Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1921-02-25
a LITTLE LEARNING HELPS

Pope wrote, "a little learning is
a bad thing" or words to that effect
No one cares to get into an argument
with wise man, but it is true
nevertheless, that even "a little
learning" helps wonderfully some
times.
There was in our community
blacksmith, fine man, an honest
workman, but wholly without "book
larnin," as he said. He was we'll
thought of in church circles. and
throughout the entire community. He
was left an orphan at 10 years of
age, and had to make his way the
best he could"-didn't have time to
go to school. and grew to manhood
unable to read or write. Perhaps he
should not be excused, neither should
ne be ccensured, anyway, the fact that
ne could not read was undeniable. He
married good woman of the com
munity, who, naturally, like himself
could not read or syrite. He feared to
court an educated woman. An educat-
ed man would not select an uneducat-
"a woman for wife. And so, these
two birds of a feather" gravitated
naturally toward each other. Chill
Iren were born-two boys and a pirl
rhe girl the eldest of the three. When
ne children grew to school age the
TIT was anxious to attend the one
room school two miles away. The
noys begged not to go. They said
rap amt go no schoolin' and he gets
m all right" "Pap" used to make
"arks on smooth board of his work
,'lring the day, and get neighbor
10 come over and together thew
YOU'D charge up" the accounts.
How much his losses were yearly,
owing to his inability to keen nc.
counts correctly and make proper
settlements, he never knew.
After the death of the mother the
r,ri mad to stop school, having finish.
IN the lower grades of the school
reading, writing and arithmetic
'ut she was practical and her knowl.
'hge OF books. meager though it was
TODD her in good stead, as it did nj.
so her fathers business. she took
narge Of the books, charging up nj
rMIght the daily work of the sbon
Ter hrst duty was to see that nj
'ofk done was properly charged. ant
accounts made out and collected. He1
fathers. helper, young man whr
mad only "a little learning" charo
cd up on slate which hung on tn,
wall in the shop, each lob as finish
I'll and the girl transferred these ac
cunts to book at night after he
evenings work was over.
stopped in the country store i,
that community one day. and Will
waiting for my horse to eat h;
oats, a nice looking young woma,
,amc in. She was neatly but plainI,
dressed, and pleasing to look upon
The merchant greeted her warmly
removing his hat, and setting hi
pipe on the top of barrel under tn
counter, showing the young woma,
more than the usual attention
After making few simple pur
phases she called for "our account
please" The merchant turned to hi
book, took out short lead pencil
wet it on the end of his tongue. mad
n few figures, and handed the nc
count to her. She looked over 4
carefully. called his attention to n,
error in his addition, took out
check book, and in business wa,
and in a plain legible hand, filled on
the check, passed it over the count
er, and bowling n cordial good day
to us all, left the store. | didn't mere
ly tip my hat to this fine young wo
man, but took it clear off. "Who j
the young lady" asked. "Why, tina
is Miss Mary McKim, the black
smiths daughter, who runs the sho
1T the forks of the road. And she's
'rump, too that girl is. She ha
barge of all of old Mes bushes:
He has no education, and Mary wen