Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-06-10

jured up some contrivance that he
puts on his feet and hands and goes
prancing through the woods sometimes
on all tours and then upright. elbow
ing that everlasting conch shell of his
that he showed US last summer; pretty
good, amt it ~ Wedeferred our visit
and after congratulating ourselves
that the golden opportunity for retri-
button had come held a council and
waited.
A few days afterwards in the fore
noon we had a nice little snow and
after dinner it cleared up and was
pleasant and sunny. AS soon as it
was dark Tom and / armed with the
AK and buck-saw started out. Wesoon
arrived at the creek heretofore men
toned and hiding ourselves in clump
of cedars near by, waited for the mon
ster. The time dragged very slowly
with us, but about 10 o'clock as near
as we could Judge we heard his cabin
door opened and shut, and then we
could see him coming down towards
us with his old tin lantern on his arm.
He came to the brook, hung his Ian
tern on q sapling and then went to an
old hollow tree that stood near.
"Going for his rig" whispered Tom.
Sure enough he came back with his
arms full, and sitting down on the
foot log began strapping his track
makers on his feet. The rays of the
lantern shone full in his face and |
shall never, forget the radiant look
that beamed on his good natured
countenance. He would whistle, then
| laugh, then talk to himself. ''Got to
amuse Honey" he muttered, "got to
learn Bee Tree a lesson in natural
history" then he would laugh. Hav-
! ing secured himself to suit he clapped
on his hand shoes and started off on
all tours as nimble as calf Soon we
heard the roaring of his shell.
"Now for it, )" said Tom, and out we
came from our hiding place for work.
The brook | have referred to was one
of those you so frequently see in a
heavy timbered country, fed by springs
of clear cold running water, but scarce
! ~ ever freezing over. 1t was eight or
ten feet wide and two OF three feet
deep The footlog was the bridge 1t
only took Tom and | a few moments
to saw the log near enough in two so
that we knew Uncle Jake's weight
would finish it. Having done this and
removed all traces of our work, we
again retreated to our ambush In
the meanwhile long and hideous peals
came from Uncle Jake's shell.
"Let him blow" said Tom.
''Scaring the little boys" I added.
In about an hour weheard him com
/ Il "a hi To Cd 4 lo L.
and seemed to be out of breath; but
seating himself on one end began wip-
ing his face. Having got his wind, he
unstrapped one of his track-makers
and tossed it over the brook; then he
breathed awhile and unstrapped the
other and tossed it over. Tom and |
held our breath with excitement. He
then threw his hand shoes over, and
evidently wanting to get a place where
he could dangle his legs, he showed
himself out in the middle of the log.
The next second, crack went the bridge.
"Jewhilikens "roared Uncle Jake, and
then we heard a splash. Not another
word escaped him. We saw him crawl
ing up the bank. He took his lantern
from the sapling and blew it out, and
disappeared in the darkness A mo-
ment after we heard his cabin door
shut.
A few days afterwards we paid him
a visit. He received us cordially, but
apparently was on his guard and a
little uneasy. We chatted of various
things, but at last Tom said: "Uncle
Jake, know what makes that animal
howl So"
"What ?" he replied,
at wants the little boys to get up
and give him some honey" said Tom
Perhaps"
II know where he goes day times /
added.
"Where? ?"
Cup a bee tree" [ replied
Perhaps" he replied, but never
cracked a smile.
Il know what makes him sometimes
walk upright, said Tom
"Why ?"
$50 he can go a round square, !"
laughed Tom.
Boys said Uncle Jake, laughing,
kings Elk" Pm coming down the
pole; and in fact l am down now. You
are too good fellows to kick me when
| am down. Besides, havereformed.
Don't you know that night when 1
crawled out of that creek Imade a. sol
emn vow to reform, and wished [ had
made it before [ had fell in. [ guess
you boys are even with me and let us
cry quits. [ really like you anyway.
But when you get to putting cold
water on my fun it amt so funny"
We had a good laugh and were ever, SO
good friends, but Uncle Jake, true to
his word, never put any more practi-
cal Jokes. ..a.-s