The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-30
A MEEK COUNTRY EDITOR
HIS PECULIAR EXPERIENCE WITH
a HUGE LION.
From the Butt OF All the Idlers He Be-
came the Greatest Howling Terror
OF His Town.


small country newspaper published in a
billy district of Southern Kentucky. be
was meek little man, with large ears aud
large eyes that bespoke the patience of a
cow. In the community of Gray's Point he
was a sort of father contessor, in that TO
him were brought all sorts Of complaints
and schemes of revenge. Honest people who
at least once a week made public profession
of love for their fellow man. would steal up
the ricke.y stairway leading to Bradsley's
Office and whisper against q neigh
Dor the insinuating words of scan
dal. Bradsley's weakness was
his desire to please everybody; not at once.
for he knew that to be an impossibility, but
to give each one his turn. He had personal
grudge against no man, and yet no man in
the county had SO many enemies as he.
The Graysons had so influenced him that he
gave the Taylors rap in his newspaper,
tee Banner OF Freedom, and after that the
Taylors hated him. Then the Wilson's.
not so influential as persuasive, induced
him to slam the GraysonS, which, of
course, made them, regardless of
the fsvors which he had formerly
shown them, his sworn enemies for life. 1t
was g thousand wonders, people said. that
some one did not kill Bradsley, and it was
O MARVEL still. he was too meek a little
man. 1t was doubtless his meekness that
saved him. At a time of anger we are
more strongly tempted TO shoot a big man
than little one, for we content ourselves
with merely Shaping the little fellow.
Bradsley did not escape the slapping. Bless
you, he had been slapped over nearly every
available foot of Gray's Point.
why don't you shoot some Of those fell
49, 81
| friend once asked.
II hadn't thought Of that" Bardsley an
| swered "B'heve | will"
He didn't, though, for that very afternoon
| when he went out on the street man who
had been promised a notice in the paper, and
who had not received it, slapped the editor
first one way and then another until he was
| quite worn out.
ITS getting TO be pretty had,n he said
when he went back into the office. They
not only slap me for what l write, but are
beginning to slap me for what fail to pub
| lish. / don't know exac " what 10 do The
newspaper business is getting WORSE every
year. | actually believe that have in me
the soul of some ancient rabbit. ! know
that l never had the heart to kill a rabbit.
Probably it's because dom. wish to intiict
punishment upon a member of my own
family | wis l had Inherited the spirit of
lion, and might just as we'll have done
So for there we're, no doubt, a large number
of unemployed lions spirits at tie time of
my birth. l wonder il there isn't some
way TO remedy thisl The air all about me
may be filed with lions souls. Why can't
Induce one TO drive out the rabbit and
take his place."
Are you talking to me, sir!n the office
boy asked.
"No," BradsIey answered.
I'D like TO have two tickets when the
show comes,n said the boy. "chey say
they've got ever SO many animals"
I'm not talking about any show. When
was Bradshaw hereF' the editor asked, tax
ing up card.
jest awhile ago.
"What did he wanti"
Wanted to kick you downstairs, he
said.n
what for, should like to known
For giving the Bensons that slam. He's
their cousin"
well, but why doesn't he go and kick
the Pattersonsl They were the cause of it."
He didn't say, sir"
Now Tvo got this to look forward to, -
said the editor as he went into the sanctum
II am getting almost afraid to 60 TO the
postof1ce. | am thoroughly convinced that
l an rabbit. Look at my ears, and look
at the fact that | could never eat rabbit
See how I am frightened when | hear dog
bark. Now, If l could only be dog-auy-
thing but rabbit. | think, though, the
lion would suit me better. When that
show comes am going to see if can't do
something | am going to study the lion
anyway. That last slapping l got made me
as drowsy as a frost>bitten chicken. I'll
sit down here awhile aud wait until that
fellow Bradshaw comes back. | am afraid
to go out. I've got TO work all night, aud
Ican't sleep tomorrow, for want to see
the show. l reckon might as we'll get as
much work done as possible before Brad
shaw does come. john he called, enter
ing the composing room, Twelve got TO pull
out if we expect to see that show. We'd
better put the forms on the press right
now"
The shadows on the public square grew
long. the court house bell tolied the hour of
six, and yet Bradshaw did not come On
they worked, the long -abused editor and the
eager boy. They lighted the lamps and
continued TO make the old hand-press groan.
Daylight came and the work was completed.
The editor scarcely knew how ne passed the
early morning.. but suddenly he found him
self lookidg at the circus parade. what
an immense lion,a he thought, looking into
q cage. ~ shall cultivate you, old fellow. +"
He was eager for the doors to b. opened.
aud whea he was finally able to shove his
way in he went at once to the lions cage
and stood there. No other animal had aav
attraction for him. Suddenly the hon gave
him peculiar wink, and instantly BradS-
ley felt strange thrill He was almost
alone, the crowd having passed on to the
cage of monkeys.
II should like to know what he meant by
that wink" said the editor.
"Come up closer and l will tell YOU the
lion answered.
Bradsley sprang back in alarm, but soon
recovering himself he approached the cage.
You are afraid of me-" said the lion,
"but / do not wonder at it since you are a
rabbit"
why, how did you know thatr
40, it is plain 70 be seen, and l suppose
every one takes advantage of It."
They do" said the editor, speaking in a
low tome. II am kicked aud slapped all
over this town. How l wish were a lion. /"
"Come up closer. Now, let me tell you
something. I have been thinking for long
time that should like to forcs my spirit
out OF this cage into the body of some poor
abused man--iu other words, to drive the
rabbit out Of him and take its place"
"Gracious alivel" said the editor, tits the
very thing I've been praying for. But say,
can such thing be donel'
~ Ihink so. / will lie down here and Won
must get around at the end of the cage aud
gaze into my eyes, and, no matter how you
feel, don't run away. When my spirit is
gone, Of course my body will be dead, but
what do care for thatf'
Bradsley stepped around to the end of the
cage, and began to gaze into the lions eyes.
Suddenly he felt a sense Of extreme fright.
and he would have run away had he not
remembered what the lion had told him.
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