American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-07-17
Pulling Teeth.

IT will not be difficult for old or young
to go back in imagination to the critical
period of losing the first teeth So it will
not be hard to imagine our seven-year-old
Newtie making the rounds of the house
with an ominous string hanging from his
mouth, to which he gives occasional care
full jerks. Mamma said:
Neville, that tooth must come out, or
the second will grow distorted, and your
mouth will be disfigured all your life.''
He could not be coaxed or hired to let
| mamma give pull. So the matter rested
for several days. Mamma had forgotten
about It until seeing him with his fingers
in his mouth reminded her.
Then commenced the sport He was
persuaded to have the string tied on, with
promises that no one should pull without
| his consent.
Mamma told him he must keep at work
at it and loosen it more. Uncle Charley
suggested that he should get upon the
| wood house, tie the string to a good strong
nail, and jump off.
"No sir-eep' was Newtie's emphatic an
swer.
Aunt Fanny thought the piano-box in
the yard would do Just as well. It was un-
der a tree; he could tie his string to q
limb, then jump. All laughed heartily,
Ncwtie joining in in spite of his expected
martyrdom.
Papa said he knew of a very effcctual
way. He would speak from experience
He had tried it. 1t was this:
Sit down in front of an old-fashioned
fireplace, where cheerful fire is crack
ling and sparkling up the chimney-this
modern CRATE might do-tie your string to
one of the andirons. Look intently into
the fire, and before you know it your tooth
is OUT
We all wondered and did not see the
point.
"A little water is necessary" added
papa, slyly.
The mystery darkened.
You all look incredulous, but I assure
you this was quite fashionable in New
England when / was boy"
Papa whispered to mamma: "When the
patient is apparently lost in thought the
water is dashed into the face, and the
tooth is very sure to be found hanging on
the andiron."
sob, that would be too bad," laughed
mamma.
When all had enjoyed the secret mann
ma said:
"Newtie, if were you I'd go away by
myself and keep at work at that stubborn
tooth until got it out, and surprise every
BODY
Newtie went out of the room Jerking
the string. He found his way to the kitch-
en- and told Jennie, the housemaid, his
troubles.
Papa said could tie it to the crate in
the parlor, as we haven't any andirons.
How do you think f1atiron'd do?'' he
said, spying them on the wall
/ think that'd do first-rate," laughed
Jennie. So he got one and tied his string
to it.
I'm going to see if can draw the iron
with my TOOTH" and he got down on his
hands and knees. Sure enough the little
peg held on and dragged the iron across
the kitchen floor.
Newtie got up on his feet now with the
iron in his hands.
." Jennie" he said, edo you s'pose my
Tooth would let the iron hang ON it,"
" Maybe; I'd try it.'
Ncwtie let go. The iron dashed to the
floor.
"String's broke, strings broke" cried
Newtie; then, finding his mouth was filling
with blood, Why, what's the matter?"
and ran for water.
1.-THE matter is your tooth's hanging TO
The iron instead of the iron hanging to
your TOOTH" laughed Jennie, picking them
up.
Newtie grabbed them and ran to the par
lor shouting
" It's ffatiron instead of an andiron;
hats all the difference papa. y" Squtd
Scotch" IN Hearth and Home