The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-07
THE FOOT OF A RABBIT.
A WASHINGTON MAN WHO CARRIED
ONE FOR GOOD LUCK.

and for a whole Week Everything Went
Wrong Then lie Threw II Away.
IL man ever tells you there is luck in
n rabbits foot, believe him If YOU want
20, but don't let him, under any circum-
stances, present you with one as a
souvenir 20 carry for luck. II 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 posScssor 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
prospcring. 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.
AZ UNHKEDED WARNING.
lie came into the possession OF the
furry article which wrecked his happi.
ness in a somewhat peculiar manner. II
was presented 10 him as an emblem Of
luck by one Of his friends, and he care.
fully tucked it away i'm his vest pocket.
4 third friend who was standing by re
marked at the time. "If ] were you
would throw that cursed thing as far as
/ could. It's certain 20 bring ~ luck.
am usually not supcrstitious, but ]
wouldn't carry one for thousand dol.
lars
The pcssimist was heartily laughed OF
for his foolishness. and ridicgled as q
prophet of bad luck "Wail aud see,
was his lac0nic response To the Others
badinage. Had that friend been listened
10 and his advice taken, this story would
never have been written.
II was Saturday evening when the gift
was received, but nothing eventful hap.
pencd that day. When the possessor OF
the talisman went 20 bed he began 70
think Of the wordso Of warning he had lis
tened to and 10 began to trouble him. lie
could not sleep for time, and when he
finally fell into ftful doze it was only
to see big and little rabbits feet obstruct
ing him and barring his progress in
whatever direction he turned. The,
seemed 10 ovcrwhelm him and crust
him down, and when he awokc with ;
start 70 was TO hear his wife calling hin
20 breakfast. lie arose, haggard anC
worn out. Sleep had been a burden
rather than q rest, and in consequence
he was snappish and ont of humor.
The breakfast was succession o.
growls. lie grumbled at everything
until finally his wife, who was unaccus
toned TO see him angry, anxiously in
quired what was the matter lie CAV,
her q curt reply, that sent the tears Il
her ewes and her lips 10 quivering, an,
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 O
his clerks were 40 work. lie could no
find any of the correspondence he de
sired. and this made him more angry
Finally he thought again Of the rabbit
foot. 1T must be that, " he soliloquzed
"but I'M keep it just for spite and sec
how far it will work its SPELL
Coming down the stairs from his Office
he slipped and fell, and badly sprainc'
his wrist.
When ne reached home his wife Wa
sick. and so the doctor had two patient
instead Of one. Sunday night was but
repetition Of the previous one, filed wit
bad dreams. and when the morning
dawned the possessor Of the emblem wa
thoroughly fatigued in soul and body. H
determined to get rid of the rabbit foot
and when he reached the street threw
ON the sidewalk. in q moment he felt lik
a new man. and his former buoyancy O
spirits returned But, alas, fate had NOR
misfortunes in store for him. and no ha'
not proceeded half a square before a col
ored urchin touched him on the arm and
holding the fatal rabbits foot towarl
him. said. Il seen you dropit sir, and
thought YOU might want it,"
There it was, confronting him like
nemesis. 1t would have been easy to hav
told the boy 10 keep it, but he did not d.
this. and modify walked down TO his OF
Zee. The day was a succession Of IN
lucky events lie did not receive a con
siderable sum of money he confident.
expected. an important case in which b
had q large contingent fee was decide
aeains. him, and his clerk was taken ill
So that il became necessary for his EN-
plover to do his own work, which he man
aged 10 get through at a late hour wit
the assistance of q stenographer ant
typewriter.
His wife was considerably worse whel
he returned home and he was COMPELLED
TO remain up all night with her. Ih
rest Of the week was a repetition Of th
two DAYS he had passed. When SatuI
day came he was carcworn, fretful am
anxious about his wife's health, for sh
was dangerously ill., and there wer
crave fears as to her recovery. His bust
ness had gone wrong and every thing j
did seemed TO turn ont exactly opposit
to what ne desired.
Yhen he determined TO get rid Of tina
internal rabbits foot It's influence ha
undoubtedly contributed great deal
his moroscness, and be was well nigh III
Into the stove he threw the foot an
watched il burn with considerable pleas
urc. lie was rid Of It at last.
Strange TO relate, his wife began to IN
prove. lie felt on better terms wit
himself, and his life returned 20 rs MOI
NAL channels. il may be that a rabbit
foot is not unlucky, but there is one ma
i'm Washington who will never carry On
again fOr good mck-Washington Poe
Quail Preserves
The day is not far distant when quall
ill ba nreserved in every state in th