The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-02
Ike's Strange Visitors.

Na
He would pull off the wings of flies,
pin live butterflies to boards, break in
the backs of turtles, and amputate the
legs of frogs. When any one remon-
strated with him about his cruelty, he
would cry, "Oh, pshaw they can't
feel much" and then 60 in quest OF
another victim. The long summer
days he devoted almost entirely to ms
wicked sport, and in time all the
neighbors spoke of him as Hard
hearted Ike Carlton" TO be sure, the
boy had no kind parents to teach him
better, and the aunt who was bringing
him up cared very little what he was
about as long as he was not troubling
her.
One night Ike had not been in bed
very long when brilliant light sud-
denly filled his room, and he sprane
ND to see what caused the illumination.
There, seated in his bestJhalr, he be-
held an immense cat. The animal was
actually larger than Ike himself, and
by the time Ike had recovered from
his sstonishment at seeing this visitor
he discovered on another chair a tur-
tie almost as big as the cat. Near by
be saw a butterfly of extraordinary
size, and, when his eyes opened wider,
he found out that all the seats i'll the
room were occupied by just such
strange visitors. In fact, there were
more than the chairs could accommo-
date. and these were seated on the
floor. Presently they all began to talk
at once, and they made such hubbub
that the cat raped on little stand htt
had drawn up in front of him and
said, with a very serious manner,
"The meeting will please come to Or
der"
Instantly all voices were hushed,
and then frog who was present stood
up on his hind legs, and looked so very
funny that Ike would have laughed
=, outright had not the creatures words
struck terror to his heart.
'Mr. President" began the frog. "as
the chairman of the committee for pre-
venting cruelty to insects and animals
of all descriptions, arise to state what
the committee has decided to do. We
intend to make the last and greatest Of
fender feel what our brothers and Sis
tiers have suffered. The culprit is the
boy, Ike Carlton. Mr.. House Fly is TO
pull out his eye-lashes and large
bunch of hair" .
"Oh! but that will hurt 1' yelled
Ike from the seat which he had taken
on his bed.
"That is no consideration" sail MIR.
President. "You had ne thought fol
the feelings of Mr.. Fly's brothers when
you cruelty pulled Off their wings and
legs, and left them to suffer. That
hurt, too"
"Mr. Bull-frog," continued the chair
man of the committee, ''you are to cut
off one of his legs"
"You wicked thingw screamed Ike,
"you don't know what a painful opera
ton that is. Besides, l can't walk
without my leg"
Neither could Mr.. Bull-frog's broth
er," answered the cat; "but you cut
off his leg, and left him wounded and
bleeding. 1t hurt him just as much as
it will YOU"
Ike groaned, and wished he had not
interfered with frogs. He remember
ed that he had thus cruelty treated
poor, helpless one that very morning.
"You, Mr.. President, are to step on
him, and kick him all around the
room."
II won't stand it," cried Ike.
"But you will be compelled to stand
it," calmly spoke the president. "You
made my poor mother endure your
kicks and abuses"
"I'll run out of the room," thought
Ike, and he quietly slipped to the door,
only to find it locked and the key
gone. Then he sat down in despair,
and waited for further developments" "
''And last, but not least" said the
chairman of the committee" Mr.. Yel-
low Butterfly is to pin him to a board
so fast that he will have to stick there
and suffer till he dies"
Ike was in agony. Could it be possi-
ble that these creatures would be cruel
enough to kill him?
"Oh. please, Mr.. Cat, don't let them
murder mel" he cried, dropping OH
his knees before the president. Il am
my aunt's only nephew, aud she
would grieve very much if met such
a violent death. And, then, think
liow it would hurt to have pin stuck
through my body"
"But you didn't consider the pain
when you stuck pins through the
bodies of many of Mr.. Yellow Butter
fly's relations. Neither did you think
of the sorrow Of the mourners. Wei
must make an example of some boy,
or these abuses will go on to the end of
time. You are the worst offender, and
at the last meeting we decided to make
an example of you. Our relations are
just as sensitive to pain as you are, Mr..
Ike Carlton, and have as much right to
enjoy the good things of this world as
you have"
"But 1 don't think how it all hurt,
pleaded the frightened boy, "and I'll
promise never, never, never to do it
again."
After that speech the committee had
a consultation, and returned to say
that they thought it better to show no
mercy. If once let loose, the boy
would be as bad as before, and cruel
boys had become the terror of the en-
tire animal and insect world.
Still Ike continued his pleadings,
but the president turned down his fur
ry ears and said to the members,
Form in line"
First came Mr.. House Fly, who was
all ready 10 tear out Ike's hair and eye
brows; next came Mr.. Bull-frog with
his big knife, prepared to amputate the
boys leg; then Mr.. President, ready
to DO his part of the abusing, and last
Iy Mr.. Yellow Butterfly, carrying a
prodigious pin with which he was to
fasten the unhappy boy to a board.
"Oh, mercy mercy W screamed Ike,
and with those words his horrible visi-
tors vanished, and he awoke 70 the
fact that he had been dreaming. "At
onv ra ta ~ he said IN himself with q