" Then, for the first time recognizing the
existence of the parents, the President said: "And I don't know but if
they did pick me off I'd be pretty well ahead of the game."
Just in that moment only did the boy-knowing President get a single
inch above the boy-interest. It was astonishing to see the natural
accuracy with which the man gauged the boy-level.
"Now, how would you like to see a bear, Curtis?" came next, "I know
where there's a beauty, twelve hundred pounds."
"Must be some bear!" interjected the boy.
"That's what it is," put in the President. "Regular cinnamon-brown
type"--and then off went the talk to the big bear at the Washington
"Zoo" where the President was to send the boy.
Then, after a little; "Now, Curtis, see those men over there in that
room. They've travelled from all parts of the country to come here at
my invitation, and I've got to make a little speech to them, and I'll
do that while you go off to see the bear."
And then the hand came forth to say good-by. The boy put his in it,
each looked into the other's face, and on neither was there a place big
enough to put a ten-cent piece that was not wreathed in smiles.
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