St. Landry democrat., 1878-12-07
One OF Bob EngersOll's Theories
Pat to the Fest.

Not long since, says Peck's Sun, the
following utte.ance of Bob IngersolI
went the rounds Of the press:
Col. lnyerSoIl says he keeps IL pocket
book il, AN open drawe and his children
go and help themselves t" money hen
ever they want it. They eat when they
want to. They may >ltcpali day it they
chnosr, and sit up all night II they de
sire. | don't try to correct them. l
never punish, never scoid. They buy
their own clothes and are masters ot
themselves
A gentleman living on Marshall street,
who has Il boy that Is full iiS kitttny as
his father, read the article, and pom
d,rrh deeply. He knew that Col: In
oerSoll was Il success at raising children
in the way they should go, and he thought
he would try if. The boy had caused
him considerable annoyance, and he
made up his mind that he had not
treated the boy right, SO he called the
l,ov in from the street, where he WAS
putting soft soap ON the lamp post, in
order to STE the lamp lighter climb it,
and said tO him:
"My son, nave decided to adept 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 annoying to you.
Now, am going to leave my pocket
book in the bureau drawer, with plenty
of money in il, and you are at liberty tU
nse all YOU want without asking me.
want ynu to buy anything you desire,
buy y0ur own clothes, and to feel as
though the money WAS yours, ana that
YOU had not got to account for it. just
make yourself at home now, and try t"
have IL good time"
The boy looked at the old gentleman,
put his hand Oh his head and thought
he had "got 'em sure" aud went out to
see the lamp lighter climb that soap 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 night key
and IA strange yellow dog grabbed hin.
by the elbow OF the pants ann SHOOK
him, as he said, " like the ague.'
The dog barked and clewed until the
son came down in his night SHIRT and
called him off. He told his father he had
bought that dog of fireman for eleven
dullurs. and it was probably the best
dog bargain that had been made this
season. He said the fireman told him
he could sell the dog for IL hundred dol
lars, if he could find the man that
wanted that kind of Il dog.
The parent took off his pants, what
the dog had not removed, and Ill the
hall he stumbled over birch bark
canoe the ho. bought of an Indian fol
rine dollars, and an army musktt with
I'M iron ramrou fell down from the cor
ner. The boy had paid six dollars f"l
that. He had also bought himself an
ovrrcnnt with IL seal-skin collar and
cuffs, and ii complete outfit OF calico
shirts and silk stockings.
In his room the parent found the mar
hc top of II soda fountain, Il wlleelbarrow
and IA shelf filled with all kinds Of cam
ned meat, preserves and crackers, and Il
barrel Of apples. A wall tent and six
pair of blankets were rolled up ready
for camping ont, and huckskln SHIRT
and IL pair of cond uroy pants lay on the
bed ready for putting on. Six fish poles
and hlasket full of fish lines were
| ready for business, and an oyster can
| full of grub wOrlns for bait were sqnir-
| ming on the wash stand. The old gen:
tleman looked the layout over, looked
mt his pocket book in the bureau draw!
as empty as Il contribution box, and
said:
louIIS lIdH TIE tlfHt'S nave Uetfi ttt
| flush. We will now return to ii specie
basis. When you want money come tG
me and l will give you IL nickel, and
you will tell me what you intend to
buy with it, or I'll warm you. You heal
mel"
And now that man stands around from
the effects OF the encounter with the
yellow, dog, and asks every man where a
letter will reach Bob Ingersoll. He says
he will kill IngersOll, if it, is the last
noble act ile ever accnlMplislles. -