The Lambertville record., 1926-05-20
SMILIN' THU
BY GORDON COOPER
LIVE A LII LONGER"

Doc Bloom, the genial old darky preacher who
made his substantial living gardener of Mer-
Ger University campus, about half asleep True,
he in of speaking engaged in pruning
some rose bushes But the drowsy afternoon filled
his aged bones with sleepy warmth and his movements
was like "slowed-up' moving picture film. AS he
puttered he crooned throaty humble of song
that sounded like lazy humble bee
"Live a ill longer Ho babe!
Live a Ill longer! Ho babe!
Eff yo weak, some grub seek!
Live liz longer! Ho babe!
Live lii longer! Ho babe!
Live lii longer! Ho babe!
Eff brains yo wish, go eat some fish!
Live liz longer! Ho babel"
1t was at this point that lone student strolled
listessy across the campus and heard the last Of
Docs song. "What do you by that last verse" he
asked.
Doc Strengthened up and stretched nightly, while
his big red mouth opened in yawn that made him
look as if his throat cut. "Whut does Ah mean
by whut? ?" he asked in return.
"You just singing" replied the student, "and
you said something about If brain you wish go eat
some fish, Do you really think that fish is brain
food?"
"Ah sho does" replied Doc he took generous
chew from his plug of tobacco "Efen yo eat fish all
de time brains is de ony thing yo amt gwne hab moth
in else butt" And twinkle appeared in his eyes as he
surveyed the young seeker after knowledge He saw
from the look his face that the youngster was ex-
ceedingly credulous, and he decided to stuff" him.
"Effen yos eber read de Bible yo' knows dat Jesus
deciples fishermans De Lawd knowed whut e
wuz don wen 'e picks out de folks whut wants ter
spread de Gospel. An dem fishermans live on fsh!
An dey had brans"
The student regarded Doc with wonder "That is a
significant fact!" he burted breathlessly And do
know, 1 realized it, altho | had read that
lots of tmes!"
Doc warmed to his subject. "Not ony dat" he
resumed ut whut fer yo reckon Gawd done pick out
whale ter swaler Jonah, stead o. habin lyun tag
ger eat i'm? OATS sign dat Jonah amt got no
brains fer aus refusin go preach lax de Lawd tell
i'm An so ter show i'm needs brains, de Lawd done
got whale swallow Jonah ter teach i'm some
sense!"
The youthful student. was duly impressed "Why
Doc you're quite a philosopher, aren't you? That's an
Interpretation had heard given to the story OF
Jonah and the whae!"
"'Course yo' aint' replied Doc "Dey's lots O.
things yo' amt nevah heahed erbout. An All bet yo
amt nevah figgered wy Jesus git de money outen de
| fishes mouth either is yo'?"
| Do you mean the time Jesus called upon to
pay taxi"
"Yassuh dat's de time De Lawd ddn hab no
money SO whut e do but go down ter de watah an
reach in an ketch i'm fish. Den e open de fishes
mouf an dars de money jes' like in pocket book!
An de de Lawd used dat fish ter perdooce de
money wuz ter show dat brains an unerstandin is
'zemplified in de fish"
al think there's a lot in what you say" replied the
student as he turned this in his mind Consider
ing that fish is called brain food, how much dc
you think ought to eat?"
| Doc stroked his chin if in deep thought, the
while he cooked his head and winked his off at a
sparrow disportng himself limb above "Well, he
drawed slowly, an yo All reckons yo oughta eat
| bout whale day!"