, 1890-01-09
THE FOOT OF A RABBIT.
\ WASHINGTON MAN WHO CARRIED
ONE FOR GOOD LUCK.

a RABBIT $ tCot, believe him if you want
TO, but don't let him, under any circum-
stances, present you with one as a
souvenir to carry for luck. If he at
tempts ii, be sure it is because he has a
grldSe against you, and desires to get
even in 4 roundabout manner.
There may be good luck in some rab-
bis feet, but the particular one which
this story concerns was the quintessence
of misfortune, and its possessor is a hol-
low eyed picture Of despair, whose every
movement has been productive of calam.
tous results.
Two weeks ago theowner of the charm
was in the best Of spirits and on good
terms with himself and the world, and
prospcring- Fol a week the nightmare
81 i'll luck has chung to him with the
grasp Of the old man of the sea, and
ammo be shaken of.
An UNHEEDED WARNING.
lie came into the possession of the
furry article which wrecked his happi,
ness in i somewhat peculiar manner. 1t
WA presented to him as an emblem Of
luck by one of his friends. and he care
fully tucked it away in his vest pocket.
\ third friend who was standing by re.
100 a. AAN AAAlt II L ere YOU 4
would throw that cursed thing as far as
could. It's certain to bring ill luck. !
am usually not superstitious, but /
wouldn't carry one for n thousand dol
lars"
The pessimist was heartily laughed at
Tor his foolishness, aud ridiculed as a
prophet of bad luck. Wait and see,r
was his laconic response to the others
%badiGage. Had that friend been listened
to and lis advice taken, this story would
never have beer written.
1t was Saturday evening when the gift
MIS- received, Lut nothing %eventful hap
pencd that day. When the possessor of
the talisnlan went to bed lie began to
think of the words Of warning he had lis
tened to and itbcgsn TO trouble him. He
could not sleep for a time, and when he
finally fell into a ftful doze it was only
TO see Zig and little rabbits feet obstruct.
inS him and barring his progress in
whatever direction he turned. They
seemed to overwhelm him and crush
HIN down, and when he awoke with a
start it WAS to hear his wife calling him
to breakfast. lie arose, haggard and
worn out. Sleep had been n burden
rather than a rest, N in consequence
he was snappish and out of humor.
The akfa was a succession Of
growls. He G%rumbled at everything
until finally his wife, who was unaccus-
toned to see him angry, a~nxiously in
quired what was the matter. He gave
her a curt reply, that sent the tears to
her eyes and her lips to quivering, and
left for his office without his usual fare
well kiss CoTnathinn ha bal rn-au H..
before since his marriage.
1t was Sunday, and, of course, none OF
his clerks were at work. He could not
lind any of the correspondence he de-
sired, and this made him more angry.
Finally he thought again of the rabbits
foot. at must be that" he s~oliloquized,
"but I'll keep it just for spite and see
how far it will work its spell"
Coming down the stairs from his Office.
he slipped and fell, and badly sprained
his wrist.
When he reached home his wife was
sick, and so the doctor had two patients
instead of one. Sunday night was but a
repetition of the previous one, filled with
bad dreams, and when the morning
dawned the possessor of the emblem was
thoroughly fatigued in soul and body. He
determined to get rid of the rabbits foot.
and when he reached the street threw IL
on the sidewalk. In a momen he felt like
a new man, n his former buoyancy OF
spirits returned. But, alas, fate had more
misfortunes in store for him, and he had
not proceeded half a square before a col.
ored urchin touched him on the arm and.
holding the fatal rabbits foot toward
hin, SafI gT oaap lrnn - -. - T
thought you might want it."
There it was, confronting him like a
nemesis. 1t would have been a to have
told the boy to keep it, but he did not do
this, and moodily walked down to his of.
flee. The day was a succession of I'M
lucky events. He did not receive a con-
siderable sum Of money he confidently
expected, an important case in which he
had a large contingent fee was decided
against him, and his clerk wa taken i'll.
so that it became necessary for his en-
ployerto do his W work, which he man
aged to get through at a late hour with
the assistance of a stenographer and
typewriter.
His wife was considerably worse when
he returned home and he was compelled
to remain up all night with her. The
rest of the week was a repetition of the
two days he had passed. When Satur-
day came he was careworn, fretful and
anxious about his wife's health, for she
was dangerously ill, and there were
grave fears as TO her recovery. His bust
ness had gone wrong rul every thing he
did seemed to turn al exactly opposite
to what he desired.
Then he determined to get rid of that
internal rabbits foot. Its influence had
undoubtedly contributed a great deal to
his moroseness, and he was well nigh i'll.
Into the stove he threw the foot and
watched it burn with considerable pleas
ure. He was rid of it at last.
Strange to relate, his wife began to i'm
prove. lie felt on better terms with
himself, and his life returned to its nor !
NAL channels. 1t may be that a rabbits
foot is not unlucky, but there is one man
in Washington who will never carry one
again for good lucky ashington Post.
A Telegram received at the Lick observ-
atory, at Mount Hamilton, Cal, says
Prot. S. w. Burnham, chief of the eclipse
expedition sent from the Lick observa-
tory to South America, announces that