Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-04-10
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Two snssassA Are Beaten a: Their own

W. 'trsttEd arc oHb
| Caric.
4 professor of mathematics in one OF
our colleges. whose head Was 80 full of
soGer mathematical problems that you
w0uld never suppose him capable of Il
joke. went one summer TO the Adiron-
tlack mountains for scientific purposes.
He took with him, as II companion,
younger brother. who had jnnt BrhdA-
ntcd, and an old hunter FOR. n guide,
cook and Providcrgener;ik
Passing one dGy n clearing in which
some fine peas n growing. they puY-
chased e small quantity to give relisl,
III their dinner in the forest. Not long
after. fatigucd b. II hard foreloon's
work. they pitched their camp on the
borders of a lovely lake, and the pro-
| fcssor said:
Como, now, let's have those peas"
While hn was taking some ci1servn-
tons down by the lake, the old hunter
and the young graduate prepared TIM
dinner.
After awhile the professor noticed ah
unusual chucldihg between the student
and the bacl<wcodsmnn.
Suspccting son;a trickery. he strolled
ing to get new point OF observation, to
watch narrowly their proceedings.
Surprising that the professor was deep
III equations md angles and mathc-
maticnl lines, they relaxed their eau
ton. and he observed that they were
making wooden spoons with their pen.
knives TO cat the peas with, lind that
here was Il conspiracy to rob him or his
share,
Saying nothing. he walked back TO tic
lake shore, and, picking up one of those
large mussel shells which are found in
! all our frcsh-wntcr lakes and rivers anil
Will hold more than I'm ordinary spoon,
lie fitted Il split stick TO Il for a handle
and Clipped theih both in his pockc..
Then sauhtering bnck, in order TO pre-
vent them making very extensive prepu-
rations. he kept around until The dinner
was cooked.
His presence restricted very much
their operations. and they were able 10
finish bu. very shallow sIsoons, after ali.
The peas being ut length done, the;'
were poured into the common dish, and,
| 10. it was soup.
To prevent III. possibility OF the pro-
fcssor's getting even II small portion,
they had cooked them so that the peas
were swimming in water.
Seated on the ground, they each ccr.
menccd stabbing with his pcnknife nj
'hc peas. After this ridiculous process;
had been carried on awhile. to the III
| suppressed mer-imcnt of the studcn,
aud hunter. the latter whipped .,u.
their wooden spoons. nrd flourishin.-
them over their heads with Il loud
! "Ilurrah!" made II dive at the peas.
The professor looked at them no
ment: then, coolly drawing forth hia
hinge trusscl shell and stick. and fittir.
tl'cm together, began 10 ladle up tl.r
soup.
The hunter and graduate stopped nj
this nc;t dcvcloplue,. ~ hcir Spool.
suspended half wa" ~ ,l..:r mouths.
and eazrd. with J.. ..h ..I.!ntcnancrs.
nj the quiet profcssSr. who. ,.ithout nj
tering word or changing fcatur,
diligently piled his Shell.
by his accurate and mathematics
mode of ladling, he WAS enabled to talk.
up un enormous quantity ut every dip.
and in few moments every pea had
vanished.
The whole operation had Keen carried
on with the solricty with which lie
would have rcdaccd un cqt:ation.
When the last pea disappeared, he
looked up as iluch us to say:
us there anything more To- eat. gen
ucmen?"
This was carrying out the joke So
capitally thet TIE two conspirators
burst into laughter. and the old hunter.
rs he licked his empty spoon, confessed
that for once he had been outwitted .
Golden Days.