The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-25
Stretching Things.
Christian Neighbor.

Christian Eeighbor.
sIm most dead! 1t is ashot as fire,
and I've been more than adozen miles
after that colt"
Andrew threw himself at full length
on the lounge, and wiped the perspira-
ton from his forehead.
"Where did you go?" inquired the
father.
81 went over to Briggs corlier and
back by the bridge"
''Ihat is a little less than amile and
q hall. Is it SO very warm, Andy? 1t
seems quite cool here"
mo, not SO dreadful, l suppose, if
I'd take it moderate; but l ran like
lightning and got heated up"
"You started about 5 O'Clock, my
son, and now it lacks a quarter OF 81
said his father. consulting his watch.
eyes, sir; just three-quarters OF an
hour" answered Andrew, innocently.
"Does it take lightning 40 minutes
to go a mile and a half"
II didn't mean exactly that, father,
but Iran all the way because leXpect-
ed the whole town would be here to-
night to see my new velocipede," eX-
planned Andrew, reluctantly.
"Whom do you expect. Andy? l
wasn't aware that such 81 crowd was
to be here. What will you do with
them all?"
"Jim, Eddy andTimtoldmcthey'd
be round after school; and | wouldn't
wonder if Ike came too, that's all"
THE population OF the town is
5000, and you expect three persons.
Well, as you are very sick, | am glad
no more are coming. You couldn't
play with them at all"
"Sick!" cried Andrew, springing to
his feet; "who says Pm sick?"
"Why, Andrew, you said you We're
almost dead. Doesn't that mean very
sick?"
"You are so particular, father,
about my talking. | don't mean ex-
actly what | say, OF course. wasn't
nearly dead, to besure, but | didsome
tall running, you bet. There were more
thanfifty dogs after me, and don'tgo
much on dogs"
'tQuite a band OF them! Where did
they all come from"
''rhere was Mr.. Wheeler's sheep dog,
and Rush's store dog, and two or
three more; and they made for me,
and so | ran as fast as l could"
Five, at the most, are not fifty,
Andrew d..
"Ihere looked to be fifty, anyway
aswered Andrew, somewhat impatient.
ly. ''Carter'S ten-acre lot was full Of
dogs just making for me; and / guess
you'd have thought there were fifty il
it had been you"
Ten acres OF dogs would be II great
many thousands. Haveyou any idea
how many?'
Andrew did notlike to calculate, 70,
it occ,lrred to him what q small space
ten or fifteen thousand sheep woulc
occupy while camping, and ten acre
of dogs would be past calculation.
But" hisfather continued, II know
foolish habit of exaggeration than tc
tell the children Of acknowledgements
in going after the colt. You ran lik'
lightning. encountered ten acres 0
dogs, which would be hundreds o
thousands, ITaNeicu more IMAM II COZ
en- miles to get one and u halt miles il
a straight line, expected to find 5000
people here to examine your new We
locipede, and when you reached HON,
you were nearly dead!'
"Please don't, father; the boys ant
girls will all themselves to death
and | won't exaggerate again if liv
to be as old as Methuselahi"
Laugh themselves to death at
simple story like this? hope not, bu
rather hope it will set them to watch
ing their W manne oftelling stories
SO u to be sure they do not greatl,
overstate things. Habit, my sor
grows with years, and becomes in tim
so deeply rooted that it will beimpos
siblefor you when you become a ma,
to relate plain, nnvarnished facts III
less you check the foolish habit i
which youindulge every day. ofstretcf
ing simple Incidents into the mos
marvellous tales.