The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-12-27
one Of Roo Fsgsrsors 7heor'es pat
70 the TEST.

Not long since, says fecks o"h
the following utterance OF Bob lnger
soil went the rounds of the papers:
Colonel Ingersoll says he keeps q
pocket.book in an open drawer, and
his children go and help themselves tc
money when they want il. "They
eat when they want to; they may
sleep all day if they choose, and sit up
all night If they desire. | don't try
to coerce them. | never punish, new
er scold. They buy their own clothes,
and are masters Of themselves"
A gentleman living on Marshal
street, who has a boy that is full as
kitteny rs bis father, read the article
and pondered deeply. He knew that
Col. Ingersoll was success at raising
children in the way they should 60,
and he thought he would try il. The
boy had caused him considerable an'
noyance, and he made up his mind
that he had not treated the boy right;
40 he called the boy in from the street,
where he was putting soft soap on a
lamp-post in order to see the lamp
lighter climb il, and said to him:
"My son, have decided to adopt a
different course with you. Heretofore
| have been careful about giving you
money, and have wanted to know
where every cent went To, and my
supervision has no doubt been annoy.
ing to you. Now, am going to
leave my pocket-book in the bureau
drawer, with plenty of money in it,
and yon are at liberty to use all you
want without asking me. Iwant you
to buy any thing you desire, buy your
own clothes, aud TO feel as though the
money was yours, and that you had
not got 10 account for it. Just make
yourself at home now, aud try and
have a good time"
The boy looked at the old gentle
man, put his hand ON his head as tho
he had "gOt 'em sure" and went out
to see the lamp-lighter climb that soft
soap. The next day the stern parent
went out into the country. shooting,
and returned on the midnight train
three days later. He opened the door
with latch-key, and a strange yellow
dog grabbed him by the elbow of his
pants and shook him, he said, like
the sgur."
The dog barkel and chewcd until
the son came down in his night-sbirt
and called him off, He told his faith.
er he had bought that dog OF fire.
man for sll, and that il was probably
the best dog bargain that had been
made this season. lie said that the
fireman had told him he could find a
man that wanted that kind of a dog.
The parent took of his pants (what
the dog had not removed and in the
hall he stumbled over a birch bark
canoe the boy had bought ofan Indian
for 81, and an army musket with an
iron amrod fell down from the corner.
The boy had paid SO for that lie
had also bought himself an oyercoat
with a sealskin collar and cuffs, and a
complete outfit of calico shirts and
silk stockings.
In his room the parents found the
marble top Of soda..ountain, a
wheelbarrow and shelf filled with all
kinds of canned meats, preserves and
crackers, and barrel of apples. A
wall.tent aud six pairs of blanket
were rolled up ready tor camping out,
and a buckskin shirt and a pair Of
corduroy pants lay on the bed, ready
for pulling on. Six fsh-poles aud a
basketful of tishlines were ready for
business, and AN oyster can full Of
grub worms for bait were squirming
ON the washstand. The old gentleman
looked the layout over, looked at his
pocket book in the bureau drawer, rs
empty as a contributiOn.box. and said:
Young man, the times have been
too flush. We will now return Ia
specie basis. When you want money
come to me aud will give you mex
el, and you will tell me what you in
tend to buy with il, or III warm YOU.
You hear mef"
And now that man stands around,
from the effects Of the encounter with
the yellow dog, aud asks every man
where a letter will reach Bob lnger'
soil. lie says he will kill Ingersoll, i
il is the last noble act he ever accom-
plishes.