Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1912 — AS TOLD BY MR. HOODSBARN [ARTICLE]

AS TOLD BY MR. HOODSBARN

One Story Incloses Several Others r ■store Ho Gets to the End of j, -f+4. Hie Tale. “East Somerville —East Somerville?* shouted the brakeman. =- As the words went rambling around In the brain of Mr. Hoodsbarn, he came upon a long-lost second cousin. “That reminds me,” said he to his fellow commuter, “I heard a mighty good little story last summer In a village down In Maine.” “Sor

“Yes. You see, a family had Just moved to the village from back hr the country, and before they were fairly settled they sent the boy to school. Boy went to the school, and took A seat, feeling like a cat in a strange garret. Atfer the morning feigfpjlsi were over the teacher called him up and asked him his name. That’s the way they did when I was a hoy. First morning of school, you know; new teacher nervous and afraid of scholars; scholars nervous and afraid of teacher; like the little girl who met the fox in the path; both ran, girl one way, fox the other; see it done myself every day.

“Well, the new teacher would rap to order, then bach one of us would read a verse from the Testament in turn, the teacher would make a prayer and then begin the taking down of names and ages. “Now while I think of It, did yon ever hear about that prayer of old Pres. Hill of Harvard? “No? Well, he was a great student of philosophy—it was his regular hobby—and he stood up in chapel one morning and began his prayer this way: ‘Paradoxical as it may seem, O Lord, yet, nevertheless it Is true— ’ That caught tee boys, and for years afterward tough statements to one another were always started by saying 'Paradoxical as it may seem.* “Why, ’twas like old Seth Willard up In Swansey; be down on his knees in class meeting In tee Methodist church one night and says: ‘As Thou well knowest, 0 Lord* my sparked steer died last week.* “Well, about that new boy In school; whether tee teacher called him up before prayer or after I can’t say; but she asked him his name and he todl her; his street and number and be told her. Th%n she asked him Vhat his father’s occupation was. “Boy was stuck for a minute. ‘Father’s , occupation?* *Yes.‘ 'Well, ma’am, I ain’t sure, ’cause we're Just moved here, but I think he occupied five rooms.’ ” ■ ;