Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1893 — WOULDN'T TAKE A “DARE." [ARTICLE]

WOULDN'T TAKE A “DARE."

Stirring Events Resulting from Johnnie's Exhibition of Youthful Pride. Johnnie started out with good intentions, just aa older persons do, says the Louisville Courier-Journal. His father had told him not to leave the yard on pain of a dose of “peachtree tea.” Having been a small boy yourself you probably know the tingling properties of this heroic remedy. Early in the afternoon Willie came along. “You gotter stay in!” opened up that young man with the ready insolence of unrestrained freedom. “No, I musn’t,” answered Johnnie. “Yes, you mus’.” “Hope er may die." “Hare you like er black dog to come out.” “Double dare?” cried Johnnie, hop“Douoje a ic u ero s myself.” This was toy much for any spirited person to bear, so Johnnie climbed over the fence, exclaiming as he touched the ground: “Never took erdare, ’n never will.” The fire bells sounded just then and Johnnie and Willie started to go to the fire, but found it was too far away. Coming back Willie said: “My pap-y’s going to buy me a pony.” “Hones’?” “Hope er me die. ” “My pap-y ’ud buy me one, too, if I’d as’ fer’t.”

“Over the left,” sneeringly. “Over the right,” threateningly. “My pap-y’s better’n yourn.” “My pap-y c’ni whip yourn with his icf’ ban’.” “Can’t.” “On.” This argument could not be settled with mere boasting words. They struck out together and soon were rolling in the dust. Then after miiSb scuffling and the tangling and untangling of fat, little legs: “Nuflf?” from Johnnie. No answer; more scuffling and the desperate wiggling of the under pair of legs, which finally became still. “NufT?” “Y-e-e-s,” very slowly and in smothered accents. “ ’N my pap-y c’n whip yourn?” "Y-e-e-s,” after much consideration. Johnnie got back in the yard just ten minutes before he saw his father coming out in the street. Johnnie opened the gate and waited for him. “Why didn’t you run and meet-me, son?” asked “pap-y.” “ ’Cause you told me not to go out the yard.” “That’s so—that’s so,” patting Johnnie on the head, as the coals of fire burned deep in that young man’s conscience. Johnnie’s behavior was beautiful that evening, and his efforts to avoid all reference to the morning command most skillful and successful. As he went to bed he said to himself: “ ’Fi tole pap-y ’bout the dare an’ .Willie’s pap-y bein’ bettern him, he wouldn’t do nuffln—but I guess I won’t. ”