Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1894-07-12
A GREAT MisTAKE--A FABLE.
The Misinterpreted Oracle; or, From the
 Footlights to the Farmyard.

TT TI.a "sAN
 Footlights to the Farmyard.
 David GarriclS Softsquash was ann bilious. Experience, ripened by four and-twenty years growth, had con yipced him of the power of gold and fame. A still, small voice had whis- nered that lucky stars were in the as eendent at his birth, and that he was born to rise to higher things Often, when the divine afflatus was upon him, the pent-up elements of his genus would cry aloud for the unattained
 .sOh. that I ight shake the clay or this mortoage-plastered farm from my feet and whittie my initials on the top rung of Fame's ladder Why soul thus aspiring, if I am to remain pie beian9 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 denimp'
 Like a ray from foxfire in the cellar came across his vision the modest an- nouneement 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 portfolio With faring necktie, D. Garriek Softsquash con suited this mistress of the dark art.
 Lucky one" said she of the mystic science, .'glorious is your lott A yellow crown sits on your head, and gems gleam on your brow"
 siBut how, how am I to get all these trinkets?" implored the aspirer.
 .sYes, oh, yes; 1 see it now, the vision comes-a great room filled with bay and managers, and in the center l be- hold yourself yielding q large wooden wand, which brings gold out of the straw. with noise as of thunder"
 Garricl1 Softquash, puzzled went his way. What could she mean? At last an idea awoke.
 A transformer. sure as guns An actor! Thespis!
 Forthwith he joined a troupe of stars from New York, and fed ambition by 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 in said mantle for five hundred dollars. His delighted mother placed mortgage on the farm. and the money was paid
 But alas the sislip twixt the cup and the lip" The next morning the mana ger, i'll tears, informed him that the company had broken up Then there was wandering to and fro Having just purchased all 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 jammed a wad of green $ backs in each boot, 'but always look out for Number One -
 In the deepening gloom of mellow twilight, D. Garriek limped along the monotonous ties toward the home of his prosaic youth.
 ''0h, why this humiliating failure? Did l misinterpret the clairvoyant's yision2 Let me recall it. We'll, ah! Great guns, Softsquash. you're milk sop! Eureka! She saw me in barn, with a yellow crown on my head, pearls on my brow, a wooden wand in my hand, drawing wealth out of the straw with sound as of thunderl I opined that it was transforming. But now I see, as in glass, brightly. The yellow crown was straw hat the pearls were drops of sweat, the wooden wand was a fail. l must haste home, for the back wheat was ripe when l left. w. c. Brooks. in The Voice.