The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in Western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
I'm a hope'n the weeks column finds ever one in good spirits and with thankful hearts.
Brain Test
How about a test fer your brain this week? It is quite enterest'n see what ya thinks and have fun with this!
Count every "F" in the following text:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...(SEE BELOW)
HOW MANY F's?
Count them again before reading on.
Two Businessmen
Whilst ya are think'n on your answer I wants ta demonstrate how smart old folk are.
Two businessmen in a shopp'n mall were sitt'n down fer a break in their soon-ta-be-open new shop. As yet, the shop wasn't ready. Only a few shelves were set up, but they sat empty and were not stocked.
One businessman said ta the other, "I bet any minute now some old foggy pensioner is gonna walk by, put their face ta the window, and ask what we're selling."
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when, sure enough, a curious old woman walked ta the window of those fellers store, had a peak, and in a soft voice asked, "What are ya sell'n here?"
One of the men replied sarcastically, "We're sell'n idiots."
Without skipp'n a beat, the old dear said, "Must be do'n well...only two left!"
There ya has it then, a lesson ta be learned from this example - don't mess with old folk!
The Answer
Now back ta the question on the number of "F's in that text. Are ya sure of your answer?
There are six...no joke.
Why might ya have guessed a lower number. Read the text again! Most folk guess three and four is quite rare. It seems the normal brain has a difficult time process'n "of". Is that incredible or what?
Time and Change
On a more serious note, I've got a poem ta share with ever one.
How soon does Time create a change, Within this present life.
As man and nature, both alike,
Yield to relentless strife.
For life is like the passing day-
Each season soon is gone.
From youth to age is but a span,
As spring to winter's dawn.
The budding tree and greening sod
Hold promise in their wake,
Like little children, fresh and sweet,
As those first steps they take.
The smallest buds mature to leaves;
The grass grows lush and thick.
While children soon will reach their prime In years that fly so quick.
The tree then casts a lovely shade
Upon the ground below.
The shelter of its mighty limbs
Protects while cold winds blow.
Man, too, in his maturer stage
Has his productive years
When he is healthy, well and strong...But autumn soon appears.
The autumn's chill and shorter days
Will cause the leaves to fall.
Through summer storms, a few may drop -The frost will take them all.
And so it is with frail mankind;
He, too, must fade away,
For man and nature both have proved, No match for time's decay.
But then there is a place and span
Called the eternal years,
Where time and changes will never touch; Nor sin, nor age, nor tears.
Where budding trees in beauty grow
Beside the crystal sea,
And all the holy angels sing
A song so pure and free,
Where fragrant roses softly brushed
With heaven's fairest dew
Bloom there amid the streets of gold
Within the Master's view,
Oh, happy Home, untouched by time - I yearn for safety there
Where chance and changes never come Within its gates so fair.
I'm a hope'n that poem gave ya cause ta pause fer some reflection. It carries a lot of meaning.
Sunday Paper
That be'n so, there was this elderly man in the southern end of our county, who called the press office and shouted, "Where is my Sunday paper?!" The irate customer calling the newspaper office, loudly demanded to know where the edition was.
"Madam," said the newspaper employee, "Today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on Sunday."
There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition as he was heard to murmur, "So that's why no one was at church today".
Well, that about it fer this week. I'm a hope'n a mixture of puzzle, seriousness, and humor brightens up your day.
With that I'll quote Benjamin Franklin. "Doest thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of".
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week. Where ever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE