The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-17
The Old Rain Maker

We have been amused at the child who,
boasting that he could tell the time Of day by
his toy watch, was careful to look at the clock
pretended handkerchief of wild Africa is
only child of larger growth The explorer,
Baker, who discovered the Great Albert lake.
which is the source of the Nile, says that an
old rain maker among the Obbos in the interi-
or of Africa came to him one day very angry
and excited. His name was Katchiba. His
people, he declared, were very bad. They
had been making a great noise and finding
fault with him because he had not supplied
them with few showers, as they wanted
to SOW their crops of tullaboon. There
had been no rain for about a fortnight
WELL" I replied, "you are the rain-maker;
why don't you give your people rain?"
"Give my people rain!" said Katchiba. 81
give them rain if hey give me goats! You
don't know my people. If am fool enough
goats, they would let me starve. No, no; let
them wait If they don't bring me supplies of
corn, goats, fowls, yams, merissa, and all that
require, not one drop of rain shall ever fall
again in Obbo! Impudent brutes are my peo-
pie! Do you know they have threatened to
kill me unless bring the rain? They shan't
have drop! will wither the crops, and
bring plague upon their docks! I'll teach
these rascals to insult mel"
With all this buster, saw that the old chief
was in great dilemma, and that he would
give anything for shower, but that he did
not know how to get out of the scrape 1t was
a common freak Of the tribes to sacrifice their
rain maker, should he be unsuccessful He
suddenly altered his tone and asked
''Have yon any rain in your country"
Ireplied that we had, every now and then.
GLOW do you bring it? Are you rain
maker?"
told him that no one believed in rain-makers
in our country but that we understood how to
bottle lightning (meaning electricity.
81 don't keep miE3 in bottles, but | have a
house full of thunder and lightning" he most
coolly replied; "but if you can bottle light
ming, you must understand rain
making What do you think of the weather
to-day?''
Immediately saw the drift of the cunning
old Katchiba. He wanted professional ad-
vice. replied that he must know all about
it, as he was a regular rain-maker.
COZ course do, )" he answered, 'but want
to know what you think Of it. "
''Well;" said, II don't think we shall have
any steady rain, but 1 think we may have a
heavy shower in about four days" 1 said
this as 1 had observed feecy clouds gathering
daily in the afternoon.
"just my opinion" said Katchiba, delighted
@In four or perhaps five days intend to give
them just one shower; yes, I'll just step down
to them now and tell the rascals that if they
will bring me some goats by this evening, and
some corn tomorrow morning, ! will give
them in four or five days just one shower"
To give effect to this declaration he gave
several toots upon his magic whistle
"Do you use whistles in your country" in
quired Katchiba.
only replied by giving so shrill and deaf
ening whistle on my fingers that Katchiba
stopped his ears and relapsing into smile of
admiration, he took glance at the sky from
the doorway to see if any effect had been pro-
duced
whistle again." he said; and once more I
performed like the whistle of locomotive.
"That will do; we shall have it," said the
cunning old cheat and proud to have so
knowingly obtained "counsers opinion" on his
case, he toddled off to his impatient subjects.