Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-08-14
That Checker-BOard.

they are about one and the same thing.
That Checker-BOard.
Detroit Free Press.
Up to three evenings ago such a thing
as checker-bo was never known in
Mr.. Grattan's house. He and his aged
partner have managed to pass the long
evenings very pleasantly, and he sup
posed they were happy enough until
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, en-
large the mind, and render the brain
more active. After giving the subject
due thought, Mr.. Grattan walked down.
town and purchased a checker-board,
and when evening came he surprised
his good wife by bringing it in from the
wood-shed and saying:
'Well, Martha, We'll have a game or
two before we go over to the social. I
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 ne claimed the
first move. She at once objected, but
when he began to grow red in the face
she yielded and he led off. At the
fourth move she took man, chuckling
as she raked him in.
Il don't see anything to grin at" he
sneered as he moved a man backwards.
Here! you can't move that wayw
she called out.
81 can't, Ell? Perhaps never played
checkers before you were born!"
She saw a 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
concluded not to move backward, even
if Hoyle does permit it!'
She gave in again. but when he
jumped Il man her nose grew red and
she cried out:
81 didn't mean to move there, I was
thinking of the social"
Cant help the social, Martha,-we
must 60 by Hoyle!"
In about two minutes she Jumped
two men aud went into the klng-row,
shouting:
"Crown him! crown himl I've got
king"
"One would think by your childish
actions that you never played game
before!" he growled out.
81 know enough to beat youW
"You do, Ell? Some folks are awful
smart"
"And some folks ain't!" she snapped,
as her king captured another man.
"Wnat in thunder ale you jumping
that way for?"
GA king can jump any way!"
INC he can't!'
"Yes he can!"
"Don't talk back to me, Martha
Grattan! was playing checkers when
you were in your cradle!'
Il don't carel can jump two men
whichever 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?"
81 haven'tW
'I'll take my oath you have! can't
play against any such blackleg prac
tices!"
"Who's q blackleg! You not only
cheated, but you tried to lie out of It'll"
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 Woodward
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; L stopped here to
feel in my pocket for the key Of the
barn. [ sh Il sleep on the hay to-
night, and see if it won't cure this cold
in nv head!"