B. M. Bower

“ No wonder the drum-head collection in the open air sounded like the popping of corn before a winter fire. The Long Kid peered over the head of a short man and speculated upon the size of the offering.
“I’ll betcher they’s a good five dollars on that drum right now, Deekin,” he observed plaintively. “They’s ten of ‘em, not countin’ the head guys—fourteen all told. That makes—lemme see. Fourteen into fifty—three an’ eight t’ carry—thirty-five cents apiece right there in sight an’ more a-comin’. An’ they’ll git more inside. An’ nothin’ t’ do but march a few blocks an’ sing an’ holler. ”

“ BY B. M. BOWER
“Gee, look at that, would yuh, Deekin! An’ us don’t know the color uh good money no more.”
The Long Kid spat angrily into the gutter while nickels, dimes and even “two-bit-pieces” continued to rattle spasmodically upon the big drum.
The Salvation Army was enjoying a most successful “Go,” with the major and a staff-captain and the Jones sisters all visiting the corps at the same time. The Jones sisters could sing the tears from the hearts to the cheeks of the most hardened sinners, and the major could lift the curtain and bring them face to face with their better selves. ”

“ Yuh ain't above usin’ variety tunes, I notice. An’ yuh clap yer han’s and rattle yer tambourines an’ stomp yer feet an’ holler an’ manage t’ kick up more racket than all the varieties put t’gether. An’ if I ain’t seen the lootenant here a-waltzin’ across the platform when he got right warmed up t’ a good dance tune, then I don't know a waltz from a funeral march!"
Here Allie Burns laid a hand entreatingly upon his arm and the Kid gulped down the torrent of angry words and subsided.
“Brother, I have long feared that you were not fully saved. What you need is a change of heart. Let us pray.” ”

“ I bet they don’t go empty, an’ they sure look as if they was enjoyin’ theirselves. Gee! There's a peach of a girl standin’ behind that fat, four-eyed feller. Wait till he gits t’ steppin’ around earnest agin, an’ you kin see her. ”