Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-05-03
MICKEY FINN'S RATHER.


by no refreshing breeze. and dust lay six |
inches deep on the Old Point road Even
the sweet brar bush which stood on tho |
shady side Of tho Finn shanty hung it's |
blooming cups and longed for the refresh. |
ing dow, In all tho wide expanse of
landscape which could be seen from tho
back stoop of the shanty, there was no
sign of lifo save the drowsy hmm of bees,
and hero and there butterfly spreading
Its golden sails in the sunlight.
Mrs Finn formed charming picture as
she sat in her husbands arm chair, Just
inside the kitchen door. II was universally
acknowledged that she was the handsom
est woman on the island Her complexion
was clear, and her cheeks just tingcd with
red like the cheek of an OK heart cherry
Now her long black lashes hid the gray
blue eyes. and her strong. well knit hands
lay in her Imp. which was covered with an
apron fresh from the ironing board Mrs
Finn was tired. She had scrubbed tho
floor, blackcned the stove, washed the
dishes, ironed her husbands two flannel
shirts, and, lulled by the somnolence in
the air. she had dropped asleep The
muscles of her face contracted as an IN
quisitive fly lit upon her check. but the
buzzing of the humble bee, which blum.
dered in at the door. did not disturb her
slumbers. There was no kindly spirit to
warn the sleeping woman of coming
danger Yet death in hideous and re
voting form was lurking in the grass
within 100 feet of the shanty.
just across the dusty road from the
shanty. in the interstices of Il stone wall
and hidden by the long grass which grew
upon either side, there was rattlesnake's
nesA The old he rattesnake was five feet
4 A., |, h.,,
tiful arabesque markings. Many and
narrow had been the escapes of this rep
tile from its pursuers. Mike Firms SOW
had bitten off two of the snakes rattles
when the sow had encountered the snake
one morning before break fast, and now
the reptiles sinister rattle was not as
loud as 1t had been On this particular
morning the snake had made its way out
into the road and lay in the sand enjoying
the heat.
Mike Clancy drove lazily along behind
his canal mule Under the canvas in the
body of the wagon lay 200 herring which
Mike was peddling out to the housewives
OF Cooney Island When the horse reached
the vicinity of the snake the reptile raised
Its ophidan head and Kissed Tho mule
| stopped and refused to proceed. Mike did
not see tho snake, and so he whipped the
mulo in a cruel manner, but it only raised
up on it's hind legs and threatened to fall
back upon the wagon.
God save ye. Molly; no wondher ye
wouldn't go wan whin ye had n dhirty
RATHER folniust We. But I'll fix himn said
Mike. jumping from the wagon and throw
ing hugo stone at the snake, The mule
turned quickly around and ran down the
road at u canter, spilling the herring along
the highway, Mike forgot all about the
snake, and started in pursuit, bewailing
his luck
"Faix, said he, Il dunno is snakes or
meules tn worstp
In the meantime the RATHER had slid
across the road and up the green bank
into the yard of the Finn shanty, Here
an old hen saw the crawling snake. Cluck-
ing an alarm to her brood, the hen ruifed
the feathers on her neck and called away
her brood from the danger.
The tame crow now made its appear
ance, hopping around the corner of the
shanty. It's quick eye espied the RATHER,
The crow uttered Il hoarse, discordant
croalS, and flew up on the fence. While
the shake moved across the yard in pur-
suit of the young chickens the crow fol
lowed along tho top board of the fence.
Several times during the transit the snake
crow, but the bird only cooked it's head
on ono side and croaked it's disapproval OF
the whole proceedings
Whether it was the smell of the steam
rising from the cabbage in the pot upon
the stove, or whether 1t was fear of the
crow which caused the snake to craw
over the doorstep and into the shanty
will probably never be known. However
with sinuous gliding motion and with
glitterug eyes the snake entered the
kitchen. Just as it arrived in front o.
Mrs Finn, who was still sound asleep II
her chair, IL fly lit upon Mrs Firms nose
With an involuntary movement she lifted
her hand to brush off the insect. The
snake, evidently regarding the movement
as hostile one gently shook it's rattles
and, tlattenng its head, coiled its body IN
an attitude preparatory to striking.
Its head was raised two feet from the
floor, and its eyes, shining like black jew
els, were fastened upon the sleeping
woman But she was all unconscious OF
the reptiles nearness Her hand FED
egain to it's original position in her lap
her face assumed tho quiet of repose. anc
she was again Off into dreamland, The
snake swayed back and forth, slowly un
coiled itself, and resumed its way towarC
the stove,
Just at this time the crow made its ap
pearance in the doorway 1t croaked 1
harsh protest against the snakes inva
sion, and. jumping on the stove hearth
peered around until it discovered The
snake uuder the stove. The snake lay
perfectly quiet upon the oilcloth, the
bees hummel in the meadow outside, anC
the butterflies flashed in the sunlight
Just as they had done before Mrs, Finn
had dropped asleep in her chair
Ii will be necessary TO tell in order tina
tho reader may thoroughly appreciate th,
situation that Mickey Finn had gone on
In tho vicinity of the Devils lake tina
morning with his fathers dinner pail anC
his mothers two quart molasses pau il
search of raspberries He was returning
up the Old Point road with the pa Is boil
filed with fruit when he met his frien,
lack Doolan Doolan with him {
tivo cent hrccracker, which had somehow
escaped being exploded on the Fourth o
July
Little Mike offered Doolan a small mu'
.urtle about the size of silver dollar
which he carried in his trousers pocket
n exchange for the cracker. but Doolai
refused the offer
i II don't want none o yer ould mud tur
: kles. said poolan, hut if yell 81 m
: wan o thin pals full o berries III 81
tn cracker
Mickey demurrcd to this proposal bu
Doolan dilaied ON the wonderful proper
! ties of the cracker and how il woul
, blow tomato can up agin tn sky. an