Year: 1878

ONE OE bOb 1NGEhSOLL IdEORlES fUI IL


THE TEST.


Not long since, says Peck's Sun, the follow
ing utterance of Bob Ingersoll went the
rounds of the papers: .....


Col. Ingersoll says he keeps "a pocketbook
in an open drawer, and his children 60 and
help themselves to money whenever they
want it. They eat when they want to. They
may sleep all day ifthey choose, and set up
all night if they desire. l don't try to correct
them. I never punish, 1 never scold.
They buy their own clothes, and are masters
of themselves"


A gentleman living on Marshall street,
who has boy that is full as kitteny as
bis father, read the article, and pondered
deeply. He knew that Col. Ingersoll was
a success at raising children in the way they
should go, and be thought be would try it.
The boy had caused him considerable annoy
ance, and be made up his mind that be had
not treated the boy right; so he called the
boy in from the street, where he was putting
soft soap on the lamppos in order to see the
lamp lighter climb it, and said to him:


my SOD, have decided to adopt differ.
ent course with you. Heretofore have
been careful about giving you money, and
have wanted to know where every cent
went to, and my supervision has no doubt
been annoying to you. Now, am going to
lease nay -peeke+beek In -the-bareaa-
with plonty- Of money In 10, aud you at
liberty to use all you want without asking me.
I want you to buy any thing you desire, buy
your own clothes, and to feel as though the
money was yours and that you had not got to
account for it. Just make yourself at home
now, and try to have good time"


The boy looked at the old gentleman and
thought he had "got 'em sure," and went out
to see the lamp lighter climb that soft soap.
The next day the stern parent went out into
the country shooting, and returned on the
midnight train three days later. He opened
the door with his night key, and strange
yellow dog grabbed him by the elbow of bis
pants, and shook him, as he said, like the
ague."


The dog barked and cbewed until the son
came down in his night shirt and called him
off. He told his father that he had bought
that dog of fireman for eleven dollars, and
it was probably the best dog bargain that had
been made this season. He said the fireman
told him he could sell the dog for hundred
dollars, if he could find q man that wanted
that kind Of a dog.


The parent took off bis pants what the dog
had not removed, and in the hall he stumbled
over birch bark canoe the boy had bought
of an Indian for nine dollars, and an army
musket with an iron ramrod fell down from
the corner. The boy had paid six dollars for
that He also boug ght himself an overcoat
with a seal skin collar and cuffs, and CON-
plete outfit of calico shirts and silk stockings.


In his own room the parent found the mar.
BILE top of soda fountain, a wheelbarrow and
a shelf filled with all kinds of canned meats,
preserves and crackers, and barrel of ap.
Piles. A wall tent and six pair of blankets
were rolled up ready for camping out, and
buckskin shirt and pair of corduroy pants
on the bed ready for putting on. Six fish poles
and basket full of fish lines were ready for
business, and an oyster can full ofgrub-worms,
for bait we're squirming on the washstand.
The old gentleman looked the layout over,
looked at bis pocket book in the bureau
drawer, as empty as contribution box, and
said:


"Young man, the times have been too flush.
We will now return to specie basis. When
you want money come to me, and l will give
you nickel and you will tell me what you
intend to buy with it, or I'll warm you; you
hear me ?"


And now that man stands around from the
effects of the encounter with the yellow dog,
and asks every man where letter can reach
Bob Ingersoll. Hesays be will kill Ingersoll,
if it is the last noble act he ever accomplishes