The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-05-22
A ROD OF IRON.

and BlufTkin's daughter, this story
would never have been written. Bluff
kins loved his dog enthusiastically; he
loved his daughter moderately
B.un'kins was what is usually desig-
mated as "a tough case There was
nothing soft or winning, or childlike
about B.uhEins. He was not of lofty
stature, but like the "holy city of Je-
rusaom, he was compactly built togeth-
er."
Nobody ever contradicted Bluifkins-
they didn't dream of such thing. You
wouldn't yourself.
Blufkins dwelt in an old tumble
down house on the outskirts of a New
England town. He was rich, though
he didn't look tit wasn't his STYLE
His raiment was exceedingly shabby;
his hair was like bufdlo-robe that
had brayed the "battle and the
breeze shaggy and careworn. His
nose was crimson as q summer sunset
while his voice scared children, and
made BIG people wish that they were
safe home in bed.
Blufkins was the last man TO have
pretty daughter, but he had one. all
the same, Her name was Bertha, and
she was the admiration of whole
tribe Of young men who dwclt in the
region round abou; Bluhkin's.
Not that they ever dared to say So
no, indeed! Il would have been as
much as their lives were worth to do
more than raise their eyes TO her fair
young face Is she entered the sacred
portals Of the village church, which
she attended alone, for B.uTkins was
not church-going man BY s great
deal,
As to coming within the Jurisdiction
of Bluf'kins's stick and B,uAkins's dog,
they would not DO that if the Lord
spared them their sober senses.
So Bertha wasted her sweetness on
the desert air, and was bullied and hec-
tored from morning tin night, not only
by the dog and BlUtl'kins, but also by
Blufkins's right-hand man Hodges
by name-a seaman who had, in the
dusty annals Of the past, deserted from
the English navy.
Rum0rs were current through the
village that if ever the British Navy
laid hands Oh Hodges, he would be
hunted, and branded, and played the
dickens with generally; for he had III
suited the British lion by walking off
so uncercmoniously and the British
lion revenge would be a terrible one.
BE was made on the same model as
Huntington was Hodges, and hi.
face looked like the style OF cheese
known as the DUtchmau head, if that
cheese had been left around Till it had
been gnawed by the rats.
He was not fresh, or elegant OF
temptlng-no way You could fix him.
Ii you dressed him in ancient armor,
he would be the same old sixpence;
and If you pu, black velvet doublet
slashed with old-gold on him, he would
not look bit better.
As thing of beauty, Hodges was a
dead failure.
When the dog, whose name was Box
er, and BluflGins himself, got tired of
bullying Bertha, Hodges Clipped in
and bullied her himself
She had handmade Of IliJcrnan ex-
traction, and if it had not been for
Biddy, Bertha would certainly have
given up the ghost
Biddy was a highly original speci-
men, red haired and buXom, full Of
wit, and given to scathing repartce.
She quarreled with Hodges on an ay-
erage seventeen times day, and always
came off victorious, leaving Hodges
worn and dismantled by the fray.
dad luck to your sowl, YOU worthless
desertin' thief Of the world, it's little
I'd trouble myself with you only for
your impudence to Miss Bertha, the
swate crature! Sure anybody else would
glorlfy the saints to have such dauch-
ter only an ovid dirty miser like your
beautiful masther The devil cent
does he give her to dress herself like
other ladies, and him rowling in riches.
May the devil sweep him!'
This was the style of conversation
that went on between Biddy and
Hodges, which was duly reported by
that faithful henchman to his august
master.
Bluifkins, when he next encountered
the girl, would formally disband he
from his service amid great now q
scriptural language, which action O.
his part produced not the slightest ei
feet on Biddy, who continued on
the same even tenor of her way, n
marking to her young mistress
"Arrah, why should annoy mese
wild them crazy devilsP Sure the
ought to be accommodated wild
candle and bell. The horrible owl
haythens! Never foot do they pit
in church, or do anything that's d.
cent Oh, sure its mighty he
corner that's getting ready for the pal
Hush, Biddy! You must not spea
IN that way of my father. He woul
not be so disagreeable if it were no
Tor that horrid brandy and Hodge.
think | remember that he was ono
very different. On dear, how unhapp
l am! i wish it was not sin TO pra'
for death!n
death, is it, Miss Bertha, me iewe
Sure its weddings, not wakes. vor
sweet mind should be running on, opl
for them worthless wretches dow
stairs. Oh, they are the useless devi
God help themr'
Bertha's life had flowed on like
turbulent stream till she reached HI