Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1903-01-23
Hello Central.

The new blank contract, sent out 10y
the razewell Telephone Company, on
the evening ofsthe 18th. OF January To
their patrons, TO be examined, filed
out. signed and returned, so as TO take
effect ON the both. next day, note tho
brevity of time, il in some respects, Il
most unique and characteristic docu-
mcnt. not for what Is, but for what tx
left unsaid. The rush feature, is we
suppose a characteristic of the times. a
means TO an end, time for dcliberation
being out of fashion now. One IL ex-
pected 10 think and decide matters, OF
moment I'm few minutes. The writer.
"A patron of the phone hns in the short
time allowed, rather carefully examined
his duplicate BLANKS. aud feels
utterly incompetent 60 do this propos-
eel contract, the justice il deserves.
and must therefore content himself
with, as the late lamcnted Lincoln used
to say, "this reminds me of n little
story"
In the early seventies, when our
present imperfect public school system
was In it's infancy, and the writer was
younger, and new as u school officer,
one of his many duties was 10 contract
with teachers. A new departure was
20 be entered upon, new ground wns To
be broken, both teams and implments
We're untned. many Interesting and
amusing incidents occurred, few OF
which are now remembered. One, how
ever, has not been lost 10 memory, aud
has been sometimes used by the writer
10 point a moral, or adorna tale" and
which. In fact. has proven TO him,
useful lesson during all the years that
have intervcned. Among the many
who eagerly applied for permission
(and pay 10 teach the "young idea how
To shoot t'-who at this writing is
a beloved and useful minister.
was IA stalwart, handsome grand son
OF the Emerald Isle, briming with en-
thusiasm, and ready for the sacrifice,
we had blank contracts, as long AS the
moral law, these We're 10 he filed out in
duplicate, and signed by the parties.
Soon the first sheet was ready, and
passed into the eager waiting hands OF
the teacher in embryo, party OF the
second part" for inspection, approval
and signature. A CAREFUL examination
and close scrutiny seemed to cloud his
hitherto bright and bcaminglfacc, elong-
aiing and lining the puzzled picture.
hanging with brcathless intent above
the formidable looking document, which
once having received his "sign manual, "
would be faithfully executed To the
very letter, "tho' the Heavens fall.
After filling out the duplicate, the
clerk turned 10 call his attention, by
breaking the dead silence that had
fallen upon the scene, noting the puz-
zled and grusome expression that had
settled upon Ibis ruddy and genial face,
at once broke the ominous silence.
"Well! what do you think Of it," Turn
ing slowly around and with dubious
thought, stamped upon every lineamcnt
Of his fine honest face, he snorted out.
Captain, this pesky thing says,
Daugherty all the time" Times were
hard and close in those days, anxious
as he was, TO secure the job with the
miserable pittance of ealary attached
80 much coveted, 50 vitality necessary
and which meant 80 much TO him, he
did not, however. fail TO observe the
lopsidcdness Of the legal looking paper
that necessity, not luxury, induced hin
to accept.
A Tazew0ll Avenue Kicker.