The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-01

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
(Author of Uncle Remus.)
Copyrighted, 1894, by the Author)
PART IU-MR. THIMBLEFlNGER
AND HIS FRIENDS.
81 hope you are not tired said Mr..
Tbinblefinger to Sweetest Susan when
they had been on their way for some
little time Because if you are You
can rest yourself by taking longer
steps"
Buster John was ready to laugh at
this. but he soon discovered that Mr..
Thimblefinger was right He found
that he could hop and jump ever SO
far in this queer country, and the nTSl
use he made of the discovery was to
Jump over Drusilla's head. This he
did with hardly any effort After that
the journey of the children. which had
grown somewhat tiresome (though
they wouldn't say so,) became frolic.
They SKINNED along over the gray
fields with no trouble at all, but Dru-
siila found it hard to retain her bal
ance when she jumped high. Mr..
Thimblefinger, who had a reason for
everything, was puzzled at this. he
paused awhile and stood thinking and
rubbing his chin. Then he said that
either Drusilla's head was too light
or her heels too heavy-he couldn't
for the life of him tell which.
There was one thing that bothered
the children. If Mr. Thimblefinger'
house was just big enough to ut MIN
las Buster John expressed III how
could they go inside? Sweetest Susan
was so troubled that she asked Drusli-
la about it. But Drusilla, shock her
head vigorously.
Don't come akin me-" she cried.
CT done toll you all right pine blank
not ter come. Eff de house little like
dat creetur is what you gwine do when
night come? En- den spozen pom top
er dat dat big rain come up? On,
IoT YOU TO you started Who in de
name e- sense ever hear talk er folks
gwine down in a spring? You mought
er know'd sump'n gwine to happen.
Oh. l tor your
There was no denying thls' ana
Sweetest Susan and her brother were
beginning to feel anxious when an eX-
clamation from Mr.. Thimblef1nger
attracted their attention.
I'VE are nearly there he shouted.
Wonder is the house. Ny! won't the
family be surprised when they see
you
Sure enough there was a. house, and
it was not a small one. either. Drusilla
said it looked more like a barn than
house. but Buster John said it dion
make any difference what 1t looked
like so long as they could rest and get
something to eat, for they had had
no dinner.
7 hope dey got sho huff vittles-
pct ticker an dUmplin's, an sum II You
kin fill up wild said Drusilla heartily.
Mr. Thimblefinger, who had been
running a little way ahead suddenly
paused and waited for the children TO
Come to think of it," he remarked.
'syou may have heard of some of
my family. / call them my family, but
they are no kin TO me. We just live
'aThey are not fairies?' suggested
Sweetest Susan.
Mr.. ThinbIefinger shook his head.
"Oh, no, Just common, everyday peo-
pie like myself We put on no airs.
Did you ever hear Of Mr.. Meadows?
And Mr. Rabbit? And Mrs. Rabbit"
Dem what wuz in de tale?' asked
Drusilla.
Yes said Mr. Thimblefnger. "the
very same persons"
.ssho huff" exclaimed Drusilla.
why, we been hear talk er dem Sence
10 we wuZ knee high
Sweetest Susan and Buster John said
they had often heard Of Mr. Rabbit
and Mrs. Meadows. This seemed TO
please Mr.. Thimblefinger very much.
He smiled and nodded approval
Did they ever have you in a story?"
asked Buster John
mo, nor replied Mr.. Thimblef1nger.
Il was so little they forgot me-" He
laughed at his own joke, but il was
very plain that he didn't relish the
idea of not having his name in a book.
Presently the children came to the
house. but they hesitated at the gate
.Sand stood there in fear and trembling.
What they saw was enough to frighten
them. An old woman was sitting in a
chair knitting She was not -=ferent
from many old women the children
l. L IL -
big as a man. He was tremendous
creature, grizzly and grey. and watery
eyed from age. He sat in a rocking
chair smoking his pipe.
Lets 20 back whispered DrUsilla.
Dat ar cretur' bigger dan a boss. Eff
he get a Gimp un US we er gone
gomez
Sweetest Susan shivered and looked
at Buster John, and Buster John look
ed at Mr. Thimblefinger. But Mr.. Thin
blefnger ran forward crying:
'Howdy. folks, howdv? I've brought
some friends home to dinner" He heck
oned to the children. Come on and see
Mrs. Meadows and Mr. Rabbit
Mrs. Meadows Immediately dropped
her knitting in her lap and threw her
hands up to her head. as if to arrange
her head. Mr.. Rabbit took his pipe
from his mouth, shook the ashes out of
it and laid it on the ground by mis- chair.
the children.
yes, come in exclaimed Mr.. Rab-
bit. in a voice that sounded as if he
had a bad cold.
I'm in no fix 10 be SEEM said Mrs
Meadows, t'but Tn glad to see you
anyhow. Come right in. Take off your
things and make yourselves at home.
How did you get here? 1 reckon that
little trick tn oeen telling tales
out Of school" She pointed at Mr..
Thimblefnger and laughed.
HE brought US" said Sweetest Su-
san. I'm sorry we came
Now. don't say that remarked
Mrs. Meadows, kindly. What are you
afraid off,
''Of him. replied Sweetest Susan,
noddirg her head toward Mr.. Rabbit.
rs that all?" exclaimed Mrs. Mead
ovs. why, he's as harmless as kit
ten"
Yes, yes" said Mr. Rabbit, complac-
entity mo harm in memo harm in
old people Just give us little room
in the corner-a little place where we
can sit and poland there's no harm
in US I'm just as glad you've come as
] can be. 1 see you've brought the Tar
Baby. I see she's grown some since
] saw her last" Mr.. Rabbit looked at
Drusilla with considerable curiosity
4 hope she's not as sticky as she used
to be-"
"Heyr' cried Buster John, laughing,
.Afr. Rabbit thinks Drusilla is the Tar
Babyg'