The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1925-12-10
SMILIN' THU
BY GORDON COOPER
Copyright 1925 by Gordon Cooper
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Doc Bloom leaned on his rake and
watched detected young darby APP
preaching on one of the streets that
skirted Mercer University campus.
Doc could tell that he was fresh
from the farm-his "sto' bought"
suit, ill-fitting and of shoddy mater
ial, was evidence enough of this fact
without the further evidence shown
in his walk and bearing AS Doc ex-
pressed it, ode ve'y way e walks
shows dat e amt nothin' but
clod-hopper whut's spent is life fol
lowin' up de wes' end OBJ eas'-boun
mule hitched ter plow."
Docs Sunday vocation as preach
er, and his week day vocation as
gardner, which brought him in con
tact with the students, had made him
shrewd in the knowledge of human
nature. AS he watched the strange
young negro he could tell that he
was tired out, and the dust-stained
shoes proved that he had been walk
ing quite a distance.
"Whar yo' thinks yo' gwine?" he
called out in gruff good-nature.
The plodding young darby stopped
and set down his battered suit case,
but he didn't reply. He regarded Doc
earnestly, with eyes like those of
lost dog about to dodge kick,
while he took off his hat, which was
several sizes too small, and mopped
his sweating face with grimy hand
kerchief.
"Whut's de mattah Is de cat got
yo' tongue ?" Doc continued with
some asperity.
The boy opened his mouth and
worked it convulsively several times,
but without getting reply. He swalI
lowed repeatedly and his adams
apple bobbed up and down like a
fishing cork. The look in his eyes
grew more pitiful as he regarded
Doc appealingly. Then he put his
hat on-got it crooked so that it
gave him a ludicrous appearance,
and once more opened his mouth
with convulsive efforts in an at
tempt to speak
That got next to Doc. A look of
concern appeared in his face and he
dropped his rake and scuttled thru
the hedge to the boys side. Oar,
dar! Yo's all tiahed out, amt yo'?'
he began in voice of solicitude.
"Come on thu de hedge an set yo'-
se'f down in de shade an res" And
he caught up the battered suitcase
and took the boy by the arm and
led him to the shade of one of the
campus trees, where he gently pushed
him down on the grass.
The boy relaxed like a bag of
meal, but still he didn't say any
thing. "Dari Yo' jes' set dar an
res yo'sef' whilst All gifts yo' a col
drink o. watah." And Doc numbered
off across the campus to return i'm
mediately with broken pitcher
which he put to the boys mouth.
When the weary pilgrim had re-
freshed himself he looked up at Doc
with eyes that were moist with
gratitude. Again his mouth opened
convulsively, and this time he man
aged to say, "H-h-h-h-hit's awful
k-k-k-kin' OBJ yo' t-t-t-t-ter t-t-t-treat
me dis way! Ah'll d-d-do e7
m-m-m much fer yo' some Odd.
dayp
Doc stared at him. "Whut's de
mattah, boy? Is yo' sick?" he ask
ed in alarm.
"N-n-n-naw, s-s-suh All amt
s-s-s-sick. Abs jes' t-t-t-tiahed! Abs
Wv walked all de w-w-w-way
frum S-s-s-silvah C-c-c-creek TIT
terday!"
"Lawdyp calculated Doc, "Yo's
done walked bout thurty miles den
But whut's de mattah yo' CANT
talk ?"
"D-d-d-dat's 'c-c-c-eause All s-s-s-
stutters!" answered the weary
youngster. "An' eff All gifts s-s-s-
skeered All CANT t-t-t-talk a-tall
D-d-d-dat's w-w-whut w-w-wuz de
-mattah wild me wen yo' f-f-f-
fust yelled at me. Yo' s-s-s-skeered
mel"
"Now amt dat too bad!" Doc
said in commiseration. as yo' been
stutterin' all yo' hfe?"
"Ah r-r-r-reckons All is" he re-
piled. eff All h-h-hadnt b-b-b-been
s-s-s-stutterin' all nah l-l-life All
guess All c-c-couldn't d-d-do hit
s-s-s-so good"
with acknowledgement to Roy
Kegerreis)