North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1870-07-27

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whom he was very jealous and proud. To
make matters worse, handsome nephew
of his came to his house quite often and
took Mrs. Verplank out riding, which
brought the poor miller almost to the verge
of distraction.
Carl listened to her gossip for long
time with great attention then, being both
refreshed and rested, he thanked the wo-
man for her hospitality, and bade her fare
WELL
He logged along for few miles further
till he came to place where vendue sale
was being held. He looked on for little
while and watched the proceedings of the
sale with great interest till his eye caught
three bee-hives. Carl had never seen a
beehive before, and he examined them
with great curiosity. Asking bystander
what they contained, he was informed that
they contained bees--tbat bees made honey
and wax--and other scraps of naturnl his
tory, which Carl heard with the greatest
amazement. The bees seemed to strike
his fancy, for he stepped up to the auction
eer and asked him what he would charge
for peck Of "dem little gritters?'
We don't sell bees by the measure, re-
piled that functionary. laughing, but only
by the hive.
Carl was very sorry. and the auctioneer
seeing his disappointment, told him he
would sell him few to accommo odate him.
Taking an old candle box, he shook num-
Der of the bees out of the hive, and shut
ting up the box, gave it to Carl, charging
him three dollars for the same. Carl
cheerfully paid the money, aad walked off
with his prize as happy as king, amidst
the laughter of the crowd.
The shades of evening were beginning
to fall when Carl came in sight of Yer
plank's mill, and the miller was standing
in the doorway when he stepped up.
"Goot-, fening, Mr.. Verplank how toos
you to p said, Carl, setting down his box,
and accosting the miller.
The miller. whose perception was rath.
er obtuse, surveyed Carl with the most un-
bounded astonishment.
"How de duyvel toos you know dat my
name is Verplank, eh ?" he uttered in
voice of surprise.
go, knows eferyding because pc
vordune-deller - returned Carl coolly.-
"Mine pox here dells me eferyding I want
to know ~
"Gome, dat is doc goot. How de duy-
vel gan dat pox shbeak any ding, wants
to know"
80, ko to de dunder tidn't dell you
dat dis is fordune deller pox? Shust ask
me any ding, an see!'
swell, den, dell me vat mine vife's name
is, and vat she is toing shust now-den l
pelieve, an py dunder, not before!'' said
the miller increduously.
"De name of your wife is Carlotta, and
shust now she is sbarking NIT your nevy,
Hans Verplank!' cried Carl, triumphant
ly, removing his head from the box, to
Which he hau applied ms ear.
"Dunder, bitten, an dousand duyvels!'
exclaimed the miller, in dismay. "Peelze-
pup is in dat pox, by Cot!"
After recovering somewhat from his as.
tonishment, he asked Carl if he wo'd come
with him to HE house, adding as an induce
ment. that he would give him three dollars
and his supper. Carl told him he would,
if he would give him lodging for the night
also and, the miller complying, he &C.
companied him to his house.
The miller chuckled with delight as he
anticipated the dismay of his wife when
she should have her fondest secrets reveal
ed.
After supper Carl confounded both the
miller and his wife by the revelation he
made by the pretended aid Of the miracu-
lous box for the woman at whose house
he had dined had posted him pretty we'll in
their affairs.
81 will kif you one hoontret tollars for
dat pox! y he exclaimed, thinking what a
valuable acquisition it would be to him in
aiding to ferret out his wife's secrets.
"No," replied Carl, II CANT sell dat pox
vor it has been in de family more as u hon
tret years Mine kreat-krant-fader KATE
it to mine krantfader on his tying pet, an
mate him shvear never to bart nit it!''
"Vell den, l kif you dwo hoontret!" he
said, fearful Of losing such a chance.
Carl reflected few minutes.
~ dell you vat will do," he said at
last; "kif me dwo hoontret an fifty, an l
sell him to you.r
Although sorely against the grain, the
miller closed the bargain, much to the dis
pleasure Of his wife, who urged him not
to make fool of himself; but this only
added fuel to the fame of the miller's de-
sire to possess the box, and he went to his
bedroom and brought Carl his money.
''No wonder mine frau ton't want me to
haf dat pox |" he muttered, significantly,
as he counted out the money. "Put how
will understand de pox ven he dalks nit
me ?' he inquired.
Carl told him to call him up early in the
morning, and he would tell him.
AT daybreak the next morning the mil
ler awakened Carl and told him to get up
and show him how to understand the box,
for "dat it was dalking like de duyvel I"
(The bees were buzzing like circular
saw.)
"Vell," said Carl, "virst you must pc in
q room NIT yourself all alone, an den you
make hot wire den you lock de toor and