Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-06-10
WHAT JOHNNY DID.
HIS EXPERIENCE WITH MIR.
FINKINsoN.

You don't know Mr.. Finkinson, do
you? He first came around to our
house about two months ago. Al firss
thought he was an awful funny man
He had such long neck. He's got u
still, guess. You think you're smart
don't you?
He came around with Bob. / was
having some fun outside the hous8
with Gene Wilson and Willie TAFT.
We was trying to make Willie's dog
fight the Fowlers' poodle dog. and
they didn't want to. Bob caught hold
Of me by the neck, and said, What
are you doing there in the gutter, you
disreputable little scamp?" And them
he said to Mr.. Finkinson, This II
my kid brother. A nice specimen.
isn't he?" And MIR. Finkinson said
Hes all right. Let him alone. So
l liked him pretty well. y
They went into the house. and sis
ter Amy came down after a while.
and he asked her If she wouldn't play
something Tor him, and she said. oh.
haven't touched the piano since
don't know when, and I'm all out OF
practice the way she always does
when somebody asks her to play. She
makes me tired. He said oh, I'm
not critic, but I'm passionately fond
OF music, and any little thing So
she played, and he stood up BY the
piano and tried to turn the music for
her nnd knocked it down on the floor,
and they both stopped to get 1t. and
knocked their heads together. and
you net laughed
After he had gone said to Amy
that | wouldn't have Teller calling
on me with a neck like an ostridge.
excepting that 1t didn't have feathers
on 1t. And she said: You march on
and wash your face and hands for
dinner, and the next time anybody
calls you can keep out of the parlor-"
did the next time he came. be-
cause didn't know he had come, but
the time after didn't. l stayed right
In the room, and he had package
with him, and he gave 1t to Amy, and
1t was box OF candy. Amy said
How lovely!" when she saw what
and he took piece, and she offered
me some, and took three pieces and
dropped another piece on the carpet.
and you ought,t to have seen how she
looked at me.
Then Mr.. FinlSinson said, Come
here to me. Johnny" and he took me
between his knees and asked me K
I Av otp sasA a..
look what you are doing. with your
hands all over chocolate!" And
had got chocolate on his clothes. but
II wasn't any of her business. She's
so awful particular about her own
clothes she thinks everybody else Ii
about theirs. But Mr.. Finkinson didn't
care. He Just laughed. and then he
asked me If liked candy, and when
said Yes" he gave me a quarter
and told me to go and buy some.
thought he was all right.
But Amy had to play smart again,
Of course She said, "Oh, you mustn't
do that, Mr.. FinlSinson. The ideal
Johnny, give that money back to Mr..
Finkinson." ! said | wouldn't do II.
and said: You give your candy
back to him" Then | skipped out.
got a whole lot of mixed-up candy
more than she had, too--and lot Of
chewing gum besides, and spent q
nickel OF 1t for colored chalks.
He got SOS he came all the time,
and he nearly always gave me quar-.
ter, and once, when told him 1t was
going to be my birthday. he asked me
what would like for my birthday, and
said pair of roller skates, because
all the kids had 'em. And he said
"All right. You shall have your skates.
Johnny" Then sister had to chip In
again, of course, and tell him not to
buy me any skates. But got the
skates, and 1t was a dandy pair. too.
bet they cost a lot. l told Amy
didn't care II he had got long neck. 4
l always used to run and meet Mr..
Finkinson when / saw him coming.
and grab his leg and hang onto Il,
and he never cared.
But a week ago last Sunday Jim
Galloway came back from the east.
and | bet you Amy was glad to see
him. / like jim. although can't play
any tricks on him the way do with
Mr.. Finkinson. | told Mr.. Finkins0n
that Jim had come back, and he said.
Who's JIM" And Amy said. "Oh,
he's an old friends Of ours. Johnny,
mother wants you"
And said, "Jim's Amy's beau. He's
going to be my brother some time"
And Amy she got all red in the face.
and Mr.. Finkinson he looked as X
there was funeral in the house. And
4 went out to see what mother wanted.
and she didn't want me, and when
got back Mr.. Finkinson was gone, and
didn't see him again until yesterday
He was walking down the street,
and sneaked up behind him and
Jumped and grabbed hold Of his leGsi
and hung on, and he turned round and
took hold of me and hit me the awful.