The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-07-18
AN OCULAR DEMONSTRATION.

Grandma sat on the side porch, in
clean cap and kerchief, tanning herself
with turkey wing. 1t was one of those
sudden, warm days of June, which,
coming after late spring, prove nearly
intOlerable. 1t was Friday afternoon,
and she was expecting Tom every mo-
ment.
Tom attended Mr.. Dancey's boarding
school for boys, where he was being
fitted for Harvard He lived on a New
England farm Ave miles from the school
Grandma watched the lsne by which he
was to come, for Tom was the light Of
her eyes; he was so like his mother, her
own dead Elizabeth.
But the boy came across the fields this
afternoon, a shorter way, and dashed
arourd the corner of the house and had
grandma in hi arms before she thought
of bis being in sight.
"Nhy, my child, "she said, smiling and
excited, = how do you do 2"
Tom threw his hat on one chair and
himself on another, and wiped the moist
ure from his forehead.
Hot, hotter, hottest, hotteutot, hot
entOter, hOttentotest, hottentotissimo,
hettentotissimus, hot as an oven, hot as
two ovens, hot SIS four ovens, hot as
seven ovens"
This is what Tom ratified out fast as
you would count. IT had very queer
sound to grandma's ears, which were
somewhat hard Of hearing.
Where's Fan?" he asked immedi-
ately.
She's walked over to Janet Brain,
ards. She expected to be back in time
to welcome yOU," said grandma but
when girls get together they never know
when to say goodbye. Wasn't you say
ing something about Hottentots and
ovens?" she added, turning her ear to
receive his answer.
"Oh P' said Tom, that's a string cf
nonsense picked up reading one day and
laid it in the storehouse of memory, as
Prof Dancey would say"
"Pll be bound you did ~ said grand
ma. "I'll warrant you learn such things
much faster than you ever learn your
school books"
cor than Bruno learns his lesson, !"
Tom added, Here, Bruno here" he
called, and then he whistled
Bruno left off chasing the chickens
and came running to his master; then
there were such demonstrations as are
possible only between boy and dog. After
a while, Tom conducted Bruno around
the house to the front door and into the
parlOr. Then he closed the door and
blinds as though on murder intent.
Then he took great armful of the
books and brio -a-brac from the center
table, and dumped them in disorderly
pile on the sofa. The pretty basket which
oveThung the table he hitched up out of
the way, thus clearing an arena for
BrunO's drill
Then he began whistling and swapping
his fingers TO the dog, patting, ordering,
| threatening, coaxing, to induce him to
leap over the center>table.
But s1ou some one was heard calling,
Toni Toml'
Then the door opened, and Fanny's
pretty figure stood on the SILL
Why, Tom" she said, "what are
you doingf"
"Tm training Bruno" he answered.
/ Training him for what H-the circus2-
Fanny asked.
" His training is general rather than
! special" said Tom, in a grand way,
quoting from Prof. Dancey. "I design
| to secure the symmetrical development
OF all his faculties-of the whole being
to fit him for any sphere in life 10
which destiny may call him. Ahem I
aim at such a discipline, that when bis
chance in life comes, 40 matter in what
direction it may lie, he will be found
ready to take it."
g Well, don't see why he mightn't
! just as well take his jumping discipline
over the ash-barrel as over the parlor
table," said Fanny, with some pettish-
neea.
He might" Tom admitted; but
/ he table-leap is not the only exercise
that this room affords him. I desire to
develop his combativeness by showing
him that other deg in the glass there"
And to develop his lungs, I sup.
pose, Fanny suggested; for the dog
at this moment began to utter deep
growls and barks, a4 he discovered his
imsge in the mirror
Tom collsred him TO prevent rush at
the mirror dog, and turned his face from
the glass.
Fanny, after watching the progress OF
the drill for some time, said
"Well, can't see what you find &c
interesting in thst dog I never saw
him perform any feat Of genius. He
does seem to have talent for wsggiug.
however"
"Why. he'sth clevere7t dog uDbungri
Tom said, warmly. I've taught him
another trick this week. just see here
He's the Booth Of dogs"