Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1916 — INTELLECTUAL WORK OF BOY [ARTICLE]

INTELLECTUAL WORK OF BOY

Proud Father Wanted Son to Grow Up Brain Worker Instead of Cotton Picker and Swamp CrovsL__ “Well, liffeie Ephraim,” said the colonel on his morning stroll past the negro quarters, "what evah became o’ that pert youngster of yours whom ye decorated with the thoughtful name of Aristotle?” “Ah, dat boy? Aristotle?" the proud father chuckled, “Aristotle ain’t hyar no more. He done gone out Into the wide wol’ to make his fortune.” “Sho’ ’nough," replied the colonel, “and if my recollection is right we christened him with an intellectual name because you said you wanted that Tsoy to grow up a brain worker instead of a po' cotton picker and rail splitter.” “Yesseh,” replied the old negro proudly. “I didn’t raise that boy to be a swamp crow like some o’ de rest of us.” “Well, tell me, Uncle Ephraim,” the marse asked with kindly curiosity, “is he Intellectual; is he engaged in brain work?" “Yes, Marse Peyton, he am engaged in what I reckon you-all would call intellectual labors; leastways his job calls for clever head work, nothin’ but head work.” “What’s his calling?” “He's travelin’ with a side show, sticking his noodle through a hole in the canvas foh the people to throw eggs at, three throws for a jitney, and he sure has to do some lively headwork to keep that big cocoanut of his-from getting busted up into a whole lot o’ little filberts,’’—Judge.