The Arizona champion., 1884-02-23
REQUESTING CHICKEN STEALING.

of dark forms vending their silent way down street in Ioboken. They moved with an air of grim determina- ton that could only have beon born of a high purpose. Onward in silence they stealthily advanced, until the dim light of the stars revealed to their eager eyes signboard bearing the mystic legend; "Shinbones Smith, artist white washer"
 "1's yer's de shanty, hain't it?" re- marked Pete Maguff.
 "Yes, dis yer's de place." answered Jefferson Gilderoy.
 Peter then advanced and delivered two distinct raps upon the door. They were answered from the inside, and then the glistening eyes of Mir. Shin- bones Smith appeared.
 "Come in yer, all yo' chumps," said he.
 The company having assembled around a small red-hot cylinder stove, Mir, Smith took the chair and said;
 "Breddern, we heb met hyer fur a sacred and solem purpose. De glad Christmas time am gittin close by and de yards ob de white folks will be stocked wid prime turkeys"
 Mir. Smith paused and looked about to observe the effect of this insidious re- mark. A general rolling of white eyes and smacking of dusky lips assured him that his words had not been in vain. He continued thus:
 "We heb, darfur, dissembled ter form a society fu' de prevention of stealth chickens. De constitution will be in one verse, as follows: We de on- dersigned do hyarby, each an ebery mudder's son ob us, swar by Aunt Chloe's gum shoes dat on an after dis date ontil de second day ob January eighty-foah, we will not steal chickens. y
 Again Mir. Smith paused and looked around for appreciation. He was greeted by a dubious shaking of heads, and Peter Maguff, having unfolded his knotty limbs, arose and said;
 "Look hyar, Bredder Shinbones, hain't dis yer pusseedin' kinder on reg'lar?"
 Mir. Smith gazed upon the speaker with the air of king, and answered in a sarcastic tone;
 "Mistah Petah Maguff, yo' is toe fresh. You is so blamed green dat ei yo' was outu a field de cattle'd take yo' fur grass and chaw y'up. Listen hyar. now, ter de rest: 1t bein' onderstud dat dis yer agreement does not include turkey or goose. "
 "Hh-h-h-h-h-h" was the unanimous response from the assembly.
 "I reckon" remarked Jefferson Gild- eroy, "dat we mout aswell consider dat motion carried"
 "Hol' on," remarked the chairman "dar hain't no motion befoah de house yit."
 And Jefferson sat down, impressed by the parliamentary learning of Shin bones Smith. Another brother made the necessary motion, which was car ried, and the meeting closed with the utmost harmony. But when Pete Ma gulf had retired to the embrace of his silent couch, he was sore troubled.
 '"Whar's de use," he reflected, "ob furbiddin' de stealth ob chicken? Sup. posin' yo' is goin' ter hab comp'ny ter dinner; yo' want noah on de table den turkey. Dem dar odder fellers kin dc jis' what dey like, but dis hyar coon is goin' ter hab chicken with his turkey an goose, an don't yo' disremember dat, cully."
 On the following night the form of the triangular Peter might have been dis cerned moving softly through the neither gloom of Mir. Arstide Buce phalus' back yard. There was fowl house in the back yard, and in it were proud and pompous turkeys, broad ant waddlesome geese, and plump and pug nacious roosters, Peter moved with the air of settled purpose toward the window in the side of the house. Producing 6 glazier's glass-cutter, he carefully re moved the large pane of glass and thrus his arm in. The lock was easily found and in another moment Peter was sur rounded by the feathered tempters. He selected, with artistic judgment ia turkey, fine goose, and splendid rooster. Hastily stifing their noise he carried them outside and deposited them in his bag. In another momen he was out of the yard. But before ht had advanced a hundred feet, three ghostly forms arose from the earth anC confronted him. Peter dropped the bal and turned pale-as pale as he could The three specters pointed their bony fingers at him and advanced. Peters knees shook, his teeth chattered, anC he made a gibbering attempt at prayer The three ghosts were now immediately in front of him, and they stretched out their arms as if to embrace him. Peter uttered shrek and tried to run away but heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, and he heard voice, whicl he ought to have recognized, saying:
 "Look hyar, yo' chump; we am de society ter look arter ye'. What yo got in dat bag"
 It was Mir. Shinbones Smith. Peter partly recovering from his terror, said
 "Turkey."
 "What else?"
 "Goose."
 "What else ?"
 "Nawthin'."
 "Peter Mapuff. yo' is q liar an de