simple contentment. Whereas I- have that little matter of the Quong-Pong Jong Rubber Company on my mind .- ;-. five years’ hard if I’m found: out, and . T have an uneasy feeling that a Cabinet | Minister has got wind of 'it . ,

Position, wealth.- personality! I would give all these in return for that poor' boy’s peace of mind. Lucky, beggar!”