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"are You My Son?"

"are You My Son?" image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
July
Year
1881
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Col. Johu L. Burleigh formerly senator from Wiishteuiiw coumy left Anu Arbor politics and journalisin soiue tiuie ago, to become secretary of the Uulïy tool company of South Chicago, but took his propensity for practical jokes with hirn, and will probably curry it to bis grave. lleury tí. H. Bower, editor of the Ann Arbor Deniocrat, recently went to Chicago and called upon Col. Burleigh, who took him out to the factory of the Duffy Tool company, aboul 14 miles from the city. Un roule the colonel apparently incidentafly mentiuned that ouly a few days before he had had a narrow escape from death, stating that an oíd night watchman ut the shops, who had beun a val lied employé in hia day, atlcmpted to brain him with an ax. ín reply to Mr Bower's question as towhy he did not get rid of the oíd man, the ratone] said that the aged lunatic could be easily tootbed if his eye were caught, and thal they had become quite used to his "spe lis. " Nothing mee was said about this episode until the works were reacbed, when Burleigh showed Bower au indentation in an ofllce table made by the sharp edge;of anax, which he declared was the place where the bladestruck as he dodged the oíd niaii's blow. Bower was showu through the works, and while thus ennged wasjoined bylír. Duffy, the super, intendent. Burleigh found an opporluuity to privately speak to Uuffy, aud upon returning to the office the superintendent disappeared, leaving the colonel and his visitor alone in the room. Duffy, who had received his instructions, went up slairs lo where the night watchman was sleepiag, awokc the oíd man, aud posted him in the part he was to play. The o. n. w. entered heartily into the spirit of the atl'air, aud grabbing up an oíd scytho handle, arrayed himself to play the lunatic, lt may be remarked here that tho watchmau ís as ugly a specimen of huniauity as was ever encouutcred iu auy lunatic asylum. His fac ¦ forin aru caiculated to oxclie horror aud aversión, :mil a butler actor could not have been fouud for the role he was to play. Seizing the scythe handle the old man descended the stairway aud entered the office, where Col. Burleigh was writing at the table aud Mr. Bower smoking a cigar. Hu uttcred a wild Comanche yell and jumped into the center of the room, hitting a box of cold-chisels with his scythe handle, knocking them out and therehy causing a tremendous racket. Bower looked around, look in the situalion at glance, and would probably have escaped if he could; but the "lunatic" was betwecn him and the door. "Dou't move foryour life!" shouted the colouel. "I will calm him," he addcd, and took a step toward thj "madmaii." "Ilush, darling," said the old man in a stage whispcr, addres.sing an imaginary person; 'iiusli, dear, this is our son, ' pnintiug one hand at Bower and raising his left toot from the door in a most ludicrous fashion. 'lle thinks yon are his son," said Burleigh to Bower, quukly. That's goodl Answeryes to all he says. It wiil calm him. " This gave the watchman his cue and kicking over the talilo he utteied an appalling ahrlek and cspered about the oflice brandlsblng lus foimldablo scythe handle. "Ah, h - a!" bellowed the old man with lungs iike a buil. "Vou want to rob me of my sou," and hc made a pass at Burleigh, which the latter warded off, and theu allowed liiniselt' to be ftung aside, when the "lunatic" advanced on the terrifled country eilitor, who stond tranaflxed with - well mij surprise! "Are you my sou?" shouted the watchman into Bower's face. Rememberinil the colonel's injunction .Mr. Bower replied that he was. "You are, are youï" "Y-e-s, oh ye-s!" respouded the Ann Arbor qulM driver. "Ah, ha, darling," mumbled the old man, "I'vo a notion to break every boue in liis body." Bower iuvoluntarily retreatcd, wheu the fiend flourished hisweapon and shouted: "You've come oack, have you? You're my son, are you? I'm your father, aint 1?" To all of which k trcmbling "Yes" was answered. Btirluigh now got in his work again, and after i lic old mau has knoukud out a window lijfht, tried to kick over the coal stove which had uot been removed for the suminer, and performcd ïuodry other capers, he was "calmed" and de parled. Burleigh assuring him that Bower was his sou who had come back to lake care of liim for tho rost of his days. Mr. Bowur tried t mako tho best of the affair, and endeavored to laugh it off, reniarkiiiK that he wasn't afraid of the old man, certainly not; but Ihat "a soythe liaiidle was a deucedly awkward weapon in the hands of a dangerous luuatic." He left without dreaniing that the whole thtng was a joke, and this article will ba the lirst intinialiou te him to that .effect, allhough every man in the shop took Ute story home and retailed t all over South Chicago with great ffuato. It is probable that "Are you my sou?" will ring iu his ¦an at Ann Arbor for some tiine to coma.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News