Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-11-30
Local Correspondent ce.
BURNSIDE, Nov. %, 1877

BURNSIDE. Nov. %, 1870.
Mr. EDITOR We had made arrange
nents (Bill, Hi and MYSELF that 1 should
to the Lyceum, harness Snow Shoe to
his wagon and drive, in the evening, to Pat
chinville. In accordance with this program
me | reported on time. at the door of our
rural home. and, after supper, all being in
readiness. we drove off in the direction of
PF. Everything was lovely until we began
the descent of the hill at Burnside, when
slight accident happened. Hi was holding
the reins careiessly in one hand, and taking
a chew Of tobacco with the other, when all
at once Snow shoe broke down the hill in
run. Hi tried to check him, but in vain
Dexter was no touch to him. Hi stood up
in the wagon, and sawed the reins with
might and main" Finally one line broke,
and the pressure being thrown on the re
manning one, it drew Snow shoe suddenly
into a fence corner, stopping him alfred
quick. Hiram landed fiat on the animals
back, from which position he sent forth a
series of groans and grunts, leading US to
believe that he was at least half killed.
We arrived at the school house just as the
President called the society to order Iii
was to deliver the oration OF the evening
and, as a matter of course, had come fully
prepared When the President called his
name, he stepped briskiy to the platform
and addressed the audience as follows:
e., 7 l,,H e.
subject to night, The Grasshopper'
The grasshopper sat on the sweet potato vine.
When up come the grey goose slippiu' up behind,
And gobbled him up off the sweet potato vine
Most people" he said. supposed that
the grasshopper is so called on account Of its
hopping about so much This is not SO. 1t
is altogether on account of the tremendous
amount of vegetation he slows away in his
hopper, during his short sojourn in our
meadows. IF you take the trouble to search
this country, ladies and gents, you won't
find hopper now, because they migrate
just the same as the backbirds, swallows,
Sc, do. Along in October, noticed large
tiocks of them on the wing, steering down
the Pan handle of the Ohio to make land
ing in the Southern States. Each grasshop-
per carried an elder stalk, loaded with ber-
ries, in his teeth, to grub him on his long
journey. And [ shouldn't wonder if there
was lots of grasshoppers sitting in the hol
low logs and stumps, in the swamps of Flor
ida, eating PatchiDville ederberries, this
very night. (Sensation.) The grasshopper
noise among the boys in the corner,) Hi
peered savagely toward the culprits and ex
Boys, if you don't keep shady
back there, III hop in among you and land
you are. Yes, gents, the grasshopper chews
tobacco, but he never begs any; mind that
GrasShoppers have been known to stop To-
on the railroad, but | never heard
of them stopping raft on the Grass Flat
just below 'Buttermllk. where occasionally
stops one.
The Judge" was called next. but did not
respond one of his neighbors remarkiug by
way of apology that he tthe judge had sew
en- RATS of timber to get out, and conse
quently could not attend.
When we arrived at home, we heard a ter
rible racket inside the house. We entered
and struck light, and found our cat chas-
ing a rat around the room. Tabby was max
ing the rarn,iat ''get up and git" but
WASH t gaining an inch on him. Bill seized
the old double bit that stood in the cor
ner, aud, watching his chance as they came
around aimed vigorous blow at the rat,
but missed his mark and, sad to relate,
whacked poor Tabby's tail off within an inch
of hind quarters. Bill was terribly mortified
at his blunder. But mann spoke up, never
mind Billy, Tabby's young, vigorous cat
the flies amt bad now, and her tail will
grow on agin next fly time" A; this Bill
countenance frightened up little, but it
seemed to express doubt as to nam logic
as to the cats tail growing on again
Our big meeting closed tonight on ac-
count of bad weather; but, never mind, Le-
vi and Uncle Abe will be down one of these
times ard stir our people up.
Hastily, LUCKY OLD Ben.