The Bossier banner., 1894-10-04
A WONDERFUL RIDE.
One of the Adventures Of John
Gilpin, Junior.

No doubt you have all read "the di-
1 serting history" of John Gilpin's Ride
"a holiday jaunt of a hundred years
ago. The sad Mr.. Cowper's gay ac-
count of this expedition races from
/ London down to Wan, and back, much
! after the manner of the calender's
4 horse. In fact, the verses are so lively
that l seriously believe John Gilpin,
S., is destined, POLITICALLY speaking, to
face up and down to the end of the
English language. My hero's story
must amble along in the most unas-
suming of prose.
John Gilpin, Jr.-that was not his real
name, but it serves my purpose-lived
4 in little town tout west" He had
great big shining gray eyes, a fresh
Il rosy face, and rollicking laugh that
set everybody laughing who heard it.
When funny thought struck him, he
had to break out, no matter if he was
jim school with the teacher looking
straight at him; whereupon the laugh
would go round the room-just like a
amarble knocking out a line of mar
8 bles, one striking another-and then
the teacher would start him home to
areceiye due punishment there She
couldn't whip him any more than she
could a butterfy-he' was so bright
And innocent-and.i it seemed dreadful
20 punish anyone, for being too happy;
Z but she must have order. 1t happened,
#1Owever, that John seldom reached
] the door before the teacher relented-
the little face looked so sober and con-
q trite, the little trowsers so short and
primary, that discipline was impossi-
bic. Besides, Miss Beach felt sure that
Johns father, being a minister, had
great respect for Solomon's advice as
ie the rearing of children, and that he
1 would try to do his duty-a proceed
ing she couldn't, for two consecutive
\ minutes, think of furthering.
u John went to Sunday school and
Mthurch on Sunday forenoons, went up
stairs and read some chapters in the
bible in the afternoons, and went to
ihurch in the evenings. And he went
10 prayer meetings on Wednesday
nights, to learn the formulas of some
good and Interchangeable brethren. On
sFeek days he was always going some
EFhere-climbing up trees and ladders,
hiding down hill and rolling over en-
Rankments, to miraculously escape
eath about every ten minutes of his
ne And every night, at precisely
aFe minutes after nine o'clock, he went
10 sleep. Now and then, on bright
sunday afternoons, his father would
#ake him to points in the field which
must be cultivated" And John sup
posed schoolhouse was called a
held because it was in the country,
and because the women who sat in it
Rore sunbonnets. He would wriggie
aTough the sermon trying to under
tand what adoption" meant while
patching the free grace of squirrels
saarting up and down, in and out, of
#tne trees which skirted the school
mouse. But it was the glorious buggy
Nflde to and from 1.-The field" which
Hnhed him with special and secular de-
sngnt, To be "going, going, go
ing was his idea of bliss, ter
Hfestrial as well as celestial. The
Hears which rolled twice day through
Hns town stirred wild longings as they
zane and went across the prairies.
Sihey seemed to him to be carrying
@appy travellers into enchanted re-
aons. He knows better now. He
nows that hearts can ache in palace
par and break in great city. He is
onng, happy fellow yet-only he
pesn't break out into the rollicking
ugh of his early years, 81 wish |
puldr' heard him say not long ago.
at to my story. If have seemed a
Rng time in getting started in it, re-
ember that several years have passed
FER Johns brown head since | began
ailtroduce him to you.
an important event neared the town
Plainview. In twenty-four hours
snlsters from far and near would as
lble under the white frame belfry
their semi-annual meeting, and
#sans mother felt that chickens, sue
Sently prepared, must be in readi-
TO support church counsels. Two
yes away lived Mrs. Bird, who was
owl to have excellent poultry and
an it at reasonable rates, and
sher it was determined to send John
old Ponce" for supplies. John
now eight years of age-which
young for a man; Ponce was
en-whieh was old for a
but the two were inti-
u friends. AS for Ponce,
TSay that, as family acquisition,
sas second only to John himself in
s4 esteem. He helped in a sub