The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-08-01

and in half hours listless wandering, he
came upon tie river bank. Near by was q
cluster Of trees, whose boughs interlacing
with those of elms on small island in
the stream, buried in deep and most deli
cious shade quiet nook where the waters
lay clear and calm, save where wanton
fish disturbed the surface into ripples, or .
vagabond grasshopper went straddling out
beneath to meet y watery grave.
Muggins paused. 1t was charming. 1t
was more-it was temptation, and Mug
gins could not resist it.
Near by stood farm wagon, left proba-
bly, by some one engaged in farm work, and
carefully upon the vehicle did Muggins place
bis linen suit, and, soon disrobed, went in
among the fishes. 1t was luxurious. 1t
was luscious. Muggins enjoyed it.
Suddenly rustling near at hand startled
him. He raised his head just as huge and
most incorporating looking yellow dog
came slowly out of clump of bushes and
leaped into the wagon, where, after a pre-
Eliminary sniff or two, and with that pecu-
liar spiral mode of descent chosen by all
dogs Of calm and deliberative turn of mind,
he stretched himself upon Muggins' spot
less vestment. ).
Mconidas was Mortified. II was his pet
suit and, within forty miles, his only. He
concluded to. postpone further enjoyment of
his bath and re- enter the land service, 80 he
waded ashore and approached the wagon.
1t takes two to make abargain, and on this
occasion the yellow dog, whose yellow hair,
and inch and half Of stubby tail stood stiff
and erect at the proposition implied, reso-
lutely refused to be either party of the
first or second part, and sprang down at
Muggins' unprotected neither limbs with a
most unpleasant emphasis. The ground was
soft and muddy, and the yellow dog seemed
to take an especial pleasure in leaping down
at Muggins and leaping back upon the luck
less white suit, until the spotless white be-
came sadly changed under the very eye of
the hor1ifed produce and commission deal
or.
sPoor dog, good fellow;' but all in vain,
the monster wasn't to be wheedled nor
coa1ed. Muggins attempted the gentle per-
suasion of fence-rail. The beast was
thrown into SO frantic paroxysm of rage
that he danced upon and tore with his teeth
the harmless garments, in an ecstacy OF
barkings and yelpings that would have done
honor to Cerberus, his three heads all in
operation AZ once
Muggins sat down on stump to ponder
the mutability of affairs, and the yellow
dog. with his tail at full cock, sat ready for
the resumption of matters aggressive or de-
fensive. Both parties were out of breath.
Muggins suddenly heard a sound-he
started. Could it bet was certainly
somebody coming, and girls, too-probably
his cousins. One desperate dash at the
wagon was met by Towser with grand rail-
ly, and Muggins thoroughly vanquished,
plunged into the stream, waded out on the
other side of the channel and darted across
the island just as his uncle and his two coYl
sins emerged from among the trees, th~
former leading the van with a huge
load Of green boughs, which thrown id
the wag on completely hid from view the lalka,
less Linen suit. Muggins eyed the 81
with anything but composure. If there be
such thing as clothing ones self with
curses, Muggins, who is at times little We
hement in his expressions, thinks he was
fully clothed, but not in a respectable style
for his uncle's family, or the family pew on
the morrow.
The old horse was brought out from his
covert and harnessed, the girls mounted the
wagon, the old man took the lines, when
suddenly over the water came
"Uncie Joshua, ,ciH you hrow me dovn
my clothes?"
The dog seemed to recognize the voice
and barked, the girls uttered little screams,
which were turned to filters as Muggins
breathed out from his thicket the state of
the case.
The old man left the clothes on the bank
and drove of. the yellow dog requiring some
urging to make him relinquish his guardi
anship.
Muggins came ashore, sadly dressed him
self in the linen suit, which looked like
geological chart of Soils, and took his way
to the farm house, thoroughly broken down
IN spirits. The iend Of dog met him at
tine gate with what might have been a sneeze
but sounded like Il snicker. The girls were
sympathizing, uncle Josh apologize. Aunt
Susan made thousand unheard of proffers
of impossible laundry achievments-but
Muggins took the evening train for Chicago.
"Therefore,". said Muggins, 81 pronounce
your rural pictures Of bathing in rural
streams sboSh.'"
We did not press the matter of his con-
versation and he soon after left the Office.