The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-04-03


roads. Teacher was there. and ]
was there. and my brother Joe was
there. and hull passed. besides !
told Joe was going to lick the teach
or that day. and kept my eyes open
for a good chanel 20 pick fuss with
him. But, try as hard as could, ]
couldn't make out no way to start
fight. We ct our dinners, and str
hadn't done nothing. But along IN
the afternoon they was building cor
duroy road out OF sapplings. and we
had 20 make a culvert. There was
two big logs to carry to act as the
sides and another to lay on top OF
them as n kiver, before we put the
dirt on: and as we was tugging at
them the folks got to talking about
how people had managed to lift great
hefts before thay had derricks and
things. They talked about the pyra-
mids Of Egypt and the Tower OF
Babel and the Hanging Gardens, be-
cause they liked to hear teacher tell
about these things. Finally some
Teller asst how much the bell OF Mos
COW weighed. and knowed my
chanel had come"
The Old Man paused once more to
chew. Possibly he had an Interior
purpose as well. All good story tel
lers know the value OF pause be-
fore the climax comes, and these
plain old pioneers are, many of them,
genuinely good story tellers. The
Old Man continued:
II told Joe that now was the time
was going to lick the teacher, and
FOR him to see fair play. edged up
clost. and waited to see what the
teacher would say. He thought
moment, and said:
81 declare IL | haint forgot
Then | throwed myself at him. ]
grabbed him by the collar and twist
ed his shirt, jest as he had mine,
till he was mighty nigh choking. |
was likely Teller, and teacher was
a kind er puny, you see. But some
OF the folks made to take me on.
for they thought heap of the teach
er. Joe tried to keep them away, but
they finally pried me past way loose,
and teacher asst, Jim, tell me what
this means, and II need 1t I will
let you kick me. Honest I will >
The Old Man chewed deliberately.
Then / opened up. Oh, but / was
billing. The words naturally seemed
to pour from my mouth. Teacher
says l. when / was a pore, ignorant
little tike, you asst me what a rein.
deer was, and I told you 1t was
rabbit. II was the best knowed. but
you grabbed me by the collar and
beat me over the shoulders, because
was. little and didn't know no bet.
ter And pap paid you to learn me,
too That warnt no way to treat
a feller that was doing the best he
knowed how Now you can't tell
what the bell of Moscow weighs. and
!, ignorant as ! am, know. because
1t Is in the back OF the old elemsn-
tary speller | am going to lick you,
teacher, till you learn
The Old Man looked round on his
hearers and smiled.
We'll. the fellers cheered and told
me to light in. But teacher said:
Jim. low you are right. But give
me a chance. Tell me what the bell
OF Moscow weighs, and then II !
ever forget you may lick me, and
welcome. II you meet me on the road.
or at meeting, or anywhere. ask me
what the bell weighs. and II ! forget,
then it's your turn"
We'll let him of. Says ], The
bell of Moscow weighs 225 tons, and
hope you have learned your lesson
And he had. ! used to meet that
Teller after that, and as fur as he
could see me he would yell, Joe. the