Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21
The Boy In Church.

liz was playing al the gate as went
past. and / heard his father call out:
"Boy, you want TO gallop In here and
get ready for mectingW
"Shii'' briefly repeated the lad
"Shil I'll sbi you, young man, II you
don't tr0t In here lively! You'd be 40 bad
90 Jesse Pomeroy II left without a father
for three monthsW
~ would, bcyT
% No, sass, young man--Ips time you
were getting ready for church,"
The minister was giving out bis text
when the boy and his father came IN.
There was considerable improvement IN
the lads looks. His hair had been
creased and combed, he had on his Sun
day Jacket, and there was religious look
In his eyes as he fell into the pew.
ought 10 have listened closely 10 The
sermon, but did not. The boy and bis
father were in the pew next ahead, and |
couldn't help but watch him. j have my
opinion about forcing boys Of ten or
twelve years Of age 10 listen 10 sermons
which not one adult mind in five can fully
grasp, and ! was willing 10 chance my
theory on that boys actions.
lie HJt NlDUk WY VIII wi tA1i ~ 9N vi
minutes. Then he asked his father what
time Il was, and when the parent replied
with warning shake Of the head the boy
cast around him for something 10 interest
his mind. The preacher settled down to
| his discourse and the boy settled down To
his plan Of wearing away the coming
hour. He reached over and got hold OF
his fathers silk hat, and was trying 10 re.
move the band when the parent took 1t
away and bent over and whispered:
Boy, IL you don't pay attention TO the
preacher I'll break your neck when we
get homer
The lad fixed his eyes on the clergyman.
He saw that the good man had auburn
hair, blue eyes, fiorid complexion, and
was well dressed. He heard him make
| use Of such words as fortuitous, ~ "un
examplcd," and "repellant," and without
| being able 10 tell whether they referred r.
a new kind of string beans or the Gospel
| Of Christian light, he reached out and
| secured his fathers cane. He punched
| at several flies, crammed the silver head
| into his mouth until he turned purple In
tie face, and finally reached over and
| iabbed woman under the left shoulder.
His father then grasped the cane, laid II
away, and whispered:
"Yotlng man, I'll tan the hide of'n
you when we get homer
The words were intended 10 make the
| boy pay strict attention 10 the balance OF
the sermon. lie Strengthened up, looked
| at the preacher again, and tried hard to
understand the discourse. The good man
| was trying 10 explain the difference be-
tween theoretical and practical Chris.
tanity, ana IN TWO minutes t'le iaas eyes
were iiAed on lhe chahaeiiers' ne count
cd the number OF burners over ana over,
ana forgetting himself iof an instant ho
began to sing. Ills ihther gave nm q
KICK ana leaned over anu whispered
Ohl boy, III make you hump the
| minute we gel INTO lhc bouscl Knowing
| That his ihther would Keep MS WORD, pui
| yet hoping to break the force OF inc pros
| pectiye " pecling" ny bcing real good ior
the next hall hour, inc BOY raced inc
Clergyman again. he KNIT ms brow anu
plainly showed MS uetcrhiinhtioh 70 uh.
uerstand anu interest hilhsel IN All mat
Wis said. The GOOD man was drawing a
araliel, ana dozen OF the chufch ihem'
Iers were hall asleep. ~ was aiscourag'
ing, anu aiter TWO or lhrce minutes .he
hoy got hoiu Oh pil Oh paper, Wauuea !,
UP, stuffed II INTO MS NOUN, ana cheweo
II awhile, ana then balancing inc wao on
his thumb, he elevated u ten feet toward
The ceiling. -
The law OF grayithtlon applies 10 paper
wads ~ wei as 70 iron weights. ms one
came down ~ q short hme, ana, a. luck
Wouiu ia's ~, " euuth e'iu pa,'i pa'o vi
~" 49,, - a,.r, eo mhiriea n,,ori. a,n, ng'
a
nv c n I'm A. ~, c,r ,his, J,s, 10, ma
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ua Observation-Disclosures ons Word ~ IL Zen ~
I. $500 - -
n liz aaiao,,i T. ~ ,aas ~, d.n. H.. 49, :
$3.50 ~ +" '' $50 ~ w." ~