Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-01-12

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81 e0"S rePy ep '"PspF' lerf'
| angleworm, and his enjoyment was
enhanced by the fact that his beauti
| full German wife, who usually declined
to interest herself in anything which
she even suspected of q connection
with science, was seated beside him
giving eager little pressures to hi:
hand and uttering a pleased eXclama
ton, in her pretty foreign accent
whenever the toad made an extra
effort.
The fact was that she, while cutting
roses, had been the one to see the be
ginning Of the contest, and felt the
proper pride of discoverer. The
toad had been sitting still, looking as
if carved by q japanese artist, and
giving no sign that it saw anything.
The worm gave little wri9gle as il
began to come out of the ground, when
quick as q flash, the toad made q leaT
and seized the end of the worm in its
mouth.
Then began tug-of-war. Every
time that the toad gave a pull, the
worm drew back. But the toad was
not to be discouraged. It jerked and
jerked until it fairly stood on its hind
legs Still, it could not dislodge the
worm.
At this interesting point a train
whistled.
''Why, Selma! !" said the professor,
"there is the train already. I had
quite forgotten that I must so the city
to-day. Where is my hut?"
600 wait an instant, dear Just see
what that toad is doing" she ans
wered, holding him back.
He glanced down and saw the toad
twisting its leg about until the worm
was wrapped twice around it, then the
toad gave a hop, and out came the
worm.
This had been too fascinating 6
spectacle to the unwary professor.
He dashed into the house and back
again, kissed his wife, and, with 4
regretful glance at her rippling hair,
and soft blue eyes, started off.
Suddenly he rushed back.
"Why, dear" he cried, 81 forgot to
tell you that that Mr. Smith, the Ca
madam, who wrote the paper on
bacteria, will be here this afternoon
to stay a day or two. He may come
before / am back.
She clasped her hands in mock
despair. ''But what shall do with
him % she walled; ''you know [ can
not talk science and pollywogs '
"Oh, don't be alarmed. He ism
so very dried up. Just let him have a
good soaking in bath-tub. Then he
will come out perfectly human and
happy. He's an Englishman, you
know" and the professor, with a
laughing glance at his little wife's rue
full expression, threw dignity and his
coat-tails to the winds as he madly ran
down the street, looking likH great
black bird of prey" as Mrs Botkine
laughingly remarked to herself.
But she grew sober as she thought
how ruthlessly science and scientists
seemed to dog her unwilling footsteps.
Her husband certainly loved her, but
he had way of becoming utterly
absorbed in his studies, and then burst
ing into her reflections with remarks
which sounded positively ghoulish,
He had appeared only yesterday in her
own private sanctum carrying a 'hor-
rid snake" by the tail, and, although
he had not yet reached the pitch of
Professor Agassiz-who was said to
have consigned infant serpents, for
safe-keeping over night, to his wife s
boots.-she did not know where his en-
thusiasm might lead.
I'm half afraid to go to Sleep" she
had roguishly said to him one night.
'I'm afraid that your deepest interest
even il me is only scientific, and l be-
ieve you are capable of cutting me
open to see what queer thing there is
in my heart that love such bookish
old bear with
''NOw here was this Canadian com
ing! And how was she to be properly
interested in his old bacteria and not
disgrace her husband by betraying her
ignorance on the subject?" she asked
herself
Manifostly, he must take bath, and
everything possible must be done 10
make that bathroom attractive, so that
he should stay there as long as posi-
bic. She went upstairs, and with her
own dimpled hands get down new
cake Of perfumed soap. She eyed it
critically. Perhaps his severe scien-
titic mind would be disgusted with
such efeminate luxury. Perhaps
who knew?-he might discover even
in it the presence of bacteria! She
had heard it said that man with a
theory finds examples of it's truth in
everything about him. Never mind
She would place beside it cake OF
white castillo and ono of tar soap.
Then, whatever his tastes, he must be
pleased. She put the alcohol and a
cologne bottle within easy reach; got
out smooth and rough towels and a
bath blanket; saw that the shower
bath worked and with ssigh of relief,
went down stairs to impress the cook
thaS during the entire afternoon there
must be plenty Of hot water in the
boiler.
Suddenly happy though struck
he-; she W ent into her husband S study
and brought out every book on bae-