Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-01-17
THE FOOT OF A RABBIT.
A WASHINGTON MAN WHO CARRIED
ONE FOR GOOD LUCK.

Wrong-Then He Threw 1t Away.
If man ever tells you there is luck in
rabbits foot, believe him if you want
to, but don't let him, under any circum-
stances, present you with one as
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 a 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
prospecting. 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 UNHEEDED 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 All 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 | were you
would throw that cursed thing as far as
l could. It's certain to bring i'll luck.
am usually not superstitious, but
wouldn't carry one for a thousand dol
lars"
The pessimist was heartily laughed at
for his foolishness, and ridiculed 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 talisman 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 burden
rather than a rest, and in consequence
he was snappish and out of 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.
twas 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. 1T 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 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. lie
determined to get rid of the rabbits foot
and when he reached the street threw il
on the sidewalk. In moment he felt like
a new man. and 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 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 a
nemesis. 1t would have been easy to have
told the boy to keep it, but he did not do
this, and modify walked down to his Of
fee. The day was 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 large contingent fee was decided
against him, and his clerk was taken ill,
SO that it became necessary for his en-
ployer to do his own work, which he man
aged to get through at late hour with
the assistance of 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 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 and every thing he
did seemed to turn out exactly opposite
to what he desired.
Then he determined to get rid of that
internal rabbits foot. Its influence had
undoubtedly contributed 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
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