The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-07-19
nv Dad And His Birthday.

my father. Just in the last ten years
have learned 20 know him well, but
can imagine seeing him little boy,
PLAYING under the locust trees up on the
corner-across from the Baptist church.
He didn't 40 to school much and the
most he learned of books is what his
father made him study while grand
father was making a saddle, for he was
a harness-maker and for a long time he
thought his oldest son would follow the
trade.
If papa ever went up the creek fish,
ing he has never mentioned 1t. All |
ever heard him say was about work and
one thing that arouses his temper is for
man to complain of work He
loves work and it seems to me he did
every kiud until he found a printing
press, then he became blind to all other
trades and professions.
The only reason he ever did any
other labor after he got press, was be-
cause there was not living in printers
ink in the old days when everybody did
not think it necessary to use printed
stationery. Papa used to handle the
express and had to go TO the boats all
hours of the night, passing through the
covered bridge without body guard or
pistol. He has carried hundreds of
dollars, but no pistol did he need and
today his children are afraid at the
sight of one. He tells us with pride
about his experiences in war times sell
ing copies OF the Courier Journal for as
much as dollar each.
| never heard but one joke on papa
and Mr.. Dave Norman, of Glen Dean,
takes pleasure in telling that Once
some one out in the country sent papa
a note by darkey. He came to town
and asked for John de Baptist.
Every body laughed at the colored uncle
and told him that John the Baptist had
his head cut off a thousand years back.
But the darkey wasn't satisfied He
walked tarough the town looking for
John de Baptist" and when he saw
papa handed him the note and asked:
"Aint you's Mr.. John de Baptist"
In March 1901 there was an article in
the Louisville Post about John d. Bah
bage and his loss by fire. Only those
who had worked and lived and loved
and lost with him, can understand what
it must have meant to see his work of
life time in ashes. l never saw papa
cry but once. Just a few weeks after
the fire he was sitting in the Baptist
church, his family and friends were
with him. Big tears fell from his kind
brown eyes. His little mother was
there too-she had dreamed her last
dream.
l think papa is rich man. He has
grit, patience; he can forget and for.
give. lie is contented and his joy
comes from the things that he does and
not what he should like to do. His
tastes have changed, somewhat, he
used to loathe garden, now he delights
in bugging potatoes. He doesn't go 10
sleep in church any more. This dad of
mine is slow, but sure. There are two
things he puts off going to the very
last minute; one is a train, the other a
meal, but he rarely ever misses either
His notices have been, "Be sure
you are right, then go ahead, and
print no news that isn't fit. have
heard men and women say that my
father always published clean paper
He has spent many a dollar for his
country, more for his county and would
have been in right good financial cir
cumstances had he not given so many
free write-ups to his town. He is de-
voted to Cloverport, the very name is
dear to him and he would as soon say
something about his own child as to say
anything against his home city.
He is my father, but l am not blind
to his faults. He has three. He gets
up too early. And papa will brag to
mother about the good light-tread Mrs.
Midlothian makes, Mrs. Lyddan's
fried chicken and the other meals he
eats from home. He sits and talks too
long when have a beau j like real
we'll.
His greatest work has been teaching
others to work. He has started many
boy and girl out in the world from his
print-shop. He has patiently taught
them and paid them by the day while
they were learning. The most he asks
of his friends is loyalty. He thinks
that loyalty to each other in daily life
is equal to the Golden Rule.
could write on and on about my
papa, wishing him happy birthday.
He will be sixty-six Friday. Mrs. Dell
Hambleton and Mrs. Bob Pierce have
the same date for birthday. Glad
am that am working by his side. His