The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-02-09
MY FIRST HUNT.
A Boys Story.

a Boys Story
My name. is Jasper Cooper. 1 was
not model boy. My share of original
sin was liberal one, and between the
good and evil in me, the balance, I am
sorry to say, very ofte bent the wong
way. For the benefit of others, am
going to make particular confession in
one instance, and show how my bad con-
duct brought me trouble and lasting re-
pentance.
On my thirteenth birthday received
two presents that made me feel proud
and rich. One was a small gun from nv
Uncle Philip, with plenty of powder and
shot. 1t was accompanied with the
timely caution, "that firearms were dan
gerous weapons unless very carefully
handled" The other gift was a fine
spaniel from my father.
The boy is rare one whose happiness
is not complete with gun and dog
and was not one of the rare ones.
A week later, one bright, cool autumn
morning, as was standing by the gate
Just after breakfast, Nathan Bagley, an
intimate friend Of mine, though little
older than myself, came along and 40
costed me.
"Good morning, Jasper. So you are
getting up in the world. They say that
you've got gun and dog"
"I suppose that's SO l'' answered,
with pride and pleasure.
Nathan laughed at my very apparent
satisfaction, and said " Look here, I'm
going hunting in Blake's woods this
afternoon. Come, go with me. There's
plenty of small game there. Well have
a bagful before night"
can't. I must go to school,"
"Get excused. You can do that easy
enough"
No. Mr.. Lowe won't excuse schol-
ars without note from one of their
parents, and father is out of town."
"Your mother will write one for you."
"She's been sick two days and can't
sit up"
Nathan looked disappointed. "Look
here, Jasper" he said, after thinking
moment, "you're sharp enough. You
can contrive a way to 60, I know. I'll
be ready just after dinner"
Nathanpw went home, and I won't into
the house. To be called "sharp" was
a compliment that weighed more with
me in my, tempted state of mind than
any fears of doing wrong. wanted to
go hunting, and my whole thought was
how could contrive to go. It was i'm
possible to get O note, requesting a re-
lease from school duties, from either of
my parents, and what would do as sub
stitpte2"
Suddenly the thought came Why
not write note yourself, and sign your
fathers namei I was an Indifferent
speller, but good penman, and I was
certain 1 nould counterfeit my fathers
handwriting.
searched his desk and found an ac-
count book that had been written by
him. This placed on the table before
me In my room, and for full half an hour
was completely engrossed in attempts
TO initiate the chirography. I succeeded
and produced neat, carefully worded
note, 80 complete counterfeit that i
was sure Mr.. Lowe would never doubt
its genuineness.
My chief difficulty, however, was in
the signature. was puzzled to decide
exactly how father wrote his name at
the bottom of hisletters. I had brought
him letters from the post-office directed
"Mr. Asa Cooper" ,"" Hon. Asa Cooper"
and casa Cooper, Esq. but whether
he would put one Of t'ese titles to his
own signature was q question I could
not settle. tried to find some of his
old letters to guide me, but the three I
had received from him while was at
Uncle Phillips had been mislaid or de-
stroyed. After much deliberation, /
wrote as follows:
Mr.. LOWE: Dear Slr,-Will you
OblIge me by excusing my son Jasper
from school this p. M. his studies are
wearing upon him, and I think he needs
more open air and xercise.
Every Truly Yours,
Hon. ASA CooPER."
I read this three times, to be sure
there was no inaccuracy in it. The capi-
tails and punctuation seemed to me to
be correct, aud on the whole, was very
well satisfied with my production. +
took my hat and books and hurried to
school.
just after the morning session 1 pre-
sented my note to Mr.. Lowe, and watched