The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to everyone in Western Illinois. Well, so much for my first weekend after Easter plans for no rain. I guess the way this spring is shaping up I need to turn to another old farmer saying: "A cold and wet April fills the cellar and fattens the cow."
Have you got your potatoes planted? There is a sayin' that relates to potatoes by Henry S.F. Cooper: "A man who thinks too much about his ancestors is like a potato-the best part of him is underground".
Ben Franklin said, "Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak." If talk were water, some people could drown you.
Why do some people talk so much? Is it because they are insecure? Are they covering their lack of confidence with a blanket of chatter? Some people are unable to gauge their listener's level of interest. Consequently, they go on for hours about a trip or event no one has ever heard of, never care to see, or don't care to learn about in great detail.
It is at times like these that one remembers sudden engagements, edge toward the nearest escape route, or suddenly imagine they hear people calling. Some folk dominate the conversations because they are convinced they are the most interesting person in the room.
Theodore Roosevelt once invited a famous hunter to dine at the White House to learn pointers about huntin'. The dinner lasted 2 hours, and the hunter came out of the meeting with a glazed look on his face. Later, when the hunter was asked what he had told the president, he replied, "My name. After that he did all the talking."
Years ago I knew a man (H. Iverson) who fought with Roosevelt and the "Ruff Riders". He told interesting stories of his exploits. The one I remember most was the fact their was only one horse on that hill of that famous battle. The hill was too brushy for anything but man on foot or crawling on his belly. And besides, in the thick of battle neither the horse or Theodore Roosevelt was to be found.
That is a far cry from what you might see on dramatized TV. Pertaining to TV and the truthfulness of what you might see on it, Groucho Marx once said, "I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book."
Ben Franklin stated, "Reading makes a full man, mediation a profound man, discourse a clear man." I can only guess what he might say about today's television.
As the gun debate goes on, remember April 19 marks the day King George tried to take the guns away from American Patriots. In 1775 the Battle of Lexington and Concord claimed the live of eight rebels and launched a revolution.
Ralph Waldo Emerson penned it best: "By the rude bridge that arched the flood, their flag to April's breeze unfurled, here once the embattled farmers stood, and fired the shot heard round the world". British Major John Pitcairn shouted, "Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels".
Captain John Parker had mustered 130 minutemen. His immortal command is now carved into stone: "Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon; but if they mean to have war, let it begin here!"
Excess taxes and the disarmament of the colonists caused a revolution which gave us our great country. Three leading delegates to the Constitutional Convention refused to sign the Constitution, because they objected to the powers that the Constitution gave the federal government. They were Eldridge Gerry, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph. Rhode Island refused to send representatives to the Constitutional Convention because it did not want the federal government to interfere with Rhode Island's affairs.
George Mason was responsible for the first American Bill of Rights of 1776. George Mason and Patrick Henry urged the Federalist to agree to demands for amendments. James Madison proposed 12 amendments and on December 15, 1791, 10 of the 12 amendments were made permanent additions to the Constitution and were called the "Bill of Rights".
How many have installed your "Tru Count" on your planters for this spring? As I understand it, record numbers have been sold. I guess I can see the reason why, with the cost of today's seed. This rainy weather provides ample opportunity for helpful and dollar saving additions to spring equipment needs.
Make no mistake about it, when I wrote about "Dutch Cool" and the earlier days of ambulance/firefighting it is with fond memory and not mocking. He who is too serious to not find humor in his actions-is too serious. If "Dutch" were alive today, I would probably ride with him again in volunteering to help anyone out.
My grandson asked me to tell him of more stories of days too quickly gone by. Many come to mind, some not so acceptable by today's high flut'n standards. But none the less they happened.
One such story was of ole "Scully Web" from down in "Skunk Hollow". A wild place it was, with various shades of hombres and folk who should have been born 100 years earlier. Chicken fight'n, gambl'n, boot leg'n and all sorts of events found their mark in "Skunk Hollow".
Before my time ole "Scully" would come to the neighboring village and became known as the Town Bully". Well, a bunch of local boys got tired of it.
In those days the road thru town was unpaved. As "Scully" rode into town on horse back, the local boys jumped him in front of "Hills Drug Store".
Tarred and feathered him on the spot and left him tied up layin' in the middle of the main dirt road as an example for others who might hold similar "Bully" aspirations.
By the time I come along, ole "Scully Web" was a very old man and not inclined to "Bully". However, tough, stubborn and strong, he surely yet was, and livin' continuously all those years in "Skunk Hollow" tarnished not his shine one bit.
Trouble was, he had cancer in a bad way. Me and "Dutch" would fetch out there about twice a week and take him to the hospital. Bleedin' badly, it had ate thru his neck area and you could see deep into his body cavity.
The hospital would patch him up as best they could, but he always insisted on going back to "Skunk Hollow". Doctors said it would eventually cut into his jugular vein and there would be his end.
That was alright with "Scully" as long as it happened in "Skunk Hollow" and not in some sissified city hospital for the weak.
And so it did, just as he willed. I never heard him complain-not once in all the times I helped him out. He even seemed to enjoy the excitement of "Dutch" drivin,' in spite of the circumstances.
Snipp, snapp, snute
Har er eventyret ute!
(true Swedes will know the meanin' of that)
Catch ya later,
Barnyard Bruke