The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-10
AGnnnaHler Plot.


Tedde and Lud, two city boys Qhese are
the "sborts" for their names, OF course),
were spending their vacation with friend
OF their mothers In the country. You may
be sure that they had nice time, Tor ther re
were a great many things to interest them.
But, among the most interesting things
on the place, at least to them, was a de-
lightfuI little darby called "Bat," proba-
bis nickname for Bartholomew.
Bat knew not only every hole and corner.
| tree, and bush on the place, but bad extended
his knowledge to the surrounding planta.
tions. He would constantly have some
such joyful news TO give the boys as the
discovery OF a guinea.hen's nest on the
farm, the finding of brood Of young par
tridges, or q splendid hole 10 the creek full
of minnows and catfish. He took sdvau-
tage Of bis frequent errands to the neigh
boring farms TO acquire information OF this
sort.
Bat came to the boys, who lay on their
faces under the great oaks in the yard. and
read for the fiitieth time their favorite sto'
| ries.
"Marse Lud, l done found sumthin :"
The boys instantly changed to upright po-
sitions, aud said together, What?" whilst
their eyes glIStened at the prospect OF
dull with them OF late.
"In de woods over yonder, tudder side
de broom.straw field" answered Bat,
-" Dustin big bornicks' ness-big as half
peck measure"
"Wel," said Lud, "did any one OF them
sting your"
"Law no, didn't fetch de thing; but
thought I'd come and tell ye all, so you kin
90 over and blow il t1p,"
"Do you mean to blow 1t to pieces with
the gum" inquired Lud.
"No, mol" said Bat, quickly; "blow it
up like you gwine blast rock. Put de
powder unner it, and den light it wild de
slow match"
Bat was rummaging In his very deep and
uncertain pocket whilst saying this, and at
last succeeded in extracting from tangle
of string, marbles, fint-stoneS, and rabbits
paw, piece OF the match used in the mines,
and which looked like a small rope about
| four inches long.
81 picked dis up over at de cOal-pit, whar
somebody done dropped it. You jess makes
! little pile OF powder unner de ness, den
you puts one end OF de slow match in it and
lights de udder, den de fire ketches de pow
der, am who-ee up goes de ness in de ar;
all bus to pieces an de hornIcks all kilt"
Bat delivered this description with great
viYacity, and added: "Make haste and git
de powder, so as we kin git over dar fore
de hofGicks all goes out to git der dinner"
Lud was quickly OF to the house and soon
back with a powder-fllsk; SO away the
boys trudged as fast as they could. Bat
took the lead, and they made their way as
directly as they could to the spot, some
times in the shade, but mostly through the
scorched fields, where myriads OF grasshOp-
pers bounced up under their noses, and the
blisteriDg sun seemed TO waken all manner
Of tittefing and buzZing insects.
At last the boys arrived, hot and painting,
at the further side of the broOm-straw field,
where 1t was skirted by line OF low scrub.
oaks and chinquepin-bushes. Bat took a
little time TO ind the spot, but at length,
pointing toward it, he called out under bis
breath, "Dar 'tisl" "Where?" cried the
others.
"Dar, dar! don't talk loud skeer 'em,"
repied Bat in a loud whisper, and making
violent gestures for them to keep silence.
The others Joined Bat, and soon discovered
the object of their search. II was attached
TO tree somewhat larger than the others,
and which stood in little glade in the
wood, and the limb from which it hung
jutted out close TO the ground. 1t looked
like ball of dirty paper, which diminished
gradually into a sort Of neck; the whole
about a foot long, and nearly as much
through in the widest part. Not hornet
was 10 be seen.
Lud whispered, "Oh, Bat! They are not
there after all
"Dunno bout dat" answered Bat; aye
all lay down, aud I'll try 'em." The two
lay down among the hot weeds. Bat broke
Off the longest switch that he could find,
and tickled the nest from as safe distance as
the length of the switch would allow,
standing behind n sapling which protected
about three inches in width Of bis person.
he paused, and, with grin, made an en-
couraging sign to the boys, who were now
raised on their elbows watching the opera
ton. Then, crOuchiDg low, he cautiously
backed from his position.
"All right" lie whispered, when he had
backed TO where the others were, call
right; dey sent out one TO see what was
de matter; let's 90 TO work."
Bat proceeded Immediately to explain
that the powder must be poured in a pile
just under the Dest-which was about two
feet from the ground-and the match laid
with one end in the powder; and that I'M
less Lud touched the nest there was no
OhucT lucSc INSTRUCT
lions Lud carefully approached the nest on |
all-fourss The others watched with intense |
interest while Lud poured out the pow
der directly under the nest, as he thought, |
and then laid the slow-matcb. Bat and |
Teddie held their breath. The former, by |
q crab.like movement, had gradually in- |
creased his distance from the scene Of ope- |
rati0ns, aud was yard or two behind Ted. |
die. They saw Lpd fumbkng in his peck. |
cts, and he began TO work his way back |
ward. When be had reached them he painted |
out, Got no matches Tkey all looked /
blank at this dilemma. Teddie searched |
al four OF his pockets and sheok bis head. |
Bat had none. The prospect OF failure was
"oh, look (" said Teddie, who had never
ceased TO explore every possible place on
lis person where match might lodge; aud
he exhibited a round object which gave o
udden fash IN the sunlight.
"The sun glass!" exclaimed Lud. ado
'0u fhink that II will do 2"
"Of course" replied Teddie, holding It
, him. But Lud did not extend bis hand.
MS yours; you take IT," be said. Ted
lie turned TO Bat.
Bat s2id /" 4 can't do nothin' wild dat ,
ing; seed you make tire wild II, Mah'sr Z
eddie.n III
.And / have done my par" added Lud. 4