Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1914-09-24
WHEN CALMNESS GOES
TALES OF EXCITEMENT. THAT &C.
COMPANY A FIRE.
Old Man PessIes's Story Probably the
Best Of Good Ones Related After
the conhasratIon Had Been
Subdusd.

The little village OF Dilmouth had
suffered from fre-Ethan Nudd's low.
er barn. where he had stored his farm
ing tools. had burned nat. and a large
part OF the community had gathered
about the ruins. The men we're busily
'~recounting their own exploits, and Wig
orously %criticizing the behavior Of
others who had gone home. Jed Clip
son was speaking.
1t REILLY takes a fire TO bring out
the last mite OF foolishness there is
IN a man." he asserted. with convic-
ton. FIR Instance. did any OF you
folks notice one OF them Bentley
twins. TO see what he was doin',
Didn't. hey Well. I did. and he was
over at that dry well. south OF the
barn. with n pail and q rope. tryin'
to get water out Of it-and there amt
been a drop OF water in that well for
more'n ten year,"
"Sho. now. Jeddie," soothed Mr..
Peaslee. Don't be hash in your jedg-
ment. Mebbe the twin didn't know II
was a dry we'll"
Course he knew IT," scoffed Jed.
impatientiy. That well 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 a Teller. and he'll do things
there amt a mite Of sense In. You
notice. and see n I Amt right"
"Bentley's twin didn't do all the
foolish and useless things that was
done there" broke in wendail Cooper,
for to my mind the capsheaf Of fool
ishness was when that passed. OF Junk
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 II Just outside
the barn. and then they dropped the
pole and left II there-right where II
would ketch. Course Il would have
burnt in the barn. but II wouldn't have
burnt any quicker than II did where
was. They might Jest as well left
in the barn."
Here Caleb Peaslee's mild old voice
interrupted again.
Under strain OF excitement, same's
1t a fire." he observed. moderately.
I've noticed. Jest as Jeddie says. that
'olks do things that mebbe they
wouldn't do n they was cam, but I've
this usides-and It don't
Ieem to have struck Jeddie at ALL
he things they do any time like that
lint things that bender or help much.
hat Is to say, even II they do seem
o be useless and foolish. the chances
re they amt right down hurtfuI--
Jest cases OF poor Judgment"
He tvirled his ash stick in his hand
moment and then went on again as
be had not stopped talking. '
Folks like that he uminated. as
to himself. always put me in mind '
: old Aunt Oily Peterhy. the time
err husband had that fit Folks down
n the river road heard her screechin'.
came up TO see what the matter
Tas. and they found Aunt Oily bend
a over him. ticklin' him underneath
he chin with q straw. Doctor White
sas there. and he asked her what her
dea was. and Aunt Oily told him
she REILLY want sure what she
a doin' ii for.
But, says she. real decided for
! wanted to do somethin'. and
new that II that didn't do any good.
I couldn't do a great deal OF hurt
Youths Companion.