Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-22

From the Philadelphia Times
Zeke was thought to be the Ounce of the
family. He wasn't dull. exactly. but because OF
his quiet ways and his love of sleep he got to be
known as the most backward of the bright
Barnwell boys. Zeke was so lazy that he
couldn't even count, though twelve years OF
age. When along about noon his father would
ay: "Run and tell me what time it is" Zeke
would look at the clock and remark: Little
hands a stickin' stright up'' One day Jerry.
the black man, made fun of Zeke, saying:
Glang wild We, We do'an know yer foot from a
count up yer A. b. C.s'' What Jerry said made
the lad feel ashamed. That night he covered
ms head with quilt and said to himself that
he wished bu9aboO would catch him by the
toes and take him to the bad place.
As he was feeding the horses next morning he
asked his friend Joe, the stabeman. how he
could learn to count. Joe laughed and winked
at bic horse named Bob. ''Why you poster.
you. why don't you get up onto Bobs back and
count them air hairs in his mane?" That made
Aeke's blood feel hot in his face 'All right, y
he said. and bouncing from the hay NOW he
ilghted upon Bobs back. Bob was taken by
surprise. He wasn't in the habit of having
boys on his back at breakfast. so he started in
wild run. If Zeke couldn't count he could
ride horse as swallow rides the air. AWAY
IT,
Zeke grasped handful of the name and began
to pick out the black threads.
"One, two, three. four, five" but Just as he
was about TO say six violent jerk itIe horse
head drew the name from his hand. Nothing
daunted, however, the boy began again. Bob
was running up the road at full speed.
''Ha. ha!' hallooed a man by the roadside.
what are you dOin'?"
"Countin' hairs" said Zeke
"What little fool" exclaimed the man. sHe
M or wall fry
head, but before he could get through with his
job every hair would be gray
But the dashing horse and his bold rider were
out OF hearing and out of sight They went
steadily on for nearly an hour. Zeke had
counted a thousand and Bob's run had drOpped
into a swift trot.
Hold on" said gentleman whom they had
met at bridge, what are you doing without
saddle or bridle:"
Counting the hairs Of the horses mane'' re
marked Leke. never locking uD.
why don't you count the hairs of his tail 30
r0ared the gentleman. with much merriment
But on sped Bob with Zeke bending closely over
his neck.
Soon afterward the frightened horse came to
the Schuylklii river. Into tie water me trOtted
and soon he was swimming for the other shore
This Zeke had not expected The shock of the
cold water caused him to forget his count, and
ne was obliged to cling to the name to save his
life. Anyhow" Zeke said. II find the name of
some use" When Bob reached the other bank
he kept on as madly as before but seeing that
his rider was more than a match for him he at
last stopped short and began to turn the head
toward Leke. Meanwhile Zeke had given over
ms attempt to count the hairs of the name
What ne was thinking about was how he could
procure bride. His hands still grasped the
hair which felt so smooth and strong that the
lad decided to try to make a bride out of them
With his jackknife he succeeded in cutting off
several strands. which he tied and twisted
together in clumsy fashion. stick of crooked
oak, whitfield smoothly served as a bit. Zeke
looked with pride on his odd piece of harness.
and he was delighted, when Bob, responding to
pull on the rein. trotted off homeward That
night Zeke ate his supper in pain in bed, but the
strange adventure so worked upon his mind
that it resulted in good He applied himself to
his books, and now he is a professor in one of
the best colleges in the country