The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-04-02

before l knew it, the two big hairy paws
were on my shoulders, and the frightful {
lace close against mine. {
"Jack!' l screamed-"oh Jack!
take him off, or shall die"
Jack laughed, and caught the creature
by his collar and pulled him away.
"Why, bless your heart, Mad GEL" he
said, "the dog won't hurt you. He is
only a pup-nine months old to day
and as full of affection as he can stick.
lie only wanted to make friends with
YOU"
"But don't want to be made friends
with in that fashion," said, as we'll as
l could speak for crying.
Jack laughed, and caressed me, and
apologized; but it was then that our
troubles began, for all that.
What nuisance that dog was no one
who has not brought up Newfoundland
pup can imagine. Now it was one of
the best tablecloths not only pulled off,
but torn into rags; or my lace set-Aunt
Clarice's wedding present-which had
been laid out to bleach, had disappeared
bodily, all but luttering end which
hung out of HERDS mouth as he careered
about the yard; or it was one of Jacks
dress boots chewed to pulp, and grave
enough Master Jack looked that time.
I only wish his belongings had suffered
oftener; but unluckily he took precious
good care to keep them out of the way.
Jack and l were poor enough, but we
had rich relations. Jack had an uncle,
Mr.. Philip Phelps, and ! an aunt, Clarice
Vaughan, both of whom had declared
their intention of leaving us their re-
spective heirs. Aunt Clarice was
childless widow, and Uncle Philip a
bachelor. Both of them were peculiar
in their way, and full of whims and
''fads." We had never been able to en-.
terrain them hitherto, but as soon as we
were settled in OUT own house each of
them had promised us visit. 1t was
time for Uncle Philips arrival soon az
ter Jack brought home that wretched
dog. Uncle Philip had always seemed
very fond of me, and I resolved to ap-
peal to him privately to induce Jack
to Danish the horrid thing from the
house. t-,A~s1 ,... - 0..ta
Uncle Philip was stout and rubicund,
with a bald,pink head fringed with white
hair, and laughing blue eye-two of
them, in fact .Unluckily for my private
plans, he took most kindly to Hero from
the first; and as watched the softening
Of his eye over the pups clumsy gam
bols, realized that any attempt to in.
fuence him as l desired would be utterly
in vain. We were all collected in the
back parlor on the night of his arrival,
he sitting in a large easy-chair in the
window. He was just giving US a
, graphic description of recent visit tc
New Mexico, when he started, and clap
ped his hand to his head, with sudden
ejaculation.
4 IL thought you told me you had NJ
d mosquitoes here" he said with puzzlee
air. -
: Neither had we, as Jack and I botf
+ assured him, and after a moment h
a took up the thread of his narrative
Crack! another slap at his bald head
" and another break in his tale. Crack
pr crack crack! beg. ...-A -.,t r + e
% "What do you mean by denying
mosquitoes?" he cried, Indignantly. "
k know that mosquitoes and malaria or
,. two things that the inhabitants of
a swamp will never confess to-; but
. thought that you two were above sucl
y weaknesses" 5.as ~
Our earnest "But, indeed, dear IN
70 Gle" was suddenly interrupted by q sud
= den futter of wings, and q do,1che {
10 cold water exactly on the center of Ur
.. Gle Philips head. Jack sprang to hi
feet. q 't'
"It's those beastly birds, Madge,"h
T.. said. "They've been chucking the
10 seeds at Uncle Philip, and now they'1
as finished up with shower-bath. Takin
: their bathin their drinking-cup, too, IL
" little brutes! It's too bad, 1 vow!"
Uncle Philip was silent, but his fac
y Is he glared at the cage overhead, W
u 4 study. I apologized, eagerly, abjectl
and, ! hoped, to some purpose. Th'
ar We adjourned to the front parlor, Al
lie finished the evening quietly. q "a <
is Uncle Philip was up bright and ear
at next morning. I was surprised to I'll
a him in the dining-room when we
We down, before the bell rang, to see tn
re the table was properly set. Hero "
,e, beside him, blinking up with his gre
stupid eyes, one big paw laid upon U
lie Gle Phil p's knee, and his red tong
M lolling out idiotically. Uncle Phi
10, created me affectionately, though,
nd fancied, with rather an air Of constrai
- Did you sleep we'll, Uncle Philip
zen I asked. .rr
is Uncle Philip hesitated.
BILE "It was quiet enough most OF
;elf night" he said, "but | was somewl
I'M disturbed toward morning.
vas "Not used to the city noises" l aske
ing but Jack, who had come in behind Il
laughed.
nly "Nonsense, Madge!" he said. "Y
md forget that Uncle Philip lives in Chicai
u'll which is not exactly country. 1twas
yer those birds of yours again. Un
Philip 8 room is directly over my stu
ITO and the things tuned up at daylight,
lex usual. Nobody could sleep in sue
COMPOUNDED racket. Now confess, Tn
Il Philip, was not that the troublel' q
low "Why, Jack!" said, hal cryi
lut- "It is too bad of you. The little d
ard lings couldn't disturb anybody with Il
out singing, and you know there is not
hat other window in the house where 4
red can hang. Uncle Philips is the Q
., / other east room, and they must have
the morning sum-"
lor, "Oh, pray don't disturb your arrsu
,nly ments on my account" said VI
Philip, rather grimly. "No doat
10y, shall get used tot in the course OF tim
laca Just here Hero made diversion