The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-30
The BrOthers' Estimate OF Each
Other.

NbyubbUUIO IblbtI III tub NhenV1ll6
american; "What sort Of boy was
Bob ?" was inquired Of the Republican
candidate. Alf removed the fragrant
weed from his lips, and, turning his
chair toward the fire aud psering into
the blazs, while genuine emile stole
over bis countenance, said: "Well, he
was q queer boy. To begin WITH
"Be care ful, ALI, smiling y interjected
bis younger brother. "All right" and
then, continuing, "yes, he was queer.
Bob YVES always an artful dodger. He
was what the boys now call q slick
artist. I'll explain. He was in all
manner Of mischief at all times, but
he had knsck OF getting out OF the
worst scrapes without a scra ch, while
Nat and Jim and l caught the
devil. He wss natural born
humorist, and with his droll ways
could trick the old folks nine times out
of ten. He would lead us into m schief
and then get out just in the nick
oil time and leave us TO catch the con-
sequences. A lucky star has been
over that boy" pointing to Boz,
"from the day he was born. Let me
tell you how he got ahead Of us on
one occasion, but it will serve as an in
stance of how he managed things.
Brother Nat Jim aud l, Bob and lit
tie negro boy went in swimming one
Sunday morning in the mill pond
near our house. Father had told us
he would whip US if we went in swim
ming on Sunday, but we disobeyed
him. He found it out that afternoon
He would not punish us, because it
was Sunday, but he took us bright tand
early in the mo ming to the barn yard.
We knew what was coming. He took
a shingle and bored holes through it
with gimlet, aud the be made US
bend over log. You can imagine
what was the result. He punished
Jim and Nat and me. and we were all
crying when be went up to BIB, who
was leaning over the log waiting his
turn. Father raised the paddle, sud
denly Bob pulled half dollar out Of
his pocket, and twisting his head
around at father with q most
humorous expression of countenance,
he said: Dad, I'll give you this to let
me off, at the same time Offering
father a half dollar. We we're all
watching him as intently as our pains
would let us. Father stood with the
paddle uplifted. Bob continued in his
leaning position, holding the half dol
lar between his uplifted fiugers with
that grimace unaterable on his feat
ures. Bob YVES cool aa a cucumber.
Father at length broke out in laugh
and bade Bob to bs up and of in a
twinkling. Bob sprang to his feet and
slipped his hall dollar back in his
pocket, walked by US TO the house,
faces as he went by.
"That's the sort of a boy Bob was.
He would steal our marbles aud we
could never catch him. He'd play all
sorts OF jokes on US, but we could |
never catch him. He'd take more
liberties about the house than any of |
us, but somehow he managed to es.
cape the punishment, while il we did |
the same things we'd get a thrashing
That's the sort of chap he was, and |
that happy faculty Of always alighiiug
on his # ct has followed him from that
sOOu Oh W lulos AlO always COulu
tell the soft side Of perion, slmost
ftom the days OF his infancy, and he
never failed to make the most Of his
knowledge. Yes. Bob has ever been
an artful dodger."
The laughter which this flater1al
sally had created having ceased, the
same iDquisitor asked Bob of the boy
hood of ALI. "Well," said Bob, with
! merry twinkle in his eye, "Alf had
more temper than L; he had more
light than did, but 1 had more fun.
He was quick to resent an injury and
equally quick to forgive. Alf was
always fond OF hunting. When a
mere lad, he would 20 out on the
with an old man who lived
lesr us, and camp out for weeks at
he time. l believe be had rather
lunt now than do anything. ALI was
ny favorite brother, II had q favorite,
md think he thought the most Of
ne although he never told me SO. for
le always did have way OF conceal
ng his affection from those he loved.