Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-06-24

Uncle Tan was not just a common
fisherman. To be sure you would
think so when you first looked into
his cabin. Overhead were many pairs
of oars, hanging by heavy cords, and
in the corner there were rowlocks and
fishing tackle and gaff hooks to pull
big fish in with. But If you looked
away back under the little window
you could see a writing table and
above 1t, on the wall, you could see
shelves filled with books, and you
could see some large glass jars there.
In the jars there We're all sorts Of
sea urchins.
You see, Uncle Tan had a good edu-
cation. and in his youth had taught
school. He loved to study all the
different kinds of sea urchins. sea
urchin is an odd little creature that
sticks to rocks and has prickleS all
over him like a thistle's, only not so
sharp.
After supper Jane said ''Uncle Tan,
can you tell stories?"
Il can, but not very good ones.
can bake biscuits better"
"Why aren't your stories good
ones?"
Because you wouldn't believe them,
and besides they aren't true"
Il don't care if they aren't true.
We can play they're true. That's just
as good"
''Well, but" said Uacle Tan, my
arap't oTon T1rnbobIaD
Il don't care" said Jane. 81 can
play they're probable"
Uncle Tan threw back his big white
head and laughed. 81 think" he said, |
that you'd much better get your |
mother to read you really good stories
1 should be ashamed to have you tell
her my stories, because there isn't any
head or tail to them, and they're not
beautiful"
"Well," said Jane, you could tell
us one and let us see. Maybe there's
just a weeny little beautiful something
in them, and maybe we could make
head or tail of them. You could tell
us your best one"
ooh, bless your heart" said Uncle
Tan, 81 haven't got any all ready
made up. I've got cooky jar, where
you can go and ind cooky most any
time, but l haven't got any story jar
l must make 'em up as l go along
They're all ir here"-and Uncle Tan
tapped his had with his finger, Just
back of his right eye. "And some
times l can't make any story come out
of my head. Now, if there were only
an electric button there, so that every
time you pressed it, story would
start out of my mouth But there
iAh't any button there"
"I'll tell you" cried Jane hopping
down from the bench. 81 will kiss the
spot just back of your right eye, and
whenever I kiss it you have to make
up story" She had no sooner said
this than she climbed up his chair,
took his big white head in her hands,
and kissed him just back of the right
eye.
There" she said. snow you must
be a good talking machine"
Uncle Tan slowly got up and got his
pipe. He lighted 1t with coal, and
hen he said:
Il don't suppose you aver heard of
he two children who were always get
ing lost?"
mo"
"Well, once upon time there were
wo children who We're always getting
oSt. Their names were Brother and !
Sister, and they had a dog named A
ARISTOTLE. And they had plenty of |
money. Their father had worked hard .
o earn it. There was plenty of it, I
ut ii was honestly come by. l will II
ow tell you the story of how they !,
OF lost on Thanksgiving evening, 1
very time they got lost they had to II
pend the night somewhere, and they "
pent 1t in some queer places. But u
hey always managed to be coy. They
ways had coy evenings"
"Cozy evenlngs?" said Jane. "That "
Dunds fine. like cozy evenings bet
,r than anything in the world. Did IL
lie children snuggle down in queer
laces and go to sleep?" IT
"Yes, always"
"How many coy evenings will you sN
III US about? Please tell us about u
least hundred |" az
THAT Is too many. But IL you will W
'me ever here every evening for I'll
,zen evenings, will tell you a dozen
cries" oil
"Oh, goody ~ said Jane. w
So after all these interruptions vi
ncle Tan told the first story. In
EVENING AND iii
THE oNE.EYED COW.