Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-09-13
In A Single Sentence.

81 believe that his style IS inimitaole,
said Mr.. Burpee, the guest of the even
ing, speaking OF his favonte modern
author. "For one thing, who else could
employ, effectively, the long and intricate
sentence that is so characteristic OF his
writing and that expresses his thought
with such precision ?"
mo one, probably" admitted Mr..
Mayhew, the host. Then he added.
with gimmer OF mischief in his eye,
al remember an attempt in that direc-
tion. though.
Some years ago, was driving with
Mrs. Mayhew and Evelyn through a
country neighborhood, and asked a
woman at work in her garden if she could
tell me anything about Mr.. Cobb, who,
| thought, had lived in that vicinity. |
got my answer in single sentence.
After we reached home we pieced our
recolections Of that answer together, and
my daughter finally reduced il 10 writing.
Perhaps you can find il, Evelyn"
After little search Miss Evelyn re-
turned with her notes, which she read as
follows:
you mean Mr.. Thomas Cobb, per-
hapS you noticed small house about
mile back, although quite likely you
wouldn't, on account OF a row Of cedar
trees that Mr.. Hammer set out, the man
they took lease Of with the privilege OF
buying, and perhaps would il il hadn't
been for her father, Mr.. Murch, who
came 10 live with them, and was certainly
the most unlucky person, but who tried
TO do his part, first by helping Mr.. Cobb
in running a little hothouSe business that
he was doing quite well at, until he
trusted Mr.. Murch 10 sit up and keep the
fires going one bitter cold night, and
found him asleep in the morning, with
everything frozen stiff, and became dis
couraged and gave up and got him job
IN the city, coming home Saturday nights,
and leaving Mr. Murch TO chore round
the place, which didn't take so much OF
his time but what he thoughthe might do
something buying up fowls and dressing
them for market, and so hired an old
horse and wagon and fixed up a coop
and started out one day with good sue
cess as far as buying went, but moi other
wise, for the reason that when he was
driving home after dark the old horse
got frightened and ran the wagon against
a stump by Mr.. LangS barn. spilllng out
the hens and breaking the harness so that
Mr.. Murch couId't mend il without a
light. which he got by setting little
grass afire, and '17ly patched up so
that he drove home, but without his hens,
which wasn't The worst OF il, as il turned
out, for the blaze had afterwards set Mr..
Lang'S old barn aiire and damaged him a
hundred dollars, he claimed, which the
Cobbs paid rather than have fuss. al
though il was blow 10 them, and made
Mr.. Murch so down in the mouth that
they LET him 90 10 nephew's over in
Bellfield TO recruit, although guess they
would have hesitated if they had realized
that he would bring home the scarlet
fever, coming down with il The next day
and giving il 10 the children, which, with
doctors bills and everything, used up
about all they had, and led them to give
up their place and take rent in Baypoh.
where they were going on the train the
time the car got off the track, and not a
person hurt except Mr.. Murch, who had
both legs broken, which YOU might think
was the worst luck OF all, but didn't prove
so, for, say what you will OF the railways.
this time they were more than fair, set
Ting for four thousand, and putting The
Cobbs right on their feet. and everyone
glad OF that part. and Mr.. Murch gIaddest
OF all that he had been OF some use at
last, with all prosperiug now, or were at
last accounts, on a little place Mr.. Cobb
bought just out OF Bayport, and where !
presume you can find him, unless,
"And here" said Evelyn, folding up
her paper, sis where father thanked the
lady and drove on"