Heads are of different shapes and different sizes. They are full of
notions. Large heads do not always hold the most. Some persons can tell
just what a man is by the shape of his head. High heads are the best
kind. Very knowing people are called long-headed. A fellow that won’t
stop for anything or anybody is called hot-headed. If he isn’t quite so
bright, they call him soft-headed; if he won’t be coaxed nor turned,
they call him pig-headed. Animals have very small heads. The heads of
fools slant back. When your head is cut off you are beheaded. Our heads
are all covered with hair, except baldheads. There are other kinds of
heads besides our heads.
First, there are Barrel-heads. Second, there are Pin-heads. Third, Heads
of sermons,--sometimes a minister used to have fifteen heads to one
sermon. Fourth, Headwind. Fifth, Head of cattle,--when a farmer reckons
up his cows and oxen he calls them so many head of cattle. Sixth,
Drumheads,--drumheads are made of sheepskin. Seventh, Heads or
tails,--when you toss up pennies. Eighth, Doubleheaders,--when you let
off rockets. Ninth, Come to a head--like a boil or a rebellion. Tenth,
Cabbageheads,--dunces are called cabbageheads, and good enough for them.
Eleventh, At Loggerheads,--when you don’t agree. Twelfth, Heads of
chapters. Thirteenth, Head him off,--when you want to stop a horse, or a
boy. Fourteenth, Head of the family. Fifteenth, A Blunderhead.
Sixteenth, The Masthead,--where they send sailors to punish them.
Seventeenth, get up to the head,--when you spell the word right.
Eighteenth, The Head of a stream,--where it begins. Nineteenth, Down by
the head,--when a vessel is deep loaded at the bows. Twentieth, a
Figurehead carved on a vessel. Twenty-first, The Cathead, and that’s the
end of a stick of timber that a ship’s anchor hangs by. Twenty-second,
A Headland, or cape. Twenty-third, A Head of tobacco. Twenty-fourth, A
Bulkhead, which is a partition in a ship. Twenty-fifth, Go ahead,--but
first be sure you are right.
* * * * *
_Bubby Short’s Composition._