Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1879 — A Regular Hanlan Stroke. [ARTICLE]

A Regular Hanlan Stroke.

•“Bill! Bill! come here quick, and see Teddy’s dad coachin’ him,” said one Keokuk boy to another, in a suppressed tone of ecstasy, as he peeped through a crack in the wood-shed, and saw Teddy’s father dressing him down with a strip of weather-boarding. “ Gewhillikins! See him swing that paddle, though,” put in Bill, as he took a look, and than danced round with delight. “ Reg’lar old Hanlan stroke, ain’l it?” added Cully, as he pushed Bill away fer his turn to peek. “Gosh!” remarked Bill, when it came his time to make observations,

“ gefctin’ in ’bout forty to ther minit, hain’t ’e ? ” “ Lem me see,” demanded Cully, crowding Bill out again. “ Oh, cracky! that’s so, an’ Ted liain’t got no slidin’ seat, either.” “ Aw, thunder! ” said Bill, in disgust, as he peeped in and saw Teddy dodge, and the father make a false stroke, give the knuckles of his other hand an awful whack, then drop the paddle and go dancing into the house, “ tho ole Gov’s caught a crab an’ quit on ther homestretch—fun’s over.” And they went off to build a bonfire in the hay-mow and throw stones at an invalid cat. —Keokuk (Iowa) Gate City.