Charles Burchfield, Journals, January 1, 1911

I didn’t get up until eleven o’clock today and was still sleepy. Joe and I went over to Bill’s this afternoon Bill went over and got Jim and we had a lot of fun playing Pedro and five hundred. Once in playing poker, Bill thought Jim was on his side and passed him a Jack. Altho Jim was on the other side, still he accepted the card and made what he bid. Then we had the laugh on Bill. In the midst of these games, Bill brought forth some apples and pop-corn, into which all five of us – for King had come later – dived with a good-will.

After supper we all trooped hilariously into the Christian Church, taking back seats, where we would be inconspicuous and could see everything. Throughout the whole sermon we giggled and laughed, until we suddenly learned that a certain dignified looking young man next to us was the preacher’s son; then we tried to appear sober but a little later he passed us a piece of paper on which written a verse that wasn’t fit to be read – I am ashamed now that I did read it. Moral – A minister’s son is not always an angel.

We continued to laugh until the closing hymn when someone tapped me on the shoulder; turning I beheld a dignified lady calmly handing an open hymn-book to me. This was too much for us and we almost choked. It was a pleasure to get outside and be able to laugh heartily.

After church we proceeded to Stranahan’s, after shaking the too persistent Minister’s son. Here something happened that gave us further cause to “choke.” We had all finished out treat and were at the desk, joking with Mr. Stranahan and incidental “setting up” – each one of us paying our own. Jim “monkeyed around”, going carelessly thru his pocket-book, in which nothing could be distinguished. None of us took the hint. Suddenly he pulled out five-one cent stamps and gave them in place of a nickel. He hadn’t had a cent with him! We all had thought he was joking and so hadn’t offer to pay for him.

Charles E Burchfield, January 1, 1911