The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-01-14
DAVE TUCKER
Advises Miss Nellie 10 Tell the Truth-A
Renaissance Of His School DAYS
Fenuded UpOn Facts.

Renaissance Of His School DAYS
Founded Upon Facts.
Miss Nellie Richlena writes me from
Maidenton P. o., making the following in
ouiries: ..Is it really telling story when
friends make you social visit, and tbs not
convenient for you to receive and entertain
them at the time, to excuse yourself by be-
ing not at home, and is there ally sin by so
doing?"
Now, Miss Nellie, you have got me sure.
It seems to be the usual custom IN towns
and cities to do as you say, and no one
thinks it's wrong. It's the fashion and you
know it won't do to butt against fashion. But
in pure orthodox style it is refined false
hood, and will not bear the scrutiny of the
theologians. 1t being thus, is dainty sin
of the bonton order and no doubt it will
receive its share Of fire and birthstone at
the general distribution on the last great
day. Why not tell your visitors frankly
and truthfully that you are too busy max
ing sausages, or too lazy to dress up to re-
ceive them? If you were to do that way in
the country you would soon neither have
visitors or friends. When visitors come to
see Us we know they have come to spend the
day, and the guide wife" Immediately kills
a chicken and Gu lrns for dinner; therefore,
as for myself, like to have my neighbors
visit rs, for there will be pudding for din
ner that day sure. :,
Yes, Miss Nellie, it is always best to tell
the truth Under any and all circumstances,
although for telling it on one occasion it got
me into q sight of trouble, and good lick
ing in the bargain. If you will excuse per-
sonal references III relate it to you
When was about ten years o.d my moth
er, a widow, moved to Sumter, S. c., to edu-
cate her five small children. My youngest
brother, Judson, and myself were sent to
MIR. Willis Alston as teacher. Our school
generally adjourned from IL o'clock on each
Friday until the following Monday morn
ing. On certain Friday evening Mr.. AL
ston s two sons, Jim and Charlie, my broth
er Judson and myself went to large branch
about mile from town. Jim being the
eldest bossed the party. He carried along
an old pistol. saying he was going to protect
Us from Bow-leg Sam, q negro man, then q
runaway, belonging to Mr.. William Brun-
son. He had been frequently seen IN that
vicinity. We soon arrived at the branch,
which contained large shallow basin that
we were in the habit of bathing in, but as
twas then in the sickly part of the summer
our parents had forbidden our continuing
il. Jim and myself went up the branch in
quest of birds to shoot, leaving Charlie and
Judson at the wash-hole. While we were
absent they went in bathing. We were gone
some hours, and on our return found Char
lie with q headache and hot fever, and Jud-
son looking as innocent as q lamb. Jim
accused Charlie of bathing, and threatened
to inform his father Of it. Charlie replied
that if be did he would tell shout Jinn's go
ing bathing in the brick-yard hole the day
before. This quieted Jim. Yet the fact re-
mained that Charlie was very sick, and we
made for home. It was agreed that some
GOOD excuse had to be ASSIGNED for Charles
illness other than bathing. After much de-
liberation Judson suggested that we tell
them OF home that while Jim and myself
were absent that Bow-leg Sam came to them,
and on their threatening to tell on him he
cot switch and gave both of them good
Whipping. That was the tale to be told. I
did not openly champion it. but by my ST.
lence they assumed my assent. In fact
was sorter afraid cf Jim to actively oppose
their little program, for he was ever ready
to beat as smaller boys into submission. He
would fight at the drop of hat, and take
pleasure in dropping it himself.
In going home We passed directly through
Mr.. Alston's yard. On arriving there the
trio went right into the house and told
their little tale. In Q moment all was con-
fusion and indignation. In the meantime I
took occasion to go home, which was near
by, and told mother the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth about the
affair. As soon as Mr.. Aston heard it he
hurried down town to organize posse to
hunt Bow-leg Sam. My mother repaired at
once over to Mr.. Alston's and told his wife
what had told her, who Immediately dis
patched servant to inform MIR. Aston Of
the true state Of affairs and stop the posse.
When Mr.. Aston returned home that even
ing he brought with him two keen cowhide
whips, and with one of them Immediately
went to work on jim. Mother had taken
Judson home on her return from Mrs. Al
ston's, and with we'll used leather strap
made him dance "Jim crack corn" in apple
pie order. Itwas more than week before
he could sit fiat down in chair with any
degree of comfort; so he said As for Char
lie. his dividend was promptly paid with
interest as soon as he got we'll Of the fever.
Alas, wretched youth that was, got my
dose later in the season. At school the fol-
lowing Monday I saw that blood was in
Jim'S eye, and was convinced of the fact
when be whispered in school-time to me,
"Just wait, red-head, until catch you down
street and the fur will fy." It needless for
me to state that ''down street" from that mo-
ment had lost all attractions for me. Yet
in an unguarded moment "down street"
found me, and soon discovered somethin
else, for on turning q corner, happy in my
youthful innocence, who of all should I run
up with but Jim. Now, thought 7, is the
time 70 put in play my athletic training,
and in short order let out with Jim just be-
hind ne, and here let me state that did not
do this tall running from any cowardlce, but
simply to absent myself quickly from Jim.
It was indeed shome stretch" with me,
and I would have gladly given my little
"kingdom for horse" 7 soon found that
''the race is not always to the swift, for an
unlucky root caught my foot and down !
went with Jim on top of me. He at once
commenced his pugilistic art on me, and
between his blows and hair pulling would
shower handfulls of sand in my mouth and
eyes. Seeing that he was having all the fun
and poor pay for me, opened negotiations
with him foS cessation of hostllities. After
giving him all my marbles, top, and knife,
he let up on me with the admonition, "Now,
dare you to tell it." solemnly promised
him that would not even breathe it to a
living soul, and T took speciol pains to keep
that promise. Jim left me whistling "yan-
kee doodle was dandy" and went to the
ditch near by and after washing the sand
from my mouth and the refined clay from
my eyes, sat on that ditch bank and came
to the deliberate conclusion that initiating
the immortal Washingtons example in this
instance was delusion and a snare.
Yours truly, DAVE TUCKER.
A large lot of fresh garden seed just re-
ceived at the Foreston drug store, and for
90 1o Of 1nr,oef y,rinac