The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-16

you must excuse me just now; I've hearo
bad news from my family. A brother and
sister of mine are suddenly taken ill, and
am bound to go and visit them, answered
Miss Crane.
"'.ih, Miss Crane. that reminds me of
my own brother and sister who are much
Younger than | am. but very soft and
tender. " hat do You say now to making
another bargain? asked Terrapin. with .
wink.
"'You are very good. Terrapin I will
think of it as l go along. l shall be back
of trade them They We're very civ!l
to one another as they parted Terrapin
went for his usual walk to the pond, Miss
Crane proceeded to visit her family, but
muttered:
"Ha. ha, Terrapin, you are great at
a trade; but you will not make another
with me in a hurry till our first one is
squared.
After she had gone a little way she
turned suddenly around and came back
to the foot of Terrapn's tree, and cried:
Tu-no-no-no. Ono-no-no-no. We-no-
mono
"'Ah that is my child's voice said NJ,
cord.
Miss Crane caught hold and climbed up
towards the nest. Ma Terrapin craned
her neck out far to welcome her child,
but before she could discover by what
means little Lorrapn had changed it's dress,
Miss Crane struck Ma Terrapin with her
long sharp bill in the place where the
neck joins the shoulder, and in short time
Ma Tcrrapin was as dead as Miss Cranes
own mother.
The body was rolled from the nest,
and it went falling down and Miss Crane
Went quickly after it.
"ln a quiet place, screened by thick
bushes, Miss Crane made great fire, with
which Ma Terrapin's thick shell was crack
ed She then Scooped out the flesh and
carried it to her own home, and stewed it
in Il big black pot.
'On tue next day Miss Crane was stand,
ing on one leg by the pond with her head
half buried in her feathers, who should
come along but Terrapin crying bitterly
and saying 'Ah, my ma is dead. My old
ma has been killed. Who will assist me
now"
Miss Crane affected to be asleep, but
heard every word. When, however Terra
pin was near she woke up suddenly and
said cheerfully:
"'Ah, it is Tcrrapin, my little brother
Terrapin. How do YOU do today?
Now, as Terrapin had already slain his
mother, according to his own confession.
it struck him thar it would not do to ac-
cuse Miss Crane, because by doing so he
would expose his breach of faith with her.
but the scent of the roasted flesh came strong
just then and he knew 1t was Miss Crane
who, discovering his trick, had killed her.
.'He managed. however. to reply briskly:
Sissy, dear. | am but tolerable. But
how is your family today?
My brother and sister are much I'M
proved, Terrapin. They are both as fat as
tallow. By-the-by what about that trade
you proposed to me"
81 am ready, Miss Crane, for trade
any day. When shall it be?
mo time so good as the present and II
you jog along to the end of the pond | VIII
fix my house here and soon catch up with
YOU
"Terrapin professed great delight"and tod
died along, but when he had gone llttlc
way his bad habit of thinking aloud came
on him and he was heard to say rs,
"My poor ma. my poor ma Is dead Ch,
Won wicked Crane | know by the scent tina t
you have killed my ma. What can l do
now|
Miss Crane knew then that she had