The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1893-03-03

All of a sudden the sound Of many
feet attracted his attention.
Confused cries of Catch him! Catch
him." broke upon his ears.
He turned aud saw a crowd Of peo-
pie. Some had canes and some brooms.
Here was a man with the fire shovel.
there one flourishing the tongs- Some
were without hats; some were strug-
CLING into their coats.
Catch him! Catch him." was the
cry of all.
'Gentlemen, gentlemen" cried the
vendor, spreading out his arms. But
one Of his own adjectives, whiZzing by
his ears, warned him that expostula-
tion was vain. He seized ms pack and
ran.
Catch him! Catch himr' cried all
the townspeople.
Down the narrow streets he lodged,
threw the broad streets he flew, pelted
from behind, painting for breath. But
the vendor was still man of resource.
He had now got fairly out Of town
lie sPied vacant marshy plot cbose by
the road. Into il he flew, and set his
goods before him in the manner of a
stockade, until only his head appeared
above the top thereof
The vendors conduct fairly took
away the breath of the townspeoplc.
How strangely he looked peering over
his adicctives.
'Gentlemen," he said, Il am peace
able man. In what have / offended"
There was a confused DIurmur, and
then one man stood forth 70 act as
spokesman for the rest lie was an
erect gentleman and prim also. al
though at present some what rufficd by
his late eXertions
You have made n jabbering goose Of
my daughter" said the gentleman
And Of mine
And 81 mine, " shouted voices from
the croVSd-and the vendor was obliged
% dodge down behind his stochadc o.
avoid the sdjeetives that descended
upon him.
The gentleman waited for him o. ar-
pear
And a gibbering maniac q my son.
he continued
Here the uproar was 80 great that
the prim gentleman sized a hrosm
and waved the towuspeopIr into order
he vendor, leaning his head up1n
his hand, observed the enemy with has
bright eyes
How much viii you takeyr said the
vendor, finally.
Take his head. " said one voice.
Take his money" said another.
Take his pack" saLi a third
''llis tongue said a fourth. and al
the towuspcople spoke az once.
The prim gentleman lost his temper.
He laid about INN with his broom. Hut
for every blow he gave hc got one Ina
return.
The vendor saw his chance. lie
seized the whole stOcludc with both
his hands and hurled IL at the enemy.
For a moment the Sky was darI-cncd-
Catch him. Catch him." cried the
townspeople. But their voices became
mufiled and they were bent 10 the very
earth; they were bewiidered and
blinded by the shower Of adjectives.
Ii was some time before the prim
gentleman, passing his hand across his
forehead, stumbled to an upright posi-
tion.
Where am l at? Where am | at?"
he said, family.
At his feet all manner of broken OBJ
jects, false and true, fair, fantastic,
sharp, blunt, curved, straight, short
and long, lay glittering in the morning
sunlight. Around his neck he found a
twisted chain. ''You-dcar-dalling-dc
there's the sweetest ham for break
fast!'
The prim gentleman turned stiffiy in
the direction of home, whittier indeed
the chain seemed TO lead him Once
only he paused on the road.
did we catch him?" he questioned
of a neighbor.
Did we?" said the neighbor.
Did we?" cried another and another
and still another, as the question
passed on down the line of the return
ing citizens.
Rot one could answer but "A CAV and
mocking laugh rang through the air
The whole company Looked up and
then down. and To this side and to that
side, and even backward Nothing
was to bc seen.
''lt is the wind blowing from the
west, said the prim gentleman. why,
breakfast hour is at hand" and so say
ing lac hastened home.
As 10 the adjective vendor, whittier
he went, and how, twas never known
We know the wind was blowing from
the west, and we know that whether
by land or by water, whether on foot
or wing, the vendor was a shifty man.
Margaret Newcomb, in Springfield
(Mass.l Republican.