The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-07-30

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able to spend his money for boots, when his
folks wanted every cent he could earn to
live with We knew this, of course, but
still we laughed, like everything.
Then some one called him 'Timber-shoes,
and they all said it pretty loud, and SO did
| L.
That's right, my lad, that's the way to
do it, Interrupted, quite warmly. Never
seek to conceal your own share in bad ac-
ton. You certainly acted mean.y, but it
is true nobleness to acknowledge a wrong
He smiled and proceeded, talking very
rapidly.
well, sir, he looked sad, very sad, when
they called him Timber-shoes; because it
wasn't so much what we said, as the way we
said it. He didn't say anything, though,
but just minded his own business. We
didn't, and that's how we came to know
more about him.
There were good many tricks played
on him which / haven't time to tell, for
we're almost to town but there was one.
and it was the last one-and that 1 must
tell.
we used to speak pieces every Friday
afternoon. All of us had to say something,
if it was only five words
'One afternoon, when We were going to
have speaking, Paul Plummett-he wasn't
so bad boy, either came to school with
something square tied up in a newspaper.
He wouldn't tell US what it was, but we soon
found out.
when Timber-shoes' turn came to speak,
he walked out toward the masters desk
and what do you think? there, hanging to
his coat-taii, was piece of paste-board,
with this printed on it in big letters:
"'TIMBER-SHOES,
THE
ELOCUTIONIST,
NOW
SREAKETH
Some Of the boys laughed, but the most
Of US coudn't some way, AS soon as the
master saw the pasteboard, he took it off
and sent the poor fellow back to his seat.
He then tried to find out who did it, but
no one knew anything about it. Then
Timber-shoos got up and said
I knows who did dat. 1t was Baul
Blunmett. lets him 60 on so to see which
comes out pest at the end, him or me-
Il tell you we laughed heartily at this.
The master laughed till the tears rolled
down his cheeks. Everybody laughed at
Paul He looked redder in the face than
| ever saw him. When we had got thrugh,
the teacher made Paul stand with his
face to the blackboard, and hitchiug the caro-
on his coat collar behind, made him stand
there all the afternoon.
So this was the last joke played on
Tinber-shoes because the last part of this
story would have stopped it if nothing else
would.
Three weeks 60 lot of us boys were
down at Wallernook Gulley fishing. The
stream is very narrow, but at that place
deep-six feet just off the bank,
and ever SO much deeper in the middle
so deep, they say that the bottom has
never been found; but I guess that isn't
30.
Paul Plummet moved we go in swim
ming. No one else dared to,
md, so he went in alone. He hadn't
oeen in over minute before he took a
ramp, and could hardly keep himself
lboye water. Il didn't stop to think any
hing amy consequence, and so instantly
umped in after him. I'm good swim
ner, but Paul grasped me and pulled me
lnder with him. [ tried to get away and
ave myself, but he wouldn't let go; so l
'egon to drown pretty fast, too The boys
u the bank were running here and there
rying for help, and two or three had
tartd for home, mile away.
Just then, up come Timber-shoes. He :
ouldn't swim stroke, yet he was the one i,
o save us, sir. The bcys say he acted for
Il the world ike General There was
lender hickory grew on the edge of the
ank, and quick as lightning he sprang up
hat tree; and as he neared the top aud it Il
egan to bend beneath his weight, he or }
cred every one to run to the nearest fence {
nd bring rails-lOts OF them. J
The tree kept bending aud bending un-
il he was hanging right over US. The
rst grab he made he caught ME, and as l
7as not very far gone, l got hold of the :