Shoes

           JohnDeGraffenreidAtwoodateofthelotus,root,stem,andflower.Thetropicsgobbledhimup.Heplungedenthusiasticallyintohiswork,whichwastotrytoforgetRosine.

           Now,theywhodineonthelotusrarelyconsumeitplain.Thereisasauceaudiablethatgoeswithit;andthedistillersarethechefswhoprepareit.AndonJohnny’smenucarditread"brandy."Withabottlebetweenthem,heandBillyKeoghwouldsitontheporchofthelittleconsulateatnightandroaroutgreat,indecoroussongs,untilthenatives,slippinghastilypast,wouldshrugashoulderandmutterthingstothemselvesaboutthe"Americanosdiablos."

           OnedayJohnny’smozobroughtthemailanddumpeditonthetable.Johnnyleanedfromhishammock,andfingeredthefourorfivelettersdejectedly.Keoghwassittingontheedgeofthetablechoppinglazilywithapaperknifeatthelegsofacentipedethatwascrawlingamongthestationery.Johnnywasinthatphaseoflotus-eatingwhenalltheworldtastesbitterinone’smouth.

           "Sameoldthing!"hecomplained."Foolpeoplewritingforinformationaboutthecountry.Theywanttoknowallaboutraisingfruit,andhowtomakeafortunewithoutwork.Halfof’emdon’tevensendstampsforareply.Theythinkaconsulhasn’tanythingtodobutwriteletters.Slitthoseenvelopesforme,oldman,andseewhattheywant.I’mfeelingtoorockytomove."