Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-11-06
when CALMNESS GOES
TALES OF EXCITEMENT THAT Ac.
COMPANY A FIRE.
Old Man Peaslee's Story Probably the
Best Of Good Ones Related After
the conflasraton Had Been
Subdued.

Ano Httie VillaBe OF Dllm0utn had
suffered from fire-Ethan Nudd's low,
er barn, where he had stored his farm
Ing tools, had burned fiat, and large
part Of the community had gathered
about the ruins. The men were busily
recounting their own exploits, and Wig
orously criticizing the behavior of
others who had gone home. Jed Clip
son was speaking.
1T reelly takes a fire to bring out
the last mite Of foolishness there IL
In man." he asserted. with convic
tion. "F'r instance. did any of you
folks notice one of them Bentley
twins, to see what he was doin'!
Didn't, hey? Well. did, and he was
over at that dry we'll, south OF the
barn, with pail and a rope, tryin
to get water out Of it-and there ain't
been a drop Of water in that we'll fol
more'n ten year,"
"Sho, now, Jeddie!" soothed Mr.
Peaslee. Don't be hash in your jedg
ment Mebbe the twin didn't know 1,
| was a dry WELL"
Course he knew IT," scoffed Jed
impatiently. THAT we'll went dry
when Bentley blasted out for that
deep well of his-cut into the vein
and sucked Nudd's well dry as an ash
heap. No, sir! It's Jest as I tell you
"a fire brings out all the foolishness
there is in feller, and he'll do things
there amt a mite OF sense in. You
notice, and see II amt right"
"Bentley's twin didn't do all the
foolish and useless things that was
done there" broke In Wendall Cooper
for to my mind the capsheaf OF fool
ishness was when that passel OF lunk
heads from the lower road broke into
the farther end Of the barn and
dragged out that old hayrack full OF
bean straw. They got It Just outside
the barn, and then they dropped the
pole and left It there-right where II
would ketch. Course It would have
burnt in the barn. but It wouldn't have
burnt any quicker than It did where
1t was. They might Jest as we'll left
II in the barn."
Here Caleb Peaslee's mild old voice
interrupted again.
Under strain Of excitement same's
at fire." he observed. moderately
I've noticed. jest as Jeddie says, that
folks do things that mebbe they
wouldn't do II they was cam, but I've
noticed this besides-and It DOM
seem to have struck Jeddie at all
the things they do any time like that
amt things that hender or help much
That Is to say. even II they do seen
to be useless and foolish. the chances
are they amt right down hurtful-
they're Jest cases Of poor Judgment"
He twirled his ash stick in his hant
a moment and then went on again a,
II he had not stopped talking.
Folks like that" he ruminated, a.
II to himself. always put me in MIND
OF old Aunt Dilly Peterby, the time
her husband had that At. Folks dowr
on the river road heard her screechin'
and came up to see what the matter
was, and they found Aunt Dilly bend
In over him. ticklin' him underneath
the chin with straw. Doctor White
was there, and he asked her what hel
Idea was, and Aunt Dilly told hin
that she REILLY want sure what she
was doin' It for.
But. says she, real decided fol
her. I wanted to do somethin', and
knew that II that didn't do any good
1t couldn't do great deal OF hurt
Youths Companion.