Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-02-17
n. o. WALLACE, ]
The Stammering Father.

The Son who is in the Hospital by
0 Reason of the Parents Defec-
D tive Speech.
Q Q He had been a good-looking
D young fellow, the New York
San tells us, but as he lay on
: a bed in Bellevue hospital, his
) aspect was unpleasant. His
} face was criss-crossed with ad-
hesive plaster, a clearing had
} been made in the forest of hair
} or his head, and one leg stuck
, out into sight, bandaged. His
features were immobile by rea-
son Of the stiffening patchwork,
his mouth would open only half
way; and when he talked the un-
varying expression Of his face
wasvery queer. The surgeon had
slightly drawn the muscles on
one side of his mouth with the
strips Of plaster, so that, viewed
from one standpoint, he smiled
blandly; but on the other side
the visage was solemn and re-
sentful. His name is John Gar
land.
'How are you feeling?" asked
the house surgeon.
"Jest as if my head was as
big as a barrel, and almost all
Of the barrel was head" replied
John.
The reporter was standing at
Johns smiling side, wondering
at his good humor; but a change
Of attitude showed the other
half Of his face, which seemed
much more appropriate to the
occasion. He was induced to
tell about the accident which
had injured him.
"Me and father were at work
blasting out rock. We was to
get a cellar cleaned out by |
spring; so there wasn't no hur-
ry about it. Us two kind O |
worked along easy. We'd get
in a blast every two or three |
days, and draw out the rock and |
drill the rest of the time. | was |
up on the rock piling stone, and |
father was down in the hole
| hadn't no idea what he was up
to. You see, he stammers so |
he can't say much any way, land
so as general thing we don't
talk very often. Sometimes he
begins to say something, but a
word sticks, and he has to give
it up. So I didn't think any
thing Of his keeping still for a
good while. What do you
'spose the old man was doing?"
Fixing a blast, may be-"
"Blamed if he wasn't doin'
jest that thing. First off | see
the old man a climbin' up the
other side of the hole. He
eemed as if he was in an awful
hurry. He begun to say some
hing, and got as far as John
then the next word stuck. I
don't expect any more
when he gets that way, and so !
went to work again, and he
Tas a strugglin' over that word +
Torse'n l ever see him struggle :
ver any word before. He
made up terrible faces, twisted
is mouth round and round, and
wung his arms as if he was '
razy.
"Never mind I said to him, ;,
ry it again by'n by. 'Tain't =
o hurry, is it?'
'He nodded his head, mean =
lg twas in a hurry, and tried {; f
} start round to my side of the h h
ole, but there was a fence on =
ne side and a high rock on the :
ther. He made up worse fa- y y
es than ever, and begun with +
John again, but couldn't get q
o further to save his life. All :,
e could say was a kind of o
Jm-um-um.' You see he'd 2 e
t the fuse, and was a tryin' to 8
ell me to get out the way \
ust as he was gettin' purple in r
lie face, and [ guess he'd pref p
near put his jaws out of iiint, .
ne GOMEZ "
"The word?"
'Moses! no - the blast. - O
'lamed if it didn't rise me like i.
rocket. They say l come a
own 'mongst the pieces of Y
Tone" t,
Stephen Gillette, while r
uniting in Southwestern Mis- !,