His First Girl

• 1909
• Other

The story opens in a skating rink, where Belle, a young girl of 16 or 17 years, has just finished skating. She stops to chat with a girl chum, when Fred, a lad of 18, comes up and is introduced to Belle. He is at once smitten, and, as both live in the same direction, he sees the girl safely on the car. They part at the corner. Fred is invited to call the next evening and starts for home supremely happy. On the following evening he dresses with more than usual care, and, leaving his room, feels in his pockets to find that he has but five cents. He goes to the sitting room, where the rest of the family are seated about, strikes first his father, then mother and finally his brother for some change, but in each instance meets with refusal. Little sister comes to the rescue with a quarter, and, as Fred starts out, the father gives him instructions to be home by 10 o'clock. At the young girl's home we find her putting the parlor to rights and preparing for the caller. He arrives on schedule time, is introduced to Belle's family, and is getting along famously when George, a boy of his own age and an old friend of the family, appears. He gives the little sister a quarter, and Fred, in order to keep his end up, does the same, and parts with his last bit of money. Belle shows plainly that she prefers Fred, but just the same he is jealous of George and wishes him most anywhere else. Ten o'clock arrives, the young lady's father gives orders for them to leave. The two boys go out together, and, on the steps, almost come to blows. They start off in opposite directions. Fred rushes to get a car, when, of a sudden, he remembers that he has no money and must walk the three miles home. On the way he is almost scared to death several times, reaches home at last and finds the door locked. As he climbs up the front porch, he is set upon by a policeman, but, when the mistake is discovered, the cop lends him a hand, Fred gets to the roof and crawls through the window. In his room the boy takes Belle's photo from his pocket, gazes lovingly at it, gets a good looking-glass and finds his moustache sprouting nicely and retires, feeling pretty well satisfied with himself.