Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-02-24
Intelligent Geese.


1t must have been in the 40s that
my great uncle, Charles N, was
graduated from college and begun to
teach school. Communication was
not so rapid then as now, and the ex.
change of ideas was accomplished
with more difficulty. The country
was not overrun with teachers manu-
ais and guides, and there were few
educational works. 1t was only by
gathering together and exchanging
ideas that teachers were able to pro
gress. To facilitate this several
would in the summer time travel from
place to place, holding what they
called institutes" to which all who
taught in the neighboring country
would flock to receive or disseminate
new ideas, and to discuss methods OF
study.
My uncle and a friend of his had
started on tour of this kind, and on
Saturday arrived at town where they
were to hold an ''institute" the fol-
lowing Monday.
Sunday afternoon they took stroll
in the outskirts of the town, on the
banks of a stream, and were engaged
in deep conversation when my uncle g
friend espied flock of geese ap'
preaching in solemn procession.
Moved by sudden impulse, he took
off his hat, made low bow and, ad.
dressing the geese, said: "Allow me
to introduce to you my friend, Mr..
N, who will hold an institute in
this town tomorrow. / cordially in.
vite you to be present" The geese
appeared to listen attentively to the
young mans words, and when he had
finished they waddled gravely away.
The incident passed quickly from
their minds, the next afternoon ar
rived, and the friends repaired to the
church where they were to expound
their educational views to those who
were assembled for instruction and
profit. The day was beautiful and
sunshiny and everything beamed pro.
pitiously on my uncle as he arose from
his seat behind the pulpit to address
the dignified gathering.
Hardly had he opened his mouth to
speak when something in the wide
open door attracted his attention.
There stood the old gander, leader OF
the flock they had seen the day before,
and behind him were all the geesel
Having completed his survey, to my
uncle's horror and chagrin, he wad-
died slowly up the middle aisle, fol-
lowed by the rest.
Was ever young man In more
painfully embarrassing situation? AT
this moment he received tug on his
coat tail and plainly heard the par
TALLY suppressed amusement Of his
friend and the whispered, exclamation,
s'They've comet
My uncle grew redder and hotter
as the geese approached in front and
| the tugs on his coat tail continued be
hind. He could only stutter ant
stammer, each moment becoming more
painfully aware of the awkwardness
of his position.
At last, with the timely assistance
of the congregation, the unwelcomt
intruders were expelled amid quack
ings, confusion and uproar.
1t is almost unnecessary to add that
the fount of my uncle's eloquence wa
checked for the time being, and con
sequently his disquisition on the edu
cation of the young was not as edify
ing as it might have been unde
ordinary circumstances.
| This did not end the matter, how
ever. My uncle's friend for man.
years after, at evay dinner when h
was called upon for n speech, managed
to recount this incident. If my uncl
was there it only added to the genera
enjoyment.
firing of this in the course of years
Uncle Charles once arose, after hi
friend had related the story, and said
'"There was one point to whicl
sufficient attention has not been called
namely, why did the geese understan'
so perfectly all that my friend said?
Atlanta Journal.