The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-10

Existence;" and not having leisure TO at
tend the dominic myself, commissioned
couple OF gnats, on pain of special dis
pleasure in neglect, to bob in his eyes.
The pastor stood winking perplexedly,
wondering where the deacon was. He
couldn't have gone-no, the thought was
unjust. 1t would even be culpably graft
flying an unworthy suspicion TO look for
the rod.
But the uncertainty was so annoying,
that, with a mental apology for his lack
of compunction, the dominic furtively
glanced at the oak, where the rod hung as
usual, and he felt mean and small for the
suspicion.
The sermon had been hard one, the
subsequent dinner very ample, the day
hot, and the gnats, TO conclude with,
made the dominic drowsy. Under the
compact foliage of fine old maple was
an inviting, long rustic seat, observing
which, he yielded to the inducement,
tethered the horse where it could Craze il
it chose, and stretched out in the shade,
with his hat over his eyes.
An hour slipped past very comfortably,
when he was awakened by some one sing
ing psalm, and perceived the deacon
moving about the kitchen preparing a
meal.
1t was possible that the deacon was ap-
prised of his PASTORS temperance by that
of the horse and buggy, though nothing
was said TO that effect when he came to
the kitchen door with an invitation to
share the meal, or take a cup of coffee at
least, the latter of which the dominic ac-
cepted.
While setting the table, the deacon gave
an account of n troublesome time with
his old COW, which first broke into the
cornfield and then strayed away, unavoid-
ably OBTAINING him from service: and be-
ginning TO eat, he received in return
report of the days gospel exercises, while
my friends and / were socially strolling
about the table.
"By the way" said the WORTHY
dominic, 81 owe you an apology, which
must be duly paid. On finding you away
| this afternoon, q momentary suspicion
persuaded me to make base use of your
mornings instruction concerning fishing.
But it was a momentary suspicion, moth
.ng more, and had / not been where a
mere sidewise glance would ascertain
whether the pole hung there or not, /
would have conquered it easily. Pray
accept the apology"
Certainly, dominic; trifle like that is
nothing" replied the deacon, making
havoc with the victualss and gaining in
good humor in proportion as he filled up.
| Alas! i can scarce speak calmly of it-he
raised the molasses cup with malicious
celebration, and let fall half dozen
| drops. Great Cesar, they all fell on me!
fnen a rugged forefinger rolled me over
and over in it till / was well plastered.
| There was a situation for one OF my ac-
| tivity. A proportionate circumstance in
the case of one of you two-legged slug
| CARDS would be hard to imagine. BY
| great effort put forth one or two legs,
reached the surface of the table and, by
! dint of desperate pulling and some good
| luck, got free enough of the bulk Of
inolasses to crawl, but could see nothing
| through so heavy ssccharine veil.
Then it was that popularity arrived.
| The first conner of my brethren planted
| bid front feet on me and helped himself
! with total unconcern of the dish he ate
| from. More came, till they were tightly
circled about, standing on each Others
! backs three deep, and as many as
| could reach me from above these with
their probossides, did so. II moved,
had TO move the extra weight OF molasses
and ten or, fifteen brethren, which, OF a
necessity, made slow progress. 1t is clear
| now, though not SO in the excitement of
Ne time, that their attention was the
! best thing that could have happened.
Popularity! Nobody was ever so loaded
down with caresscs az / was, but the mo-
lssses grew less and 1 moved easier, al
ways, however, having to carry, push and
drag more or less of my popularity.
Minute after minute passed without
wane of my ascendency, but it was nearly
half an hour before could use my wings,
and even then, for fifteen minutes / had
scraped with my hindest pair OF legs as
never before.
At last could fly again.
Spleen was importunate OF invention for
deep revenge, and went TO the ceiling to
think il over. How I'm the world could ]
retaliate, not even having the drill anG
poison of mosquito--if had they were
too feeble.
During n brown study, a good idea
struck me, for the dominic sat facing the
smooth white wall. Ha, hal I was no
fool, and knew thing or two besides.
Rushing TO the inlSstand, plunged in,
crawled out and flew TO the wall, where
dragged trail of ink into very legiblo
letter. With nervous haste, 4 vibrated
between the inkstand and the wall, till,
as l was finishing the last letter, the
dominic's attention was attracted. His
pstrified stare drew the attention OF the
deacon also.
The deacon's dismay was balm, spices
and myrrh to my sorrows.
With grave decision, the dominic led
him by the arm, unrcsistingly out to the
woodshed. Returning, the deacon dropped
Imply into a chair, an abject culprit, and
stared a great big q" How? Who? Whst?"
There is a supernatural agency in
this,n said the dominic, ominously.
{" Save me!" grosned the deacon. al
confess that IL wasn't the cow"
The writing on the wall was;
"Went fishing to-day; joint-rod and
fish in woodshed .n--Arkansaw Traveller.
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