Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-04
BOBBY AND HIS FINGER,
While Out Hunting for Indians He Manages
to Lose q Member.

4
BOBBY AND HIS FINGER,
| ~
While Out Hunting for Indians He Manages
| to Lose a Member.
! TNHE SURPRISE OF Mr.. THEOPHILAX
Il Bobbins on becoming the father Of a male
/ infant about ten years ago Was unfeigned. He
/ has not got over his establishment get. The boy
is continually doing things which appear unac-
countable to any reasonable person, and his
aunts declare that he does not exhibit q trace
OF his ancestry on either side of the family. Of
| course. youth of his age may naturally be con-
sidered as representing reversion to a prim-
tive human type. He displays the same sort of
unthinking cruelty as savage, and one sees
him actually practicing some of the arts Of the
stone age, when he smashes with a rock the
nuts which he gathers.
Young Bobby Robbins never had any feelings.
his father says. Every now and then he plays
some prank which proves that he possesses none
OF the sensibiiities which distinguish the civil
hzed human being from the savage. Only the
other night he failed to return to his home in
4 Georgetown, and the services of half the neigh
| borhood were rainly employed in looking
for him. The fact was that he had decided to
so hunting for Indians. and, with this end in
view. he had borrowed his fathers shot
gun and had gone ont TO sleep in the
woods near b..
Conditions were not favorable for shooting In
dians, however. Although the day had been
warm, 1t got very cold in the night, and
Bobby concluded that a more comfortable rest
ing place could be found in the haymow of a
barn belonging to a certain Mr.. Jones' He had
often visited that barn, but various mischievous
performances Of his had caused the irate
coachman in charge to threaten dire
punishment in case he ever came
there again. So the discouraged hunter
and 'dead game SPORT" he proudly
called him self. crept BY stealth into the build
ing. He climbed up the ladder which led to
the loft and was soon blissfUly reposing, un-
conscious of the anxiety which was caused by
his absence from his own dwelling
Larry the next morning he was awakened by
the sound from below of footsteps which he
plainly recognized as those of his enemy the
coachnfan. His first notion was to lie low for a
time but he was induced to reconsider this de-
cisi0n BY an unexpec ted circums stance. Having
gone to sleep in the dark he had thrown his cap
aside, and it had fallen from the loft to the
floor OF the stable beneath. Pretty soon the
( rightful guardian OF the establishment. while
engaged in doing his regular chores"
CHANGED upon this piece of headgear and an
nounced his discovery with profane exclama-
ton. Being aware of the fact that bow will
never forsake his hat if he can possibly help it.
1t occurred to him that the owner might be vet
within reach Of capture. After examining the
and with many grunts, to climb up the ladder
to the haymow.
Meanwhile Bobby had been listening with all
his might. and when he heard his foe ascend
ing to his place OF retreat, he qnietly prepared
to drop out of window. There had been a
load OF hay standing beneath the window the
day before, and he expected that this would
afford soft landing. Being somewhat in
haste he did not discover that the hay wagon
was gone until he found himself dangling from
/ the sill outside the barn. Nevertheless, being
an agile and timber youth he would probably
have escaped broken bones had it not been
that in his hurry, he knocked away the stick
which had held up the window sash. The latter
fell on the foretinger of his left hand and cut it
clean off at the second joint. The sudden pain
caused him to reiinquish his hold and he fell to
the ground
By til It time it was about 7:30 am. Bobby
didn't cry. He merely gritted his teeth.
wrapped his handkerchief around the wounded
member aud started for the door OF Mr.. Jones'
house, close by. Mrs. Jones came to the door
and looked at him in some surprise, wondering
what he could want at that time in the morn
ing.
Please ma'am," said Bobby, II want per-
mission to 60 back to your barn"
What for?" asked Mrs. Jones.
81 want to get my finger" insisted Bobby
resolutely .
"Your fnger?"
Eyes. ma am. My finger is in your barn, and
I want to get ii"
"This is some now trick you are up to, Bobby
Bobbins." said Mrs. Jones, who knew the boy
pretty well.
~ ain't." declared Bobby. "If you don't
believe me look here.''
With that he coolIy unwound the handker-
chief from the stump of his finger and exhib-
tied it, still bleeding to the lady, who promptly
screamed and tainted dead away. Mr.. Jones
came running down from upstairs and de-
manded what the matter was. An explanation
followed, end Mrs. Jon having been restored
her husband consented to accompany Bobby to
the stable, where the missing finger soon
found. Or course it was hopelessly smashed.
SO that there evidently no possibility Of
.'sticking it on again" as the boy said he had
hoped might be done.
At Mr.. Jones suggestion Bobby started i'm
mediately for home, where he was received with
open arms and tears of joy by his mother.
But what have you got your hand wrapped
up for?" she demanded. =
Hurt nv finger" replied Bobby, briefly.
How did you hurt it?''
"WelI." said Bobby. ''if you won't 20 and
faint like the other woman HI show YOU
Whereupon. having thus broken the news
with delicate tact he undid the handkerchief
showed the mutilated stump and produced
simultaneously the severed finger from the
pocket of his little breeches
'ThatS all, p" he said
Mrs. Bobbins, being woman of Compare
lively strong herves, did not faint though she |
came pretty near it, As for Bobby, he rather
felt as if he were hero on account of his
tragic adventure. His father tried in vain to
infuse different idea on the subject into his
mind; but he had not the heart to punish him
under the circumstances. 1t was only another
instance, his aunts said, to prove that he was
totally different from any other member Of his
family on either side that had ever been heard Of
before,
Written for Tho Evening Star
Spider and Fly.
HunO n w 40 fin apds ilya