The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-05-05
al THOUGHT / WOULDN'T"

working at their benches, on opposite sides
of "a cabinet makers shop. They were both
about twenty-five years of age; both mar
ried, both healthy and intelligent. One Of
them stopped his work, turned round to-
wards the other, and leaning against his
bench, thus accosted him:
s.Dick, always thought you were quick
tempered; you used to be when you were a
boy. Now I think / am not quick tenn
pered, but if the boss had talked to me as
be did to you yesterday, I believe / should
have knocked him down, let the consequent
ces be what they might"
''Well, Tom, am quick tempered" re-
piled the person accosted as Dick, land as
to knocking old Scoldem down, had my
thoughts about that matter, too
"To be sure. ] reckoned you were right
mad enough when saw your face as white
as Sheet" said Tom, ''but I should like to
know what your thoughts were on this sol
emn OCCASION as they say"
"Dick laid down his chisel, and turning
around, folded his arms, and replied.
Il thought would. and then | thought
I wouldn't. When old ScCldem first found
fault with me, and began to scold me. and
finally got angry and abused me merely be-
cause would not answer him In the same
style, thought-no, it was not thinking.
for it was only an impulse-it occurred to
me that if should only just smash his hat
down over his bloated face, and then give
him one good blow under the left eye, which
should tumble him among the shavings pro-
miscuousIy, it would be serving him just
about right, for I was terribly angry. But
then thought-and it was thinking. for it
came after the impulse, and restrained it
then thought that he was great deal old
er man than | was. and had a wife, and
sons and daughters grown up and married,
who would be very much shocked and
panied to hear that he had been treated in
this way and thought, too that was in
his employ, and could omit him at any mo-
ment ii his service was iniolei able, and that
it would be disyraceful to me to have it re-
ported that had Fl ght with my boss; and
thought how bad Lucy would feel if l was
arrested for a breach of peace, or even made
myself liable 10 be, and so i thought l
wouldn't %
"Ah, Dick" said Tom, "those we've not
exactly your feelings, when you took hold
of your hammer, and then pushed it away
from you. believe was as white as you,
Just at that moment, for l expected you
would drop him. sure"
.tYou are mistaken. Tom," replied Dick,
II did not take hold of the hammer from
any impulse or design to use it, but i
thought l wouldn't have it where l could
seize it and strike him without stirring out
of my tracks and so pushed it over the
end of my bench, and it fell among the
shavings and it took me long time to
find it when wanted it again"
a At f,11S Il
could have stood what you did, anyhow
But you use that expression thought
wouldn't as if it was sort of favorite one;
have you adopted it as motto for your coat
of arms, should like to know 20
"'Sorter some, some sorLer not as they
say out West" replied Dick, laughing;
.'but it is said that all the highest modes of
thought have stereotyped expression. and
that is the reason, for instance, why those
who speak the English language are always
seeking for liberty expressed in the great
phrases which are so commonly used in
books, speeches and newspapers. So con-
fess that have got one little pet phrase.
which, when I am in action, reads, i think
won't and when am bordering over
what I didn't do. signifies i thought
wouldn't And think this phrase over a
great deal, and confess it does me good.
I'll tell you how got into it.
about a year ago. went home one
damp, slushy thawing night, rather late for
supper. Old Scoldem had been very cross
that day, and very insolent; and that. with
the unpleasant weather. made me feel very
cross, too, very. Well. got home. The
fire was almost out, the room uncomforta
BILE; but supper was ready. and we sat down
at the table. Lucy did not seem inclined to
talk. little Jimmy was fretful; the tea was
weak and cold. and the toast wasn't made
right. / felt very much annoyed. and l
thought would just tell Lucy in conf
dental sort of way that the tea was all slops,
and that the toast wasn't fit TO throw to the
pigs, and that I would then put on my hat,
and 90 off to the Odd Fellows lodge earlier
than usual, and serve her right. But then
looked across the table at Lucy, who sat
there holding her baby, eating nothing aud
looking pale and weary and noticed. too,
that little Jimmy looked flushed, as he sat
there in his arm chair; and 1t occurred to
me that it was just possible that my wife
might be feeling i'll, and that little Jimmy
was affected by the weather, just like older
folks, and that perhaps this damp air affect
ed the chimney. ! asked Lucy if she was
i'll, and she said that for six hours she had
had terrible nervous headache, SO 4 thought
wouldn't say anything about the tea and
toast, but persuaded Lucy to lay down on
the settee with the baby, while took little
Jimmy on my knee, and commenced telling
him story. while put On his night gown.
and then got him into his crib, where. as l
was describing to him the old mans sheep
jumping over tie wall-then another--and
then another-and then another-he went
over the wall with the twentieth, and was
fast asleep. Then cleared the table, and
put away the things I'LL morning. raked out
the fire and got it going. and took the ba-