The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-24
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
N'importe Makes his Best Bow to
Annie Laurie, and Soiiceteth
MIider Treatment at the
Hands, or Pen. Of
1opsy.

1t is not so much what l am to do or
say in general fashion that | asked en-
lIphtenment Abeut, .Bonny Anuie Lau
rie," as how to show my Jealous de-
sire to make myself particularly use
full | doubted not that L could enter
the Household presence with sufficient
mannerism to ensure not being lndIg.
nantly expelled, but had soaring am
bition to be something more than res
pectablc figure head.
am feeling greatly fattered to te told
that | seem to have both brd'as and
stun.ns, a happy oombiuatlon that Is
not always To be met IN the same lndl-
vidua fear. Truth would compel me
TO admit that, as a general rule, there Is
A. the lrlSbmnn would say, "a vast deal
too little OF either to be iound-thc gen.
uinc article OF both | mean.
There Is subtle something Of elegance
and refinement, whose absence Is cUnsp C
| uous 10 the common manner, and which
Is replaced by quality that L can des
cribe only a. dftenttreaeSs Since We lack
the one SO much, let us hope that our
,rudciy shown (perhaps). but very earn
est cesire t, please, may "pass muster. "
At present. fair, Anui- Laurie, there is
nothing discussed by the members that
can take part in intelligently. | might
hunt up my graDd- mothers old cook
book, which Is doubtless TO be found in
the attic, somewhere. and copy lew re-
cripes for pies. puddinrs, candles, etc,
and palm them off upon the sisterhood d.
| Original and tried. specimens of house
keeping ability; but having flown my
colors already, and not being able to
claim descent from French cook, | could
not impose on the veriest tyro in culinary
matters.
What theni do not feel inclined to
have any finger 10 the pie OF dispute be
tween Yankee Sojourner" and Eugene
Hail." because, although l eympathize
with the last, and zee plenty of good
.ensc in what the first says, am content
TO let them settle the question of mental
equality or superiority who can handle 1t
pro aud con so much better than | can.
Paper bullets of the brains" are much
harder to aim and meet directly, with
telling effect. | mean, than the more
weighty leadcn arguments used IN settling
the vexJd question of civil rights de-
cade or 50 ago But somehow, any sort
Of head piece seemed good enough to
enable one to hold his own in that discus
sion. If forced hnrriedly to make a
choice between meeting a lady In intellect
ual warfare, or taking my chances IN
| "a general ro,o" would venture the last
where l might be able to dodge success
fully without having imputations cast on
either my brains or manners.
! Miss Topsy gives me a nut to crack In
the way of riddle, but it is all one as feed
ing a toothless horse on corn | never
| had the gift Of guessing that is a nat
ural accomplishment" of our more acute
| hyperborean neighbors As far as my
own Judgment goes in the matter "a
spoon IN u cup of tea is decidedly in
the way, for | am clumsy and given To
npsetting things l have no cupy OF
Hoods Poems aud unless Topsy will copy
that ''song of the shirt for me am
afraid that | cannot grasp her meaning.
Surely there is nothing IN that about a
spoon etc? 2" And if | am TO read the
said songs simply TO repair my ignor
ance on the subject of Lands, aud gus
sets, and seams do not feel SO Keen
an interest in that. for to what end should
make myself technically learned III mat
ters that do not concern meI Besides,
Topsy, | did read that song some
years ago and rose up no wiser than sat
down!
Don't be like some school teachers
who, in their zeal to feed the minds
of their scholars. cram them with tough
and wholly unmanageable viands at the
very start. Ii you are bent on improv-
ing my mind give me something easy TO
begin on, and educate me by degrees to
the desired standard.
| have been watching tie course of
our Young undertaking and am surprised
to see it so little advanced. 1t de-
serves, and felt sure it would secure
general approval and assistance. L
have been expecting to see the space
allotted to US by the Editor filled to
Overlooking with letters, both challeng-
ing and answering comment and crlti-
cism Ladies, come to the rescue! !!
Boys, don't be bashful, but sharpen
your pens and wits and let's have a
tournay of minds. Annie Laurie has
given me courage to attempt one joust,
at least by her comfortable words to
N'IMPORTE.