Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-01-15
when CALMNESS GOES
TALES OF EXCITEMENT THAT Ac
COMPANY A FIRE.
Old Man Peaslee's Story Probably thu
Best Of Good Ones Related After
the confiagration Had Been
Subdued.

The little village Of Dilmouth had
suffered from fire-Ethan Nudd's low
er barn, where he had stored his farm
ing tools, had burned nat. 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 REILLY takes q fire to bring out
the last mite Of foolishness there 10
in . man." he asserted. with convic
ton. "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 a pail and rope. tryin'
to get water out of it-and there amt
been a drop of water in that we'll 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 It
was a dry WE'LL"
Course he knew it," scoffed Jed
impatiently. THAT we'll went dry
when Bentley blasted out for that
deep we'll of his-cut into the vein
and sucked Nudd's we'll dry as an ash
heap. No, sir! It's jest as 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 If 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 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 it Just outside
the barn, and then they dropped the
pole and left it there-right where it
would ketch. Course 1t would have
burnt in the barn. but 1t wouldn't have
burnt any quicker than 1t did where
1t was. They might jest as we'll left
it 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 If they was cam. but I've
noticed this besides-and It don't
seem to have struck Jeddie at all
the things they do any time like that
amt things that bender or help much
That is to say. even If they do seem
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 hand
moment and then went on again as
If he had not stopped talking.
Folks like that" he ruminated, as
if to himself, always put me in mind
of old Aunt Dilly Peterby. the time
her husband had that fit. 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 a straw. Doctor White
was there, and he asked her what he1
idea was, and Aunt Dilly told hin
that she REILLY want sure what she
was dom 1t 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 a great deal Of hurt
Youths Companion.