The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-19


down the back stairs, but he's always dong
| ike an Indiarubbcr bnll,' she said, laughin!
mcrrily
. Wei. never vas so beat IN my life ST
nothing has happened to nobody, and here w
have come all this way on fools errand
too, said Mrs Nudd, in a tone of vcxatlon
, Il lave the greatest mind to just turn rount
and 60 home again
you snail do no such thing cousin. Iol
shall stay and spend the day, and we'll have
n treat deal better time than if there wa;
sickness in the house; only, fer PHYS sake
don't say word to father about the Grape
bonnet and Kcturah fell to laughing heartily
again.
The matter was not destined to end here
however, for The news of Mr.. Blacks accident
had spread through the town, and persons
kept ilocking to the door to make inquiries
and offer aid
The worst OF all was when little Mr. Moses
carpenter and undertaken, appeared at the
door, and announced, with solemn visage,
! that he had come to measure the old gentle
man
| lie received his answer from the 'olG gen
tlcman' himself, who, being naturally of an
irasciblc turn, and unable longer to control
his wrath bawled at the top of his voice;
Hadn't you better wait till I'm dead
Nh Moses probably thought that he had,
for he skunk out Of the gate without another
word.
Now, said Mr.. Black, If | can find out
who started this story, I'll have a settlement
with him on the spot
1T was Deacon Adams told me, said Mrs.
Nudd.
Then Joe Shall go to the deacon and see
~ .yIl trpipu D. ei
to the bottom SO Joe was dispatched to
Deacon Adams, who said he had the story
from the doctor; and such was the good dea-
con S Indignation at being so duped that he
himself accompanied Joe to the doctor, who
said that Mr.. Baker had told him,
Then all three went to Mr. Baker, WHO,
having listened to their errand, turned to Joe
with an unexpected outburst.
who told me the story? WHY you, your
self, you young rascal Doyou mean to Ceny
it?Then conc along with me to Mr. Black III
see if I'm to be made game of in this fash
lonr
Poor Joe ATTEMPTED to say something in
sefdcfcnse, but being peremptorily ordered
to Shut upn every time he opened his mouth,
he at length entirely abandoned the truitlcss
effort.
Hers the culprit, sir said Nj Baker, when
nc idI COC IlllO HIS lluStCI tl!IotA4NN
He's at the bottom OF all this mischief!
gasped Mr.. Black.
i didn't! never, SAID Joe.
What, Go you pretend to say you didn'ttcll
me your master here had fallen from the
LOTT asked Mr. Baker.
i never said no such thing replied Mr..
Joe.
Perhaps you didn intimate he was injur..
ed to that degree that he couldn't be raised
without machineryy continued Mr.. Baker,
Il never persisted Joe,
Then perhaps you'll be good enough to-
state for what purpose you asked to borrow
my tackle -and-falls?
cause old Black had fell through the trap
door
You hear i'm, gentlemen, said Mr, Baker |
with triumphant glance from Mr.. Black to-
the doctor and the deacon. And now per
you'll be good enough TO state who you meant
by old Black
Il meant Pages old horse. Of course; they
alters calls him that
A smothered laugh was heard from kctu-
rah, which emboldened Joe TO add:
'Golly! should think you'd knOWed no
body'd would want them things to raise up
master
80 did, so cid, Joseph; but-hem-ha
you see gentlemen, how the mistake arose,
Well, must bid you all good.day. 1t looks
likely for a shower, and I've got some hay
out
one moment, if you please said the doc
tor should like to know how it was that
came to be mixed up IN this affair
Yes, Joseph, answer that said Mr.. Baker
Didn't you say the doctor had been sent for p
Yes, but didn't say twas him. Twas
WattleS, the horse.doctor.'
SO Mr.. Baker the deacon and the doctor
departed looking very crcstfallen, and Amt
Spear remarked;
wal, you cant believe all you hear, that's
certain
Winch remark we will adopt for the moral
If our tale YOuth's C0mpaHi0a.