Ancient History Modernized

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 88, 29 December 1883, Page 3

Ancient History Modernized

♦ * Pa,' asked Willie Jor.es, aa he was studying his history lesson, ' who was Helen of I roy V \ ' Ask your ma,' said Mr Jones, who was not up in classic lore. 4 Helen of 'I roy,' said Mrs Jones, who was sewing a new heel on the baby's shoe, ' was a g-irl who used to live with us; sbe came from Troy, N.Y., and we found her in an intelligence office. >he was the best girl I ever had before your father struck Bridget,': * Did Pa ever strike Bridget !' ask-d Wille, pricking up his ears. * I was speaking paragorically,' said Mrs Jones. There was silence for a few moments, then Willie came to another epoch in hist ry. ' Ma, who was Mark Antony V ' An old colored man who lived with my pa. What does it say about him there V *It says hia wife's name was Cleopatra.' 4 Ihe very same! Old CW used to wash for us. It's strange how they came to he in that book.* 4 History repeats itself,' murmured Janes vaguely, while Willie looked at his ma with wonder and admiration that one small head could carry all she knew. Presently he found another question to a-k. ' Say, ma, who was Julius Caesar ?' 4 Oh, he was one of the pagans of history/ said Mrs Jones trying to thread the point ol her needle. ' But what made him famous ?' persisted Willie 4 Everything,' answered Mrs Jones, con.placeu.ly ; 'he was the one who aaid, " Eat," thou brute," when his horse wouldn't take its o<-ts. He dressed in a sheet and pillow-case uniform, and when his enemies surrounded him he shouted, " Gimme liberty, or gimtne death,' and ran away . * ' Bully for him !' remarked Willie, shutting up the book ot history. 4 But say, ma, how came you to know so much ? Won't 1 lay over the ether f.'ilows to-morrow, though V * I learned it at school.' said Mrs Jones, wi*h an oblique glance at Mr Jones, who was listening as grave as a statue. ' I had superio- advantage's, and I paid attention and remembered what I heard.' 4 Well, I say ma, who was Horace V 'Your pa will tell you about him, lam tired,' said Mrs Tories. '1 hen she listened with pride and approval while Mr Jones informed his son *hat Horac« was the auther of the 4 Tin Trumpet' and a rare work on farming, and the people's choice for a President, and only comnospd Latin verses to pass away th< time and 1 amuse himself.— Detroit Post and Tribune.