The Van Buren press., 1898-05-14
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AN INCORRIGIBLE BOY

THERE was shrewd Yankee boy
born up in Vermont about so years
ago, and despite the fact that he was
ushered into this busy world without
The proyerbial silver spoon In his mouth.
] have satisfied myself that his natal
star was Il lucky one. Nurses in that
practical section Of the world are not
given to mnmmery OF prophecy, and no
one attempted to forecast The boro-
scope Of The sturdy little youngster. He
kicked and squalled with astounding
pigor and displayed wonderful deter
inination 10 have things bis own way,
but bis father had the same dispogi-
ton. and al disposed Of the infant pro
cliviiies b. saying that be got them
from the old man direct The boy had
measles. humps, wind collie, scarlet
rash and all the other ailments with
which our early existence is penalized.
but theg never impaired his eonstitu-
ZION or his sill.
Al school, where he WAS enrolled as
Ross Blaigh. the youngster was looked
upon as a little too Stirring" 10 please
lie teacher and the directors. Indeed.
the boy seemed dangerously near being
ineorrigible. lie insisted on spelling
pbonetieallY. lie contended that there
nas no sdoggone sense In going
through l-a-il-g-h whea l-a-f would an
smer the same purpose, and as long as
he hoAored The little white school
house with his presence be persisted IN
making "Trip spell Europe. He chafed
under restraint, had restless desire to
get into a city. and vowed with all the
confidence Of youth of IA that
he would never stay up there among
the mountains. where Il took two hills
10 raise Il bean and where kernel of
corn could never sprout and grow up
unless you rolled u stone aside 10 give
nature al chance. Ross and his father
were so much alike that any eompro=
mise arrangement was out OF the ques-
lion. and the old gentleman, remember
ing his own early inclination TO go his
own way, fell ia with the trend OF the
boys aspirations, and wrote to the UNI
Gle for whom Ross had been named,
md who had become a wealthy man
OF affairs. requesting that he find the
lad an opening.
Uncle was not infatuated with haY-
iag male member Of his tribe TO look
after. for all the men Of the line with
in his knowledge had an assertiye in
dependence that declined TO yield TO
dietation But blood is a good deal
thicker than water among men of that
disposition. and the boy was notified
20 report at the first Of the next month
for duty. Al the appointed time Ross
WAS on hand, and the bucolic trade
mark was spattered all over him. He
was tall, raw-boned, angular, freckled,
and such OF his garments as had not
been made by his thrifty mother were
The work Of a country tailor, who be-
lieyed IN doing all his cutting on
straight lines aud In leaving plenty Of
room for a growing boy 10 Gil out.
Ross looked very much out OF place
In his uncle's resplendant parlor, and
knew II before he had seen his hat and
'buiternut oyereoat carried back 10 the
hall rack after he had tossed them
into "the darndest pulled up cheer
ever see" His rough hands were a
MINIS size. and his feet seemed to have
carried on a highly successful rivalry
in the matter OF development. He did
rot know exactly what 10 do with
these nnruly members and could not
but compare them with the white
hands and neatly-dressed feet Of his
uncle, who came as soon as the arrival
had been duly announced.
20, Lordi" exclaimed the family's
most successful member inwardly, but
his greeting was accompanied by a
smile that the boy liked, and he showed
his best features as he smiled back.
Hes got our grit" was the next
mental comment of his uncle, for Ross
answered all questions intelligently, IL
hot elegantly, and never gave an out
ward sign that he felt himself little
outclassed. lie subdued his hands by
getting them into his capaeious pock-
cts and tucked his feet under the
chair as II 10 keep them ont Of sight.
Al dinner he met the rest OF the rela-
tionship a stylish aunt, three pretty
cousins who were old enough 10 study
the opposite sex. no matter what the
specimen placed al their disposal. and
o handsome young man, handsomely
dressed, who started in 10 exercise the
cousinly right OF guying. but was soon
made 10 realize that some Of his polish
Nvas knocked of every time Yankee
shrewdness came back at him. Ross
swallowed about two inches of steel
with every mouthful of mashed no
iatoes, held his fork as though he was
going 10 stab some one, poured his tea
into a saucer and blowed il rather than
taking chances OF scalding his internal
economy. took a long pull al the finger
bowl and announced that beef steak
seemed just as tough in New York a.
Il was IN Vermont. n was inevitable
that some of the younger cousins
should singer and that the servants.
well-trained though they were, should
lose their gravity that it was heir pride
aud duty 10 retain. Ross knew that he
was like q fish out OF water, but did
bis best to appear IN the swim. lie
gained ground with the old gentleman
and fhe Younger cousins. hut the aunt
eroaned III spirit. aud she who ranked
% Miss Blaigh In the household did
her best 10 ignore IL, boy.