Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-12-03

remarked the proud owner, as we
climbed awkardly over the bars.
They are more profitable than cat
tie, because they increase SO rapidly
and mature so quickly. The increase
is quite wonderful The gentleman of
whom bought these says"
"Yaw. yaw-he saw Won lie inter-
ruptcd the stolid Conrad. ''lle sell YOU
forty ram. he keep dc eve. Increase,
! Neinl
CT ssy was silent for two minutes.
Then she said:
"A beautiful, sensitive plant grows
wild here; it IS brar; perhaps we can
find one here"
IL shall be delighted" | replied,
family. When we reached the yard
fence, AL cried in amaZement.
where's the barn?' And sure as
am telling ii, that vicious little mule
had kicked it down.
1t was what they call a kansas
barn. made of poles. with a straw
roof, tied down, to keep it from blow
ing of. and the beast was eating the
roof When Conrad went up to see
about it, he was sent flying heels over
head and laughed; he never forgave
me. either.
Ii raned that afternoon. and we
helped Clissy cut carpet-rags for n
kitchen carpet. We were afraid to 90
down cellar on account of the enor-
nous rats. so we stood in the stairway
and passed milk and meat to and from
the invinciblc Conrad. He set the three
gaping steel traps, and we retired the
second night in the blissful fancy that
the rats would soon BE- vanquished. To-
ward morning we were awakened by
an oder that would have made those
stenches of the plague-stricken Egyp-
tians seem a perfume by contrast.
Poor Clissy sat up and gasped. Al be-
can to cry, a usual. and | wished that
were a man long enough to swear.
Il would be two hour, before Conrad
came TO investigate, and we should all
die in that time ! knew.
What could it be- Several things
were suggested. but the solution was
not satisfactory until Al spranE up from
her cot eve only had one beI) and
screamed "Oh. | know; It's natural
gas. Your bored well has struck it.
We shall light the town aud make our
fortunes. Hurrah for old ClisSy, Now
YOU must do the handsome by Us. |
will take diamond necklace for my
wedding-present and YOU can build n
house in town and wei live with YOU.
1t seemed 50 probable that even
Clissy forgot her usual caution and
planned a substantial barn on the pos
sibility. We were sure that we heard
"A rat dragging the trap down cellar.
and we ventured to the head OF the
.tf, ID. Il
down. The natural gas. the supply OF
which was apparently unlimited.
seemed to emanate from the cellar,
and was 50 stifll NJ that we could not
investigate long an a time.
Girls. said Al. 1t $ not rat. but
the dearest little black and white crca-
turc that YOU ever saw. It's caught by
the foot Where's your book OF natur-
al history May be | can tell what it
IS"
Il take him in Won bag una gill
him. said The manly tones of Conrad,
coming up just then.
Il schmell him half-milc away. Mem
Colt, how ever dakes him out Won
dot?'
Girls, said Cli,sy. from the other
end of the porch, lit, the most beau-
tful sunrise | ever saw Only see the
crimson
Perhaps YOU won't believe me, but
we didn't ret that odor out of the
house for three months or out of our
| clothes either. although we almost
/ bought out the Lubin's extracts from
/ the sparta drugstore.
The day that followed was the most
/ hcart-rending OF all. We couldn't eat,
/ and were 50 faint that we could scarce
/ " work We resolved that no chance
visitor should be admitted to the house
upon pain of death 10 the offender.
! was learning 10 make shortcake
when a scream from a made me loOk
up.
Somebody IS coming. What shall
we do? Go and meet him, CHS. and
keep him from the house.
ties only tramp, and | think he
is drunk, too. I'd better call Conrad.
I'm afraid of a drunken man. She
walked timidly to the end of the porch
and met the intruder.
Il BEG your pardon. but as | was
crossing your field in my walk, one of
your rams assaulted me, and made me
SO unpresentable, that | must ask for
some soap and water and aneedle and
thread. am clergyman from the
village, madame.
"Certa MY, said Clissy." Il am
very sorry that anything so serious
should have happened to You upon my
place, and she showed him into the
sitting room and gave him the necessary
articles. He staggered as he walked.
and | saw that the blood was dripping
from his hair. He was hurt more
seriously than he would confess. When
he had been there an hour we thought
we had better peek, and we did.
He had got TO the lounge and fallen
upon it. The blood from his head was
dropping upon the floor, and his face
was rs pale n death. We forgot AL
about our modification at our pl ght,
and flew about in great distress. CHS
sy is 50 motherly and knows SO much
about cveryt thing that she soon brought
him around; bandaged his cut and rub
bed arnica upon his bruises. He was
SO modest and pleasant and SO patient
i knew he waS suffering dreadfully-