The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-01-10
RECoLLECTIONs OF A JOURNALIST,
His First Experiment I'm the Profession.

, August morning, which l shall never FORGE
and ended two hours later.
We lived in an inland city Of 5000
inhabitants, and our next door neighbor
were the Holcombs. Josh Holcomb, q boy
little older than l, "carried route In tn
Democrat Office" as the boys phrased it.
had been playing a few games of checker
with Josh one evening when his older brother
who was learning his trade in the office, cam
home with large roll Of damp newspaper
over his arm. Josh at once cleared the dining
room tablespread them out smoothly upon il
and began to fold them with what seemed I,
me marvellous rapidity, especially after
had tried it myself and found how clums,
green hand may DO at even 80 simple
task. Josh spoke very modestly of his owl
powers, said he was never able to averag,
more than 500 an hour, and challenged m,
profoundest respect and highest admiration
for gifted son Of genius In the office nance
Frank Dennis, who "could fold 1000 al
| hour"
observed that Josh every now and ther
picked out paper that was particularly vel
printed-neither too much ink nor too little
fold it with great care, bring the corners Il
an exact match, and rubbed the folds down
very smooth. l supposed he want them fol
the top Of his pile to make II look well; but
what was my surprise to SEQ that he finally
put these nicely folded papers mt the very
bottom ofthe pile.
"What in the world are those for2" said
"If you II 60 round with me in the morn
ing," said Josh, you'll see. Suppose you
| do2"
1t struck me as rather romantic idea, and
on Josh's agreement to give a long, low whis-
tie under my window ut 4 o'clock, l prom
ised to be ready to start with him.
| L was reused in the gray of morning by
| Josh's whistle, and very few minutes after
ward l was hanging by my hands from the
windowsill, had dropped, landing in my sis
| ter's flower bed, and was beside him. might
have gone out by the door if had wanted
to, but that would have been tame and COM
| monplace.
Josh had his bundle of papers slung under
his left arm by a strap that passed over his
right shoulder. He gave me dozen or two,
and we started Off
We passed up the street a few rods, till we
came 10 high board fence inclosing gar.
den flied with fruit trees, the house being at the
o.h..r end of the lot, on the next street. At
y certain point Josh rolled away big stone
from hollow in the ground, removed small
board which it had held in place. put his bum
die of papers through, and then crawled un-
der the fence himself. He explained that
this was short cut to Jones street, where his
route began, and, Of course, / followed him.
think the cut would have been shorter if
Josh had gone straight along, instead of
stopping under the peach trees to fill his
pockets. AS we passed out by the front gate
he observed that some one in the honse was
watching us through the turned Stats of
blind, and remarked that "Old Leonard was
up great deal earlier than there was any
need Of"
"He's too stingy to take paper" contin-
ued Josh, land don't see any reason in the
world for his getting out of bed before break
fast time"
suggested that perhaps the old gentle
man was nervous about the fruit in the yard
"If he's too stingy to keep dog" said
Josh, she ought to lose a few peaches now
and then"
This fearful picture of double-headed
stinglness on the part of the venerable
Leonard quieted my conscience as to any
dishonesty on the part of the avenging boy
At the next place We came to, Josh picked
out one of the nicely-folded papers, walked
across the street, and laid it carefully in the
box beside the gate.
els that man SO very particular" said l.
mo" said Josh, mot any more particular
than other. people, guess. But he always
gives me dollar at New Years."
We turned into long street newly built
up with houses all alike. The fences also
were alike, and nearly every gate stood open
across the sidewalk. Before we had gone
very far, Josh jumped down into the gutter
where it ran beneath crosswalk, thrust his
arm under the planks, and drew out pistol.
"What are you going to do with that?"
said l. fao
"Going to kill dog" said Josh, examin-
ing the weapon. "He's an awful savage
fellow; bit me the other morning; at least
he bit through my boot leg. But now I'm
ready for him."
Presently we came to house where q
large black dog lay on the steps, his nose on
his paws, and one eye open.
There he isl" said Josh, cooking bis pis-
toll. "NOw let him come at me-
The dog watched US, apparently with con.
siderable interest, but did not stir.
IL must fetch him this time," said Josh.
Father wouldn't let ME carry the pistol if
he knew it, and / can't leave it under the
sidewalk every day; rain would spoil it."
He stopped before the open gate, and be.
gan talking to the dog in very compli-
mentary terms.
and bite me now, will your
The dog slowly got up, stretched himself
out, and deliberately walked forward to the
gate
Josh held down the pistol, and the great
black beast walked unconcernedly up to it
and proceeded to smell of the muzzle, in a
mild spirit of investigation.
Bang" went the pistol.
How'll went the dog.
Oh-g-o-o-d g-r-a-ciousp went Josh, as
he lifted his bleeding hand with piece of
the pistol sticking to it.
We bound it up with handkerchief, while
the bowling dog ran off around the house,
and the sound of an opening shutter at q
window above warned US to depart
We had not passed more than three houses,
when gate just ahead of us was pushed
| open, and another enormous black dog came
out.
"Great Cesar" said Josh, 'I've shot the
wrong dogl There's the beast that bit mel"
"What shall we do?" said 1, looking about
for stone.
"We can't do anything" said Josh. "And
the rest of the people on this street must do
without their papers this morning."
1t was now rapidly growing light, and all
along the route there were signs that the
town was waking up. At one place small
curly-haired man, with twinkling black eyes,
who kept confectioner's shop, had just
opened his door and was sweeping the side
; walk.
"Be kind of quiet, now" said Josh; 81
have a cooky here"
Before could ask him what ''cooky'
was, ne had glided into the shop, followed BY
the man, and overheard little argumen,
! hatr thov, yhak1 d.