The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-10-08


'It's lucky none of the neighbors
happen to be going by" he thought, as
he walked out of Miss Keturah's door
yard, ignorant that at that very instant
Cornelius Jones, Jr., was sweeping the
horizon with spy-glass from his ia
theirs barn-window. "Well, it's plain
to be seen she's all ready to jump at the
chance" soliloquized Mr.. Lazier. 81
believe she would have made me pro-
posal herselfif I'd staid there five min
utes longer. It's lucky / got away when
/ did, for | should hate to tell her it was
on account of her looks. But it won't
do; she's too plain-favored. It's hard
on her, though; it's evident her mind
is sot on me- Howsomever, don't
know as Pm beholden to make such a
sacrifice of my feelings
He reached this conclusion and Mr.
Jones's barn-yard simultaneously. The
only visible occupant was bantam roos-
ter, which crowed valiantly at Mr.. La
Zier's approach, to whose over-wrought
Imagination he seemed to be saying
fKe-tu-u-rah ~ The farmer threw a
stick at the fowl, but, adroitly lodging
it, he reiterated, ''Ke-tu-u-rah ~
"I'll Keturah you ~ exclaimed aloud
the irate bachelor, selling a milking
stool. But barn-yards furnish footing
as treacherous as the polished floors of
palaces, and Mr.. LazieT found himself
on his knees in an emerald-hued pool,
while the rooster, perched upon the
gate, triumphantly proclaimed, "Ke-tu-
u-ra-ah ~
There was a sort of smothered explo-
sion somewhere overhead in the barn,
but Hezekiah was too busy with his own
meditations-which were not so pious as
his attitude-to heed any thing else.
81 swan" he eiaculated-which pc
culiar expression might have been sug-
gested by his aquatic adventure. He
was Fastening from the scene OF his
misfortune, but, as he turned the corner,
ran plump into Mr.. Jones, who ex-
claimed, "Hello, .Lazier come to see
her, eh?" Mr.. Lazier's intellect, never
over-robust, was becoming decidedly
confused. He stammered, 'Well, I've
just come from-that is, I've been to
see
"Ke-tu-u-rah !" added the bantam,
helping him out. Mr.. Lazier turned
very red, and looked first at the milk
ing-stool and then at the splashes on his
pants.
"Co-boss co-boss co-boss - called
Mr.. Jones, opening the gate which led
into the lane Presently griddle-cake-
colored Attorney made her appearance,
and walked solemnly toward the two
men.
Mr.. Lazier proceeded to punch her ribs
in a scientific manner.
"How many quarts does she give
now ?'' he inquired. ''Not much of
mixer, Judge. Attorneys never are,"
he added, with the scornful air of indif-
ference which becomes the experienced
buyer.
Mr.. Jones. Eight Quarts day, or you
may have her for nothing Then, you
know an Attorneys milk is half cream,
anyway; so if you want her for butter
making, she'll be worth more to you
than one that gives more that isn't so
rich. Why, we never put any carrots in
her butter in the winter-just as yellow
in January as June. Why, sir, her but
ter took the prize at the cattle show"
$50 Mrs. Selchow said, I" rejoined Mr.
Lazier, whose mind had slightly wan
dered.
"NIrs. Selchow!" repeated Mr.. Jones,
in some surprise, for he was conscious
that his last statement had been fabrica
ted for the occasion. ,"What does she
know about the cow?''
Concluded merit ,ceek.)