41 Lure O Gold 1904

"
"
"
In the
Steerage
to study the rogues.
The Alaskan Moon. That
ought to be a bright subject for a poem."
Well, sir,"
said the poet, addressing the Doctor in
very humble tones. "If you will excuse the faulty
rhymes. You know I just dashed off this little piece
and haven t taken time to fix it
up as it should be."
He read the verses. There was a long string of
them, and to me they were very tiresome; but the Doc
tor did not seem to be bored. In fact, he commented
on the sentiment quite pleasantly.
"
Ain t that all right asked ?"
the pink-faced man,
addressing the Doctor, whose smile of encouragement
seemed to reassure him.
Why, the idea is good," replied the Doctor, good-
"
naturedly. I m not saying anything about the poetry,
mind you, for I m no judge of that. But the idea of
the moon getting its cold glitter
from the northern ice
fields is
all right."
"
I thought it was pretty said the fair,"
poet, proudly,
"though not as good as some I ve written. I m glad
you like it. Appreciation is what a poet needs, you
know. Many a poet has suffered for the want of it."
"
That s so,"
said the Doctor, with a side glance at me.
"
That s so.
And it s true of a good many other things
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