Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-12-24

You've got him hid" Abe saId.
Hid Ate +? ! don't see where IL
bide him In this leetle house." hi
mother innOeently answered.
Whar's he bin 10 Ills week ." Ab,
asked.
"WhIstlln' -"
He's bin somewbsr IN dls house, en-
is RwiDe 20 cit up all night en- watct
fO' him To crawl oul-"
You don gone crazy. A be his mother
told him. You go long tn bed. III
cit up"
seed The fire. board a jigglin' q
minute ago" Nose said, pointing he
hind the stove. "Mebbe he's IN dar."
Abe made dash for the chimney
and pulled down the fire board. His
mother screamed and caught him by
the tail Of his c'at, but she was ton
late; the fire.board was down, aud
there sat RAstus crossed-legged In the
SCOT aud ashes, He gave long shrill
whistle like the vent from safety
valve aud then griuned at Abe.
You tOfmented villiaU, you" Abe
yelled, ,snaking him out t"fIhe chin ney.
LET him 'IOoe, Abe 1 did IT,.
dun hill him." his mother screamed.
Bot Abe walked Rastus turkey fash
ion across the room aud put him out
Of the door. "DJn't you darst Come
back till you fetch dem two rabbit4,"
Abe said and slammed the door and
bpted t.
"D' honey'll freezs de honey'll
freeze !" his mother cried.
HE won't freezs. He's too lazy"
Abe bissed at his mother.
Rsstus picked himself up and looked
ut the closed door.
"ps do b'lieve Abe's In mad earnest
dis yere time" he said, brushing of
the snow. I'll hab to stay In de hen
coop till arter Chris'mus, en- lose my
dinnah. But mall slide me out q
dumDlin', guess"
He went to the hen coop and lay
down on some clean straw.
His mother list tened, and for an hour
she heard him whistling. But Abe
was sound asleep.
About midnight II ,stu' was awak-
ened by stealthy voices. He peeked
through knot hoie into the pig pen,
and saw his Delghbors, the Tompkins
boys, taking down the shoat from the
ceiliug, where Abe had hung 1t to
freeze.
"We'n play de same joke on Abe
what he played on us las year." LIE.
Tompkins chuckled.
dat we will," Jake echoed.
"Dls III go foe wild de rabbits" Jake
said, putting the shoat into basket.
While the boys were there, RAstus
buried his face In the straw to keep
from Whaling, A thought had come
to him. He saw the way to his
Christmas dinner.
Just after daybreaB Rastus raped
on the Tompkins door, and inquired
for Jake and Lee.
"If you don't min,' I'll take couple
o. rabbits to pay TO- de sho It you stole
of Abe las' night" he said to the boys.
"Who stole shoatP" Jake dema nded.
"You an Lee did," Rastus said.
"Yaw-yaw-yawp laughed Jake.
dat hain't stealin'. OATS q Chris'mus
joke. Abe played one on us las year,
en- jss played 1t on him dis year
see?'
"All right" said Rastus. "I'll lay
low on the subject If you'll give me
two rabbits. I'll neber tell. Abe en-
me has had trifiin' disapprehe l."
Rastus obtained the rabbits, and
went whistllng down the road. Abe
heard him coming. The family was
at the breakfast table when he entered.
"Thar's yo' rabbits, Mr.. Abe. 1
could les as Well had fOu', but yO'
didn't ask but ~ two,so Jes got two,"
Rastus said, handing the rabbits to
Abe.
Abe grinned when he saw the plump
little animals. "Them's foe. Whar
did you ketck 'um?" he asked.
Nch eoii ott hhOWSt Hbtus
said, sitting down to the table.
"Myl honey, dey am straordlnary
fine TO- pie. You's brave man."
his mother sald, admiring RAstus and |
his game.
Alter breakfast Abe went out TO |
bring In the shoat.
He came hurryIng back, screaming: |
"Help. help! Some one dun stole do
shoal soms one done stole the shoAtw
Raslus turned on him.
"Yo' long-yeared rascal, don't
b'lieve you had shoat. Yo' dun fool /
us all de time"
"'Pon my honor, had one, en- he's
gone" Abe pleaded.
"Nemmine bout the sh,at," Rastus
consolinRly laid; "ds rabbits is good
'nough TO- ma en- me. YO' en- Sam en-
No. aa.. -. ..,fsl.s.e a. 49,.