The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-03-11
Stretching Things.

Stretching Things.
m most dead 1t is as hot as fire,
and I've been more than dozen miles
after that colt T.
Andrew threw himself at full length
on the lounge, and wiped the perspira
ton from his forehead.
" Where did you go?" inquired his
father.
q went over to Briggss corner and
back by the bridge
" That is little less than mile and
half. Is it so very warm, Andy? 1t
seems quite cool here"
No, not so dreadful, 1 suppose, ii I'd
take it moderate but l ran like light
ming, and got heated up"
You started about FIVE o'clock, nv
son, and now 1t lacks quarter of six, "
said his father, consulting his watch
6 Yes, sir; just three quarters of an
hour, answered Andrew, innocently.
e" Does it take lightning forty five
minutes to go mile and half?"
" | didn't mean exactly that, father
but | ran all the way, because expected
the whole town would be here tonight to
see my new velocipede," explained An
drew, reluctantly.
Whom did you expect, Andy? I
wash aware that such a crowd was to
be here. What will you do with them
all !"
Jim, Eddy. and Tim told me they'd
be round after school and 1 wouldn't
wonder if Ike came, too that's all"
The population of the town is FIVE
thousand, 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 p cried Andrew, springing to
his feet; who says I'm sick ?"
" Why, Andrew, you said you were al
most dead. Doesn't that mean very
sick p
9 You IRE so particular, father, about
my talking. | don't mean exactly what
l say, OF course. wasn't nearly dead
to be sure but | did some tall running,
you bet. There were more than fifty
dogs after me, and don't 90 much on
dogs"
" Quite band of them Where did
they all come from ?"
There was Mr.. Wheelers sheep-dog,
and Rush's store-dog, and two or three
more and they made for me, and SO |
ran as fast as could
Five, at the most, are not fifty,
Andrew"
There looked to be fifty, any way"
answered Andrew, somewhat impatient
ly. "Carters ten-acre lot was full of
dogs just making for me- and I guess
you d have thought there were fifty if it
had been you
Ten acres of dogs would be great
many thousands. Have you any idea
how many p
Andrew did not like to calculate, for
it occurred to him what a small space
ten or fifteen thousand sheep would oc
cupy when camping, ten acres of dogs
would be past calculation.
But, his father continued, " l know
of no better way to break you of the
foolish habit of exaggeration than to tell
the children of the trouble you had in
going after the colt You ran like light
ming, encountered ten acres of dogs
which would be hundreds of thousands
more than a dozen miles to get
one and half miles in a straight line
to find FIVE thousand people
here to examine your new velocipede,
and when you reached home you were
nearly dead T.
Please, don't, father; the boys and
girls will all laugh themselves to death
and | wont exaggerate again if live to
be as old as Methuselah ~
Laugh themselves to death at sim
Pile story like tbis2 l hope not, but
rather hope it will set them to watching
heir own manner of telling stories, so as
20 be sure they do not greatly overstate
Kings. Habit, my son, grows with years,
md becomes in time so deeply rooted |
hat it will be impossible for you, when
,ou become man, to relate plain, I'M
facts unless you check the fool.
sh habit in which you indulge every day
# stretching simple incidents into the
most marvellous tales. - Christian Nejqh.
,or.