Suzanna Stirs the Fire

nth he had this half-day vacation from the hardware store. True, to make up he returned to work in the evening after supper, and rema

n. He went at once to the dining-room. Suzanna and Maizie,

s chopped up for lunch," an

tiniest drop of cream for

dress on, too," Maizie a

high spirit. His step was light, he held his head high; his eyes, too, were full of

t his wife and the subtle understanding went around the board that it was ridiculous for father, the great man, to waste his time selling a scythe t

pushed back their chairs and stood in a litt

ou. But don't let me keep you from your work, or your play. Ball for you, I suppose, Peter, since it is Sat

Let father have his jok

s. The children listened till they heard

quest read a chapter from it aloud, while Peter

of your own, Suzanna," said Maiz

id Suzanna. "Today is father's day, and I

hing, isn't it, Suzanna?" s

er," said Suzanna solemnly. "Father was made to do that work,

rld?" asked Maizie, "

his appearance: "Peter, take your tie out of your mouth. Father may ca

from between his teeth, and jus

may come up and

ding vigorously. She looked up at Suzanna's message and replied: "You children run up

Father was standing close to The Machine; he turned as they appeared,

stored treasures of former days. It stood consecrated to a great endeavor. The children knew that, and instin

ts from out the shadows. Above The Machine rose a nickel-plated flexible arm, at the end of which hung a sort of helmet. Some distance back of the arm, and exten

teries. He shut the door, walked around to the front of the cabinet and opened another and smaller door. Here the children, follow

ws. The filmed glass plate above the cabinet alo

uzanna,

directly before the cabinet, drew the flexible arm till the helmet rested perhaps four inches above the ch

id in a tense whisper, and Suz

held a gleam and a prayer. Another space, and then very slowly a shadowy line of color played upon the

ly a line of rich deep purple touched with gold. It r

er gaze from the color registered, turned to her father. She saw, with a leap of the heart, that his eyes were

What does it mean, daddy

er ran to the stairs outside.

come,

te in his voice. She was stirring batter for a cake,

as she reached him. His eyes, half fri

ok her hand and led her to The Mac

ve worked and worked, died a thousand deaths of despair, and been resurrected to hope. This after

ll these years!" She lifted he

s question, to which befor

color mean, d

r means great versatility; purple m

smiling a little, reduced the explanation t

containing many pages. This he placed upon a small table, and the ch

ome in squares alone, some merging into others like a disjointed rainbow. Above each block, or merged block, were writings, in

he possibilities of ultimate success, I have said nothing

nslate itself in purple to me; a pale one in blue. It was out of that spiritual sight that I built my theory of color. It took me years, but

rushed to Mrs. Procter's lips; but she could not voice one, she could not quench his uplifted express

machine, then to build it, and now-" He covered his face with his hands. Su

children. To read men's meanings, the purposes f

this was the greatest service. With him they rose on the wings of creative imagination. Desire ran deep in each small heart to do something for the benefit of man. Not money, not p

ke: "How does The Machine

nsitized plates; this helmet, too, is highly sensitized." He paused and then laughed at himself as he saw the mystified expressions of his

f her. The plate remained for a moment clear, then slowly there grew a feather of color. Smoke c

ed down. "As I knew," he said. Then closing the book and turning to his small daughter, he went on: "My little Maizie will some d

so I'll do good too, just like you

ghter," he answered, with exqu

yed, looked up

ave a color, too,

r. Take yo

r di

y bronze. In the dim light it waved

time our little boy Peter

walk across, daddy?" P

lk across, and a big engine p

y upon the machine as though it were alive, and indeed so it seemed to be, for in

he cried. "And then it will b

head appeared, then a body, then a h

nventor, though his idealism gave out in totally different directions. He read all sorts of books, but reacted to them with originality. His imagination only grasped their meanings, not his intellect. He worked in another town, several miles from Anchorville, in a large chair

wrath of the town's richest man, old John Massey, owner of the Massey Steel Mills. Twice Mr. Massey had threatened the eloquent and fearless orator with arrest, and

Reynolds, "and I must see the machine." He

been trying it

ize it may not always work as it did today. Indeed, the co

it every day since you told me of it. When I see men in the factory working at jobs they fair hate, because they and theirs need bread-

their light. "That's it,

a gaze of perfect faith. "A big purposeful idea like yours, that's going to make humanity hap

couragement fell

ll wait here a little while. The baby's still aslee

on the table. Then she lit the side lamp; it cast a soft gl

the children, little seed cakes, thin bread and butter,

es for the success of the machine and its effect upon humanity, gazed at the invention. The sense of a community of interest filled them. They

anna to Maizie, "as tho

ther is a fine, good man with no thought at all of himself, and some day," finished Mr. R

children were glad that Mr.