Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1886-03-04
ennypacker's Egg "rrick
BY MARY X. DALLAB.

er admirer than Job Pennypacker
Job himself had dabbled in an anne uel
manner in leger |e'nsin, had made
quarters disappear at the cry, presto
Change !" could make six balls fly
about in the air with the ease Of an In
dian jlggler, and, even while boiling
about vanish, to b. found in the peck
cts of innocent bystanders. And Mr.
Whacker's mysterious performance
were viewed 10y him with tho sympa-
thizing pleasure of 4 brother artist.
The egg trick" which was. to be
brief, a seemingly inexplicable power
of taking 'ggs oIt Of nything, in any
number, and under any circumstances
particularly charmed him ; and seek
ing all audience with Mr. Wacker per
suaded him to teach him the wonder
full art, and soon found himself capa-
BILE of delighting and astonishing his
|
scqusintances. He took eggs out Of
his grandlathers hat and his mother s
work basket. accusing the postman OF
having brought him dozen in a letter
and prove it on the spot ; caused the
servant girl to give warning, by fish.
ing eggs out of her band box; fright
ened ignorant people, and puzzled
smart ones to his hearts content, and
once or twice played the old stock
trick OF the magician upon some mar
ket women by buying eggs of her
which he broke in her presence, TAX
ing from the shell, not yoIk, but a
golden eagle, and so setting her to
smashing her whole stock, believing
them to be the production Of the veri-
table hen who laid the golden egg.
But even wonderful cick loses its
charm when it has been played upon a
hundred times Therefore that the
time and money which he spent on the
acquisition of the egg trick might not
be wasted. Mr.. Pennypacker turned
his attention to the general public {:
and upon the occasion OF a long jour
ney, practiced it upon car conductors
aud fellow passengers to an astonlsh-
ing extent.
1t was upon Jersey railroad, not
far from the Hackensack station, that
he ut last came upon as tempting an
opportunity as had ever offered to him
Opp site hun 70! e an elderly woman
with IL basket fall of provisions,
rad:shes, turnips lettuce AMI new laid
eggs, and near her sat a su ,,id looking
young man, with his mouth wide open
hi, eyes about shut, aud bota hands
plunged IN the pockets OF IL coat sever
al sizes too large f'r him. Mr. Penny
packer chuckled. Now he would play
magician Oh larger scale than ever be-
fore. He would begin mildly, and the
plot should thick as lie went on.
Accordingly he stopped and apparently
picked up an egg from the floor, which
he handed to the old lady, with an
ind fterent Here, ma am you've drop
ped this out Of your basket.
Thank We, I'm sure, SAID the WON
an and setting the egg comfortably
among its fellows.
In moment more, however, Mr..
Pennypacker stopped again.
II must say madam" he said a little
sharply, that you are very careless
with such brittle things as eggs, Here
are three more on the floor
II want to know cried the old lady
"Why there must be Il hole in the bas-
ket. Why, thank you. | wonder
they arent smashed
But there was no hole in the basket,
and finally the old woman de ;ided
that there was mo accounting for them
eggs getting out and she thrust them
carefully under the lettuce and radishes
By this time the attention of all the
passengers was aroused, and now was
the moment for the final action.
The most singular thing l ever
heard of" said Job. "Ah, ah,~-I I'M
derstand it now. Don't you feel
ashamed of yourself, sir ?" and he
frowned and nodded at the stupid
young man with the big coat, who
scrowled at him in return.
II ashamed, l haven't done nothin y
cried the young man Indignantly.
DO you call it nothing to rob this
lady of her eggs ?" cried job with an
air Of virtuous disgust. You have
been doing nothing else since you en-
tered the car, aud yon have dozen in
your pockets at this moment.
"You re tellir lies. cried the young
man. "What do want Of raw eggs
You'd better search me and see wheth-