Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-12


were playing at game, which was no other
thnn to race two snails up pane of glass and
wager which should prove the faster.
"a wet day." said my comrade cheerfully
The pair regarded him. ''I'll lay you a
crown it clears within the hour!" said one.
"And l another" put in the other; and
with that they went back to their sport.
Drawing near, myself was soon as eager
as they in watching the snails, when my
companion drew my notice to a piece of writ
ing on the window over which they were
crawling. Twas a set of verses scrubbed
there, that must have been scratched with a
diamond; and to my surprise-for had not
guessed him a scholar-he read them out for
my benefit. Thus the writing ran, for cop
led it later:
MASTER EPHRAIN TUCKER, HIS DYING CoUN-
CELL TO WAY FARDINGERs TO SEEK THE
SPLENDID SPUR
Not On the necks Of prince or hound,
Nor on a woman finger twin'd,
May gold from the deriding ground
Keep sacred that we sacred bind:
Only the heel
OF splendid steel
Shall stand secure on sliding fate,
When golden navies weep their freight
The scarlet hat the laurerd stave
Are measures, not the springs. Of worth;
In a wife's lap, as in grave,
Mans airy notions mix with earth.
Seek other spur
Bravely to stir
The dust in this loud world and tread
Alp high among the whispering dead
Trust in thyself-then spur amain:
So shall Charybd wear grace
Grim Etna laugh, the Lybian plain
Take roses 10 her shrivel'd face.
This orb-this round
OF sight and sound
Count It the lists that God hath built
For naughty hearts to ride a-tilt.
FRB-MAster fuckers Farewell
"And a very pretty moral on four gentle
men that pass their afternoon a-setting snsils
TO racel"
At these words, spoken in delicate, foreign
voice, we all started round, and saw young
lady standing behind us
Now that she was the one who had passed
US in the coach / saw at once But describe
her, TO be plain, 1 cannot, having tried
many times. So let me say only that she
was the prettiest creature on Gods earth
(which, hope, viii satisfy herr; that she had
chestnut curls and mouth made for laugh
ing; that she wore a kirtle and bodice of gray
silk tahety, with gold pomander box hung
on q chain about her neck; and held out 9
driziHg glass towards US with Ffsnchifed
grace.
Gentlemen, my father is sick, and win
taste no water but what is freshly drawn. /
ask you not to brave Charybdis or Etna, but
TO step out into the rainy yard and draw me
glassful from the pump there; for our serv-
ant is abroad in the town"
To my deep disgust, before could find q
word that villainous old pickpocket had
caught the glass from her hand and reached
the door. But ran after; and out into the
yard we stepped together, where pumped
while he held the glass to the spout, hinging
away the contents time after time, till the
bubbles on the brim and the film on the out
side were to his liking.
Twas he, too, that gained the thanks on
our return.
Mistress said he, with a bow, my
young friend is raw, but has good viii.
Confess, now. for his edifcation-for he Is
bound on a long journey westward, where,
they tell me, the maidens grow comehest-
that looks avail naught with womankind be-
side dashing manner"
The young gentlewoman laughed, shaking
her curls.
"T1l give him in that case three better
counsels vet: first Cfor by his habit see he Is
on the kings side), let him take circuit
from this place to the south, for the road be-
tween Marlborough and Bristol is, they tell
me, all held by the rebels; next, let him
avoid all women, even though they ask but
aninnOcent cup Of water; and, lastly, let him
shun thee, unless thy face lie more than thy
tongue. Shall say moregn
why, no-perhaps better not, y replied the
old rogue hastily, but laughing all the same
That's clever lass he added, as the door
shut behind her.
And, indeed, 1 was fain next morning to
agree TO this. For, awaking, found my
friend (who had shared a room with mel al
ready up and gone, and discovered the reason
IN a sheet Of writing pinned TO my clothes:
YoUxG SRI convict myself Of ingratitude; but
habit is hard to break. So have made OF with
the half Of thy guineas and thy horse. The resl-
due and the letter thou Dearest leave It's
good world, and experience should be bought
early, This golden lesson leave in return for the
over those verses on the window pane before
starting, digest them, and trust me. thy obliged
PETER THE JAcKMAS.
Raise not thy hand 50 often TO thy breast; It's
sure index q hidden valuables-
Be sure / was wrOth enough; nor did the
calm interest Of tie two snail owners appease
ms when al breakfast / told them q part Of
the story. But thought read sympathy
Ia the low price at which one OF them offered
me his horse. Twas tail, black brute, verI
sztZopg a -loins. aud I lIe7Eht hin kaa1