The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
Going to School.

"rhe cause of education be hanged !"
he muttered, as he sat down on the curo-
stone on Shelby street. -,
Hc was a lad of thirteen. His pants
we're supported by a piece OF Wlre
clothes-line girted around his waist, ms
hat was ancient and greasy, and his big
flat feet seemed to be waiting for o thun-
der shower to wash them clean.
"That's what ails Inc !" he went on,
as he pushed his toes into the wet sand.
II don't believe in feller diffing IN
and learning all there is to learn, and
not letting other folks have q chance.
There's lots of other folks in this world
besides me, and I amt going to be
hog, and try to learn all there is TO
learn"
After O minute he went on:
"Don't I know huff now? Three
times two are six, four times i've are
twenty, and four and four are eight.
That's as correct rs I could get 'em If 1
went to school fora hundred years.
And don't I know how to spell? Cat
is 'cat' the world over, and III bet on
it every time. Hen spells 'hen, and
| know it as we'll as if I weighed q ton. ~
He rose up to throw stone at dog
across the street, and after resum'ng his
seat, he went on:
g. Jogerfy kinder wrestles me down,
but don't go much on jogerfy. What
do care whether al island is entirely
surrounded by water, or whether there
amt apv water within ten miles of it?
S'pose I'm going to buy and sell islands
for living? l don't care which is the
highest mountain or the longest river,
do 1? I'm goiug to keep feed store,
and when I'm rolling bales O hay around
will care about mountains and rivers
I've heard the boys 60 on about exports
and imports, and straits, and seas, and
capes, but what's them to me ? II a
Teller wants O bag o oats, is he going to
wait and ask me when the Island OF
Madagascar was discovered?'
He carefully examined the big toe OF
his left foot and the heel Of his right
foot, and gloomily observed: .
8" The old folks are making ready to
push me into school, and I've got to
make ready to keep out. I can't take to
school, somehow. I could sit here and
study all day, but the minute I git into
O school-house I'm nervous. Something's
going to happen TO me this week. III
be taken home in wheel-barrow with q
big cash in this heel, or this toe almost
cut off. That will mean four weeks Oh
crutch, and they don't allow lame boys
to 90 to school and crutch up and down
the aisles. Or, sposin I 60 home with
palpitation of the heart? The OLD lady
has had it. and I won't more than get
into tie house before she'll have me
tucked ND on the lounge, the camphor
bottle down, currant jeil and sponge
cake in the distance, and she'll call out
to the old gent:
Father, it's no use of thinking of
sending this boy to school. lie looks
stout and healthy, but he's q mere
shaddcr. The close atmosphere of the
school-room will kill him before snow
fies.'"
The boy looked up. There was grin
all over his face, and he chuckled:
Palpitat;on is the key note A sore
toe can be seen-a palpitating heart is
hidden away under hide and fat and ribs.
Now n-oosh-Woosh, u.m-m-m-
hold yer. breath, roll yer eyes, kick out
yer left leg, and make her bob around
like fly on hot stove-cover. "-Dstrott
Free Press,