The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-12-19
DOWN
TO
EARTH
By
CARLTON
NORRIS
NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT
COWBOY BOOTS, PAJAMAS
GATESvILLE
Editor. The Index
oatesville. N. 6.

tiilS IeIler a PAIR OF COWBOY D00CS,
his first. He is still at the age to
like toys for tots and he still be-
lieves in Santa. Being unfortunate
enough to have poor man for a
father he has never had all the
toys he wants, but he is still too
young to know that.
HE REALLY was pleased with
those cowboy boots and put them
on Immediately and went out into
the yard and while it took some do
ing with legs only about 10 inches
long, he could actually walk bow
legged.
THE BOOTS hurt his feet pref
ty badly and he had to take them
off, but he wouldn't consent to hav-
ing them returned to the store.
During the next three hours, he
put those boots on and took them
off something like so times. He
put them on once to walk across
the room and took them off as soon
as he got back to his seat. He arose
early the next morning and put
them on before he got around to
taking off his pajamas.
THIS ALMOST caused him to
have a bad accident for when
went up the street to get some eggs
for breakfast, he went along too
and strutted around the grocery
store where he was quite sure ev-
eryone was admiring his boots. He
was trying to walk bowlegged out
of the store when the new boots
tripped him and he fell down the
steps to the pavement and bumped
his head. He was hurt pretty bad
but choked his cry off Immediately
as he didn't want anyone to see
him crying while wearing those
new boots. He didn't seem to find
anything unusual about cowboy
dressed in pajamas and boots al
6:30 in the morning.
ALL OF WHICH reminded me
of the years when we only went to
town just before Christmas. Usu-
ally / got new pair of shoes
about that time of the year and !
could never quite consent to having
them taken home in the new white
box. Instead l would put them or
and walk down the street carrying
the box with my old scuffs under
my arm and was pretty sure ev-
eryone in town knew l had some
brand new shoes.
LIKE THAT Teller and his cow
boy boots, l got into trouble with q
new pair of shoes. Now the ladies
make the shoe stores rich as they
must have, a pair of shoes for ev-
cry change of costume, but in
these days we bought shoes be.
cause we needed them. Shoes that
were bought for me were worn I'M
til they were no more good or UNI
til they couldn't be repaired. ] had
an everyday pair and a Sunday
Fair and that was it.
ON ONE particular Sunday
begged to wear my new shoes al
day. Usually l had to take then
off right after church. My dad con.
scented to it on. the stipulation thai
l take care of them and l was MOI
to get them wet under any condi-
ton.
THE NEW SHOES actually
ruined my whole afternoon. / could
MT climb any trees or wade any
swamps. l couldn't return home
and change shoes for | knew thai
once l returned my time had rur
out. Papa would never allow me
back down the road a half mile
away, so stood on the sidelines
and protected my new Sunday
shoes. The day was a complete
loss.
ON THE WAY home one Of m!
companions hit on the idea Of
jumping in and out of mud pud
dies. He claimed he could juml
| into and out of shallow water Sc
fast that he wouldn't even damper
his shoe soles. And sure enough he
could. Since had only, enjoyed :
dry run the entire afternoon, i de-
cided to try it. |. jumped into Tho
next shallow mud puddle but the
results were far different than
had anticipated. The water splat
tered up around my knees and we
my pants and at least quart raj
into both shoes.
AT HOME, papa looked at tho
brown stains on my new shoes ant
sent me out to get whip. Then hi
stood me in front of him ant
preached to me for a good 80 min
utes on the value of taking car,
of my clothes. Actually he knew
that with four kids to feed ana
clothe, he was unable to buy nor'
shoes for me. After the sermon h
laid into me with the whip and a
a child | could never decide which
was worse, the whip or the ser
mon. thought he was cruel, bu
went dry footed longer than an.
other boy of my acquaintance.
got even with papa, though it tool
me a long time.
/ 4 A CFTs CTTNfAaLD ,f@ar =, lx.s