Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1886-12-16

why Ne Does Net Particularly X~arn ."
~ q BOY Again.

N NJ ne VOSo WV USuuu0Wh"asy bV~s" w
~ n BOY Again.
II I were a hoy again, endowed with
the same wild passion for Plucking
watermelons in the dark OF the moon,
I would no doubt fall n victim to that
Overma steering passion as did before,
but looking at it as do now, ! would
he wiser. Boys cannot, however, have
the mature Judgment of manhood
without the experience and rheunm-
tism that go with it. so it Is better
that in oar childhood We may he able
to eat a raw turnip with safety. and
know something later ON in life.
notice a great change in myself while
comparing my present condition with
that of Joyous bOyhOOd. Then had
no sense, but had n good digestion.
Now havn't even the digestion. The
hurrying years have cavOrted Overmy
sunny head till they have worn it
smooth. but they have left good
deal yet for me to learn. am still
engaged i'm learning during the day
and putting arnica on my experience
mt night.
Childhood is said to he the most
gladstone period in our lives. and in
some respects this statement may be
regarded as reliable, but it is not all
Joy. have had just as much fun in
latter years as I did in boyhOod.
though the people with whom have
been thrown in contact claim that
their experience has been different.
hope they do not mean anything per-
sOnal by that.
I do sometimes wish that could he
a boy again, but ! smother that wish
they need most is rest and change OF
ss.ei,e. They still enjoy children but
they would like "a chance to select the
children with whom they associate.
NV parents were blessed with five
bright-eyed beautiful little boys, three
Of whom grew up and by that means
be,ame adults. ! am in that cOndi-
ton myself. ] was the best OF the
family with the exception OF my par
ents. ! am still that way. My early
life WAS rather tenipestuous in places,
occasionally hecked with sunshine,
bnt more frequently with retribution.
! WIS not n very good roadster when
young. and so retribution was most
always just in the act of overtaking
me. While outraged justice was get
ting in it's work on me, the other boys
escaped through a small aperture in
the fence.
That is another reason why do not
yearn to be "a boy again.
When we ran away from school to
catch clubs, and when we built a fire
to cook them, and the fire got into the
tall, dray grass and burned four miles
of fence and sixteen tons of hay for u
gentleman for whom | had a high
regard, and I went back to put out the
fire, the other boys escaped and have
so remained ever since.
4 just retributiOn has never had any
difficulty in overtakingme and walking
up and down over my wishbOne
When n party Ofus had been engaged
in gathering Easter eggs in the barn OF
n gentleman who wasaway from home
at the time and lac returned Just rs we
had filled our pockets with the choicest
vintage OF his sun-kissed hens, and the
other boys escaped while was occupy
ing the attention of the dog. and ! had
to slide out of the second story of the
barn. II is still fresh in my mind as
write. wore my father's vest at that
time and it was larger than was neces-
sary. My father was larger than at
that time, for l was only nine years of
age and had not arrived ut my full
stature. In sliding down the batten
discovered that the upper end was
loose and that my flowing vest had
slipped over it, so that when | got
down about four feet hung by the
board buttoned inside my bosom and
t6x, Ill nf my
knickerbockers.
The batten had sprung back against
the barn in such way as to prevent
my unbOttOning my vest, and while ]
hung there on the side of the barn like
n coon skin. the proprietor came
around and accused me OF gathering
his eggs prenaturely.
had heard truth very highly spoken
of by people who had dabbled in it
more or less, and so resolved to try
/, it in this instance. So | admitted
that such was the case and it was the
hest thing that could possibly
have done, for the man said as
/ had heen SO frank with him he would
| take me down as soon as he got his
other work done, and he was as good
as his word. After he had MIXED nine
COWS and fed nine calves he came with n
ladder and took me down. He also
spanked me and ret the dog Oh me,
but Ibid not mind that for was ac-
customed to it. TO hang on the side
of barn, however. like an autumn
leaf. trying to kick large holes in the
atmosphere, is disagreeable.
This incident east "a gloom over my
whole life. 1t has also reronciled me
to the awful decree that | can never
! I've N hoy apaIu