The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-02
Jericho Bob.

Jericho Bob. when he was four years
OLD. hoped that one day he mlgu oe
allowed to eat just as much turkey as
he possibly could He was eight now
but that hope had not been realized.
Mrs. Jegcho Bob his mother, kept hens
for living, ana she expected that they
would lay enough eggs in the course Oh
time to help her son to an independent
career as bootblack.
They lived in q tumbledown house in
waste of land near the steam cars, ana
besides her hens Mrs. Bob owned goat.
oar story has, however, nothing TO do
with the goat except TO say he was there,
and that he was on nibbling terms, not
only with Jericho Bob, but with Bob
bosom friend, julius Caesar Fish, ana
il was surprising how many old hat-brlns
and other tidbits OF clothing he could
swallow during a day.
As Mrs Bob truly said. is was no earth
ly use to get something rev Tor 5efieno,
even IL she could afford IT,; for the goat
browsed all over lin. nd Lad been
known to carry away even leg OF MS
Jericho Bob was eight years old, and
the friend of his bosom. julius caesar
Fish was nine. They were both OF a
lovely black tallow-dip couldn't take
the kink out of their hair, and the hard
est whipping did not disturb the even
cheerfulness of their spirits. They were
so much alike that If it hadn't been for
Jerichos bow-legs and his turn-up- nose,
you really could not have told them apart;
A Kindred taste Tor turkey also uii'eo
them.
In honor of Thanksgiving Day Mrs Bob
always sacrificed hen which would, but
for such blessed release. have died OF
old age. One drumstick was given TO
Jericho whose interior remained an I'M
satisfied void.
Jericho Bob had heard Of turkey as
fowl. sweeter and more tender than men,
and about Thanksgiving time he would
Iinger around the provision stores and
gaze with open mouth al the noble array
of turkeys hanging, head downward, over
bushels OF Gran berries, as II even al that
uncooked stage they were destined Tor
one another And turkey was his dream.
IL was spring time, and the hens were
being a credit 10 themselves. The goat
i'm the yard, tied 10 a stake, was varying
a meal OF old shoe and tomatocan by
nibble of fresh green grass. Mrs. Bob was
laid up with rheumatism.
Jericho Bob'!' she said to her son,
shaking her red and yelloT turban al
him, "Jericho Bob, you go down an,
fetsh de eggs today IF find yer doh't
bring me twenty-three Tll-well. never
mind what III do, but yer won't like
it,"
Now, Jericho Bob meant to be honest.
but the fact was he sound twenty-four,
and the twenty-fourth was so big, so re-
markedly big
Twenty-three eggs he brought 10 Mrs.
Bob but the twenty-fourth he sinfuly
LEFT in charge of the discreet hen.
On his return he met julius caesar
Fish, with his hands in his pockets and
his mead eXtinsuished by his grandfath-
err FUR cap.
Together they went towerd the hen
coop and julius Caesar Fish spoke. or
rather lisped the had lost some of his
front teeth:
Jericho Bobth, tina tn turkey'th
egg"
Eyer don't say so?'
II thing Eth a-g0in ter hatch" No
sooner said than they heard a pick and
peck III the shell.
Pick more beak. Crack" a funny
little head. long bare neck, and then
"Plck, Pecki Crackr' before them stood
the funniest. tiutfiest brown bah resting
on two weak little legs.
"Hooray!' shouted the woolly heads