The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-05

| carried in his breast Bonaparte pick
ed it up and began to inspect it as the
boy climbed slowly over the wall He
would have walked off sullenly, but he
wanted his book and waited till it
should be given him.
"Ha' said Bonaparte, raising his
eyes from the leaves of the book which
he was examining. 81 hope your coat
has not been injured. 1t is of an ele.
CANT cut. An heirloom, 1 presume,
! from your paternal grandfather? It
1 looks nice now''
20 Lord, o Lord" cried Tant' San
| ME, laughing and holding her sides,
| chow the child looks-as though he
/ thought the mud would never wash
| off! Lord, l shall die! You, Bona
parte, are the funniest man l ever
| saw"
Bonaparte Blenllins was now careful
ly inspecting the volume he had picked
| up. Among the subjects on which the
darkness of his understanding had
been enlightened during his youth po-
litical economy had not been one. He
was not. therefore, very clear as to
what the nature of the book might be,
and, as the name of the writer, J. S.
Mill, might, for anything he knew to
the contrary, have belonged to a ven
cradle member of the British and For
eign Bible society, it by no means
threw light upon the question. He was
not in any way sure that political econ
omy had nothing to do with the cheap
est way Of procuring clothing for the
army and navy, which would be GER
tainly both a political and an economi-
cal subject
But Bonaparte soon came to con-
clusion as to the nature of the book
and it's contents by the application of
a simple rule now largely acted upon,
but which, becoming universal, would
save much thought aud valuable time.
1t is Of marvellous simplicity, Of in
finite utility, Of universal applicability.
1t may easily be committed to memory
and runs thus:
Whenever you come into contact
with any book, person or opinion of
which you absolutely comprehend
nothing, declare that book, person or
opinion to be immoral Bespatter it,
vituperate against it, strongly insist
that any man or woman harboring it
is fool or a knave, or both. Care
fully abstain from studying it. Do all
that in you lies to annihilate that book,
person or opinion.
Acting on this rule, so wide in it's
comprehensiveness, so beautifully sim
pie in it's working, Bonaparte APP
preached Tant' Sannie with the book
in his hand. Waldo came step nearer,
eying it like a dog whose young has
fallen into evil hands.
This book" said Bonaparte, ''is not
fit and proper study for young and
immature mind"
Tant' Sannie did not understand a
word and said:
"WhatY'
"This book" said Bonaparte, bring
ing down his finger with energy on
the cover, this book is sleg, sleg,
davel, davelH'
Tant Sannie perceived from the
gravity of his couB;pi..iilcl. that it was
no laughing matter From the words
sleg and davel she understood that the
book was evil and had some connec-
ton with the prince who pulls the
wires of evil over the whole earth.
"Where did you get this bool? she
asked, turning her twnlsling little eyes
on Waldo. II wish that my legs may
be as thin as an Englishman's if it
isn't one Of your fathers. He had
more sins than all the Katfirs in KAT
firland for all that he pretended to be
SO good all those years and to live with
out wife because he was thinking of
the one that was dead! AS though ten
dead wives could make up for one fat
one with arms and legsv' cried Tant'
Sannie, snorting
at was not my fathers book" said
the boy savagely. II got it from your
loft
"My loft! My book How dare you?'
cried Tant' Sannie
"It was Ems fathers. She gave it
me-" he muttered, more sullenly.
"Give it here. What is the name of
it? What is it about?" she asked, put
ting her finger upon the title.
Bonaparte understood.
political economy" he said slowly.
"Dear Lord" said Tant' Sannie
"Caunot one hear from the very sound
what an ungodly book it is? One can
hardly say the name. Haven't we got
curses enough on this farmw cried
Tant' Sannie eloquently-"m best inn
ported Merino ram dying Of nobody
knows what, and the Shorthorn COW
casting her two calves, and the sheep
eaten up with the scab and the
drought? And is this time to bring
ungodly things about the place, to call
down the vengeance of Almighty God
to punish us more? Didn't the minis
ter tell me when / was confirmed not
to read any book except my Bible and
hymnbook; that the devil was in all
the rest? And l never have read any
other book" said Tant' Sannie, with
vigorous energy, land | never will!'
Waldo saw that the fate of his book
was sealed and turned sullenly on his
heel.