Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-01-24
Joe's Pants

In the old days, when Clifton, across
the river from Prairie du Sac, was OF
much more importance than at pres
ent, there was a little white school
house clinging to the mountain side,
high, above the village, near "KeihPs
Castle" Alongside this diminutive
temple of learning, extending above
and below it, the boys of the school
had arranged a fine cOasting course,
this sport, in winter, taking the place
Of "tWO old cat" "pom-pOm pull-a-
and other like games INDUCED in by
the school boys on more level ground.
Alongside this course ran deep ra-
vine, whose precipitous sides were
covered with an almost impenetrable
growth of briers and scraggy oaks.
In those days, the principal amuse-
ment of the young people, and many
older ones as well, during the long
winter evenings, was the spelling
school," and it was considered to be
the height of glory when district
could lay claim to the championship
in spelling contest. This enviable
position was long held by our district,
No. 5. or the school section, as it was
better known. And so when word was
given out for a spelling school at
Clifton, five miles away, arrangements
were made to convey a large delega-
ton from our neighbOrhOOd to main
tain our cherished laurels. There were
also delegations from other districts,
among them one from the South Side.
In this latter was Joe Lyman from Ly-
mans Corners. Joe was a youth OF
long, slender build, with decided lisp
his speech, just sprOuting his first
mustache, and the proud possessor OF
his first pair of store pants. 1t was
safe to say that Joe regarded them as
the apple Of his eye, and far more
precious than all other Of his earthly
possessions. They we're Of black and
white checkered pattern, and on Joe's
spindle shanks presented a very strik'
ing appearance at least this was evil
IDENTIFY JOe's opinion.
When we arrived at the schOOlhOuse
we found the entire company enjoying
the exhilirating sport afforded by the
coasting course-the home boys being
very liberal in giving the loan OF their
sleds to the visitors. The plan OF pro
ceedure was for the young man, hay-
ing secured a sled, to select his best
girl. escort her to the hilltop, where
she would take a seat on the front OF
the conveyance The young man then
L. II oIy n71n
out at either side to keep the outfit
to the course by digging heel III the
snow now and then, as occasion re-
CURED.
The sign, however, was long time
in getting right for Joe. When he
had secured a sled there was no girl
available. and when he found a girl
there was no sled Finally, after the
others had somewhat wearied of the
snort. the combination came right for
him. and with a sled and Miss Amanda
k, a South Side belle, Joe marched
proudly up the hill. The course was
clear, the merrymakers being gath
cred at the side of the schOOlhOuse to
witness Joe's adventure. Presently
there flashed into view, in the light
from the school windows an object
resembling some huge bird, or more
like the present day aeroplane in full
flight, JOe's long limbs sticking out at
either side like the camou1aged wings
of the latter, while Amanda, wrapped
in thick robes and hood very much
resembled a daring aviator bringing
her machine to earth on an incline.
Rrr the outfit came to earth sooner
than expected, for as they swept past
the group of spectators, Joe's long
limbs Tapping like giant bird wings,
his heel on the side next the "a
vine, struck the ground with such
force as to turn the outfit to that side,
where it was suddenly brought to a
standstiu by a little patch of bare
earth, all except Joe, who was catap-
ulted over Amanda's head and
plunged into the ravine head first,
much like a great frog diving into the
bullrushes, giving a momentary glimpse
of a pair of lengthy black and white
checkered pants, as he disappeared
from view. Presently very greatly
disOrganized individual emerged from
the ravine with the emphatic state
ment "Sthey boyths! My --
panths are all sphlit to hi, which
was evident to all in sight, and made
Joe so detected that he took no par
in the exercises of the evening, pre-