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Show Fable on (4Wky Old Hippo Came Back to the Natiooal Game' PLAYING blamed good baseba.li, season sea-son after season, there was a Burly old Hippo wfrio knew the Game, and, through that Knowledge, hung on to the Payroll long after he should h?..ve been Retired for Weight and Age. WTtcn the Pitchers shook and wobbled, and the Game was evidentiv going to the Demni-tion Demni-tion Bow-wows, the Agile young Back, stops would doff the Mask and Pad. and this Huge Relic of the Mesozoic Age would sally Forth to take up the Burden. Bur-den. But as file Years went by. the Elenhant grew weary of the Tumult and the Shouting. Shout-ing. He had plenty of the Coin, and Some left over. So he retired to the seclusion of a Quiet Farm, and Raised Asparagus, and Bragged about the Rutabagas that filled the .Southwest comer of his "Last Kighty, and Forgot Baseball Totally and entirely. One Night he had rounded up I he Cows, wound up the Cat, and Put out tile CIoch, v.hen there came a Telegram from his Old Manager, informing him that the old Club needed him. and to please take t he first Train to the' big City. Mostly from force of Ancient Habit, ho hopped tile Rattler, hurried to the Burg, and was met by the Old Manager with a Frantic Flea to again Assume the mask and Mitten. ".Vothing Doing," was the Rigid answer of the Portly Veteran. "But your old Ballclub needs You," pleaded the Manager. "I hov-e retired, and I wouldn't, play bail again for Twice the Money, " negatiyed the Ancient Catcher. "Now. listen." Quoth the Manager, with Emphasis and Feeling. "If you'll play ball this Summer, it will release a J-trong young man who can go to War and help his Country' ' "Whv in Hell didn't you :5ay So In the irt Place?" ron rod tbe Bulky Cafcher. "rVncre is the Mask and who Htole mv Oi(i f'Jlove. an how?" From FasebalJ Magazine. |