COMPLIMENTS


Supper was in progress, and the father was telling about a row which

took place in front of his store that morning: "The first thing I saw

was one man deal the other a sounding blow, and then a crowd gathered.

The man who was struck ran and grabbed a large shovel he had been using

on the street, and rushed back, his eyes blazing fiercely. I thought

he'd surely knock the other man's brains out, and I stepped right in

between them."



The young son of the family had become so hugely interested in the

narrative as it proceeded that he had stopped eating his pudding. So

proud was he of his father's valor, his eyes fairly shone, and he cried:



"He couldn't knock any brains out of you, could he, Father?"



Father looked at him long and earnestly, but the lad's countenance was

frank and open.



Father gasped slightly, and resumed his supper.





_See also_ Tact.



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