PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4510, 3 September 1875, Page 3

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE.

Old Keyser the other day found Cooley’s boy standing in a very suspicious position under his best apple tree, with a stick in his hand and a certain bulky appearance about his pockets. Having secured him firmly by the collar, Keyser shook him up a bit, and then asked him sternly what he was doing there. “Ain’t a doin’ nothin’,” said Cooley; “I come over yer to study.” “ That’s entirely ‘ too thin,’ ” exclaimed Keyser. “Yes, I did; I come over yer to study about Sir Isaac.” “Sir Isaac ! What in thunder do you mean ?” “ Wily, Sir Isaac Newton. We had it in our lesson. He was in an orchard and saw an apple fall, and that made him invent the ’traction of gravitation ; and I came yer to see if it was so.” “It won’t do,” said Keyser; “ you’re too enthusiastic about Sir Isaac ; and, besides, what were you going to do with that stick ?” “ This yer stick ! What was I goin’ to do with this stick ? Why, a boy gave me this stick to hold for him while he went on an errand for his aunt.” “ And where did that apple core come from there on the ground 1” “ That apple core ? That one lying there ? The birds is awful on apples this season. I saw a bird drop that there and X says to myself, them birds are just ruinin’ Mr. Keyser’s apples, and won’t Mr. Keyser be awful mad when ” “ What makes your pockets bulge out that way ?” “ Mother made them pants, and they never did sot right. Oh, that bulging-place ? Well, as I couldn’t find out much about Sir Isaac here, I was just takin’ two or throe apples home, to see if I couldn’t discover somethin’, and to ask father to help me, Mr. Keyser, what are you goin’ to do ? I’ll never take another apple as long as I live ? ’Ton my word, I won’t !” Then Keyser flogged him. And Mr. Cooley’s boy was knocked off on Sir Isaac Newton and natural philosophy, and is devoting himself to other branches of knowledge.