St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-11-15
Rob Craig's Strange Experience.

The house seemed very still that morn
ing. Father Craig had gone to Boston on
the early train; and Mother Craig had been
called from her breakfast to 90 to Aunt
Phebe Perry, who was surely going to die
this time. But Rob did not mind being
left AS soon as his breakfast was well
swallowed, he took his rifle out on the
south porch to give IL cleaning; for he
had laid out famous days sport.
His mother always looked very sober
when the rifle was brought out, for her
tender heart was sorely hurt when any
little thing came to harm through it; but
Rob's favorite uncle had sept it to him the
Christmas before, and his father approved
of it as one of thu ways to make boy
manly. so his mother said very little,
except now and then to plead gently the
cause of those who could not plead for
themselves.
50 Rob sat there, rubbing and cleaning,
whistling merrily, and thinking of the
squirrels nest he knew Of and the rabbit
tracks of which Johnny Bouliard had told
him He whistled so shrilly that pres
entity broad brinmed hat appeared around
the corner of the house There was a
little girl under the hat, but you didn't
see her at first.
Ssh! Robbie she said holding up a
small forehnger. Amy Louise is dread
full bad with her head, and I'm trying to
get her to sleep"
why don't you put a plantajn leaf on
her head? plantain's prime for head
aches" said Rob
would you please get Inc one, Rob
oieT' pleaded the trusting little body.
"Manma said for me- not 10 70 away from
the house, and Norah is cross tAis nom
ing"
Time was precious just then; but this
one sister was very dear. So, laying down
his nile. hob ran over TO the meadow
acr oss the road and brought back a huge
pautan ieaf which lie bound carefully
upon The head of Amy l. ,uise, quite ez-
tnguishirg that suffering doll, but to the
iut1ire coueent of the little girl. Then
he w,n, back to the porch, and took up
his rifle again locking aGmiringly at the
shi ing barrel and polished stock.
Now, Mr.. Squirrel" he said, "look
out for youcs-t, ioE Iii lave a crack at
you presently.
And he leaned back against the side Of
the porch to plan his route; for the day
was Too hot tor any unnecessary s.eps.
Just then he heard a c.icI, all iODr "a
around straight into the bsrrel Of another
rifle.
MY :" said Rob. "Thsts pretty care
less thing to do"
But the big man holding the rife did
not move, aud kept his finger on the trlS-
ger He WAS q stranger to Rob, and un-
der the circumstapc 3, the most unpt as
ant che lie had ever met.
.Nilt you please Liver your sunI \ gu
might shoot me- sail r 10, trying to
speak brav.l7, but with queer ceiling
under his jacket.
That's Whist came for said the man.
Game to shoot NE 7 cre1 Ron. Nv nat
have Gomez
Nothing that know Of answered the
| man, inditf-rently; but bcys do great
deal of mischief They steal fruit, and
break windows, and make horrld noises
Besides there are great many Of hem
and they might overrun Us if we oldn'i
| thin them out low and then
Rob was Mortified Without doubt, the
man was an escaped luuatlc; and right
around the corner of the house was Ethel
likely - APPEAR at any minute. just iheL
the man spoke again.
B. sides, it's necessary to kill; to ge
food -
| If Bob had not been so frightened ls
would have laughed as he thought of hi:
wiry little frame, with scarcely spare
ounce of flesh on it but he answered very
| meekly, But I'm not good to eat
"No." said the man, you'd be tough
eating
and my clothes wouldn't be wortl
anything to you" said Bob, glsncin&
quickly over his worn suit.
NO" with indifference. "But | came
out for days sport, and you're the frs
game We seen. and may as well fnisl
you and look farther. l saw some smsl
tracks round here and again that hor'
rible click.
"Oh," cried poor Bob. "don't shoot me
I'm the only boy my poor father ant
mother have, and they'd miss me dread
fully
"Pshaw p cried the other. They
wouldn't mind it much and besides, In
coming around in day or two to shoo
Them"
"Shoot my father and motler?' gaspet
Rob. You wouldn't do such u wicked
thipgr'
"Wnv, yes, | would laughed tbs
dreadful man. They are larger and bet
ter looking than you, aud their clothes are
worth more. I've had my eyes OF thu
family for some time, and nay as wei
begin now"
It seemed to Rob as if his heart stopped
beating. Then he cried out, 'Plesse
please don't kill NE I'm so young, and
want to live so much
The big man laughed derisively.
do YOU think | shall ind any game
that doesn't want to live? What do yot
suppose | own gun for, if I'm not te
use it7'
Somehow, even in his terror, this srgu'
msnt had familiar sound. Just then thu
bip man took deliberate aim. Rob CAV.
one look at the landscape spread out before
him. 1t was so pleasant aad life was sc
sweet Then he shut bis eyes. Bang
When he opened his eyes he saw only
the old south porch, with the hop tassel:
dancing and swinging, and his rlhe 'allet
fat on the floor. IL was all horrC
dream, from which his fallen rifle nae
wskened HIN. But the first thing he die
wss to peep around the corner Of the
bonse to assure hmset If E'hel safety
Yes. there was the broad brl!nmed la,
Tapping down the garden walk, ATTENDED
nv the cat and her two little kittens ano
lame old Beppo, the dog
Rob did not take up his beloved rlne'
Resting bis elbows on MS Knees ana hls
chin in his hands, he sat looking OH over
the fields, while a serious thinking wen
on under his curly thatch, and his thoughts
ran something like this:
81 wonder if the birds and squirrels Zee
as frightened as did. | guess they 90 90
for sometimes, when only hurt ana casct
them, their hearts are ust humping Anc