The Jennings daily record., 1902-08-12


ing his cap down upon one corner OF
the desk, he held out his hand to the
man whom half of the countrywide ap-
preached with fear and trembling.
'Howdy. Jedge, howdy!" he said. in his
awkward manner. II had bit NV busi-
ness that wanted ter transact this MORN
in, an l sez ter myself. l guess Jedge
Benson knows the outs an ins NV law
well enough ter attend ter my little mat
ter. an guess ! will go ter him." The
Judge looked up from the paper that he
was reading and smiled, and at the same
moment the stenographer and several
would-be lawyers. who had minute be-
fore been pOring over pOnderOus books,
all raised their heads and waited for
further developments. for they felt that
something good was coming, and some
thing that would well repay them for the
loss of few minutes study.
What is the nature of the business. II
| 1 may inquirer" asked the judge in his
most courteous manner.
"Scribblin',' replied Jed promptly:
''scribblin'. / met with a accident comm
down, an want ter write home about 1t,
as I expect ter stay down several days.
an so I wanter set um easy In their
minds about me ter hum. l warnt you ter
scribble a little for me. An l might in
Quire what would you az ter write me
few lines ter the folks. Jedge?"
Zone dollar replied the judge.
promptly.
Seems ter me that's pritty dear" said
Jed, thoughtfully. Paper can't cost much
an ink aint very high, I don't Imagine;
but l spose the most NV the cost is your
KNOWN how ter spell Eddication is
| mighty dear ennyhow-couldnt you make
1t 80 cents, Jedge?"
The judge shook his head
WAL" said Jed. after moments re-
Election, II don't know as | would stick
at 10 cents. hut you air sure that You can
write ennything that l tells yer, air you?
Spell it all karect. an all?"
The Judge smiled. IL never saw any
thing that I couldn't write yet he re-
piled. 81 guess l can manage it all right
If you want me to write the letter for
you.''
81 dunno said Jed doubtfully. Il
might use some powerful big words but
eff you will give me dollar eff you can't
write the letter. we'll call it GO
"All right" replied the man of seals
and legal ceremonies. and he took out
sheet of paper. with the letterhead OF the
| firm upon it, and with much scratching OF
his pen filled in the date.
Il dunno about that" said Jed doubt
fully. looking over the judges shoulder.
81 am Altered NV that headin. l am
Altered when the folks to home see that
they will think I hev got inter jail
"Oh, it.. all right" said the scribe en-
courasir.sly. how shall l begin it?"
Jed scratched his head. shifted from one
you better begin 1t Dear Ma.
Dear mother" repeated the Judge. as
he scrat ched down the familiar phrase.
Got that writ?" asked the dictator.
Yes" replied teh scribe. What next?'
WAL l guess l better say l started
out"
II started out" repeate ed the Judge.
Got that writ?' asked the dictator.
YES" replied the scribe. What next?
Wal. ma. when I got halfway down
ter Wendellville the old mare slipped
Here Jed paused to take breath. and the
Judge repeated. When ] got halfway
down to Wendellville the old mare
slipped '-"an' down she went kerf1um-
muX," continued Jed.
And down she went kertiummuX.' re-
peated the Judge, pausinE a moment be-
fore the last word to consider the spell
ing, but finally he solved the problem, and
wrote 1t down.
Got that writ" asked the dictor.
Yes" replied the scribe, ''go on, go on"
Wal, ma" Jed continued, Il got out
an took the ole mare by the tail with
one hand an by the bit with the other"
here he paused again to take breath. and
the judge repeated. wal. ma l got out
and took the old mare by the tail with
one hand and by the bit with the other"
Got that writ" asked the dictator.
Yes" resplied the scribe, go on"
Now, here's the place where l want
you to be mighty particular bout the
81 ellng; l gon' ter some uncom-
mon language" The judge smiled: Il
guess l can manage it all right" he said,
go on"
BY this time every one in the office had
paused in what he was doing and was list
enins with close attention.
Jed looked over his shoulder to make
sure that this was the case and then con-
tinued with his debating.
oval. ma. I took good holt Nv her tail,
an the bit, an j SeZ ter her"
Here, dear reader, experience the same
difficulty in continuing my story that the
judge did in continuing the letter. and l
ask the use of your Imagination to bridge
over the difficulty. For Jed puffed out his
cheeks ike boreas. about to blow
mighty breath and uttered series OF
about dozen clucks, ach as loud as the
crack of a whip, and polished off the
phrase with a lone-drawn "Hi-ii-i,'
word known only to trackmen Got that
writ, Jedge'" he asked as soon as he had
reganed his breath
The judge redipped his pen in the ink.
and started to write. but he soon stopped,
and began chewing the end of his PEN
holder; again he essayel to complete the
sentence. but he again stopped to chew
The penholder.
Got that writ" repeated Jed.
For answer the judge laid down his
pen, and reaching into lis pocket. pulled
our a silver dollar, which he handed Jed,
saving ne did so. Take that with my
compliments. sir, and let me say that
yours was the first letter that l ever was
unable to write
| At this point the long pent-up mirth OF
the Office found vent in burst of laugh.
ter. in which the judge finally joined.
"Thank We, sir, thank YER said JED,
| taxing up his cap and preparing to go.
| I'm jest as much obleeged ter you,
| Jedge. as though YOU had been better
| speller an some time, when ] hev some
| simpler business will drop in. ana with
! this parting shot he shambled out or the
| office and down the stairway.
| 1t was a long time in Three Rivers be-
| fore the sensation created by Jeds de-
| scent upon the judge died out, and when
| things at last assumed their normal con-
| dition. by common consent of the village
! grocery Jed had fairly earned the title or
a better man than the Judge. Clarence
| Hawkes. in Springfield Republican.