The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-13

other day, out in Colorado2 Why, in
the time of drought their fleeces get
full of dust; then the wind blows the
grass seeds into tho wool, and when
the rain comes tho seeds sprout, and
after while the sheep strut around
with the green grass growing Oh their
backs"
All heads turned to look at Jessy.
No one spoke. But after long silence
Dame Thumb said:
your"
81 declare I read it,n said Jessy,
twinkling her eyes at Deb.
"She always was Il master hand to
joke" said Grandma Bixby. II saw
her born, and her mother and her
grandmother.
The Wool-picking went on so vigo-
rously that by dinner-time it was more
than half done. After dinner Deb in
sisted that the widow join the cheerful
company, and leave her to do the clear
ing up, while Jessy, declaring herself 80
| tired that she must take a incoming, ,"
went down to the spring to rest under
| the shade Of the trees. Deb bustled
around, rattling the dishes, and listen
Ing to the old ladies' chirp in the next
room.
''Them Things is such nice folks, e"
said Dame Thumb.
"Well, when all's SAID and done
they've got the curiousest name in the
world" sighed the Widow Manly.
Don't you know how that came
about?" asked Grandma BiXby.
II did know, but it's kind Of slipped
my mind, owing TO SO much trouble. :"
"Why, the gIeat-grandfather o. these
young Things, he was named Blizzard.
And he had sight o. trouble all on
account Of his name. DO what he
would, the boys would call him Buz-
zard an flap their arms like wings
when he came around, and vex him
real rough. So he went to the legisla-
ture prayin' for his name to be changed.
All right says the legislature, what
name1l you haye2'. oh! anything ,
says he, 'anything.' "That'n do says
the Judge. Write that name down, ,
he says to the clerk-'Anythng.'
"Old Blizzard, he was SO struck Of a
heap that he couldn't say word.
And so in the snappin' of a birds eye,
he was written down by the name of
Anything. The nex' gineration they
| dropped the Any, but Things they are
to this day."
"An' Things they will remain" SOL
emnly said the old lady with the
rheumatism, "tlll the last day, when
they'll he called up to the proper name
o. Bizzard."
"Well, Thing is a good name," said
Dame Thumb. cts 80 handy like;
an forget it you can't"
Debby in the next room felt her
n hl1, Nl,n ofo
"I'll go down to the spring and wash
ing her sunbonnet, she walked off fam
ming herself with her apron.
The spring WAS shaded by willows,
and under one Of them Jessy lay asleep.
Her crutch had fallen by her side, one
arm was rounded Under her head, the
other, half bare, was flung out on the
grass.
II will not wake her," thought Deb;
poor childl how tired and warm she
looksl'
But at this instant Deb's eyes grew
wide with horror. Within q foot of
Jessy's bare arm was young adder.
It's head, spreading out little, was
reared to strike; white foam was at It's
mouth. How Deb did it she never
knew, but the next second she had
struck wildly at that evil head with the
rOlllng-pin, and was crying
"Wake! Jessyl Wakel"
Jessy did wake, and to scene that
she never forgot. Deb had not dared
to raise the rolling-pin to strike again;
but pressed upon it with the energy Of
despair, fastening the reptile to the
earth, though it squirmed and hssed,
| and twisted itself round tho brave girls
wrist.
"Get to the house, Jessy, as fast as
you can, and bring knife.''
She hobbled off, and i'll a time to be
counted by seconds, was back again
with the whole party. The four old
ladies and Deb's mother were unnerved.
But Widow Manly, for once in her life
! rising to the occasion, cut off the adder's
head III a mastery manner, just below
where Deb held it down with the roll
ing-pin.
They are used to snakes in this
broad, beautiful West of ours, 80 no
one tainted. Not great deal was
said: But Dame Thumb patted Jessy
on the head, with, h,-''You had an es-
cape, honey. That was a powerful
piZen snake.''
81 know it," said the girl, with u
quick shudder.
The wool-plcking went on; but Jessy
| clung to Dob, and did not do much
more. AS the sun went down and the
party broke up, she said, eff it hadn't
been for you, Dolby, Dame Thumb
and the rest would have dressed me
for the grave by this time; and 50
Hiram would afound me when he got
home"
''I'm glad I happened to have the
rollin' '-pin," said Deb, practically.
Through the winter that followed, it
was observed that young Mr.. Things
horse stopped with tolerable regularity
at the Hornish gate; and there is a
rumor that Deb will wear her white
dress early in the spring OH very i'm
portant occasion. Certainly tho old
farm house has been painted and
papered, and Dame Thumb says,
"Nothin' less than a weddin' will jes-
| tify Hiram Thing in such foolish
spendin' Of his wheat money!
"A poar orchard in Thompson
county, Ca, was sold five years ago for
$3.50. 1t was next sold for 81, 800, the
$3.50 having been recovered from cut
tings III the meantime. A month after
ward S2SOO Waa fernd for If and no,u