Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-01-28
Written for the Herald.
MY SON KAN,


s'Father, passing house in the lower part
of the city not long ago., l overheard curl
Gus reasoning from a ten-year-old, who,
should judge, was convalescing, and who was
earnestly entreating that ham might be added
to her diet The anxious mother refused be-
cause, she said, ham was too strong food for
weak stomach. The child, it seemed, had
been allowed pigs feet, and reasoning on this
fact said: Mamma, you let me eat pigs feet,
and they must be good deal stronger than
ham, for the hams and the whole weight of
the pig rests upon its feet; if the hams were
stronger than the feet, the hams would carry
the pig.
Il had but slight acquaintance at the
house, bat opened the door and said, Mad
am, satisfy the chiIds craving; feel assured
that her digestion is equal to her logic, and
you might add to her diet Swineburnes
Theory, or volume Of Bacon, without the
fear of detrimental consequences ensuing
What pity that child isn't boy! 1t is pos
sessed of capabilities which even by wild,
untamed growth Of their own would mature
into subtle genius that might write commen-
taries on the Diet of Worms, illustrated in
glowing pigment, or do something else equal
ly adapted to the wants Of the world at
large"
We had ere this reached the scene of festiv-
ity, where entering the throng my son and 1
were soon separated and saw no more of one
another during the evening. When returning
home the keen air of early morning was not
conclusive to much conversation; but when
seated before a bright fire, toasting our
shins,
My son Kan,
affected by the genial heat, remarked:
81 had several chance escapes tonight,
father A baby's bjb-which, to have been
interesting and instructive, should have been
embroidered with chart of the Milky Way
in the hands of a little girl, seemed to be om-
nipresent, and it was with the utmost diff
Guilty that avoided being victimized. A child
carrying toy bedstead next haunted me, and
rendered my existence unbearable for fifteen
minutes by the watch. And lastly, Dutch
man with pick added the crowning misery
as he constantly threatened the integrity of
my eyesight by fourishing the tool to en-
phasize his various eloquent phrases. To es-
cape him and his 'foine pick I insinuated
myself into the dining hall and called for
plate of the sea fruit.
'Oysters, you know, father, are cross
between the jelly fish and the clam, and are
caught for the market by the rakes progress
over the submarine plantations. They are
lazy creatures, lying in bed during the whole
time of their existence, and subsisting entire
ly on succulent diet nbeing prepared for
inland markets, unlike corn, they are shelled
before they are husked; are then put in cans
filled with liquor Of their own manufac-
| ture, made tight, and in this condition we re-
ceive them here. They are Of quiet and
mild appearance, yet in a raw state; although
not violent, they are slippery customers and
difficult to manage. If one sits down to
plate of raw with trusting, childlike con-
idence in his own abilities, he is almost sure
to spend half an hour in learning not to place
so high value on himself, and at the end of
the time is generally successful.
"While in the supper-room tonight, wait
ing patiently for my order to be filled, no.
ticed Granger opposite quietly endeavoring
to obtain the upper hand of half dozen
naked bivalves. Poising his fork with pre-
cision, he confidently aimed a stroke at the
fattest, but it eluded the prongs and the i'm
plement gritted along the plate without doing
any damage, but with noise not at all musi-
cal. Again and again he made the attempt,
each time with the same result, and this
seemed to convince him that change of tao
tics was advisable. He then essayed to push
the fork under the oyster, but only succeeded
in showing the latter around the plate until
the exercise became monotonous, and he gave
it up. At the end of the chase his features
had undergone change; he evidently thought
that as he came in there to eat, the persons
sitting near him expected him to eat and not
to be fooling away his time playing with the
oysters-for the smile on his face seemed to
indicate that he was only playing with them.
He then bent over his plate as if determined
to finish and leaye room for others, and TAX
ing reinforcement in the shape of spoon,
finally succeeded in coralling an oyster at the
first attempt and conveyed it in safety to his
mouth. He was justly exultant, but careful
" refraining from an expressions of his feel
ings, started with both hands after another
installment. Being unemployed myself dur