Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 131, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1910 — Abbie Ben Adhem. [ARTICLE]

Abbie Ben Adhem.

Abble Ben Adhem (pretty as you please, And dressed as neatly as one ever sees), One day was absent when her- friends began To turn such absent ones beneath their scan. “She paints!” Vowed one, and sadly shook her head. “She flirts!” another with a Bhudder said. I ve heard that so and so and so and so,” a third Declared, and all cried: “Well, upon my word! ”

And so in half an hour poor Abbie’s fame As well as reputation and once honored name Were torn to tatters, and her friends declared She was the sort by whom fool men were snared, And that if they were she they’d hav* more pride Than to give cause for rumors unde* . . _ nied. -■ —-

!n fact, they came to the conclusion then,' That Miss Ben Adhem should not he again Held in their friendship as she once had been, But that she should be spurned with glances keen. And that-while some reports might not be true, Of course, “a person never really knew!”

The next day these same friends met to compile __ A list of those who should be asked to while Away an afternoon at tea and whist, And each one then prepared her lengthy list, Suggesting who to ask and who to snub— For It. you see, was an exclusive club.

And who, think you, was most important guest? Lo, Miss Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest. —Wilbur D. Nesbit, in Life.