The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-27
THE LITTLE DUKE, TAKES TO LETTER WRITING
Chimmie, Thereby, Meets a Football Star. and
Profits Much. Duchess Gets a HOrrid Shock
as to Modern Educational Ways.
By EDWARD wv. TOWNSEND.
Copyright, 1903, by Robert Howard
RuSselL)

4 am much interested in de subject
Of education," says Mr. Paul. and I'm
linking of writing a letter to de pa
pers about it, and I would, 'cept dat
I has not wrote a letter for SO long
I'm not hand wise at d. game"
"Dere is too much education!' says
Whiskers. De people is all becoming
Nannychists, and sociaIblist, and free
traders. and all wicked tings because
dey knows too much TO be good, and
not enough to be wise"
Dose IS WOids OF WISDOM says Mr..
Paul. I know dat What you say is
true. because I was reading in de pa
pers dat de English farms is gone
TO de bad for dat here is no farmers
nobody knowing enough to farm
n De American farms is going to de
bad because 9 boys knows too mucn
to stay on de soil, and comes to de
paVenentS of our c~ities.'
Say, dis education game is getting
on me. too. l gets u letter from little
Duke, what IS our kiddie, and he is
raking down education wit bOte feet.
FOiSt he writes me, Dear Dad" he
writes, I am doing well. l want pair
OF bOXen gIuves. YUre IOvcn chances
napOleOnemmct. > pairs. The other
boys is . hard.
So l goes TO Duchess. n l asks her
would h UnbeIt de price "P'chee.''
h say 'Sure!' and never asks no
questions, except was boxing gloves
needed IN n American gents educa-
ton
I tells her dat if kiddie didn't get
de gloves he would be put ut de foot
ut tfl class ly-lv-y- TlsAc- md Sha
PUNCHES like a mice.
Den I gets anodder letter from little
Duke. he writes. Dear Dad ne
writes, Il am getting on fine. I want
some COTt plaster and arneky. Tell
dear Mama hankies IS fire for band
ages Yure IOvcn Emmett"
/ didn't bOdder Duchess about his
part of lie lads education. dose tings
being in my line. and easy to get from
hOUSekeeper'S closet.
Den l gets auOdder letter. He's a
great write. date boy is. Dear Dad"
ne writes, I am getting on fine. I
want a foot ball suite, also Il nose
gard Miue is sore Yure lOven Ma
pOleOn. p s. Nose CARDS is for the
nose when you buck the center. and
the other boy hits first c. y. E. F"
[ was up against what n nose guard
was till kiddie explained. but den l
see dat if our boy was to come to his
loving parents wit Il face dat wouldn't
put de bull pup out of lie running for
good looks. Il o guard was on de
programme.
So I make a light touch on Duchess
In de cause OF education. n | goes
to de shop where dey sells what foot
baIIerS has TO have in DER business,
and I says to de clOik Il want a nose
guard"
For yourself?' he says. piping off
nv F-Ia ND -alrhiDr fnr. do hiC-sraSr
bot on de shelf.
Not exactly for me" l says. For
me second edition" l says, and he
tumbles.
l was rUbbering round De shop.
when Il lad built like Il snow plow,
gives me de asking eye. nj l mods
friendly. and he comes Up. and says.
once" ne says polite. But De last
time I seen YOU. YOU had on 4 nose
guard, a head shield. and ear prOteC-
tors, Il ~baudaged eye. n 4 torn and
muddy jacket: so 7 didn't quite make
out to- he sure till l heard you speak.
Dat was 4 lively game all REIGN he
says. smiling pleasantly. Il hope l
didn't hoit You dat time 1 kicked You
in de cheek. and our ends scrubbed
vour face i'm De gravel. and &c tackles
jumped on Your spine"
on, no." I says. wondering wedder
ne was bug house. or only coming me.
Not n hit lie wOisc for me spine" 7
says. 'HOW'S yours"
Great" he says. L hope you are
ON YOUR team. and we'll meet again"
ne says L remember you well. now
dat I hears YOU speak. and sees you
walk and I am glad to see YOU out
OF uniform. Are You in training. OF
will YOU have a If--.- drirk?''
'Bcy-, 1 says. I tumbIes dat H.
mistuUk ME for q fejly ne hal rum M
against i'm some game of foot bail last
year. and So as not to df~luuo-uc him.
L taught Id let it so at dat.
80 We w1Itze< over t1 81 bar. whNrc
ne says. as easy rs i' II" WIS cgfEL-
r,~ ztvef stems. ~ quart. II .--. bI~-
keep ana lively. If You rI.rs-
We'll. l seen by Gc Ny hr~lo,n
Gets busy. and huStI-~ Il QUAR- Cf Gzz.
and smiles. Iuf tells de- r.F OWES. Pc NJ
IL. nr- In solve IN to- us a- 81 cable.
.-E r- ~nrrv about f.. E-t re new
fre- was some kind az $rr~. mi I