Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-10-12
" English Spoken.s

English Spoken"
Some time ago Thad and 1 were
wandering down the main street of o
dismal French village, when we saw the
sign: English spoken," in a store win
dow.
Here's somebody to talk tor cried;
Ioyfull~, and rushed right in, without
stopping to think that didn't want to
buy anything.
There was an old man and a boy
about sixteen behind the counter, and
as l didn't know which was the En-
glishman, Hooked at both of them, and
said: English spoken?"
The boy at once replied "Yes," and
then added: what want you?''
Now, As hadn't come to buy sous
worth, this question rather confused
me, and all wanted was to get out in
the street again ns quickly rs possible;
so | muttered something about hoping
to find an American and started for the
door.
Before could reach il, however, the
French boy, who must have jumped
over the counter, caught me by the
arm, and cried out, in the most excited
manner:
''Oh, YOU are an American, then?
How have long to see one! My father
say one come in store last month, but |
out for my breakfast-at-the-fork VIII
you not speak little American for me?"
stared at the fellow stupidity, while
Thad beckoned TO me from the doorway,
and the old Frcnchman leaned back
against the shelves, or ming with de-
| light to hear his son talking in Ian.
guage he couldn't understand. Then
the French boy drew his finger across
his forehead close to his HAIR, and un.
derStood him at once.
Come on. Thad," / whispered: che
thinks all Americans are Indians; so
just you screech out some gibberish and
dance about, while make believe scalp
YOU"
SO Thad, who was ALWAYS ready for
anything with noise in it, threw his cap
on The floor. and gave war-whoop that
actually frightened me, it was so loud;
but the French boy clappcd his hands,
and nodded smilingly to his father, so
knew l had guessed right. Then 1
made a dash for Thad. saying over
backward all the big words l could
think of, and every once in while Civ
ing yell that soon caused quite d
crowd to collect about the door. The
French fellow explained TO them who
we were and what we were doing, and
then they all joined in the applause.
l stood on my head, walked on my
hands, and chased Thad around the
store until we were both breathless,
when ! tucked his head under nv arm,
aud made bow as sign that the per.
| tormance was over.
The French boy came forward and
said: Thanks miich;" but as we went
out L noticed that the people gave us
plenty of room on the sidewalk.
well, laughed all the way home. the
whole thing was so ridiculous. and had
just asked Thad if L looked so very
much like wild red man when saw a
carriage stop at our gate and two
strange gentlemen get out.
"Oh, they must he the French pro-
lessons father said were coming to talk
TO him about American schoolsr' l ex-
| claimed
"And don't you remember papa told
us he wanted us to speak our dialogue
for them?" added Thad.
/ did remember that, but / had for
gotten good deal of the dialogue,
which L found was just the case with my
brother
"Let's do the Indian scene for Them"
he suggested, rs we were brushing our
| hair for lunch. or breakfast-at-the-
fork" rs our French boy called it.
Before l could reply father called up
stairs: boys, l want you to come down
and entertain these gentlemen with an
example of American eloquence while /
step across the street for your mother. "
ayes, sir" replied; and then, turn
ing to Thad, told him that we must do
the best we could with our speeches.
So We went down and were intro
duccd To the professors, neither of
whom, it seemed to me, could talk En-
! glsh much better than the boy in the
store. Father explained about our dia-
logue and then left us.
Thad and took our places at one
end of the room and, having both made
our bows, started off in grand style,
both the gentlemen watching us with
the closest attention. Suddenly got a
sentence ahead somehow, which SO
mixed up Thad that he began to repeat
the same words over and over. !
frowncd at him rs hard as could, at
the same time brushing back lock of
hair that had ttimbled over my ewes:
but he thought that this was sign for
him to turn Indian, and at once beaa
to whoop and yell in the most awful
manner. L couldn't help rushing for
him to make him stop; but as this was
exactly what l had done down at the
store, he only capered about more
wildly than ever, and we had regular
tuSsle of it.
But even while we were both rolling
on the floor, l noticed that the pro.
fcssors sat watching us as gravely
as ever, and then it suddenly struck me
that they must think this was part o.
the dialogue. So, as / had now sub
dued Thad, told him TO stand up anC
look serious while we made our bow, OF
which the French gentlemen clappeC
loudly, and assured father afterwart
that we not only spoke with fire anC
spirit, but really acted out the senti
ment of the piece. Matthew White, Jr.
m HdTper's Young People.
OVERRIDING Cultivation.