The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-06-11

It happened that piece Of fresh
pork hung in the well, and Lord Percy
so was the dog called-was hungry.
So he hurried with vivacity toward the
fresh pork.
"De well!' shrieked Mother Pop,
tumbling down all in a heap. and look
ing somehow like Turner'S ''Slave-
Ship" as one stumpy leg protruded
from the wreck of red flannel and
ruffled petticoats.
"What shall we doP" said Sissy. with
a helpless squeak.
"Why, git him out" said Mr.. Pop,
who was the practical one of the family.
He began to draw up the well bucket,
aided by Weekly, who whispered, dark
ly, "Dar'll be anudder hangin' in town
befo' long, and Hi '0on't miss dat
hangin'. ~
Soon appeared little woolly head,
then half black body, the rest of him
being securely wedged in the well
bucket. He looked like jack-in-the-
box. But he was cool, Tiddlekins was,
no doubt of that.
Mother Pop revived at sight of her
offspring, still living, and feebly sucking
his thumb.
"Ef we had q whisky bath ter put
him inr' she cried.
Into the house flew Father Pop,
seized the quart cup, and was over to
the white house on the hill in the wink
of a cats eye.
..He stammered forth his piteous
tale," said Savannah, telling the story
the next day to her school-mates; land
Judge Chambers himself filled his cup
with the best of Bourbon, and Miss Cla-
"a came over to see us resusirate the
infant"
Mother Pop had Tiddlekins wrapped
in hot flannel when he got back; and
with a never-to-be-sufficiently admired
economy Mr.. Pop moistened a rag
with 1.-The best of Bourbon" and said
to his wife, "Jes rub him awhile, Gym
thy, an see if dat won't bring him roun'."
As she rubbed, he absent-mindedly
raised the quart cupto his lips, and with
three deep and grateful gulps the whis-
ky bath went to refresh the inner man
of Tiddlekins' papa.
Then who so valOrOus and so affec-
tionate as he? Dire were his threats
against Hieronymus, deep his lamenta-
tions over his child.
"My po' little lammier' he sobbed.
"Work away, Cynthy. Dat chile mus
be saved. even if I should have ter
90 over ter de Judges fur anudder
quart o. whisky. Nuthin' shall be spared
to save that preciousest kid O. my old
age"
Miss Clara did not encourage his self
sacrificing proposal; but for all that, it
was not long before Tiddlekins grew
warm and lively, and winked at his
father-so that good old man declared
as he lay on his back, placidly suck
ing pigs tail. Savannah had roasted
it in the ashes, and it had been cut
from the piece of pork that had shared
the well with Tiddlekins. The pork
belonged to a neighbor, by-the-way;
but at such time the Pop family felt
that they might dispense with the vain
and useless ceremony of asking for it.
The excitement was over, the baby
asleep, Miss Clara gone, and the sun
we'll on its way to China. when small
figure was seen lowering efficiently
about the gate. It had limp air of
detection, and seemed to feel some del
icacy about coming further.
The miscreant is got back" re-
marked Savannah.
"Hieronymus," calls Mrs. Pop, "you
NAV thank yo' heavenly stars dat you
amt murderer dis summer day"
"A-waltin' ter be hung mex Wild
grape-time," finished Weekly, pleas
antfy.
Mr.. Pop said nothing. But he reached
down from the mantel-shelf long thin
something, shaped like snake, and
quivered it in the air.
Then he walked out to Hi, and taking
him by the left ear, led him to the
woodpile.
And here But I draw . veil.--
Hn,.ney's Mn0Gziue for June.