Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-18
Johnny Shrimp's Composition
ON BOATS AND BoAT-MAKING


I like boats, When I am big, I mean
to have as many boats as I want. once
read a book written by Mr.. Sparrowgrass
He said that q boat was a good thing to
have in the house, especially if there be
any water near. I think so too. a
Pa says he'll buy me a boat when he
gets rich. He says he's so poor, now, he
can hardly get clothes to his back. He
bought a nice new coat only last week
He says he can't afford boat, though be
has to buy cigars, and pew in church,
and John Barleycorn, and other neces-
cessary of life than a pew in church, any
day. l wonder who John Barleycorn is,
and why he wants to buy him.
Aunt Jerusha says that if that boy has
boat he'll be sure to tumble overheard
and be brought home wringing wet, and
dead as door nail, by the police, on a
me home by the coat collar or by the ear.
It hurts-I think a shutter would be much
better. -.
Irowed Pa over to Hoboken once, Pa
says it's good for boys to row, and good
for men to sit in the stern of the boat, and
be rowed Sometimes boys have too much
of a good thing. I had it then.
caught crabs enrowing to Hoboken.
Icaught 'em with my oar, and they knock
ed me off the seat Pa said not to care
it would make me grow to be knocked
over in the bottom of a Ieaky boat; it
vets their trousers, and makes EN- feel
sticky. I don't call that growing.
I don't like to bail out boats. When
the boat is leaky, l take Dicky Mopps
with me. He's hitler than am, and l can
make him do all the bailing. Once, Pa
said he could not pay. the rent, and be
arrested, and who Should he get to bail
him outY I said 'nDicky Mopps" Pa said,
" Don't be fool" Ma says that Pa some
times asks very unreasonable things of me
and expects too much.
like to build little steamboats,. Aunt
Jerusha says used up all her spools of
Gotten for cylinders and rigging. l Dor
rowed some of the wheels from the
| kitchen clock once to make machin
cry and the clock has never went
since. Ma found it out, and told Aunt
Jerusha that had wonderful talent, and
would make great mechanic But when
l took a wheel, and needle and some
other things, out of her sewing machine,
Ma said I ought to be whipped soundly.
I don't see why one thing don't show as
| much talent as the other. A
Aunt Jerusha says am dragging her
to an early grave, because took her
| glasses out of her spectacles, and her old
thimble, and her pill-boxes, and he top
OF the tea-kettle, to make up into things
for my boat. She says she'll tell Pa.
Pa says my boat is very nice. So |
didn't tell him cut out the hull with his
raizor, and made the sails out of q piece OF
his shirt Pa says the washerwomen are
very careless. One of them washed the
back all out of his shirts. think shirt
stuff makes very good sails I mean to
make good many boats, and / know a
boy whose father keeps watch store, and
has lots of little wheels and things. That
boys name is Spriegins-Hank Spriggins.
l gave him an apple to-day. 1t was sour,
and didn't want it. / mean to make up
to Spriggins, and see if he won't give me
some clock-works. He can get some from
his Pa. I often get things from Pa with
out bothering him by asking him before
hand. take en-. It saves trouble. !