The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-07
A JuvENlLR "JRw DR SPIRIT"
lRiil NYe, b Paeh.l


 have heard, and certainly children have faculty of working the truth in as the wrong time. TsusA is good thing -in its place But the great harm comes from using k at an inoppcEtune time. l am the only and original father of one ol the class os cAilaren wke are loquacioas and truthful h a way that makes the parent heart bleed sometimes. n this little incident did not happen to make me iss victim, would scorn to tell it, Tor people ought not to make themselves or their children too eonspacuoasiy sma1tin print.
 Guests were invited to dinner, and while in my baronial hall the welkin rang and the cold baked bean was passed around amid joyous laughter, and witty l :e:: ::s. ..Sss c... 2. the sasm ai., 4,hile the gorgeous fagons ana giiuering cut. glass and silver of neighhor shone re- splendent beneath the mellow light oi the chandelier and candelabsa, the hum- ble writer of these lines, as the host would ever and anon make q brilliant re. mark which would be received with wild and tamuhuous applause.
 ifa guest sought to evade his duty as an appiaader, or to come in on time with his or her welcome piau5it, that guest vas marked by the eagle eye of the carvist, and he was given the neck of the turkey and the wing of the duck as a mark of respect.
 Habitual guests al my house have learned this, and when l ladle ou, the gravy and Jew dc sprit," as 4. Ward called it, they know ,has they can take their choice between boistefous laughter and starvation. In this way the meal passes otf with much seIak For each slash of the carving knife there Is suit able joke, aud those who have been In the habit of eating at my table are aware that there Is proper moment for mirth, just as there is for napkins, 6nger-bowls or coffee
 do this partly because want to draw attention from my carving. My carving is like my dancing. lt Is not conven. tional. It is extemeiy original. bold and audacious. l try to introduce joints where nature did nos intend to have them, and 1 seek to make short cuts across fowl In way that is productive only of chagrin, vexation and fragments of hen. Man is a weak, faliible creature, and he ought not to seek to monkey with the anatomy of a fowl or to improvise joints and apertures where they do not belong; for at such time as you think not the knife will slip, and It will tip over the celery-glass and 6ll the bosom of warm personal friend with gravy.
 To attract attention and keep up the spirits of the company, therefore. make : a,1 .,s s..s. i. a<s All ehm air with harmless amusement at the same time tha. l shed stuffing through the at mospheTe and mut,la,e the bosom oi the hen. This gives me an opportunity, oc. oasionally, to gather up the sage, b,ead- crumbs and gisxards out of my lap. and return them to tho platter without esci,- ing remark.
 A few weeks ago, on an occasion of this kind, a cousin of mine-A young lawyer connected with the Omaha road, a young man of good parts. and whose business it is to stand between the Omaha road and substantial justice, At SO much year and travelling expenses was present
 had just said something smart to keep the company good-natured while l asked young lady as she e.hs. cad oi the table to please return the duck which had inadvertently presented to her with the carving fork stuck in is. Every one was laughing joyously and trying to con- ccal it by putting their napkins in their mouths, when my cousin turned to my little daughter and said
 Bessie, haven't you got funny papa. thought"
 "Yes, indeed" said the ungrateful, un- flial and irreverent heir apparent io great name "you better believe he's funny when we have company"
 And yet people wonder way sih SSt the same genial host that ] used to be, and why the children do not eat as the first table, and why there is . sound of kicking against the door of an adjoining room, and the occasional wall Of hungry child as the meal progresses.
 Ell Perkins once told me inst he was teaching his little girl to tell the truth. asked him who he employed to attend to the irksome task, and whether he was not rash to take up branch of the science for which there was getting to De so litt'e use.
 It Is said that truth is mighty and will prevail. IL is certainly mighty in the mouth Of child. Still, we may always expect more or less Of < from children- ak <f.x t.. a<~i&As.