The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-31
ONE OP BILL MES nEST.
The FaCIle HumorIst Attempts to Check
Literary DecadenCs,

Literary DecAdenGe,
Washington Capital.
Sometimes a sad, homeslCk ieelip.
comes over me when | compare the pre-
vailing style OF aneCdOte aud schoo
literature " tn the old McGudey brand
so we'll known thirty years ago, To.da.
our Juvenile literature, it seems to me, /
so transparent, so easy to understand
that | am not surprised to learn that tn,
rising generation shows signs Of law
lessneSs,
Boys to-day do not use the respectful
language and large, luxuriant word
that they did when Mr.. McGuiFty useC
to stand around aud report their CONVEX
sation for his justly celebrated sChooI
reader, II Is disagreeable to think Of
but II Is none the less true, and for ont
| think We should face the facts,
| ask the careful student Of school lii,
erature to compare the following seleC.
ton, which | have written myself with
great care and arranged with special rel
erenCe 10 the matter OF choice and diff
cult words, with the hippant aud com,
m%On-plaCe terms used in the average
school book OF to-day:
One day as George Pillgarlic was going
to his tasks, and while passing through
the wood, he spied a tall man approach.
ing in an opposite direction along the
highway.
"Ahl" thought George, in a low, mel.
low tone OF voice, "whOm have we
hcre?"
Good morning, my fine fellow" OK
claimed the stranger, pleasantly. "DU
you reside in this IocalityY"
"Indeed do" retOrted George, cheer.
fully, doiing his cap. "In yonler cot
tlgC, near thr glen, my widowed mother
and her thirteen children dwell with
me-"
"And is your father dead ?" exclaimed
the man, with a rising infection.
Extremely So" murmured the lad,
''and oh, sir, that is why my poor mother
is Il widow"
"Aud how did your papa dieI" asked
the man, as be thOughttuIIy stood OH the
other fOotA while.
"Alas, sir" said George, as q large, hot
tear stole down his pale cheek aud fell
with II loud report on the warty surface
at his bare foot, "he was lost NJ Gra in a
bitter gale. The goId ship foundered two
years ago last Christmas, and father was
at the same time. No one
knew OF the loss of the ship until the
next spring, and then it WAS too late"
Aud what Is your age, my fine fell
low ?" qu0th the stranger.
"If live until next October" said the
boy in II declamGtory tone OF voiCU suit.
able for Il second reader, ~ will be 0
years Of age"
"And who provides for your mother
und her large family Of children :" Quer-
led the nau.
"Indeed, | do, sir" replied George, IN
a shrill tone. III toll, oh, 80 hard, sir,
for we are very, very poor, and since my
sister, Ann, was married, and
brought her husband home to live with
is, | have to toll more assiduOusly than
heretofore"
"Aud by what means'do you obtain a
liveIihood2" exclaimed the man, in
measured and grammatical
"By digging wells, kind sir" replied
George, picking up a tired ant as he
spoke aud strOking it on tho buck. ~
have n good education, and 50 | am able
TO dig wells as well as any man. | do
this daytimes and take in washing at
night. In this way | AIN enabled barely
10 maintain our family in & preCarious
manner; but, oh, sir, should my other
marry | fear that some Of my
brother.in.laws would have to suffer-"
"Aud do you not dread the deadly
ire.damp?" asked the stranger, 10 an
tone.
mot by a damp sight," answered
George, with a low gurgling laugh, for
he was II great wag,
"YOu are indeed a brave lad" exclRim.
I'd the stranger, as he repressed u smile.
do you not ut times becoule very
weary aud wish for other ways Of passing
your timer"
"Indeed l do, sir" said tho lad. ~
would fain run and romp and be gay like
other boys, but | must engage in CONSTANT
manual exercise or We would have no
bread to eat, and | have not seen a pie
since papa persisted In the moist aud
moaning sea-"
"And what II | were to tell you that
your papa did not perish at sea, but was
from a humid graveP" asked the
stranger, In pleasing tones.
"Ah, sir" exclaimed George, In a gen.
teel manner, again dOfiug his cap, n am
too polite 10 tell you what l would say,
and besides, sir, you are much larger
than | am"
"But, my bravo lad" said tho man in
low musical tones, "doyou not know me,
George7 Oh, George?"
81 must say" replied George, that
you have the advantage OF me. Whilst
may have met you before, ! can not at
this moment place you, sir"
"My sonl vi, my soul" murmured the
man, at tho same time taking u large
strawberry mark out Of his valise and
showing Il to the lad. "Do you not re-.
Coguize you parent on your fNther'ssido7
When our good ship went to the bottom,
all persisted save the. l swain several
miles, though the pillows, and at last,
utterly exhausted, gave up all hope o.
life. Suddenly | stepped on something