The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-07-31

tons of the day, Walter to the Miles
family seemed thorough.
eff l only knowed what you know, "
said John Miles one day, with sigh,
at 'ud relieve me of deal of trouble.
81 should like to help you all l can;
what is the trouble with youP" asked
Walter.
The speakers were alone in the hay
loft reclining on the fresh mOwn hay.
The manger had been filled with hay
and the horses below were crunching
their oats and corn with an occasional
wisp of hay to give variety to the
meal
At Walters question John rolled his
giant form over until he lay upon his
back.
81 don't know if We could help me
or not if ye'd try he said.
IL might, but assure you it will be
a miracle for me to help you unless |
know wherein you require aid. y
81 want to learn to talk, said John.
"You can talk"
eyes, | know l can talk. So can a
goose swim an fly, but not like a bird
or fish. I'm awkward an know that
don't tell things right, said John,
with blush on his face.
"Your language could be improved
some,n said Walter, with smile.
oval, that is Just what | want to
learn. How is people to improve their
language when feller's got no teach
erP' said John.
"You could teachyourself, or Icould
instruct you; but, john, why have you
so recently found yourself defective in
the art Of speech, and why this sudden
notion to improveP"
John rubbed the perspiration from
his brow and said: cause | want to
be as | kin talk to anybody, it makes
no difference who it is IA man, or a
Gal. Them Bushville fellers kin talk
their grammar and git away with a
feller.
al rather suspect that there is some
young lady with whom you wish to
converse, said alter smiling.
John brushed his hOrid face with the
sleeve of his shirt, and, after momen-
JdIy pduot, odlu' 4hdJ DO ~ oO' anu
may be it amt. ;"
admit the truth of it, john" said
Walter. "Is there not some young lady
in Bushville for whose sake you want
to polish up your language"
John turned his face to the wall and
said, in an awkward way; "Well,
then, what eff therewas, an what eff she
lived in Bushville an her name was
Susie Black, could you help a Teller
anyP"
II might" said Walter, with a
smile. '.'"f
"Then you've got the hull secret O
my case"
you want to cultivate your Ian
guage then, so that in conyersing with
Miss Black you may cope with those
young men at Bushyille.
THAT'S list it, said John, turning
his face toward Walter, Eye see them
BushvilIe chaps just take the shine out
O teller that's been raised among
horses, oxen and mules.
"All right, John Walter answered
CHOW, in the first place, let me crit
icise you some in your pronunciation. y
Hold on there, said John, 'what
do We mean by them bic words?"
Critlcise means to Judge, to exam
inc and pont out your faults"
Eyes, in course" SAID John, who
hardly understood Walter yet,
I"You are in the habit of calling a
girl gal.
Ain t that right?''
mo, you should never use it."
81 won't then. "
You seem deficient in grammar;
you frequently use the objective them
in the nominatlve case.
yes" said John, laundering in a
sea of uncertainty as to the meaning Of
his tutor
"You do not seem to know that the
verb must agree with the noun in num-
Der and person, and frequently use a
plural noun as subject and singular
verb
Hold on, hold on" said John,
reaching out his hand despairingly
I'm afraid ye're given me too big a
dose to take all to onc't."
"Why, I've not given you any thing
yet. -
"Then I'd better give it up. can't
learn all that in lifetime. kin stand
sense talk, but when it comes to nouns
by plural and singular, l cave in.
PinEey kin learn all about them things,
but | never will; | hate 'em. The
teacher logged me six times one day,
cos l didn't know what noun was,
and I've hated the thing ever since.
Darn a noun, want nothing to do
with EN-"
Walter smiled and said: But John
don't you love Susie BlackP"
q" do, by Jupiter, dor
"Will you not put yourself to some
inconvenience for her sakeP"
al will, you bet will"
"Do you not wish to speak as cor
rectly as those young fellows at Bush
vile, the clerks, the bankers and
school teachersP"
"Ya's."
"Then why not tryP"
81 will
Walter now saw at once that Johns
teacher had made a mistake in giving
him abstract rules. so he commenced