Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-04-25

must be some outlaw. j wish j knew
what there is in that bundle. If .ho't
i could creep down and open it, without
waking him, might find ont something
l don't want people to think that am
suspicious for nothing. III try il, hit
or missl Here goes''
And rising, be walked slowly and soft
ly down the hill, avoiding the dry twigs
The man still snored. He had walked
far.
On opening the bundle Hairtodger was
disappointed. All that he found was an
old shaving apparatus, crust Of bread
and rind OF cheese, q ragged cravat, pair
of socks and broken almanac; q broken
comb and dirty shirt and collar.
"DarnP' said he. spitefully. as he was
on the pointof tying up the bundle again
But the owner saved him that trouble
The exclamation awoke him. Much to
poor Hairtodger's surprise and wrath,
he arose and violently grabbed him by
the collar, and after few brief questions
and fierce curses, illustrated with divers
pushes and sundry punches in the back
and ribs, kicked him down the hill and
let him go.
"That's twice I've missed it to-day"
groaned the suspicious Hairtodger, has
tening home to dinner. II shouldn't
wonder il that fellow was a pirate. He
hasn't got the clothes-line, but he'll get a
rope one Of these days, that's certain"
Possibly my presentiment didn't refer
to Smiths clothes-line, but to something
else," thought he, as he sat at a window
in the afternoon, watching everybody
who passed on the road.
"Hello! What's Mrs Hunters little
boy got in his mouth and hand there?-
A toy trumpet. and-is that sarse-pant
A new one! Where did he get them?
Mrs. Hunter can't afford to buy a new
one. Her husband is only common
sailor, and has gone to sea. Now how
on earth did she raise money enough t.
buy that pan, and a new trumpet for Pete
How did she get so much money? I've
suspected that woman to be no better than
she should be, for some time back. I'll
go out and cross examine the little boy"
Out he went. glancing at Mrs. Hunters
windows, at no great distance of, to see
that she was not looking.
"Helo, Pete What a nice trumpet
you've got. How much did you give
for it?''
ga cent. Mother gave it to me-"
"What a nice mother! And what is
this? A sarse-p PAM"
"No. It's to stew some oysters in
Man give her the money, and l bought
it. I'oot-toot- -toot''
And the child went home and told his
mother what the man had said to him.
"The old weasel!" exclaimed Mrs.
Hunter, to her brother, who was paying
her visit after a long absence. THAT
mans nose is in everybody's business;
| and he must needs come ont of his house
for / saw him, to question a child only
six years old about his errands. wisi
l could fix him somehow. A leaf cam
rustic, or pig squeal, but he must b,
meddling with it. Ughl how 1 abomin.
ate the man! He's like a spider. be.
lieve he has got eyes all over his body
If he ever comes near the house, vow
I'll scald himp'
"Going to stew OYSTERS" muttered
Hairtodger, returning home "And a
man gave her the money. I wonder
when she's going to stew 'em. This eve
ming, suppose. An oyster supper will
a man. High times, 1 should think
Pretty high life and good times she's
having, while husbands away out on tn
briny deep, and she don't care whether b
ever comes home or nos. l should lik
to see who the man is. Ishouldn't won
der if he was going to run off with her,
Pretty well, Mrs. Hunter! I'll just stel
over to your house when it's dark, an(
take quiet evening survey of your prem
ises; for think everything isn't as i
should be-
! Brother and sister and little boy wer
having merry time at supper, and tn
brother was in the midst of good oil
favorite song, when suddenly Mrs. Hun
ter interrupted him.
"Amos," she whispered, 81 heard
step outside just now, and | do believ
it's that Hairtodger, come to listen. New
er mind, keep on. l know what to dc
if it is he.'
"Well, Mary" And the song proceed
ell.
Trying to enchant her with his sing
,. ing, thought Hairtodger, peeping throug
broken slat in the blinds. GOOD look
ing fellow. Oh! they know what the
know, III be bound; and I'll know, toe
if can. She's taken something off tn
stove, and gone into another room wit
it, or the closet. Going to mix some
=. thing to drink. Oh! the drunkard.
5 hope it's something strong, for it wi
1 make them more free with each other
Hope it's gin-toddy, Or"
A sudden dash of water from overhea
: cut short his train of thought. 1t wa
boiling hot and scalded him to the skin
$ drenching him completely.
90 murder! o God!" exclaimed Hair
u todger.
"Thought you might like somethin
n warm. while you were waiting there in tn
cool air, exclaimed Mrs. Hunter. "Ha
you not better come in?'
There was no answer. The eavesdror
$ per thought himself unknown, and slun
I away to the road in silence, leaving tn
family to enjoy themselves, for the rest {
the evening, unmatched.
"That vile woman must have watche
I must have suspected that she was suspec
e ed; proves her to be sinful wretch
Guilty people are always afraid. But L
rather be in my skin than in her HUSBAND
|, shoas ITnforfunata man The sbarl