The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-07
TOLD BY A TACK.

I am what you boys call fiat-headed.
but am pretty sharp for all that. and
| right here let me inform you that 1 am
the original tack Don't you know what
L mean by that? Well, / was the first
| tack that Jimmy Jones ever put in the
cushion of his uncle's chair. All of my
sisters and cousins and aunts are spread
ing stories about the funny things they
nave done. but you must not believe
what they say. Their tales are utterly
false; mine alone is true Now. let me
tell you how by my fOrceful and logical
argument L clearly proved to a learned
clergyman that il was time to draw his
sermon 10 a close.
/ was standing on my head Zone must
nave some amuSemen) by one corner OF
the rug when Jimmy came in / saw
that he was cross, so kept quite still.
Church again, ne muttered. Il hate
to go to church. You have to sit in the
front pew where YOU can't have any
fun. and the parson- talks so blooming
long
am very refined tack and do not use
such expressions. but Jimmy said II, so
il must be repeated.
Here he kicked his slippers across tho
room. and as he brought his foot back
he gave me terrible knock. Graciousi
How boys howl if the least thing touches
them! He didn't care how much l was
ha-..
Served you right, Jimmy Jones'" said
/: Why can't you kick some one your
After he got through playing menag-
erie. he put on his shoes very quietly.
I'm get it back on somebody Ma says
it's selfish to keep thing all to yourself
He picked me up ran out of the house
and down the street so fast ii almost
When ne reached the church door he
slyly, ,peeped in. No one was there ere
soon had me arranged very comfortably
in the plush cushion. right by the great
II guess the minister'n sit down if he
puts his hand on you, he said
Then he laughed and went away. L
think he must have gone back home. be
cause just before the services began ne
walked into church with his mother.
had never seen Jimmy look so sweet and
good. His face was like one of the little
cherubS at the bottom of that beautlfuI
Madonna picture we have at home
liked the singing very much, but when
the text was given. Il am here. but thou
seest me not" it was impossible not TO
smile. although | felt that it was most
improper to 90 so. / looked straight az
Jimmy and am certain that he Uttered
aloud. The sermon was very long ana |
was extremely tired. but Jimmy seemed
TO be quite interested. Every time the
preacher gesticulated with more than
usual violence the boy would lean Tor
ward with an eXpectant look
Said the pastor: And now. my breth-
rem. before taking up the ninth arSu-
ment. let me convince You OF the truth
of my previous statements. This is the
point
Here he raised his clenched hand. 1
knew that he was going to strike me and
tried to dodge but Jimmy had fastened
me so tightly that L could not move Then
the blow fell. 1t stunned me. but l re-
covered in time 10 hear the minister
saw:
Il will not prolong my remarks. The
che!- will sing:
Strike the nail Alright. boys;
Hit il on the head
The congregation looked surprised
when their shepherd went out during the
Singing | wonder If l had anything TO
do with his leaving SO suddenly. But here
comes Jimmy after me. Oh, dear. You
don't suppose he wants TO take me to
church again next Sunday. do you?