The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-27

nov All SkOOT CAUGHT A CHICKEN
AND WHAT ELSE HE CAUGHT.-Not far
from San Jose lives an old lady whose
trugallty has verged so closely upon
parslIml0ny that she has actually the re-
putatlOn of being miserly. She has a
son, whose wild habits, dissolute ways
and propensity for playing practical
jokes will some day lead him to the GAL
lows or to editing paper in San Jose,
Next, but by no means least in the trio
whose names will be passed down to
history through this recital, is a worthy
representative of the FlOwery Kingdom
named All SkOOt-the latter Very fond of
experiment. Now to the facts: Not long
since q party consisting of bakers
dozen OF San Jose ladies visited the
rancho where the old lady, by raising
chickens, keeps the wolf from the door,
and drops an occasional Ifive-cent piece
INTO the deac0n's hat as he takes up the
weeklysc on Sunday, The Ia
dies belonged to the Sewing circle, ,nand
the old lady determined in the fullness of
her heart to decapitate chicken, upon
which these thirteen hungry Christians
were to dine. Ali SkOOt received his or
ders to that effect, and Immediately re-
paired to the poultry yard to carry them
into execution (the orders, not the poul-
try). How to catch q chicken in the
daytime was now the difficult problem
which exercised the brain Of the Chinee.
About this time Jim, the old lady's son,
hove In sight, and to All Sk0Ot'sfnterrO-
CATIONS answered i'll this wise: "Now,
look here, SkOOt, you jest git some corn,
and I'll go and git the gun, and III tell
you what to do then" The necessary
articles were duly procured.
The hopeful James had loaded the
gun plum mp to the muzzle, and telling
SkOOt to throw down some corn, about
two hundred chickens put in an appear
ance. Now the Cllinaman, as before
stated, was quite fond of experiments.
and reaching for the gun he took aim at
noble rooster, who, towering above the
others in the pride of his youth and
r0osterhood, was entirely mlsuspicious
OF the coming storm. 1t is perhaps
needless to state that James immediately
ensc0nced himself behind large tree,
out of harms way. About this time q
report, which would have done credit to
q twenty four pOlmder, aroused the
folks III the house, who, en- n1asse, rush
ed out to the scene of the slaughter. At
first nothing was visible but smoke and
dust, next about two score of chickens
were rising and falling, Topping and
squeaking. The ground was sfrewn with
the mangIed remains Of about forty
more, while the remainder OF this once
interesting flock were making for neigh
boring ranches, to avoid another earth
quake. Ssh"
But.what of All SEoot? Did that mass
of torn and disheveled rag resemble the
once festive youth, whose delight had
once been to experiment? 1t was he.
The kind ladies approached him, and
tenderly, oh! so tenderly, raising his
head, they essayed to administer spiritual
consolation from an old black bottle,
which the old lady produced. Byandby
animation, seeing which the old lady
said: 'Speak to me Skooty! Oh, speak
to me !" John raised his head and gave
vent to the following: Speakee! Wassy
matter spealzy? More blandy, more
blandy; Cd d-n, too much shOoty!"
1t is perhaps unnecessary to add John is
now in quest OF another situation.