The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-11
A FATHER WHO DID NOT APPRECI-
ATE SHAKESPEARE. -

{ f-S )" J
whose father lives on Croghan street
organized theatrical company and
purchased the dime novel play OF
"Hamlet" The company consisted OF
three boys and hostler, and Mr..
Gurley's hired girl was to be the
Ghost if the troupe could guarantee
her fifty cents per night. .....+..r
Young Gurley suddenly bleomed
out as a professional, and when his
mother asked him to bring in some
wood he replied: ...-.-...
Though 1 am penniless thou cans;
not degrade mel" ..-.-..
'You trot out after that wood or
I'll have your father trounce you!
she exclaimed. .....
Z "The tyrant who lays his hands on
me shall die |" replied the boy, but he
got the wood. ,...'.....-.5...,.
He was out on the steps when a
man came along and asked him where
Lafayette street was. ..-..s...
Doomed for = certain time to roam
the earth !" replied young Gurley in
hoarse voice, and holding his right
arm out straight. .....- ........... Il.
81 say-you! Where is Lafayette
street." called the man.
"Ah! could the dead but speak
ha !" continued Gurley.
The man drove him into the house,
and his mother sent him to the gro
Gerry after potatoes. .......
'I go, most noble Duchess" he said
as he took up the basket, "but my
good sword shall some day avenge
these insults!"
He knew that the grocer favored
theatricals, and when he got there he
said:
cart thou provided with stores of
that vegetable know as the ''tater,"
most excellent duke ?" .e,..z,
'sWhat in thunder do you want"
growled the grocer as he cleaned the
cheese knife on piece of paper:
"Thy plebeian mind is dull of COM
prehensien answered Gurley.
+. "Don't try to get off any of your
nonsense on me, or Ill crack your
empty spate in minute y roared the
grocer, and Hamlet had to- come
down from his high horse and ask for
2 peck lot potatoes. i.l - agrz-st.i gal
sWhat made you go long 2.Y9 asked
his mother, as he returned.il sa ea.bz
"Thy grave shall be dug in the cy-
press glade II he haughtily answered.
When his father came home at noon
Mrs. Gurley told him that she believed
the boy was going crazy. and related
what had occurred ~ .f.fsuia~5F.
.sI see what ahs him." mased the
father; "this explains why he hangs
around Johnson's barn SO much" i
At the dinner table young Gurley
spoke OF his father as 9''illustrious
count" and when his mother asked.
him if he would have some butter
gravy he answered: -
. "The appetite of a warrior cannot
be satisfied with such nonsense
r. When the meal was over the father
went out to his favorite shade tree,
cut a sprout, and the boy was asked
out into the woodshed and see if tho
penstock was frozen up. He found
the old man there, and he said: IS.
"Why, most noble lord, 1 had sup
posed thee far awayH" "a.a
''I'm not SO far away bnt what I'm
going to make you skipl" growled the
father, 'Ill teach you to fool around
with ten cent tragedies! Come up
here!, gaHf.{ aa#f-
For about five minutes ..the wood
shed was full of dancing feet, flying
arms and moving bodies, and then the
old man took rest and inquired: t4
d "There, your highness, dest thou
want any more?"
"Oh no, dad-not darned bit!"
walled the young 'manager," and
while the father started for down
town he went in and sorrowfully in
formed the hired girl that he must
cancel her engagement until the fall
season.-Detr0it Free Press. usa ii il