The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-02-07

Kirby-red-rimmed as to eyes,
freckled and begrimed. He lazily ad-
justed his jeans trousers with their one
"gallus." slipped into his ragged
jacket and shuffied into his sorry
shoes.
"Git the gum remarked the head
of the family sententiOusly.
From a corner Kirby fetched q
shotgun, powder horn and shot pouch,
and delivered the same dutifully.
Come on" said Bill, adjusting his
SLOUGH hat and giving his helpmeet a
scowl as he passed out the cabin door,
followed by his hopeful.
The sun was up and gliding the
sere hill-tops. Tremulous lights
danced in the clumps Of cedars here
and there and opalescent colors
cleaned in the valley below. The
air was eager and nipping. At his
appearance William was greeted by
four motley dogs Of various grades
and descent. One, yellow-brown
fellow with u stumped tail, manifested
extreme delight, and it was plain to
be seen that he was the masters favor
lite. Come on. Simon said Bill,
delivering promi-cuous kicks to his
companions, who, with the assistance
of Kirby. were driven to the rear Of
the cabin. Simon was a queer dog.
His mother was semi-English grey
hound, known in the neighbOrhood
a. Queen, and his father was a
mongrel bulldog belonging to Jim
Montgomery up the creek. This
strange cross had produced in sturdy
Simon some remarkable qualities. He
was the fieetest dog in the whole set
t'ement. He had tireless energy and
endurance. and he could whip any
dog that he could lay eyes on. Strange
to say he was a good hunter. He
could travel FIVE miles to Bills one.
Over fences, into brush heaps, down
into gulches under fallen timber he
went this morning, poking his nose
into everything, while Bill, lame and
slightly rheumatic, shambled down
the pebbly path, followed by his
siouching son. Once in the road in
the valley. Bill headed for Crisswelrs
place. in whose ''deadening' he felt
warranted in believing he would find
rabbit or two.
He had trudged half mile when,
at turn in the road. he saw his dog
Simon driving furiously about a ledge
of rocks ON the hillside three or four
rods beyond the rail fence skirting the
highway. Simon, pioneering along
the road, had sighted queer looking
.varmint" on the hillside and in a
twinkling was over the fence. The oh
ieci upon which his vision had rested
was a alternating woOdchuck. who
reminded by the calendar that the I'd
of February had arrived, had stepped
outside his arborial abode to take
meteorological observations. He had
seen his shadow plainly delineated up
on the frosty ground, had feebly view
ell the general landscape, and with
the usual objurgation was about to re-
enter his hole to remain the customary
six weeks, when espied by Simon.
His movements were accelerated, and
as Bill cau.h: glimpse of him the
agile dog came near removing his
caudal appendage. "GrOund-hog,
Kyrb," remarked Bill. as he climbed
the fence. By this time the dog was
dancing and paving about the hole
and barking and yelping with eager
mess. Handing his shotgun to his boy
Bill got fence rail and began prying
earnestly among therocks and scraggy
bramble bushes which hedged the
woodchuck's retreat.
AT this juncture a sedate-lOOking
gentleman. well-muffied, and with old
fashioned wooden leggings tied with
green wOrsted strings adjoining his
lower limbs, and pair of saddle bags
under him, came around IL bend III the
road mounted ON white horse. So
absorbed was Bill and boy and dog, and
20 furious was the racket, the approach
OF the stranger was not noted. The
horseman refined up and sat for five
minutes watching the performance
above him, meanwhile contemplated
by the boy Kirby, whose fnitive, OBJ
llque eye had detected him. Present
" the traveller shouted, Hello, old
man, what are YOU after there?"
Bill, somewhat surprised. turned
perspiringly. and seeing wholesome
looking stranger, motioned to his dog
To quiet down. Leaning on his fence
rail and wiping his sandy chin beanl
with the back of his hand, he laconic.
ally replied to the salutation
! "Groundhog."
what do YOU want with such an