Bless her heart, Ms Stella was determined to start her seventh grade class down the path way of enjoying good literature, although she seemed to be fighting a losing battle for the most part A few of the smarty pants girls claimed they were enjoying it but we figured they were just saying that trying to be the teacher's pets.
It was a difficult chore the day she assigned us passages from three famous writers with instructions to read them carefully and then write a paragraph showing the meaning and making any comments desired. Dooley had labored long and hard before turning in his paper. Ms Stella could tell It was heavily redacted with certain changes made by Dooley to the original work.
Shakespeare had said in “Julius Caesar” Et Tu Brute. Dooley had crossed that out with a note written in This was probably just a mistake on his part. He probably meant to say have you et your supper yet Billy Clyde?
Shakespeare had said in “Hamlet” To be or not to be that is the question. Once again Dooley had crossed it out and inserted the words. To go fishin' or not to go fishin, that is a good question Now that makes a lot more sense to me, he noted
Edgar Allen Poe had penned the words in “The Raven.”  Quoth the raven, nevermore. Dooley had scratched his head for a while trying to figure this out although it made a lot more sense than that first dude did. He finally made the correction that would cause it to make sense. The big black crow ate all the bread crumbs on the window sill and then said give me some more. He knew it was a big black crow because there was a picture of it in the book. The last one from Longfellow's “The Village Blacksmith” was much easier for him. He quickly scratched out a few words he didn't understand and inserted... Mr. Smith was a big ol' man with big ol' dirty hands.
He finished his work by giving an example of great modern day writers. First, he copied “Hambone Sez” from the Progressive Farmer. Then as another example he used something from Pogo Possum in the funny paper. “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Ms Stella first raised both hands high in the air, then she laid her head over on her hands on the desk. Some of us thought she was crying, but others said she was laughing.. We never did know for sure. But anyway, she sat up after a while and announced that her efforts at teaching us classic literature were finished for the year. I thought we were all much wiser and better educated for her efforts.
Many folks are just like that with the Holy Bible. Mankind seems determined to improve on the Word Of God. We redact, change the wording, offer new and improved versions change meaning in a constant effort to improve on the greatest book ever written and the greatest story ever told. Let's just take it like it is and believe what we read in the Bible. Our efforts to improve the Bible are pathetic at the best and sinful at the worst.
My latest book "Needmore Days" is selling well I am glad to say. Copies may be obtained in the Review Office or at Prichards in Alexandria, as well as the paper Place in Livingston or I can mail you one if needed. Thank you and thank God.