Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-06-21

this ere sloppy holc-none of u.s.
I'm surprised at that, said jeff
Surprised, be We, squirrel" said old
Gill, cutting fresh slab of tobacco.
''Wel now, why? Been prospecting ?"
Looking around q little, Unjust con
TESS, said the young artist.
Tried 4 Witch-haZel rod?n
Nc" rather surprised.
-Praps you've got Il magnet"
mo | did not suspect the presence
Of iron in this sandy SOIL" answered
Jelf
The grizzle-headed old man drew a
long breath.
There amt no telEin' what folks
will find, said he, plunging his spade
once more into the earth, Dig away.
lads-dig for your lives. Moon sets at
| eleven, and there amt no use workin'
arter mOonSct."
We might get lanterns" suggested
jeff.
Lanterns amt no goodr' was the
brusque reply.
When the moon disappeared behind
the hills every man left off work. and
departed without much ceremony Of
adieu
Jack made haste to pick up his tools.
''Well," said he, ''we've made pretty
considerable Roadway: but of all peo-
pie | ever saw these men are the most
eccentric. One would think we'll had
never been dug before
During the day the neighbors hung
around the spot, staring, peeping, and
prying, as if they were all eyes and
tongues.
$50 we've commenced to DIG eh?'
said a woman, in a saffron-ycllow sun
bonnet and dyed cashmere cape,
what was going to the post-office, and
who stopped to watch Nanny in her
occupation of sowing aster-seeds under
the window.
Yes said Nanny.
"'Twon't be no good" said the
woman. Ever so many folks have
tried it afore. wish | knowed bow
many spade-edges has been worn away
on this plaguey soil!''
And she went her way, dragging one
foot after the other with spiritless
perseverance.
"Haow We gettin' on?' said brisk,
fat little female, who had been down to
the edge of the water.
''Oh, nicely" said Nanny.
pity the moons so fur off the full"
said the fat woman.
''Will that make any diffcrence?"
asked Nanny.
'All the difference in the world"
announced the obese female. "Ain't
no use diggin' without We dig by the
light of the moon"
And she walked off
At noon gaunt old man stopped as
he drove his wagon of jingling tinware
past the gate.
1--we heern tell as we've took to Dig
gin" said he. How come We ever to
settle on that there mashy piece O.
ground to dig in
My husband thought there were
favorable indications there SAID
Nanny.
mo one ever tried that there spot
afore," said the gaunt old man. But
p'raps your man knows the country?'
NO said Nanny; mot at all.
EFF twas me" said the man point
ing with the dipper handle, srd a-dug
further down the hill. Poor old jim
Bean! il would a-done his heart good to
see the s'ile turned up again Ye
dunno jim? He put up this house. 1t
was him sold it to Nathan Shorey-as
bargained it off to you folks. He's in
the asylum, Jim Bean is. Got to Dig
GIN, We see, an couldn't stop; went to
his brain. Any tinware to-day or
crockery? No? Well, l 90 by every
Thursday mornin', and so good-day
to YET"
AT the dinner-table Nanny amused
her husband by an account of the num-
Der of odd enquiries which had been
levelled at her during the morning.
Il think the people here must be the
most curious and meddleSome in the
world said she.
but after ALL" said Jack, carving
the nice little chicken which, as Aunt
Prue complacently observed, ''was
grown on their own premises, y ''it is
rather pleasant to find oneself the OBJ
iect of such genuine interest"
At that moment the door flew open,
and in hurried red-faced perspiring
man, crying, ''Shares!'' as he flung
his hat on one chair and himself into
another.
Sir said Jack, rising in some con-
fusion, Il have not the pleasure ofyour
acquaintance"
I'm the man that owns the East
Medder!" gasped the new conner
"5'other side o. the stun wall where
ye're diggin'. And l say shares. Ye've
! undermined my stun wall, and | amt
a-goin' to be left out in the cold! No.
by lingo, I ain't-not if I know my
| self!''
But reasoned Jack. '.your house
is half mile up the hill. 1t wouldn' t
be possible to get sufficient Roadway
| to-
''Oh. hang your headwaym said the
redfaced man. If any man digs under
my stun wall. he's got to go shares
that's the long and the short of it,
Amt that the rule, Parson Glenn?''-to
small gentlemanly-looking person,
who stood knocking at the door.
| What is all this about?" imploring-
ly asked Mr.. jeff. gentlemen, pray
sit down! Let US get at the bottom OF
this mystery"
q have heard of your undertaking,
Mr.. jeff" said the mild-voiced village
| clergyman, bowling to the ladies.
almost every one has, l should
think" groaned jeff. eyein@ his cary
ing-knife with moody determination.
with the deepest chagrin, said the
reverend gem .eman.
"Eh?" said Mr.. JEFF, opening wide
his eyes.
And have come hither, added the
clergyman, ''to warn you OF the sad
fate of others who have yielded to this
most unhappy delusion, and entreat
you ere it be too late to desist. One