Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-07-20
A GREAT MlsTAKE..A FABLE
The Misinterpreted Oracle; or, From the
 FoOtlights to the Farmyard.

Ihe mlsln1erprebed Oracle; or, From the
 FOOtlights to the Farmyard.
 David Garrielx Softsquash was ams bilious. Experience, ripened by four and-twenty years growth had con- yinced him of the power of gold and fame. A still, small voice had whis- pered that lucky stars were in the as cendent at his birth, and that he was born to rise to higher things. Often, when the divine affiatus was upon him, the pent-up elements of his genius would cry aloud for the unattained:
 ''Oh, that 1 might shake the clay of this mortgage -plastered farm from my feet and whittle my initials on the top rung of Fame's ladder! Why soul thus aspiring, if I am to remain pie beian? This cutting corn in dog days is distasteful. My fine instincts refuse to delve and grovel Here my meat is salt pork and my vesture blue denimia
 Like ray from foxfire in the cellar came across his vision the modest an- nouncement of Madam Cullen Veris- lick. elairvoyant, seventh daughter, born with veil over her face, and to whom the future was as plain as a worlds fair portfoli9. With Haring necktie. D. Garriclz softsquash con- suited this mistress of the dark art.
 Lucky one. said she of the mystic science. glorious is your lott 4 yellow crown sits on your head, and gems gleam on your brow
 But how, how am 1 to get all these trinkets?'' implored the aspirer
 Yes, oh. yes; I see it now. the vision eomes-a great room filled with bay and managers, and in the center be- hold yourself yielding large wooden wand, which brings gold out of the straw, with noise as of thunder. s
 Garricl1 Softquash, puzzled went his way. What could she mean? At last ain idea awol1e.
 A transformer, sure as guns An actor! o Thespis!
 Forthwith he joined a troupe of stars from New York, and fed ambition bv laboring in the capacity of curtain raiser He was also to assist in getting the baggage out of the hotel so that the landlord couldn't levy on it so easily.
 Yet he yearned to rise higher.
 The manager of the troupe learned of his yearning to wear the man tie of Booth, and agreed to sell him an interest ill said mantle for five hundred dollars. His delighted mother placed mortgage on the farm, and the money was paid.
 But alas! the slip 'twiXt the cup and the lip The next morning the mana ger, in tears, informed him that the company had broken up. Then there was wandering to and fro. Having just purchased an interest in the pro- prietorship of the company, D. Soft quash was one of the heaviest losers.
 ''The poor fellow feels pretty blue, !" said the old manager of the bankrupt company, as he iammed wad of green backs in each boot, but I always look out for Number One.
 In the deepening gloom of mellow twilight, D. Garricl1 limped along the monotonous ties toward the home of his prosaic youth.
 l'Oh, why this humiliating failure? Did 1 misinterpret the clairvoyant's s vision? Let me recall it. We'll, ahi Great guns, Softsquash, you're milk sop! Eureka! She saw me in barn, with a yellow crown on my head, pearls on my brow, wooden wand in my hand, drawing wealth out of the straw with sound as of thunderl l opined l that it was barn-storming. But now see, as in glass, brightly. The yellow crown was straw hat, the pearls were drops of sweat, the wooden wand was a fail. I must haste home, for the back wheat was ripe when I left. W. q. Brooks. in The Voice.