The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-01-15
!" | THOUGHT I WOULDN'T"

Two young joarneyman mechanics
were working at their benches, on OPP
posite sides Of a cabinet makers shop.
They were both about twenty five wears
Of age both married. both healthy and
intelligent One of them stopped his
work. turned round towards the other,
and leaning against his bench, thus ac-
cosled him -
Dick. | always thought YOU were
quick tempered you used TO be when
YOU we're "A boy Now | think | am not
quick tempered but il the boss had talk
ed 20 me as he did 10 YOU yesterday.
believe should lave knocked him
down, let the consequences be what they
might"
Well. Tom. am quick tempered, :
replied the person accosled as Dick
"and as to knocking old Scoldem down.
bad my thoughts about that matter
100.
TO be sure, | reckoned YOU were
right mad enough when | saw your face
as white as sheet, said Tom, but !
should ike TO know what your thoughts
were on this solemn OCCASION as The,
say"
Dick laid down his chisel, and turn
ing around, folded his arms, and re-
Piled.
Il thought | would. and then thoughl
| wouldn't. When old Scodem frs
found fault with me, and began to scold
me, and finally got angry and abused me
merely because | would not answer him
in the same style, thought--no il was
not thinking, for it was only an impulse
1t occurred 10 me that ii should only
! Just smash down his hat down over his
bloated face. and then give him one
| good blow under the left eve, which
should tumble him among the shavings
prom miscuouslv-it would be serving him
Just about right. tot | was terrible angry.
But then | lhought-and il WAS thinking,
for it came after the impulse. and II.
strained it--lhcn | thought that he was
a great deal older man than | was, and
lad "A wife, and sous and daughters
grown up and married, who would be
very much shocked and panied To hear
that he hfd been treated in this way
and thought, too. that was IN his en-
pl"y, aud could quit him at any moment
II his service WAS iniolerable, and that il
would be disgracefnl to me to have il re.
ported that | had had fight with my
boss and | thought how bad Lucy
would feel if | was arrested for breach
OF peace, or even made myself liable to
be, and so | thought | wouldn't"
/" All, Dick, said Tom, those were
not exactly your feelings, when you took
hold OF your hammer, aud then pushed
IL away from YOU. ! believe | was rs
white as You, just at that momeat. Tor |
expected you would drop him sure"
= lou are mistaken. Tom" replied
Dick. Il did moi take hold oil the ham
mer from any impulse or design to use
il, but | thought | wouldn't have il
where ! could seize il and strike him
without stirring out Of my tracks aud So
pushed 1t over the end of my bench.
and ii fell among the shavinss and il
took me long time TO find il when |
wanted it again
Well" said Tom. Il don't believe
could have stood what you did, any.
how. But you use that expression
thought | wouldn't rs il it was a sor,
OF iavori,e one have you adopted it as 4
motto Tor your coat OF arms. ! should
like 10 Know %
| 80 Sor.er some. some sorter not. n,
they say out West. replied Dick, laugh
,ng :" but il Is said that all tie hi thcS
modes Of thought have s.e'reoiypcd ex
/ preston, and that Is reason, for instance
why those who speak the English Ian
guage are always seeking for liberty ex
pressed in the great phrases which ar,
so commonly used in books. speeches anC
newspapers. So ! confess that | hay,
get one little pei phrase, which. when
am 10 acllon. reads, ! tLink | wont,