The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-13
From the News from Home.
/ Thought / Wouldn't.

thought i wouldn't.
Two young journeymen mechanics
were working at their benches, on op-
posite sides of acabinet-maker's shop.
They were both about twenty-five
years Of age, both were married both
healthy and intelligent. One of them
stopped his work, turned round towards
the other, and leaning against his
bench, thus addressed him:
"Dick, | always thought you were
quick-tempered; you used to be when
you were boy. Now / think / am
not quick-tempered but if the boss had
talked to me as he did to you, yester-
day, l believe should have knocked
him down, let the consequences be what
they might" .a
"Well. Tom / am quick tempered" !"
replied the person accosted as Dick,
"and as to knocking old Scoldem down,
l had my thoughts about the matter
too." # eeaHsa e..
"To be sure, / reckoned you were
right mad enough, when / saw your face
as white as Sheet" said Tom, "but l
should like to know what your thoughts
were on this Solemn OCCASION as they
say"
Dick laid down his chissel, and turn
ing around, folded his arms, and re-
Piled:
81 thought would, and then
thought / wouldn't. When old Scol-
dem first found fault with me, and be-
gan to scold me, and finally got angry
and abused me merely because l would
not answer him in the same style,
thought-no, it was not thinking, for it
was only an inpulse-it occurred to
me if should only smash his hat down
over his bloated face and then give one
good blow under the left eye, which
would tumble him among the shavings
rather promiscously, it would be serv-
ing him just about right, for / was ter.
ribly angry. But then / thought-and
it was thinking, for it came after the
impulse, and restrained it-then /
thought he was great deal older man
than l was, and had wife, and sons
and daughters grown up and married,
who would be very much shocked and
panied to hear that he had been treat.
ed in this way; and thought, too,
that / was in his employ, and could
quit him at any moment if his service
was intolerable, and that it would be
disgraceful TO me to have it reported
that l had fight with my boss; and
l thought how bad Lucy would feel il
l was arrested for breach of the
peace, or even made myself liable to
be, and so / thought / wouldn't"
"Ah, Dick" said Tom, "those were
not exactly your feelings, / reckon,
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" r.v ,.a-7 af
"You were mistaken, Tom," replied
Dick. 81 did not take hold of the
hammer from any impulse or design to
use it, but 1 wouldn't have it where ]
could seize it and strike him withou,
stirring out of my tracks; and so
pushed it over the end of my bench
and it fell among the shavings; and i
took me long time to find it when
wanted it again." .t
sWell," said Tom, ri don't believe
I could have stood what you did, any
how. But you used that expression
! i thought 1 wouldn't" as if it was 8
a sort Of fayorite one /; have yol
adopted it as motto for your coat o
arms, should like to know ?"
"sSorter some, sorter not as they
say out west," replied Dick, laughing
"but it is said that all the highes
moods of thought have sterreotypeC
expression, and that is the reason, TO-
instance, why those who speak th'
English language are always seeking
for that liberty expressed in the great
est phrases which are so commonl,
used in books, speeches and newspa
,. pers. So confess that / haze got on
little pet phrase, which, when l am il
action, reads, Il think / WON'T ant
when / am pond'ring over aohat
didn't do, signifies, / thought
wouldn't And / think this phras
over great deal, and / confess it doe
me good. LII tell you how I got lnt'
it: 9- fiq h
: "About a year ago, / went hom
f one damp, slushy, thawing night, rath
,, er late for supper. Old Scoldem ha'
: been very cross that day, and very in
3 solent; and that with the unpleasan
E weather, made me feel cross, too, very
: Well, j got home The fire was al
# most out, the room uncomfortable, bu
: supper was ready, and we sat down a
# the table. Lucy did not seem incline'
to talk; little Jimmy was fretful; tn
tea was weakand cold, and the toas
: wasn't made right. / felt very muc
annoyed, and 4 thought would jus
of tell Lucy, in confidential sort of way
that the tea was only slops, and this
b. | would then put on my hat and go o