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Literary
September 5, 1918
Perth Amboy Evening News
Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
A young married woman, overwhelmed by emotions from her husband Bob's departure with recruits, a friend's glance, and worries about Jim, cries on a bench. She confides in Jimmy-boy, faints, and awakens to learn from Dr. Masters that she's pregnant, delighting Bob's mother.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Lately, when I'm sorry or very glad—it doesn't make any difference which—I cry. Both emotions have crammed today. In the dusk of the evening I slipped away to my favorite bench under the pines, distractedly glad to find a sufficient reason for Bob's mood when he left, excited still over the departure of the recruits, troubled enough by Tony Curt's too intimate glance, and worried to the depths of my soul because there did not appear to be any way of "shaping" Jim's affairs as I had so valiantly demanded in the morning.
I was sobbing softly to myself when Jimmy-boy dropped onto the bench beside me. He came I knew, to talk about the Thomas girl.
Jimmie is a kind and tender creature, and has impersonally chivalrous as Certeis is selfishly so. Now I dropped my head on Jim's olive drab shoulder and shed my ready tears. It was a handy moment to be as weak as I felt I needed to be and I must have made the most of it for presently Jimmie was pleading.
"Aw, cut it out, Sissy, can't you? A man can't stand a whole lot of that you know!"
"But Jimmie-boy," I wailed, "this is the first chance I've had to lean on a strong arm since Bob left."
"Make the most of it, if you've got to," he murmured resignedly. "But what's come over you? Usually you're too independent. What's making you woozy all of a sudden?"
"Getting married did it," I said defiantly, as if he, being male and doubtless conscripted for matrimony, must be largely responsible for its defects. "If I had stayed an old maid I could always have kept my poise."
"Poor Sissy! You're such a little kid, too. Not twenty-two yet, a year older than I am. I guess we soldier boys don't always think as much as we might about the tears we leave behind us."
"It's well for you that you don't. And any girl who lets you know is a selfish, silly, miserable sinner."
I sat up suddenly and stiffly self-reliant. Chrys says it's just as easy to make your mind reflect your body as to let your body express your mind.
"There now I wouldn't weep again. Lend me your handkerchief, Jim."
As Chrys' emotions never get beyond her control, her theory may work for her, but I disproved it for myself. I felt suddenly as if I were floating out into a nice cool black night where I could sleep forever and ever.
When the light came back after my faint, I found myself in bed. Bob's mother was sitting by my side. Benjie named her "precious old thing" he got the slang in Canada and she loves to have us call her by the queer English phrase.
She said she had sent for Dr. Masters, and she held my hand while the doctor asked me a lot of questions no physician ever put to me before. Then he discussed my condition in plain words.
After he had gone, dear Mother Lorimer kissed me on the right cheek saying, "This for a little grandson," and then she kissed me on the left cheek with "Or this for a baby grand-daughter. Oh, if only we could see Bob when he gets the news!"
I was sobbing softly to myself when Jimmy-boy dropped onto the bench beside me. He came I knew, to talk about the Thomas girl.
Jimmie is a kind and tender creature, and has impersonally chivalrous as Certeis is selfishly so. Now I dropped my head on Jim's olive drab shoulder and shed my ready tears. It was a handy moment to be as weak as I felt I needed to be and I must have made the most of it for presently Jimmie was pleading.
"Aw, cut it out, Sissy, can't you? A man can't stand a whole lot of that you know!"
"But Jimmie-boy," I wailed, "this is the first chance I've had to lean on a strong arm since Bob left."
"Make the most of it, if you've got to," he murmured resignedly. "But what's come over you? Usually you're too independent. What's making you woozy all of a sudden?"
"Getting married did it," I said defiantly, as if he, being male and doubtless conscripted for matrimony, must be largely responsible for its defects. "If I had stayed an old maid I could always have kept my poise."
"Poor Sissy! You're such a little kid, too. Not twenty-two yet, a year older than I am. I guess we soldier boys don't always think as much as we might about the tears we leave behind us."
"It's well for you that you don't. And any girl who lets you know is a selfish, silly, miserable sinner."
I sat up suddenly and stiffly self-reliant. Chrys says it's just as easy to make your mind reflect your body as to let your body express your mind.
"There now I wouldn't weep again. Lend me your handkerchief, Jim."
As Chrys' emotions never get beyond her control, her theory may work for her, but I disproved it for myself. I felt suddenly as if I were floating out into a nice cool black night where I could sleep forever and ever.
When the light came back after my faint, I found myself in bed. Bob's mother was sitting by my side. Benjie named her "precious old thing" he got the slang in Canada and she loves to have us call her by the queer English phrase.
She said she had sent for Dr. Masters, and she held my hand while the doctor asked me a lot of questions no physician ever put to me before. Then he discussed my condition in plain words.
After he had gone, dear Mother Lorimer kissed me on the right cheek saying, "This for a little grandson," and then she kissed me on the left cheek with "Or this for a baby grand-daughter. Oh, if only we could see Bob when he gets the news!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Prose Fiction
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
War Peace
Love Romance
What keywords are associated?
Emotional Turmoil
Soldier Departure
Marriage Effects
Fainting Episode
Pregnancy Revelation
Literary Details
Key Lines
"Aw, Cut It Out, Sissy, Can't You? A Man Can't Stand A Whole Lot Of That You Know!"
"Getting Married Did It," I Said Defiantly...
"Poor Sissy! You're Such A Little Kid, Too. Not Twenty Two Yet, A Year Older Than I Am. I Guess We Soldier Boys Don't Always Think As Much As We Might About The Tears We Leave Behind Us."
Dear Mother Lorimer Kissed Me On The Right Cheek Saying, "This For A Little Grandson," And Then She Kissed Me On The Left Cheek With "Or This For A Baby Grand Daughter. Oh, If Only We Could See Bob When He Gets The News!"