The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-13
HE KNEW HOW.
WiggleswOrth Had the Utmost Confidence
In Himself.

In Himself
"What numb things boys are nova
daysF' said Mr. Wigglesworth witch inf
mite scorn as he sat on the veranda after
supper.
Over in the vacant lot the boys of the
neighborhood were playing game of base
ball. Whenever boy would fail to strike
the ball, or some other boy would fail to
catch it, Mr.. Wigglesworth would give ut
terance to a snort of derision.
81 suppose they are doing the best they
can" Mrs. Wigglesworth found it in her
heart to say, with benevolent philosophy.
'Bah!'' her husband retorted. whats
the need of a boys fingers being all
thumbs? And if he's going to hit the ball.
why not hit it and be done with it?
'Twant that way with me and the Dodley
twins, I can tell We. D. 1 ever tell We
bout that time me and Alick Dodley-
there, you fool" he cried, 'that's the
third ball ye've dropped in five minutes!'
"That was our WilIie,'' Mrs. Wiggles-
worth said. He's doing very well,
think, for little fellow
''Oh, yes Mr. Wigglesworth answered,
eye understand it, don't ye? Quite an
authority on sports, We are Yed make
good referee for pie eating contest, ye
would. First thing ye know The Sport
ing Gazette will be printing yer portrait
on the front page, with an explanation Of
how We came to marry Wigglesworth. -
With this fine vein of sarcasm working
out upon the odorous evening air. Mr..
WiggIesworth went down the steps and
crossed the street.
'What We trying to act out here any
way?" he called to the boys, who paused
in their game.
"We're playing baseball, - cried his son
Willie from the infield.
Baseball nothingH Mr.. Wigglesworth
retorted Lies look at that ball.
Willie threw it to him. Mr.. Wiggles-
worth thrust out his arms with stiff and
awkward gesture, grabbed for the ball
and got it on the ends of all his fingers at
once.
"Wha'd ye do that forf'' he yelled, put
ting one set of fingers into his mouth and
the other under his arms Don't ye know
any better than to fire thing like that
with all yer might fore L was ready for
itP If ye don't, I'll take and learn ye
soon's I get ye home"
/ "I--I didn't throw it hard; just tossed
it, - Willie expostulated, while the other
boys grinned.
Don't ye tell me I'm liar shouted
! Mr.. Wigglesworth, noGicing the lively
countenanoes of the boys 81 know more
about ball playing than the whole sassy
| pack of ye. Me and the DodIey twins used
to stand the whole town when we was
boys"
| with two front teeth missing who occu-
pied the pitchers box. He was boy Of
bold and lawless manner, who had been
known to run away from school.
Round bslll'' answered Mr.. Wiggles-
worth. glaring at the boy with two front
teeth missing 'S'pose it was? Didn't we
have to catch, and didn't we have to
striker And we did it, too, tell ye," he
said boastfully. "And then we'd throw
the ball and hit the runner-patching, we
called it-and that was science. -
Didn't it hurt to patch 'ena, pa?'' pipeo
| Willie Wigglesworth.
'Pohi What if it did?'' his father said
besides, We coald dodge. l was the
srnartest dodger in the town, next to AlicI
Dodley. Couldn't anybody patch me
scarcely"
front teeth missing, with confident air.
Mr.. Wigglesworth tried to wither thu
boy with two front teeth missing by {
look, but he wasn't boy who withereC
that way. Then the blood of generation
of Wiggfesworehs leeped into daring.
Gimme that cat stickI'' he exclaimed
starting forward.
''He means de bat, explained q DO.
with cerise hair.
Mr.. Wigglesworth stood up by the hom
plate and sawed the air with the club the,
gave him.
Let her come'' he cried, with rockies
confidence
The boy with two front teeth missing
| tied himself into bQWline knot, iNggle.