Once, in the days of the old west, a certain community determined that a minimum level of education would be compulsory for the children of its residents. A school teacher was duly appointed and, in the company of the sheriff, the teacher began visiting citizens with truant offspring.
Eventually contact was made with one "Shorthorn Tom," a fellow who made his living in every conceivable way that involved as little work as possible. Tom had one son, a youth of about eight.
"The boy don't need no book-learning," proclaimed Tom. "He's been home-taught."
"Do you know your numbers," the teacher asked the boy.
"Yup," said he, "My pa taught me."
"Good! Can you tell me what comes after three."
"Four," answers the boy.
"What comes after six?"
"Seven."
"Very good, Your father did a good job. What comes after ten?"
With no hesitation whatever, the boy replied,
"A jack ..."
----------------A Final Thought ...
"A man’s idea in a card game is war--cruel, devastating and pitiless. A lady’s idea of it is a combination of larceny, embezzlement and burglary."
- Finley Peter Dunne (1867-1936), U.S. journalist