The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-02-20

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL AND
ADAPTED TO THE WEATHER.
It was the year of grace 1880 and the
first day of the year. Dennis Duval was
plodding along on horseback through the
mud and the mist when he met, at the
section corners, Mr.. Paul Jones, a neigh
Dor, who was mounted like himself, and
the two headed their horses into the same
lane and logged along together. Duval
gave Jones ''Happy New Year" as they
met, to which Jones replied in low
monotone, s'The same to you," and then
became silent. The splash of the horses
feet was the only sound for several rods,
when Duval broke out:
whats the matter, Jones? l never
saw you look so tore up in my life.
You're always counted the best man in
the business for joke; but you don't
look much like it to-day. What's the
matter? Anybody dead?"
Jones looked up, gave kind of grin
and ghastly smile. add then replied:
"No, there amt anybody dead, but I
dreamed there was, that's all . and again
he was silent.
Nothing but splashing for the next
eighty rods. at the end of which Duyal
again made an attempt at conversation:
''You dreamed there was? Who'd you
dream wasp
Myself said Jones, with wink and
sly grin from under his slouched hat.
'sThat you was?" said Duval, and then
there was silence again.
At length Jones heaved deep sigh,
straightened himself in his saddle, and
spoke as follows:
"Yes, dreamed I was dead. Didn't
dream much about the dyin' part, but
the first knew I was standin' afore a
gate and waitin' to get in. waited
around q while, and nobody seemed to
come; so I stepped into kind of little
office just to one side O. the gate to wait.
Twas nice kind of room, not very
big; and was goin' around it, lookin' at
things, while I was waitin'; and first
knew I saw big book like ledger, set
up on desk, or frame like. I kind O.
wondered what it was, and as it was right
out in the room where everybody could
see it, went up and looked at it, and as
sure as I'm sinner, there stood my ac
count. It was headed in good style,
'Panl Jones, in account, ETC.. DR.. on
one side and CT. on the other. It kind
sudden, but I'd been thinkin' about it
more or less all the time I'd been waitin'
Well, nobody'd come yet, so I got to
lookin' over the account. The first state
ment was General business account,
and don't want to brag, but I had a
pretty fair showing, take it all round. I
was charged mp with some things, just as
I deserved to be, but in the main con-
fess was pretty well pleased with the
way the account looked.
"Well, then came on the Church and
Benevolent Society account, and that
made fair show, too. You see I've al
ways had considerable to give, and I've
liked to give pretty well, and so I've
given good deal one way and another,
and it was all down all right. There was
one or two charges though, on the other
side, that got me little. For instance,
there was, 'neglecting meetings. and
giving for personal benefit, and giving
for the sake of public approval That
got me little, but I stood that pretty
we'll. I went on down to the widows
and orphans account, which was in pref
ty good shape, too, and was beginning
to feel pretty good, when struck school
directors account, and tell you, Duval,
my heart struck the bottom of my boots
like lead. You see I'd never thought
about runnin' an account with that head
in an .Jhow. But there It was, and had
to face it.
"Well, as soon as I got my breath, I
took q look at it. I daresnt tell you all
there was there, but it just makes me
sick now to think about it. Why the
DIR. column run on for about six pages,
and here's about the way it went:
''Item-Neglecting to keep school
house in repair, on account of which
George Newcomb's little girl canaht cold
and died, and several children suffered
severely. [See testimony of Newcomb's 8
little girl.
''Item-Neglecting to stand by the
teacher when some meddlesome people
in the district tried to break up the
school.
''Item-Neglecting to sustain the
teacher when he attempted to coerce a
few bad, big boys who were trying to
run the school.
.'Item-Hiring Mehitabel Parker (you
see she was my wife's cousin, and had
been spending the summer visitin' us) !,
to teach the school, she being young and
inexperienced, when Hiram Samson
could have been hired in her stead, he
being an experienced and accomplished
teacher, Tie change being made for the
sake of saving five dollars month.
''IteM-Neglecting to visit school and
PERSONALLY inspect the work of teachers
and pupils.
TItem-Neglecting to confer with
teacher and patrons about the interests
jof the school, and SO on. Here it went
page after page. all charged up.
"Item-Neglecting to insist on uni
formity of text books, and SO greatly
crippling the school.
ssItem-Allowing private family quar-
rels in the district to interfere with and
| weaken the school.
81 can't give 'em all, but they made
| nv hair stand On end when read 'em. >
ssWas there nothing on the other side
> |||| = ! : : ! : !
was just Credit,
p and
s of the