Wichita eagle., 1890-02-13
THE FOOT OF A RABBIT.
A WASHINGTON MAN WHO CARRIED
ONE FOR GOOD LUCK.

He Fell Down Stairs, His Wife Became
Ill, Case Was Decided Against Him,
and for y Whole Week Everything Wen,
wrons-Then He Threw 1t Away.
If a man ever tells you there is luck in
a rabbits foot, 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 it, be sure it is because he has a
grudge against you, and desires to get
even in a roundabout manner.
There may be good luck in some rab.
bits feet, but the particular one which
this story concerns was the quintessence
of misfortune, and its possessor is hol-
low eyed picture Of despair, whose every
movement has been productive of calam-
itous results.
Two weeks ago the owner of the charm
was in the best of spirits and on good
terms with himself and the world, and
prospering. For week the nightmare
of i'll luck has chung to him with the
grasp of the old man Of the sea, and
cannot be shaken off.
AN UNHEEpED WARNING.
He came into the possession of the
furry article which wrecked his happi-
ness in somewhat peculiar manner. 1t
was presented to him as an emblem of
luck by one of his friends, and he care
fully tucked it away in his vest pocket
A third friend who was standing by re.
marked at the time: "If I were you /
would throw that cursed thing as far as
could. It's certain to bring i'll luck. l
am usually not superstitious, but
wouldn't carry one for thousand dol
lars"
The pessimist was heartily laughed at
for his foolishness, and ridicuied as a
prophet of bad luck. "Wait and see, "
was his laconic response to the others
badinage. Had that friend been listened
to and his advice taken, this story would
never have been written.
1t was Saturday evening when the gift
was received, but nothing eventful hap
pened that day. When the possessor of
the talislnan went to bed he began to
think of the words of warning he had lis
tened to and it began to trouble him. He
could not sleep for time, and when he
finally fell into fitful doze it was only
to see big and little rabbits feet obstruct-
ing him and barring his progress in
whatever direction he turned. They
seemed to overwhelm him and crush
him down, and when he awoke with a
start it was to hear his wife calling him
to breakfast. He arose, haggard and
worn out. Sleep had been a burden
rather than rest, and IN consequence
he was snappish and outof humor.
The breakfast was a succession Of
growls. He grumbled at everything
until finally his wife, who was unaccus-
toned to see him angry, anxiously in
quired what was the matter. He gave
her 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, something he had never done
before since his marriage.
Itwas Sunday, and, of course, none of
his clerks were at work. He could not
find any of the correspondence he de-
sired, and this made him more angry.
Finally he thought again of the rabbits
foot. 'It must be that" he soliloquized,
"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
of the previous one, filed with
bad dreams,s and when the morning
dawned the possessor of the emblem was
fatigued in soul and body. He
determined TO get rid of the rabbits foot,
and when he reached the street threw it
on the sidewalk. In moment he felt like
q new man, and his former buoyancy of
spirits returned. But, alas, fate had more
in store for him, and he had
not proceeded half square before col
ored urchin touched him On the arm and,
holding the fatal rabbits foot toward
him, said, Il seen you drop it, sir, and l
thought YOU might want it.
There it was, confronting him like
1t would have been easy to have
told the boy to keep it, but he did not do
this, and moodily walked down to his Of
fee. The day was a succession of un-
lucky events He did not receive a con-
siderable sum of money he confidently
expected, an important case in which he
had large contingent fee was decided
against him, and his clerk was taken i'll,
so that it became necessary for his en-
olover to do his own 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
be returned home and he was compelled
to remain up all night with her. The
rest of the week was repetition Of the
two DAYS he had passed When Satur-
day came be was careworn, fretful and
anxious about bis wfe's health, for she
was dangerously Ill, and there were
grave fears as 10 her recovery. His busi-
ness had gone wrong and every thing ne
did seemed TO turn out exactly opposite
to what he desired.
Then he determined TO get nd OF that
Internal rabbits foot. It's influence had
contributed great deal TO
his moroseness. and he was well nigh i'll.
into the stove he tarew the foot and
watched il bum with considerable pleas
ure. he was rid OF It al last.
Strange to reizte- his wife began 70 i'm
prove. He felt on better terms with
himself, and his life returned TO its nor
nal channels Is may be that rabbits
loot is not unlucky, bet there is one man
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