The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-08-07
Hide and Seek.

OF all the good old games of child.
hood give me Hide and Seek in
grandpa's old barn. with the rain pat
terlng down outside and all nice and
dry inside. In dry weather we boys
and girls used to play it around the
house and sheds. Some one would be-
gin to count, Monkey, monkey, bottle
OF beer. How many monkeys are
there herep One, two, three! Out
goes he'" until all but one were
counted out. The one left would shu,
his eyes, lean up against a shed OF
post and begin to count n hundred.
The whole crowd would then scatter
like scared sheep and hide. After
counting one hundred the seeker
would remark-''A bushel of wheat.
A bushel of rye-All who amt ready
holler l." And then he would poke
around as near the goal as possible,
and look in rat holes, behind sheds,
fences and bushes, and walk on his
toes and twist his mouth every time
he gave a squint.
One day we boys and girls were
playing, and l was looking Cor a new
place to hide in. | found it. An old,
blue rain barrel, full of water a month
old and with an odor about ten pounds
to the square inch, stood at the corner
of the mouse. A bright idea struck me
and in half q minute l had all my
clothes of and was standing up to my
chin in rain water and wigglers.
After dropping my pants, hat and
waist outside, [ carefully pulled the
cover V my head. The water be-
gan to smell out loud and the wieelors
walked up. | wanted fresh air. but
the girl was now wandering around
near me, seeking whom she might spy.
After awhile all the Others were
caught. Then they all looked for me
q few moments, but gave me up and
yelled Come in free" Ididn't come.
Then they yelled-..Oh. We needn't be
afraid! Wen let ye in free!!" l
politely, but silently, declined the in
vitatlon because all were standing
within ten feet of my lair. I wasn't
dressed for a party anyway-wigglers
and rain water didn't suit me and the
barrel didn't fit. 1t was too big.
Then all began tolook for me again.
In n few moments n boy came back
and got up on the barrel and sat down
to rest. l took Il mouthful of wigglers
as | lodged. Then he noticed my
clothes behind the barrel, jumped
down, picked them up, carried them
to the goal, then hung them on a PEG.
and said lone, two, three for Harry!''
Then he sat down and laughed us If
his heart would break. l didn't smile
didn't see ANYTHING funny. Then
he came back and sat on me again
and said, keep dark, l won't tell on
yer!"
Il want to come out.
well, why don't We come out thenP"
Please get my pants for nue.. Say,
get off the barrel, it smells bad in
here!!''
Get yer pants y%erself. Smells bad.
does it? He, he! Kinder wet in there.
amt it? What kind of dress have yer
got IN. Smother Hubbard, amt it?''
Then l was mad and pushed up the
lid with all my might, upset my tor.
mentor and climbed out, just as the
boys and girls came around the house.
My dander was up and / was mad
as a hornet. l SPIT out cuss words
and wigglers. The girls yelled and
exeunted. ! stood my ground, shook
Oft rain water, bad smell and wigglers
and wanted to fight the whole crowd.
The boys yelled aud laughed and told
me to wipe off my chin and pull down
my vest. This last remark was GER
tainly a slur!l went and took down
my clothes, got inside and then said,
Zone, two, threefor me! !"
During the next two weeks / had to
lick five boys for calling me .'Nig-
glers" and 'Oid Rain Water" and
the girls would smile and look innocent
when | came around. The next tim,
| hide in a barrel of ancient rain wa
ter, will first spill it, aud then hide
in q box.-X. HanaiA, IN Reck's Sun.