37
“COLORS OF LIFE”
I N A big wicked city nearly down town where traffic and
human life was jamming and jagging fast and slowly along,
one hot summer day around three in the afternoon there
came walking along the street nearly down town a couple,
husband and wife, who were one and close to three score
years, nearly life’s average end. The woman carried in her
hands an open parasol and a book, the man a hard thumping
cane and a book. They trudged along slowly, these two who
were but one, and came to where two busy streets met and double
crossed. To the end of the walk they went, then into the street
stepped both. Turning around the man removes his hat. With
the open book in his hands, full uplifted eyes dimming unto the
blue sky, his silent thoughts were thought. Closing the book,
the woman opened hers and started to sing and they not being
much noticed until then. Those in hearing distance heard her
voice, some stopped, others looked and others kept on their fast
and slow way. A wonderful mellow voice was being heard.
Some came closer, while others drew closer into a crowd draw
ing others.
With her mellow voice she drew life and the different grades
of life into a big crowd of life mostly sham. In a big wicked
city nearly down town where traffic and human life was jam
ming and jagging fast and slowly along.
She stopped singing and spoke to them about the good and
bad ways of us all and telling how to make good better and bad
less. She told things about herself, how she found the right way
and of a girl of her’s who had gone wrong to the bad.
Some sordid ones in the crowd sizzled evil reflections on her
body and soul, and others said kind and good things of and about
her. She knew, even heard such things said while she was busy
talking to the good and bad of life’s life.
Then again her wonderful voice started singing. Few left
and more came into the crowd of life, every one a different world
of life. She stops singing. Then the man limped forward and
told of a wayward boy of his hell-bound. They changed back
and forth speaking and singing to changing odd life of odd life.
Meantime, in a big wicked city nearly down town where traffic
and human life was jamming and jagging fast and slowly along,
street cars passing by fast and slow carrying human life, a crowd
and from them some looked and some others jumped off. Some
in the cars laughed, made fun and idle remarks and some drivers
stopped their dumb beasts, looked and listened. They also said
something, and automobiles stopped, the occupants had their say
then would go on to life’s acts.