Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-10-16
Base Ball Slang.

Plunkins was champion base ballist
when the national game first came in
to prominence, says Ierds Sfings.
Both hands are crippled up and he has
some sixteen different kinds OF rheuma-
tism, SO he doesn't go out to see a game
very often now. but there is spark OF
the old fire lett in him yet. igssa n
The other day he learned that his
youngest son. Johnny, had played
hockey from school, and, whip in hand,
he awaited the lad's return, resolved to
administer salutary chastisement. AT
length he caught him slipping warily
into the back yard, accompanied by a
bise ball club taller than he is.
"Ahal'' said Plunkins, trying to get a
firmer grip on the rawhide with his
stiffened finger, "been running away
from school have We? Don't want to let
the school master teach your young
ideas how TO get 'emselves of properly,
eh? AS the twig is bent the trees in
clined. but you're bent on foolin' away
your time, | see. and you amt inclined
to study. But ifYou don't want to be
taught at school (spltting on his hands
as he grabs him by the COLLAR, I'll
teach ye."
Johnny began to whimper and moan,
tcan,t have any fun"
"Fun!" roared his father, "what d We
call fun?" and he raised his whip tt
strike.
"Pla-playin' base bal" sobbed John.
ny.
"Base ball?" said Plunkins, suspend
ing his arm in the air, "where did you
learn to play base ball?"
"Oh, | knowed ever so long ago."
"And you belong to nine?" The
arm dropped to his side.
eyes, the Daisy Cutters And WI
have been playin' the 'High-Lows,' 0
Horlem." +"
"But it's wrong torun away from
school, Johnny. Couldn't you hav,
put in a subj" Mary sub, said John
ny, emboldened by seeing his fathel
sit down on the sawbuck, and the raw
hide lying at his feet. "I'm short stop
You see it was just this way. Th'
High Lows took the bat, and Stub
toed Joe led off with corking hit into
the right field. Pinky Jones put fl,
to center field which slit-nosed Mike 20
under and muffed.'
"He muffed it, did hep sneeret
Plunkins, as he breathed hard and hi
eyes began tog!isten.
eyes, but the ball split his finger"
GOOD enough. But 60 on"
"Fog-horn Pete drove pretty on,
Into left field and filled the bases
Frenchy made wild pitch and Grid
4 iron Sam scored and the two Harlem
advanced bag"
"A bag? What's that2"
ooh, you amt fly, dad. A bags
base, don cher know"
eyes, yes; ! might have known. G.
on"
"Furgy drovea moving machine
Moving machine?"
4 Eyes, a grass cutter-about half
foot out OF Slim Jim's potato grabbers
and tie two High-Lows crossed tn
silverware. :"
"The silverware.
eyes, the plate. Furgy was doubles
with Skinny on his line fly to Littl
Red, and Dlckey Bird give up the ghos
on swift bonnder to Plunkey."
"Plunkey?"
"Yes," said the boy with grin
chats me-"
"And you took itin?" cried the fl
ther.
"out of the wet, said the boy, plae
idly.
"Come to my arms, my sonl" e,
claimed Plunkins, springing to hi
feet and embracing him pleasantly 9
was afraid you was foolin' away you
time at school and gettin' no education
but see was mistaken. Why, bo,
you are fit to enter college this vel
minute. Come right along into ii
; house and tell about the rest of Il
game to your mother and me-" an
! they went in together in fond en-
= brace. 9l H'