The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-10-21

Is lucky L didn't happen to be picking
that squirrel out of the hollow just at
tiis time %
And he shuddered to think what a
horrid death to be crushed under an
avalanche of roots and clay.
Mr.. Keeper, however, sat still, and
was soon lost in another revery, from
which he was aroused by most extra
ordinary occurrence.
1t aft rwards appeared that Joe
Symes, the " hired man." who was at
work repairing fence near by, had
twice or thrice cast his eyes in the direc-
ton of the fallen tree. Hearing the
sound of Mr.. Keepers axe no longer,
Mr.. Symes looked shortly after, and saw
that worthy man in the hole, under the
roots of the tree and in a little while,
startled by smothering conclusion, he
looked, and beheld the stump turned
back. At that moment, Mr.. Bunker
appeared, and inquired for his brother
in-law. Both looked in the direction of
the stump, and seeing nobody, Mr..
Symes suddenly exclaimed
"I vow !"
"What 7"
81 bet Keepers been ketched under
the butt of that tree ,
Mr.. Bunker thought that it could not
be, but Symes assuring him that the last
time lie saw Mr.. X. he was in the hole,
they both ran to the spot.
"Good Lord :" cried Symes, Z" here's
his jacket-there's his axe-I VOW he's
a goner !"
This was the exclamation that aroused
Mr.. Keeper. He looked through the
bushes, aud held his breath.
Impossible !" said Mr.. Bunker,
nervously, "Can't be J"
Where's Mr.. Keeper :" demanded
Symes.
"Why, he's walked off, I suppose"
Walked off = walked off in brillin'
sun without his hat Look here !"
Symes picked up the old bachelors
hat, close by the Eastwood bushes,
where Mr.. Keeper had dropped it, on
going into his retreat.
"l declare that looks bad !" NUT
tered Bunker.
Mr.. Keeper was on the very point of
showing himself, to end the joke and
have good laugh over it when Mr.
Bunker made the remark, that it looked
bad.
Now Mr.. X. could not have had the
least objection to having any man say,
chat such state of things looked bad
He himself would have been deeply i'm
pressed with the conviction that it look
ed bad, had he been under the stump
Yet in the manner that Mr.. B. made
the remark, according to Mr.. KS way
Of thinking, looked bad in itself. TO
be brief, BIS countenance and tone
expi essed a satisfaction which he could
not conceal and Mr. X. thought he
would try the experiment of sitting still.
Looks bad Guess it does !" cried
Symes and he swore "by George"
that if Keeper wasn't under the stump,
he was, and that it was kind of duty
be owed the feller" to dig him out.
"Dig him out 'twould take an age
muttered Bunker, rubbing his hands
probably to keep the flies off. "Tell
you what, Joe, if he's there, he's kill
ed; and it isn't as though little dig
ying would save mans life. So we
might as well make certain before we
begin 20
"There to be sure he's there I'll
20 for the shovels !" exclaimed Joe "
: BY George! he was the best fellow in n
he world !" he added with emotion. t
I'll 90 for the shovels-or don't you
hink the oxen will pull the stump over O
I'll bring 'em and try it !" d
Symes ran off while Bunker remained 5
ookihg complacently at the stump. p
"The dogs ?" muttered Keeper, q
living way to the momentary fancy that 1
e was in the bad predicament suppos-
d." if you stand there, you'll never f
ct me out ! Why don't you go to dig Il
ing :" y
Bunker walked around the stump, G
ndcavoring to look under it, where the d
nds of the roots protruded, and finally 81
reclaimed, loud enough for his beloved o
rother to hear d
Buried, sure as guns" 4
4" Am I Z" muttered Keeper. Ho,
here comes Jane l wonder what she'll
ay!"