The Census Taker
Published Jan 01, 1900
The doorbell rang and the little girl ran to open the door. In the doorway stood a man with a clipboard. He explained he was from the Census Bureau and wanted to know how many were in the family. Coming over, drying her hands on her apron, the mother said, "Let's see. There's me and my husband, and my children Tracy, Katherine, Amanda, Alfred, Benjamin--" The census taker interrupted, saying, "I'm not interested in the names. The numbers will be enough." The little girl pitched in. "We don't use numbers. We haven't run out of names yet!"
Originally published November 14, 2002.
