Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-05-08
Namprpas Department.
THAT CHECKER.ROARD.
WHAT 1T ACCOMPLISHED IN QUIET DETRor


FAMILY. ..a
Up to three evenings ago, says the Detroit
Free Press, such thing as a checker board
was never known in Mr.. Grattan's house. He
and his aged partner have managed to pass
the long evenings very pleasantly, and he
supposed they were happy enough until a
friend from the East paid them flying visit
and asserted over and over again that the game
. of checkers was not only all the rage there,
but that it served to quicken the perceptive
faculties, enlarge the mind and render the brain
more active. After giving the subject due
thought, Mr.. Grattan walked down town and
purchased checker board, and when evening
came he surprised bis good wife by bringing
it from the wood.shed aud saying:
"Well, Martha, we'll have a game or two
before we 60 over to the social. | expect to
beat you all to flinders, but you won't care. -
"Of course not, and if beat you why you
won't care" she replied.
They sat down, and he claimed the first
move. She at once objected, but when ne
began to grow red in the face she yielded and
he led off. At the fourth move she took a
man, chuckling as she raked him in.
81 don't see anything to grin al" he sheer
ed, as he moved man backwards.
"Here! you can't move that way| she
called out.
81 can't, Ell? Perhaps never played
checkers before you we're born!'
She saw chance to jump two more men
and gave in the point, but as she moved he
cried out:
"Put them men right back there! I've con-
cluded not to move backwards, even if Hoyle
does permit it!''
She gave in again, but when he jumped a
man her nose grew red and she cried out:
81 didn't mean to move there; / was think
ing of the socialp'
"Can't help the social, Martha-we must
go by Hoyle."
In about two minutes she jumped two men
and went into the king row, shouting:
"Crown him crown him I've got a kingv
"Oue would think by your childish actions
that you never played game before" he
growled. -
$.I know enough to beat you!' =
"You do, eh Some folks are awful smart. "
'tAnd some folks ain't~ she snapped, as
her king captured another man.
"What in the thunder are you jumping
that way for ?"
ga king can jump any way"
"No he can'tp'
eyes he can p
"Don't talk back to me, Martha Grattan
was playing checkers when you were in
your cradle!" Z.s5
81 don't care lean jump two men which
ever way you novel"
He looked down on the board, saw that
such was the case, and roared out:
you've moved twice to my once"
ri haven'tr
"I'll take my oath you have! I can't
play against any such black-leg practices !"
"Whos black-leg? You not only cheat
ed, but you tried to lie out ofit"
Board and checkers fell between them. He
could get on his hat quicker than she could
find her bonnet, and that was the only reason
why he got out of the house first. A Wood
ward avenue grocer found him sitting on a
basket of cranberries at the door as he was
closing up. for the night, and asked him if he
was waiting for his wife to come along. &
"Well, not exactly; stopped here to feel
in my pocket for the key of the barn. l
shall sleep on the hay tonight, and see if it
won't cure this cold in my head |"