The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-19

THIS YARN FROM VIRGINIA
BREAKS THE RECORD.


In the Excitement over the Chickens
the Pets We're Forgotten-LycurRus
Found Some Lunch, But 1t Disagree ed
With Him.
FTom the PhiIddelDhid Times.
"Snake story" or "fsh story" in the COL
umns OF a newspaper warns the ordinary
reader TO prepare for yarn spun out of the
whole bundle.
The story L am relating is positively true.
1t can be verified in each detail, and l am
anxious that IL be believed, not only because
nv reputation for truth, sobriety. honesty
and progressive journalistic integrity is at
stake, but because am sure that new i'm
petus will be given TO the cultivation of
poultry yard products by reason of my dis
covery.
There lives in Virginia, on the eastern
shore-the aborigines pronounce it eastun
sho'-a Virginia gentleman, genuine F. F.
", 30 he claims, and 1t must be SO, because
he Is 80 exclusive
The gentleman's name is Ftz-Budle-u
pronounced "oo."
He and Mrs. F. are fond of pets. not hav-
ing children of their own.
They are the proud joint possessors of
two lovely poodles; one Maltese cat called
MaltY for short: a tame water snake, called
Lycurgus, / don't know Why, unless because
he is fond of lying curled up in the sun all
the time except meal time, and when there
Is no sun out, when he gets in his box
Lycurgus is about years old, 4 feet
! inch long and as big round as his owners
leg.
Last spring a neighbor up the country
presented Fitz with thirteen eggs
OF the Langshang breed. There was
an old Dominicker hen wanting
a steady job just then, and, as
she had always proved a careful, attentive,
reliable and sure hatcheress, he gave her the
preference.
The precious eggs were duly consigned to
the care Of the trusty incubatory bird.
The usual number OF days being nearly
up, excitement was running high. The
plano was silent and the twanging of the
guitar was no longer heard.
Twas Friday. the calculated day when
the prides of the coop would come forth as
SO many downy balls.
Everything was neglected in the anxiety
OF the moment. The dogs were not given their
accustomed morning meal; the cat went
housing and the snake had no breakfast
Dinner came and went and still the hungry
pets were hungrier.
Not compromising this condition of
things, with their human-like intelligence
they went foraging on their own hook.
How they all Jared Inever knew, but Lycur-
gus didn't get left, as subsequent develop
ments prove.
About o'clock, afternoon, into my sane
tum rushed the anxious father-I mean in
cubator-consternation shone in his Grecian
countenAnce-eyes staring and mustache
bristling and standing out like a last year
brush pile
Et(NHaok
fell limp in chair. l thought he was dead.
and called his wife. TIE tender comforter
came in like Cyclone.
whats the matter, darlingl"
He gasped "Chicksl"
Show many, darllng?"
"How many thundersl All the eggs are
gone-stole, and to think they we're lust
due"
The discomforted pair went to the hen
disappeared.
There they stood, gazing, like bereaved
couple, into the empty cradle of their
| first-born, while the old Dominicker
clucked around as il to prove that she had
| not betrayed her trust. She tried to explain,
| but couldn't.
The affair remained a mystery. shrouded
| and black, until next morning, after silent
| breakfast, went into the office to look over
the exchanges and read the mail
| l tossed several pieces Of amateur poetry
into it's usual receptacle-the waste-paper
basket; they must have been bad, for the
rest of Lycnrgus was broken and he put Ut
| his head.
jumped up and turned over the basket
| Out rolled the snake. l noticed he was qui &c
stout about his waist; his movements were
sluggish.
Slowly he worked himself over in the
| doorway, where he stretched himself full
length for bask in the sunshine, while |
went on with my arduous duty-readinQ
| country weeklies.
had forgotten ell about the varmint in
the interest Of lynchiDg story, when my ear
caught a sound-peep, peep-I had reached
the fellows confession when-peep, peep.
peep, peep-l looked around, and as sure
as Niger, there was the snake acting for
all the world like a seasick marine, while
| around him was strewn In profusion
discolored eggshels and nine of the cutest
chicklets / ever saw, hopping around,
drying themselves.
l started, hallooed, simply yelled Q
"Fitzie; o, Fitz-B udle, run here quIck!"
Lycurgus looked around, sheepish- like,
and crawled off with the most Disguised
expression ever saw.