Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-26
THE TAYLOR BOYS.
ALI Tells Tales on Bob and Bob Tells
Tales Ar.

Tales on All.
From the Nashville 4 npertc1n.
moment OF silence marked the close of
Bob's recital Then some one turned to All,
who had been an intense listener, his eyes
fixed on the floor, the smoke from his cigar
curling over his fine head, his whole attitude
suggestive of calm reDose.
wv hat sort Of boy was Bob?' was inquired
of the Republican candidate. All removed
the fragrant weed from his lips. and. turning
his chair toward the fire, and pecring into
the blaze, while a genuine smile stole over his
count enance, said:
"Well, he was a queer boy. To begin
WITH
'Be careful, Al!," smlingly interjected his
younger brother.
was queer. He was in all manner of mischief
at all times, but he had Knack of gettisg
out OF the worst scrapes without scratch.
while Nat and Jim and | caught the devil.
He was a natural born humorist, and with
his dro ways could trick the old folks nine
times out of ten. He would lead US into mis-
chief, and then get out Just in the nicK of
Tune and leave us 10 catch the consequences.
A lucky star has been over that boy from the
day he was born. Let me tell you how be got
ahead OF us on one occasion. but it will serve
as an instance of how he managed things.
Brother Nat. jim and l. Bob. and little
negro boy went in swimming ono Sunday
morning in the mill pond near the house.
+ Their had told us he would whip us II we
went swimming on sunday, hut we dsobeyed
him. He found 1t out that afternoon. He
would not punish us because it was Sunday.
but he took us bright and early In the morn
ing to the barnyard. We knew what was
coming. He took single aud bored holes
through 1t with "a gimiet, and then he made
us bend over log. You can imagine the re-
suit. He punished jim and Nat and me, and
we were all CRYING when he went up 10 Bon,
VINO was leaning over the log waiting his
turn. Father raised the paddle. suddenly
BOD pulled 90 cents ont Of his pocket. and,
of fat witty
most humorous expression of countenance, he
said:
"'Dad. I'll give you this to let me off, at
the same time Offering father the half dollar.
We were all watching HIM as intently as our
pains would let us. Father stood with the
paddle uplifted. Bob continued IN his lean
ing position, holding the half dollar betw cen
his upllfted fingers with that grimace unal-
terable on his features. Bob was as cool as a
cucumber. Father at length broke out in a
laugh and babe Bob be up and off i'll a twink
ing. Bob sprang to his feet. and slipping his
half dollar back into his pocket walked by
us to the house. making faces at us as he went
by"
The laughter which this fraternaI SALLY had
created having ceased, the same inquisitor
asked Bob of the boyhood of Aft.
"Well," said Bob. with a merry twinkle in
his eye, "Alf had more temper than 1; he had
more fight than did, but had more fun He
was quick to resent an injury and equally
quick to forgive. ALI was slwavs fond of
hunting. When mere lad he would go out
near us and camp out for weeks at time. |
believe be had rather hunt now than do any
thing. All was my favorite brother, if l had
favorite, and think he thought the most Of
me, although he never told me so. for he a.
ways dld have way of conCealing his affec-
ton from those he loved. Father thought
there was more outcome in ALI than in any of
us, but brother Jim, who invented that gun
of which you have heard is the smartest. Ar
always was keen one. You may be sure he
couldwork scheme as well as anybody. Tll
tell you an incident of his manhood which
illustrates his boyhood. When he was run
ming for the Legislature there was big Bap-
tlst vote which he wanted and wanted badly.
One day he went to haptizing. The preacher
had number of converts in the creek. ALI
as big as life, stood among the people on the
shore, singing for dear life, AS fast as a per-
son was baptized and started for the shore
ALI would wade into the creek, and, singing
as he advanced with his hymn book in ane
hand, he would extend the other to the drip
ping penitent aud escort him or her to the
shore. All got the vote of every Baptist in
the district That's the sort of fellow he
was"