Year: 1879

80 kne AGsbs


| Not long since, says Peck's Sun, the
following utterance of Bob Ingersoll


went the rounds of the papers


Colonel Ingersoll says he keeps
pocket book in an open drawer, and his
children go and help themselves to


money when they want it. "They eat


when they want to they may sleep all
day if they choose, and sit up all night
If they desire. 5on'ttry to coerce them.
never punish, mover scold. They buy
their own clothes, and are masters OF
themselves"


A gentlemen living on Marshall street
who has boy that is full as ktteny as
his father, read ths article and pondered
deeply. He knew that Colonel Ingersoll
was success at raising children in the
way they should go, and he thought he
would try it. The boy had caused hin
considerable annoyance, and be made up
his mind that he had not treated the boy
right so he called the boy in from the
street, where he was putting soft soap OIL
lamp post in order to see the lamp
lighter climb it, and said to him !:


"My son, have decided to adopt
different course with you. Heretofore /
have been careful about giving you mon
ey, and have wanted TO know where every
cent went to, and my supervision has no
doubt been annoying to you. Now, I
am going to leave my pocket book in the
bureau drawer, with plenty Of money il
it, and you are at liberty to use all you
want without asking mo. want you TO
buy anything you desire, buy your own
clothes, and to feel as though the money
was yours, and that you rad not got to
account for it. Just make yourself a:
home now, and try and have good
time"


The boy looked at the old gentleman,
put his hand on his head as though he
had "got 'em sure" and went out to see
the lamplighter climb that soft soap.


The next day the stern parent went
out into the country, shooting, and re-
turned on the midnight train three days
later. He opened the door with latch
key, and strange yellow dog grabbed
him by the elbow of his pants and shook
him, he said, like the agur."


The dog barked and chewed until the
son came down in his night shirt and !
called him off. He told his father he had |
bought that dog of fireman for Sll, and
it was probably the best dog bargain that
had been made this season. He said the
fireman had told bim he could find
man that wanted that kind Of dog.


The parent took off his pants (what the
dog had not removed), and in the hall he
stumbled ever birch bark canoe the boy
had bought of an Indian for 50, and an
army mask with an iron ramrod fell
down from the corner. The boy had
paid S6 for that. He had alss bought
himself an overcoat with sealskn col
lar and cuffs, and a complete outfit of
calico shirts and silk stockings.


In his room the parents found the mar
Bile top ofa soda-fsuntain, wheel. bar
row and shelf filled with all kinds of
canned meat, preserves and crackers, and
a barrel Of apples. A wall tent and six
pairs of blankets were rolled I'D ready for
camping out, and buckskin shirt and a
pair Of corduroy pants lay on the bed,
ready for pulling on. Si1 fish poles and
a basketful of fish lines were ready for
business, and an oyster can full of grub
worms for bait were squirming on the |
wash stand, The old gentleman looked
the layout over, looked at his pocket
book in the bureau drawer, as empty as
contribution box, and said


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


And now that man stands around, from
the effects OF the encounter with the
yellow dog, and asks every man where
letter will reach Bob Ingersoll. He says
he will kill Ingersoll, if it lis The last noble
act he ever sccempishes.