Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-06

the notches on the rim, but, as he
didn't kaow what came after five, he
was obliged to give up the attempt in
despair.
When dinner-time came, Aunt Phillis
made Sam little cake, and she pressed
the coin down on the dough so as to
leave very deep impression. The
cake was baked, and although the
mark of the half-dollar became much
distorted in the cooking, still, if you
looked very hard. you could see what
it had been. Sam thought it a won
derful work of art. He carried it off
to the back gallery steps, and sat down
and ate it; beginning at the edges, and
eating up to the mark, until he had q
round piece just the size Of the coin,
with the impression on one side. Then
he played with that a while, and finish
ed by eating it, also.
Time now hung heavy on Sans
hands. He began to think or study"
as he would have expressed it, about
what he would do next.
| What he did next was to Law his
four bits" down on the ground near
the steps, and then walk off around the
corner of the house. Directly he came
back, walking slowly, and looking about
as II he had lost something. He kicked
among the grass with his feet, shaded
his eyes with his hand, and appeared
to be very anxious.
Lemme see," said he, II come
long dis way yestiddy, an 1 reckon 1
los dat money somewhat bout dis
place. I mus done dropped it out my
pocket. Wonder if anybody picked it
up? Lawsy! done found it. Right
under my eyes Eff it had been a
snake it would ha' bit me. I nebber
seed de like sence Of HeckY was pup 7"
So saying, he picked up the money
with great demonstrations of joy. Then
he laid it down in another place, and
marched off as before. 4
This time, however, the play turned
out differently. There was venerable
Shanghai rooster that stayed in the
yard that everybody called " Old Jack"
He was very old and very cross, and he
and Sam were deadly enemies. Many
fight had they had, and, although
Sam generally got the best of it, Old
Jack used to give him great deal of
trouble.
Now, just as Sam went around one
corner Of the house, Old Jack stalked
around the other, closely examining
the ground, in quest of beetle or q
worm, or some other agreeable delicacy
of that sort. The bright piece of silver
attracted his eye, and he advanced
toward it. He had not yet determined
whether or not it was good to eat, and
was about to begin closer examine
ton, when back came the owner. At
sight of his foe, Old Jack seized the
coin and ran intending to carry it off
and inspect it at his leisure.
Sam set up a tremendous yell, and
gave chase. Old Jack ran first in one
direction and then in another; but find
ing himself closely pursued, lie took
refuge beneath the smoke-house. This
building, like nearly all houses at the
South, was raised from the ground on
small pillars about a foot high, and
Old Jack had gone under it, with Sam 8
money. He dropped it on the ground
and crowed loudly, adding insult to
injury"
Sam had begun to cry, but that tri-
umphant crow changed the current of
his thoughts. He resolved upon meas
ures Of war.
Aiming himself with corn cobs, he
began vigorous fire upon the enemy.
Old Jack, however, did not appear to
mind it much. 1t is hard to throw cob
webs under house with any degree Of
force or precision, Sam discharged all
he could find, but in vain. Then he
sat down and scratched his head.
"I's gwine to git dat money, some
how" said he; FPS jes' got to hab it,
shore, and dare's no use talkin' bout
it. Or Jacks got to git out from under
dar; you heered me! | amt a-foolin'
now"
So sam got down on the ground and
began crawling under the smoke-house.
Whether old Jack dreaded a combat
in such close quarters, or whether he
had fully satisfied himself that the
half dollar was too hard to be digesti-
BILE, or whether he was Influenced by
both considerations, is unknown; but
when he saw Sam, he rushed out from
his retreat, leaving the silver piece be-
hind him. But Sam was too quick for
him. He grasped old Jack by the leg,
and scooped up his coin with the other
hand.
"Dar OATS business. Dis OF roost-
er 'zarves to hab his neck broke. I'll
fix him, fore long," said Sam, as he
ran toward the house with old Jack in
his hands. But suddenly changing his
mind he dropped the rooster and pull
ed his half-dollar from his pocket
ST. Nicholas.
A SPIDERS Large Game.
From the Danielsonville (Conn) Transcript.
Many remarkable anecdotes have
been told illustrating the skill and