The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-08-30


who lived in village in Russia. He
did not know very much about anything
but his business, which was that of a
Farmland, and the people in the village
said he did not know much about that.
But Peter had an idea that he was not
only the best farmer in the part of the
country where he lived, but that he I'M
derstood a great many things about fish
ing, hunting, gardening and other mat
tiers which were entirely above the COM
prehension of ordinary people.
The villagers, and the men and women
on the farm where Peter worked, were
kind to him because he was a good ma
tured, obliging fellow, always willing to
do a good turn for a friend, but they
could not help laughing at him when
they saw what curious way he had,
sometimes, of doing good turn.
But Peter knew what he was about, he
said, and perhaps, some day, the people
in the village would see that he was not
the man they took him for.
One summer there was long series Of
heavy rains, and the river which ran by
the village where Peter lived was greatly
water ran up into the fields, and even
into the woods that lay a little back
from the river. All the houses in the
village which were near the river bank
were entirely surrounded by water,
which in some cases was two or three feet
deep on the lower floors, so that the
people had to live altogether in the
little rooms in the upper part of their
houses.
The farmhouse Jared better, for it
stood on high ground, some distance
from the river; but the water came up
very close to it, where it had never been
before, and the whole country presented
very curious appearance, with the river
spreading itself out so far and wide, and
flowing swiftly on, over fields and roads
and fences, and even in and out among
the trees of the forest.
After the rains had ceased, the freshet
still continued; for all the little streams,
swelled up above their banks, and, loaded
with the waters from the hills, came
pouring into the river,
But everybody knew that the waters
would fall before many days, and so they
tried to get along as well as they could
meantime.
One day-it was one of the first days
after the rains-Peter came rushing into
the farmhouse, where most of the people
were Just about to sit down to their din
ner, and cried out:
"I say! Look here Who's got a
boat-hook?"
GA what?" said one of the men.
ga boat-hook, replied Peter "Come,
don't keep me. I'm in hurry. I have
something to do while you are eating
your dinner. I saw boat-hook here
yesterday; where is it now?"
"What are you going to do, Peter p
asked woman.
CHOW, look here, good folks p said
Peter. 'There is time for all things
"a time for joking, and time not to
joke. I am going rabbit-hunting in a
hurry, and I want boat-hook."
ella ha ha p laughed half dozen
people. "That's good! Hunting rab-
bits with a boat-hook Ha ha Are
you going to hook them by the ears?"
"That's my affair."" said Peter. "Tll
attend to my business. Now, will any
body tell me where [ shall find boat
hook ?"
"Oh don't make such a disturbance,
Peter" said one of the older men. 81
expect the boat-hook is down in the
boat. Go down and look for it." w
GO never thought of that" said Peter,
and away he went.
The farm-hands had another good
laugh at him, as he hurried away, and
then they went in to their dinner.
Peter had grand scheme on hand.
AS he happened to be down by the river
near the woods, that morning, he saw 6
sight which puzzled him great deal
On logs and branches of trees which
were floating down with the current he
saw great many rabbits, who seemed
to be going off together on grand boat
ing excursion.
"Hello !" said he to himself. "Wha+
can those rabbits be about ?"
When he had considered the matter s
short time, however, he saw through the
mystery. The water, in spreading
through the woods, had flooded these
rabbits out of their homes, and had GU
off their retreat to dry land. So Their,
had been nothing left for them to d.
but to get on such pieces of wood al
they might be able to reach, and foa
along with the stream.
"They're in bad way" though
Peter, "for they don't like water, ant
they'll stick on those logs till they starry
to death rather than try to swim ashore
And it's dreadful pity to see SO man.
fine rabbits wasted.
But just then the idea came into hi
head that perhaps they need not b
wasted. Suppose he were to get boa
and go and catch them all They coulC
not get away from him. Splendid III
would do it. With boat-hook he conl,
draw the logs and branches up to hi