The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-03

ing to the old ladies' chirp in the next
room.
"Them Things is such nice folks"
said Dame Thumb.
swell, 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
about2" asked Grandma Bixby.
81 did know, but it's kind of slipped
my mind, owing to 30 much trouble"
"Why, the gIeat-grandfather o. these
young Things, he was named Blizzard.
And he had a sight o. trouble all on
account of his name. Do what he
would, the boys would call him Buz-
zard am 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
name'll you have2', 'Ohl anything
says he, anything "That'll do, says
the Judge. Write that name down.
he says to the clerk-'Anythlng.'
'Old Blizzard, he was so struck Of
heap that he couldn't say a word.
And so in the snappin' of 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.n
cam Things they will remain" SOL
emnly said the old lady with the
rheumatism, It'll the last day, when
they'll be called up to the proper name
o. Blizzard"
"Well, Thing is good name," said
Dame Thumb. "It's so handy like;
an forget it you can't"
Debby in the next room felt her
cheeks burn. The stove was SO hotl
"I'n go down to the spring and wash
the rolling-pin," she called, and catch
ing her sunbonnet, she walked off fan
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 nnder her head, the
other, half bare, was flung out on the
grass.
81 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 a foot of
Jessy's bare arm was young adder.
It's head, spreading out little, was
reared to strike; white foam was at its
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
"Wakel 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 hissed,
and twisted itself round the brave girl'i
wrist.
SECT to the house, Jessy, as fast as
you can, and bring knife"
She hobbled off, and in time to be
counted by seconds, was back agair
with the whole party. The four ole
,, ladies and Deb's mother were unnerved
! But Widow Manly, for once in her lif'
rising to the occasion, cut off the adder
head i'll mastery manner, just below
l where Deb held it down with the roll
ing-pin.
5 They are used to snakes in thi
broad, beautiful West of ours, so nj
. one tainted. Not great deal wa
said. But Dame Thumb patted Jess.
, on the head, with, h,-"you had an es
cape, honey. That was powerful
J pizen snake"
81 know it," said the girl, with ;
= quick shudder.
The wool-picking went on; but Jessy
clung to Deb, and did not do mucl
}, more. AS the sun VT mt down and th,
party broke up, she said, ''If it hadn'
d been for you, Debby, Dame Thuml
II and the rest would have dressed m
$ for the grave by this time; and $
d Hiram would abound me when he go
" home"
o ''I'm glad happened to have tn
!, rollin'-pin, +" said Deb, practically.
Q Through the winter that followed, /
# was observed that young Mr.. Thing
: horse stopped with tolerable regularit
6 at the Hornish gate; and there is
rumor that Deb will wear her whit
" dress early in the spring on very i'm
portant occasion. Certainly the oil
o farm house has been painted an
d papered, and Dame Thumb says
o "Nothin' less than weddin' will ies
tify Hiram Thing in such a FOOLS
l. spendin' of his wheat money"