Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-02
THE CHICKEN THIEF.
Fest to Make Friends With the Dog
Before beginning work.

AhtARtC A''Ss iiiHaiifa ~ VIA
It is dark night in June, asserts the
Detroit Free Press. The moon, law, or
perhaps tired from having done double
duty the night before, mas gone behind a
cloud of portentous thickness and given
up the world to shadows weird aud IAN
Ciful.
Back from the gloomy wood Squire
Cbapman's farm house looms up in gloom
like some Vagrant gnOst out on a holiday
and wondering whittier it shall 20. All
ia silent there, for it is near the hour
when graveyards yawn.
In the mule lot four sturdy animals
sleep with soothing dreams of unlimited
fodder and but very little work. Occa-
sionally their 0pulent ears move as they
flop away some unpleasant thought that
glides across the wayering vista of their
dreams.
In the cow-pen bakers dozen of sleek
COWS doze, mechanically turning over
and over the Cuds In moments Of half
wakefulness.
In a large, airy room, built especially
for their comfort and delectatiOn, 100
fowls drOop heavily on the TOOsts.
In a field to the left score Of hogs
grunt and snore in unison.
The family dog alone seems wakeful
and lOpes laZilv around the house or
stops to kick yIciously at the flea that dis
dams to so to sleep.
An else is wrapped in slumber. Even
the belated rooster who, led by his epicu-
rean taste for dainties, found himself too
far from home to make II before his motel
was closed and is now rOosting on the
fence near by-be, too, is hushed in calm
and sOul-satisfying repOse.
Way off IN the rear OF the plantation
the door Of one Of the dingY cabins opens
and a dark figure slOuches out, 1t Is that
OF q man black OF face and short Of
stature, staid, grave face, fringed with
gray wool all around.
He gldes cautiously along the fields
elm biBg fence after fence, hugRing closely
to them as be goes. NOW ne comes 20 the
last fence, tbat which iuclOses the home
lot. He cautiously opens the gate and
passes in. Now he cTOuehss behind a
huge china berry tree and peers around
through the darkness.
lie sees a shadow coming; it is the dog,
who mas scented MIN out, and now reeoR-
Milling him as an old acquaintance, fol-
lows his every movement with vague
and languId curiosity.
Approaching The hen-bOuse, the night
pr0Wler tries the door. AstrOng paddock
bars further progress. He tries every
side, the roof and all. There Is no weak
spot. AS be steps back 10 bitter dISap-
pointment be hears a subdued onuckle 60
his left, and, turning in half alright, sees
the belated rooster perched upon the fence
gazing at him with half shut eyes.
A broad and comprehensive grin spreads
over bis face as ne muUers: "De Lawd
bless and sabe us, lux at dat nOwl Des
ba'f CT hour ago / was s-pTayin' an a
pravin' for chicken. | comes out here,
way black midnight, takes err long walk
all erlOue by my ownesef, fms de do
lock, no place ter get IN, an am gwine
back home dserpinted Ike, turn Ground.
an dere's dat big red rooster dos starin'
me in de face. ! knowed ia ssrb some
fin. De Lawd sabe us, an yet some
folkses say pra'n amt gwine ter be an
swered."
With a9uick motion be grasps the I'M
lucky fowl, forces its head under its
wing, places it under mis- coat, and Off he
goes.
The dog, having seen this operation sat
isfactorily performed, ways his tail in
friendly appreciation and saunters leis-
ureiy toward the house