Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-01-12
ssk..l Day. On Capt ....
BY JASPER.


manity as developed among the hills OF
Capteen. He was considered the best
scho ar in the "dig.ins," and we ali
looked forward to the day when he
would be "schooi master.n To attain
this exalted position was the highest
as.bition of aboutIa dozen young men
who went to school at Pleasant Ridge.
The girls in those days Fever Thought Of
becoming school marms. surprising tsey
hadn19 brains enough to master the
double rule ofthree, and the mysteries
of Kirkham. Consequently they only
studied "readin' an wriiin', seldom
bothe,ing their heads with cypherin'.' -
Their writing consisted mainly In
inditing love letters to the boys, and
their Tea ding to decy phering the replies.
The Master would occasionally inter-
G, pit one Of those missiyes and make the
writer read il to the school. This was
great fun for all not directly concerned,
aud after letters founu their way to the
teacher through the treachery Of the
carrier, when it was found out that per-
sonage would get no letters for awhile,
an his only pastime would be to throw
paper-wads at the girls or against the
ceiling. 5s,t
Perhaps Ike Mite wrote more letters,
received more, and carried more than
any one m school, Whenever be sue
ceeded in getting ''sweet one" to carry
he was sure to get it into the hands Of
fthe teacher. -
One day Jim Kreg had got up a stun
ner in reply to asweet one from Abagail
Woods, aud was much at a loss to know
how to get it to her. for the Master had
missed leaf from Jim's copy book and
Wis on the look out for letters. Ike
undertook to deliver the letter providing
he should have the privilege CT readiIg
the one to which this was arep Y. Care
fully slowing both letters in his trowser's
pocket, he watched his chance to fulfill
his mission. '' s'si'sisio@ eaai@
1t was against the rules to chew tobac-
co, but. Ike would chew, rule or no rule,
Jim had given him pi.ce of "dog leg
into the bargain for carrying his letter.
and Ike was employing himself hugely
with his tobacco, splitting down hole
in the floor which he had burned for
the purpose. @'Hs'5s'i' lisiiaqi' i'.'A
Isaac, come here" says the master.
Ike moved Up promptly, being careful
however to spit his tobacco out. .l'.'l z
"You'ra chewing tobacco are you?"
"No, SIR" -yH 90 it'a' adJ s-4@7
Don't lie to me.n yeoi iH 5i''t ~ p
"Deed and double, I hain't bit in
my mouth. ;" H7i3H i-7H7tf 'i.'z
"You're sure?p ~ ~ - .'saTa, 20
"Yes sir. sag r. i7tn'ii.1 4ii3 20 -
"Open your mouth and lie me see -
"You don't see none, do you?D z.i+i'
"No sir, but see signs IF it &" 70 slia
Let us look here where you sat, per.
haps we can find it.n 81 iii" -fi -"
You may look as much as yon please,
but you'll find no tobacker." ot 80 2"
WHATS this lying here beside this
hole in the floor ?'' 'Tsae-a@- = :iili
Ike was beat. There lay the 'chaw"
big as life. He had been in too big a
hurry and missed the hole. na' ''fi''i1 i''fi
Have you any more in your
poeketP" SCI 9" zf''s752'i'- ''-1a@5a q
mo sir" ~ y 's ''-7aii2 i. ~i-5''''i
II guess you have, come shell it out. j"
"Ain't got none TO shell OUT"
"I'n get my rod, and I'll make you
shell OUT si'''3z5 n72 sf"iid bia'
| / While the masters back was turned,
Ike slipped his tobacco into his boot
Now sir if ind any tobacco in your
pocket, IN thrash you com pIetely.D -
Su saying he proceeded to examine his
pockets. There were slate pencils,
l"keel-stones," "knife- -blaiies, ,fints strings
thumb-papers, nails, pieces of'iron glass
tin, copper, marbles, and .spparentls
Everything except tobacco. 3,t As
! Hello! What are these !? Love let.
tiers are they?" flia5H 7o Go'
mo sir. They are thumb papers"
"SinceI can ifihd no tobacco, III ex,
anime these" M ntl aal
you needn't mind they're only 8
couple of thumb-papers." np .-'tz
| Jim Kreg, you and Abagail Wood.
come UP here. Isaac you read these
letters SO the whole school can hear, ,ant
then III attend to your case" fa
4 Ike read Abagail's letter first amids
the applause the school, IL ~ &,
4 pleasant RIge belmount count
ohio deer GIN i tax mi pen in hand I,
inform you that am wei and Ho,
these fu lines Will find Ou in joyin I'll,
same CRATE blessing the rose is red th,
violet is Blu shugur 10 sweet and SO a
lyou round is the ring That has no eeut
tso is mi Love to you my friend. wan
you To write to me for you are the Pur
!. ltiest feller at skool don't let old Rock
ingham see this believe me yours u,
ever till ueth shal US sever A Woods.
Jim's reply was a. follows:
Pleasant Ridge.
4 Deer hiss 1 got your loving episto
and take mi pen in iIand To write yoi
an anser hopin it will find you enjOyius
. the same great Blessing i aln ays like,
you better than eny gal ever seen bu
! was afee' ed you didn't like me O.
The pizen vine climes holler stump
But you are sweet as sugar lump.
I'll bring you big red apple TOMORROW
and Will slip it in your dinner basket 5,
as no ole viii. me jeemses rivers hov
would like to kiss you but ine ieere,
write to me agin this afternoon and
will answer if il take the last leaf out o
my copy book. Keep an eye on ole
: Rockingham and rite To me agin.
While gras runs, and water grows
81 PIi love you to the end OF my toes. &. Do
l From Mr. James William Kreg to mi
2 abbygil Would his true love-. .rs. -,
|, When ".old Rockingham as th,
master was called, had sent Jim an,
Abagail to their seats. Ike ran to tn,
!, window and looked out very anxiously