West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-11-22

at me replies Abner after whittlin away
for moment, sand I've got few words to
say. I'd like to ask this stranger IL he
knows who discovered America"
"Why, certainly sir" said the man.
elias II ever done you any good Has
II ever made any difference to you whether
1t was Smith, Green or Brown ?"
"l'u, IT'S knowledge"
'Nes. It's knowledge, and that's a strong
pint" whispers the deacon.
'Yes, it's schoolhouse knowledge" says
Abner, "but let me ask you sunthin. What
month in the year dyou plant pumpkin
seeds p
"Pumpkin seeds Why, what have
pumpkin seeds got to do with education ?"
'Qui,e little bit. reckon. This county
ships 'nuif pumpkins every year to make
100000 10 cent pies. don't be elieve ten
farmers kin tell you when America was dis.
covered, bu, they know when to plant
pumpkins. Which is the best fur EN-. I
reckon you kin tell what year George Wash
ington died in, which / can't hut dyou
know whar TO fasten rope when you want
to drive hog 10 market 2
"By jingo. but that's strong pint, and
Abncr's got him T. shouts the deacon as he
jumps up and down.
The stranger appeared to be sor, of con-
fused and taken down, but tried to git out
of it by saying they were iriHn with the
subject.
sim one as isn't opposed to school and
education, says Moses Plumber, '.but don I
want too many Of EN-. I'm .ayin that
everybody orter know how to read, write
and cipher, but nowadays they want TO stuff
children with heap that's no good to sny-
body"
"But what man kin know too
much - asks the stranger. 'But fur
higher knowledge how would we know tha,
the earth revolyed on its axis ?"
"But s'pose we didn't know S'pose we
hggered that the earth stood still ?
Wouldn't we have licked the British a,
Yorktown jest the same, and wouldn't the
price OF wheat he the same as to-day ? I
was talkin with young Jim Benson tother
day. lie could tell the distance to the sun
within mile, bat. he couldn't tell how
many rails to a rod Of fence. He could
give the names Of all the stars, but he didn',
know that cutln hogs tail off would
make him root the harder, probably hopin
to find new one. lie coold tell when
every State came into the Union, but he
didn't know that COW kicked sideways in.
stead Of straight behind"
"By jingo Moses, but that's orslory and
a strong pint besides :" erclaims the deacon.
"In the face Of them facts cant see how
we're to ri, another schoolhouse."
"You have been III at some time or
other IN your life p queries the stranger Of
Moses.
81 hey. Three years ago was down
with the fever and every body thought I'd
die.
'Bui you we're saved, and how n the
doctor who Was called in had simply known
about fence rails, hogs tails and the wav
cows kick. where would you be to-day (,
lie had gone beyond readin, writin and
hgurin. Il was his education ths, saved
Jour life.
That's strong pint agains, you.
Moses. says the deacon.
Eyes, but didni call a doctor. grin,
Moses. "My old woman pulled me through
with herb teas and good nursin. and YOU ali
know she can't fgger the value Of two
dozen eggs.
Then the pint is on the stranger, and
I'd like 70 see him dodge H.
The stranger was siubbin his toe aefn
stones in the road snd didn't look happy.
but he braced up and said in answer
Lets take case right here at home.
Here store. 7, had to be des!gned by
an architect before the carpenter could
build j.; Mr.. Plumber kin read, write and
hgger, but kin he draw the plans fur a
buildin But fur higher education no man
could do H."
eyes q was a smar, bii Of work., ac-
koo"iedged Moses. ''bui had considerable
70 say to thar architect lie had never
heard that thunder would turn sWec, milk