The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-04-06

angry. He was also not a little dis.
couraged. Finally, just as he began to
scrape the dirt out Of the bottom Of a
very promising c~reviee, and just as he
was beginning to think the frog would
this time hold his tongue, out came the
little fellow with "Struck it! Struck it!'
Pete quietly laid down his crevicing-
spoon, slyiy gathered two or three big
rocks. then softly, on tip.toe, began steal
ing toward his little prosecutor. and just as
the frog cried ''Struck it," Pete let
! drive at him with a rock so huge that it
could have been hurled by no lesser Ajax,
| missing his mark but raising a great COM
motion in the pond.
Thinking he had given his bad angel a
fright that would last him a fortnight,
| Pete returned to his work. He had al
most filled his pan with rich-looking dirt,
when up came the frogs head and out
came his tantalizing ''Struck it! Struck
it,"
Pete threw his pan of dirt as far as he
could send it and made for the frog de.
termined on it's obstruction. He would
stand no more of is internal nonsense.
Shovel in hand he waded into the mid
ulC VI Al AItIV vOA anu oSOOPO"
and tore about in it with the vigor and
venom of a mad bull. Once or twice he
saw, or imagined he saw, the frog dart
through the discolorcd water, and brought
the back of his shovel with such a ''spat'
that the blow might have been heard
half a mile away. At length, not seeing
anything more, OF the frog. Pete conclu-
ded that he had killed him. He gave
him a parting curse, and, being now
wrought up to such a pitch Of excitement
and that he could work no
more that afternoon, strobe away, put On
his coat, and went home.
The next morning he returned 10 his
claim AID his work. He had washed out
several pans Of dirt and was getting good
pay out of them, when suddenly there
fell upon his ear the shrill cry OF,
.sStruck lt?'
} he first note sent a thrill: through
Pete's frame like the sharp shock Of an
:. electrical battery, then a chill fell upon
his heart and his hair almost rose on
end. Hi, evi, genius, as he row firmly
believed the little green frog to be. was
still there. alive and at his old tricks.
he kicked ever the pan Of dirt he had
dug and made . rush for the reservoir.
the frog ''plunping' undo the water at
his approach. Pete again went INTO the
reservoir with his long-,aadied snevel
and CHARGED about at a furious rate. bat
he could see nothing Of the frog or any
thing t at looked like it. Being deter
mined to do for his tormentor this time,
Pete went for his pan and began TRYING
, to bail out the reservoir. Finding this
J too great q task he got o pick, dug down
! the embankment Of dirt and rocks form
. ing the little dam. and eagerly watched.
a with uplifted shovel, for the frog as thu
! water ran off. The water all ran out
9 but the frog was nowhera to be seen.
Pete then waded ont in the oozy bee
pond, digging ana p~iow.ng about WITH
his shovel. but he failed to start thu
little goblin frog. He then arrived al
the very reasonable conclusion that :hs
little imp had rushed out of the reservoir
i when 1t was opened. He cruised about
: the spot for an hour or two, going dovr
: the channel Of the rayine, turning ovei
rosks and beating tufts Of grrss with hl'
{ shovel. but saw nothing Of the frog
Thinking his evil genius had been washed
down through the canyon into the Carson
7 river. Pete concluded to rebuild his dan
$ In order that he might have water read,
Q for use IN the morning. This job done h
9 went home, feeling quite sure that h.
had either killed or permanently oustc;
his little enemy.
e The next day he returned to his work
Before starting in. however, ne wakes
l around the reservoir several times, peer
n ing kesnly into the water and kicking
every bunch Of grass ABOUT its margin
= The frog was nowhere TO be sean or start
u ed.
IS Pete then vent to his prospect hol
q and began to dig. stopping occasionally t
cock an eye toward the pond n to lis
ten for the freq. All promised well 70
Is Pete. He had dug a pan Of dirt withou
the hated interruption, and was on hi
= way to wash it out when -"Struck it
q Struck it Z was squeaked from the pom
by the goblin frog.
~ This was too much for Pete. The pa
dropped from his hands, his under ia
! fell. and he sank down. upon the neares
rock, where he sat and considered tt
IN matter. As he was wondering il it wa
le possible for him ever in any way TO n
e himself Of the evil thing that had de:
troyel his luck, the frog again sang on
.S,ruck it : Struck i'll"
May the divil burn ye.' cried Pet
| haven't sthruck It. and what's more
70 never will Wild We there, We dirty llttl
er h~lackguard, Must I come afther J
again, We u~nclane haste Of the dIvilt
= "Struek ill., said the frog
" "Ye think so = said Pete. and catchir
up his pick he rushed 70 the reservoir
h. and begaa digging down the emban'
"A ment.
k. Presently he paused ;rrhis work 81
We said: Its Of no USE Haven't tried
get him in all ways. No. when | :
le, the wather of he'll be gone. He's !
Or human frog. I'll jist let him how'd po
ed session and Iii hunt me another plac
ne Dlvil the lick will | ever sthrike he
again its the diviis " child he IS.