The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-04-17
"Didn't RATS folks Gomez"

Didn't RatS folks Gomez?
"No, they didn't, and don't see what
folks want to be writing to make folks
traipse round after them for like this
all for nothing. Anybody been for the
mail?"
NO, but a mans been here to buy
the old gray, and he said he guessed,
seeing that neither you nor the horse
was here he'd back down."
'Jiminetty! If didn't forget I'd set
the day! There's the last chance gone
to get rid of Bob. | tell you, Shiny,
those Perkinses ought to pay me for
this! I'll he out nigh three dollars be-
fore ! get through with that wheel BUSH
ncss!' he groaned. And all because
they didn't come up to their word"
Next day, after the squire had dis
tributcd the mail, Jacob Perkins en-
tered the store.
Hello, squire! What's the matter
with uncle Sam this week?"
Uncle Sam?" the squire asked, some
what agitatcd. Did Perkins know any
thing about that postal?
Yes, he's powerfully behind time.
didn't know but Uncle Billy d had
the apoplexy or his horse d got choked
by an extra oat, and government he'd
stopped accordin'ly. | ought to have
had postal from nephew Raj last
Monday"
Perhaps it got delayed. Lots of new
men in the service, and Darby's out in
the country. Maybe that's it."
lie handed out the card with an effort
at unconccrncd Indifference.
81 should say 'twas-and the day
after ther fair. If I'd got it when
ought he wouldn't We had to got a
livery and express wagon to bring 'em
all up and their trunks"
Hey! Raj Gomez" the squire eX-
claimed.
bag and baggage, Tuesday, just as
he wrote he would"
TUESDAY! You sure it was Tues
day?"
The squire's surprise had got the
better of his discretion.
See for yourself. It's plain as day
light"
why, isn't that an in thcre?" The
squire pointed to the word as he viewed
it through his glasses.
No, sir! You amt so used to RATS
writing as we are
Perkins laughed, knowing the
squire's curiosity. AS | was saying,
if I'd have known it in time Id have
got you to go after 'cm-I was working
SO like beaver, and the roads are bad.
You might as well have had that ten
dollars Raj threw away on the livery
fcllers-an' better, too. | told him so. {"
''S'liny!"
''Why, what's the matter, Dan'l?"
his wife asked in rising accents of
alarm rs he put his head in at the door
few moments after Perkins de-
parturc, a woe-bcgonc expression on
his face. "One of your attacks COM
ing on?"
''S'liny, the Perkinses have come
the whole family
Land sallcs!" She bounced up in
dignantly. "When?"
Tuesday" he answered, slowly and
Solcmnly. Just what that postal said,
here since Monday, and read it Thurs
day every time. And If I'd been at
tending to my own business I'd "a
made ten dollars. AS It's I'm out of
pocket instead of in"
Its mortal shame!" she exclaimed,
sympathetically Folks ought to stop
writing cards if they can't write 'em
plain enough to be read straight"
well, | can tell you what's right
now" He sat down imprcssivcly on
the nearest nail llcg. "If this govern
ncnt expects I'm going to spend my
time making out its postal cards to get
news, it's going to find itself much mis-
taken, that's all"
He went back to the post Office with
his new determination and detected
air. His perquisitc had lost its value,
and such open communications in Uncle
Sans mail were thereafter passed by
unnoticcd. When his lessencd stock of
information became matter of com
mcnt, as occurred very soon, he had
but one explanation.
News" he declared. isn't to be de-
pended on"
But to Shiny he remarked: Its los
ing business attending to other folks
affairs without being asked"
So it is a question whether his dis
astrous speculation ever forced upon
him a conviction of the truth in Jake
Perkins opinion, delivered to Raj with
a knowing chuckle:
THE squire hain't got as much of a
nose for news as he had fore he got his
consequences. reckon he's learned
that his 'pcrkisites' pay best when
they're taken on the square. Sarah
Bierce Scarboro ugh. in Youths Com
panion.
A CATS WHISPERS.