Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-11-29
TENNESSEE STORY.
HOW COLONEL BOGGLETON MEGGs
OUTWITTED HIS SON.

HOW COLONEL BOGGLETON MEGGS
OUTWITTED HIS SON.
Colonel Boggleton Meggs Is a
peculiar, and, therefore, a well
known character OF Coffee county,
Tenn. One OF his main features IS
his extreme stinglness. It is said
that ae is so economical in his
household that he refuses to have
wastepipe in his kitchen. Like
the average stingy man, the old
fellow was exceedingly industrious.
He would scold the dogs for being
lazy, ana often at night he would
wake up the hens and attempt to
mako them lay. One of his neigh
bols died while his corn waS might.
ily 10 thc grass. "Ah, Lord !" said
thp Colonel, "ghy couldn't he have
timed himself betterg just think
of The time he is losing, when bis
crop needs him most ~
The Cciouel was widower with
one son about 10 years old. The
boy dld not inherit lis fathers
closcuess. He lOnged TO visit
Nashville, an accomplishment Of
sightseeing without which an East
Tennessee youth has not cut his eye
teeth.
"What do you want to go down
there for p the Colonel was wont
to shout when the subject was men,
toned.
"T0 look around"
"]yhat 90 YOU want to look
around for Can'tyou look around
here Amt blind up here, air you r
"Nhat can 1 see if 1 do look
around hcreW
son, you can see enough; don't
You fret about that. You can see
more ID one day than | did in a
week when ! was a boy"
"You mns. have lived in a cave
them
"Thafs all right. You may talk
as much a. you like, but you don't
catch me giving you any money to
skvlark ar- ind with. Life is a
serious thing l want you to under
stand.7
81 do understand, for its pretty
serious with me-"
"Not as serious as it will 10 if
YOU don't lel ne alone about going
away IRON home merely to fool
away monel.
The young man devoted himself
to the Gcyising Of schemes whereby
he coald beat ihc old man but de-
feat always met him half way.
There was oac other member of
the household-not exactly a mem
Der but white servant girl She
was granted the privilege of dong
a great desl of work and OF accept
ing very poor pay.
Ole morning the son, wearing
that peculiar east of expression
commonly known As "sheepish'
approached the old man, and,
ban,ing his head, began 10 mutter
something.
"tlhat's the matter now, Tom p
81 don't like to tell you.'
"The very reason should know.
Out wl,h it,
"Not unless yon promise"
81 don't make no PROMISES
"Then / don't tell nothing"
The old mal had curiosity as
well az stingihess, anu led by his
sons appearance to suspect that
something extraordinary had hap
pened. agreed to promise.
"Tll have to swear you, said the
boy.
"Gracious alive! you haven't
murdered anybody, have YOU 2"
$40 sir; but 1 must swear YOU
"All right; swear me-"
"Let me get the Bible"
"Not going to swear me on The
Bible, are you y
"Must doit.
"By gracious, 1t must be serious
The boy brought the Bible an(
placed ii in the old mans hands.
"Will You swear that you WI
nocmenGon to Lizzie, the servan
glrl, the information am about Il
give youl7
"N hat has she got to do with 1t
"Never mind; will you swear
eyes, go ahead"
"Well, Lizzie and | are going |
be married"
"What y the old man exclaimed
"You going to marry and dlsgrac
your iam ily?
al am going to marry her, dl
grace OF no disgrace.'
"By the Eternal, you shall not
GLOW are you going to prever
itr"
81 will drive her away"