Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-04-12

This somewhat incoherent and
hazy query came from an elder bro
ther, who had arrived at the age of
shotgun and dog, and cigarettes
made Of rabbit-tobacco. He was now
sitting on the top step Of the piazza,
with knees drawn up and hugged to
his chest. Father, to whom this ear
nest appeal was addressed was quite
comfortably tilted back against the
piazza post in his reading chair, try
ing to peruse his daily budget of
news. With extreme deliBeration he
brought the fore legs of his chair to
the floor, folded his paper, carefully
placing it near OIL the floor.
"Just what am to understand
you to mean, my son? he asked, af-
ter due reflection. This did not
sound one bit encouraging, but bit
less hopeless as he glibly quoted
from our recently recited grammar
lesson: 1.-The indefinite article or
an belong to nouns Of the singular
number; the definite article tho be-
longs to nouns of the singular or
plural number"
After having duly impressed this
lesson upon us, he again requested
repetition OF the query. The barom-
eter was most decidedly declining,
but the very earnestness Of the sup
plicant gave him courage to explain:
"Sir, "a dog" means are you will
ing that l should have dog; "ihc
dog" pertains to Il very particular
dog Davis Cant (our sub-tcnanD has
promised me, by your leave"
After this daring explanation | ex-
pected to see Ervine unseated and
stand at attention, but tho hUmor of
the situation seemed to have cotton
under the skin Of the pater, and he
was Thoroughly enjoying himself.
He appeared to give the matter very
grave consideration, then asked:
"My son, can you specify any par
ticular reason why dog should be
annexed to my household"
yes, sir-oh, yes, .sir!" quickly
replied the boy, adding as explana-
tion which he foresaw would be
coming: Gle will grow to be dog
just right, and a dog that one might
we'll be proud of-a great protection
to the house, and terror to the
prowling rabbits.'
"Who will keep him, feed him and
water him, and cherish him in sick
ness and in health? again asked the
inuuisitor from the seat above. To
which Ervine replied, very much like
scared bridegroom, "I will" AS an
after-thought, running true to his
sex, he added, by way Of distribut-
ing responsibility, Emma will help
me- Then to me, perhaps remem-
bering that he had omitted the for
mality Of consulting me on The sub
ject, he asked: "Now, didn't you?"
Being placed by "Providence"
right In the midst Of a bunch Of
boys, and having two brothers older
than myself and two younger-and
this by no means being all Of the
family-I had long since learned the
unwritten law Of sticking up to a
buddy" l therefore ran my neck
into the moose by answering Eyes, "
and that settled it. This settled, Er-
| vine and ] adjourned to the back en-
| try, whore our committee on ways
and means went promptly into exec
| utive session. We were soon inter-
rupted, however, by the voice we had
better hear, clearly calling" "James,
| James, come hither!"
Ervine's face registered concern !;
and we'll 1T might, for, his name be-
ing "James Ervine," pa had way
Of calling him James upon occasions
all to closely allied with the chasz
tening rod-when there had been
mischief afoot. This was indeed omi-
| nous. AS the same rule applied to
me as distinguishing between Emma
and Emily, Il quickly recognized the
symptoms, and, through sympathy,
! closely followed in his wake
t"Did call you, Emily?" the pater
asked, as he looked up from the pa
per he was again perusing..
| mo, sir; did not hear YOU"
"Then why did you come--out of
curiosity?"
| Just came with Ervine," noun-
dered.
! eyes, when one comes where they