The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-19

your sheep were like some 1 read of the
other day. out in Colorado? Why, in
the time of drought their feeces get full
of dust; then the wind blows the grass
seeds into the wool, and when the rain
comes the seeds sprout, and after
awhile the sheep strut around with the
green grass growing on their backs"
All heads turned to look at Jessy.
No one spoke. But after long silence
Dame Thumb said:
"Jessy Thing, you're jokin'. amt
you?"
II declare / read it." said Jessy.
twinkling her eyes at Deb.
''She always was a master-hand to
joke" said Grandma Bixby. 81 saw
her born. and her mother and her grand.
MOTHER
The wool-picking went on SO vigor.
ously 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
SO tired that she must take incoming .
went down to the spring to rest under
the shade of the trees. Deb bustleo
around rafting the dishes and listening
to the old ladies' chirp in the mex
room.
Them Things is such nice folks
said Dame Thumb.
swell, when all's SAID an 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.
81 did know, but it's kind of slipped
my mind, OWN to so much trouble"
"Why. the great-grandfather of thest
young Things, he was named Blizzard,
And he had sight o. trouble all or
account of his name. Do what he
would, the boys would call him Buzz.
zard an flap their arms like wings wher
he came around, an; vex him rea
rough. So he went to the Legislature
prayin' for his name to be changed
All right, says the Legislature, 'wha
name'll you have?' oh! anything,
says he, anything 'That'll do say:
the Judge. Write that name down,
he says to the clerk Anything
"Old Blizzard, he was so struck of 8
heap that he couldn't say word. Anc
so IN the swapping of birds eye, he
was written down by the name of Any
thing. The mex generation they dropped
the Any, but Things they are TO this
day."
AN Things they will remain" sol
EMMY said the old lady with the rheu
matism, "till the last day, when they'll
be called up by their proper name O.
Blizzard"
..Well. Thing is a good name" sale
Dame Thumb. ..It's so handy like; an
forget it you can't"
There's good many girls in the
country would be glad to take it, sale
the widow.
Debby in the next room felt hel
cheeks Eurn. The stove was so hot!
"fll 90 down 10 the spring and wash
the rolling-pin. SIC called; and catch.
ing her sun-bonnet, she walked off fan.
ming herself with her apron.
The Suing 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.
Il will not wake her." thought Deb;
''poor child! how tired and warm she
looksr'
But at this instant Deb's eyes grew
vide with horror. Within a foot OF
Jessy's bare arm was young adder.
Its head, spreading out little, was
reared to strike; white foam was at it:
How Deb did it she never
knew. but the next second she had
struck wildly ut that evil head with the
and was CRYING:
wake! Jessy! waker'
Jessy did wake, and to a scene that
she never forgot. Deb had not dared tc
raise the rolling-pin to strike again; but
pressed upon it with the energy OF
despair. fastening the reptile to earth,
though it squirmed, and Kissed, and
twisted itself round the brave girls
wrist.
'.Get to the house. Jessy, as fast As
you can, and bring a knife"
She hobbled off, and in time to be
by seconds, was back again
with the whole party. The four old
ladies' ard Deb's mother were unnerved
But the Widow Manly. for once in her
life rising to the occasion, cut off the
ldder's head in a mastery manner,
Just below where Deb held it down with
he rolling-pin.
They are used to snakes in this
broad, beautiful West of ours, so no one
tainted. Not a great deal was said.
But Dame Thumb patted Jessy on the
head, with: "You had an escape,
honey. That was a powerful pizsn
snake"
81 know it," said the girl, with
quick shudder
The wool-picking went on; but Jes,y
lung to Deb, and did not do muih
more. As the sun went down and the
party broke up she said: If it hadn't
been for you, Debby, Dame Thumb and
he rest would have dressed me for the
grave by this time; and so Hiram would
! found me when he got home"
I'm glad l happened to have the
,ollin' -pin," said Deb. practically.
Through the winter that followed, il
vas observed that young Mr.. Things
horse stopped with tolerable regularity
It the Hornish gate; and there is a
'umor that Deb will wear her white
lress early in the spring on very i'm
,ortant occasion. Certainly the old
has been painted and
,apered, and Dame Thumb SAYS:
'Nothin' less than weddin' will testify
Hiram Thing in such foolish spendin'
# his wheat-money. "-Shert0ood Bon
ler, in Touth's Companion.
Propagating the Apple.
T'ha fornSanf nanfhod Of ,,ro,,ana TIM,