Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-11-23

>.vsa S2kAA~ garden for th
benefit of tn
[S neighbors' hens
and will kill on
il I CAP. Just see that-and that!"
J Her indignant finger indicated tn
tomatoes lying in red ruins at he
feet, then the ragged corn that ros
forlornly further on. The curran
bushes were still stirring where tn
last marauder had scuttled through
Sylvia suddenly smiled.
"Auntie, it's fowl theft" she said
at is-and, as I can't stop it b,
fair means, I'll try fowl" Responded
Miss Barbara, glimly, beginning witt
restrained vigor to gather up tn
peoked tomatoes and lay them on tn
grape trellis.
"Are You prepared to go to law
auntie?"
II am prepared to do anything -ol
my side of the fence. Go in to you
embroidery, Sylvia--you're of nj
use as a scarecrOw.
She waved her trowel martially,
and Sylvia fled in laughing haste.
The silence that is vocal with birds
and insects aud rustling leaves settled
over the garden, where Miss Barbara.
energetic figure babe defiance to the
tn ermometer. Charles Dudley War
ner once spent summer in garden,
and has remarked in consequence that
ho liboo n q; rhboro , Nd III, n, ob:
but he does not think they ought to
be united. Miss Barbara agreed with
him warmly. She endured much be.
fore informing her genial, easy-going
+ neighbor of the mischief his hens
! wrought daily in her garden. She had
endured more since the complaint, il
complaint it could be called, had
proved a failure, and neither faith,
hope nor charity remained to soothe
her soul. Suddenly an inquiring
"cluck" struck her ear with the effect
of an electric battery. It came from
the other side of the fence. A yellow
feathered head protruded through the
pickets. the round, unwinking eyes of
hen surveyed the premises, another
serene ''cluck" sounded, and the
plump body followed the head. Miss
Barbara cautiously arose, her expires.
sion full of martial fire.
Unconscious of impending evil the
invaders wriggled their way through
until large and cheerful company
had assembled. In pleasant expect
ancy they gathered around the laden
tomato vines. Suddenly and with
vengeful force missile descended
into their very midst. Squawking
wildly, the startled hens scuttled into
the currant bushes, under the tomato
plants, among the corr. A pause
equal to legislative deadlock fol-
lowed. Then one hen after another
cautiously emerged and presently
gravitated toward the tomato vines.
Again Miss Barbara seized ON VEN
geance and the stove wood. Stick
after stick of it few, like kind of
hail, telling upon the tomatoes if not
upon the hens. Miss Barbara was not
unaware Of the facts in the case, but
felt that if she could not kill it was
relief to try. One audacious old hen
in particular aroused this murderous
feeling. Down the grape walk, over
the beet bed, up to the door she
chased that hen and SHE'D her last
stick after it as it tapped wildly
around the corner. To her horror a
sharp ejaculation in mans voice cut
the air. Her final effort had made an,
impression, but not upon the hen.
She turned the corner hastily and be-
held stranger pressing both hands
against his battered head as he looked
savagely at her. CONSERVATION, con.
triton, modification. animated her
countenance; self.msstery slowly
Gained his.
ibid you hit one, auntie? I hope
it's that old rooster !" sounded sud-
denly from the woodshed. The face
of the stranger turned CHASTITY.
II thought it was q man lived in
the moon" he murmured. "What
made you hurl it at me?"
Miss Bsrbara's face grew white.
Was this an escaped lunatic? The
mans fading eyes frightened as they
fell upon Sylvia.
"The flowers of paradise," he whis.
pered, and threw his arms out uucer-
ta,niy. "No, it hurts too much TO
pick them" he muttered. and sank
with q groan upon the steps.
Sylvia's wide, startled eyes met
Baroara's. The latter laiti her finger
on her lips and motioned towards the
next house. Within i've minutes sew.
eral neighbors had gathered around
the. PROSTATE mas, 2 apnAEsd I'M
conscious unleAs; t6acksd, when he
evinced a thorough knowlsdgeSf box
ing. The doctor on his arrival lis.
tened to Miss Barbara's account Of the
accident with an inscrutable counte-
nance. He was calm, keen.eyed map,
whose resoiute orders soon cleared
the bpuse of superAuons attendants.
His attentions were received with in
gratitude by his patient until he held
An odroous substance near the Injured
face and said gently:
~ want to help you. i am a doctor
its all right" The dull eyes
wavered an instant on his face.
ais it? I thought it wasn't hope
You know"-with this murmured re.
Spouse the refractory patient sub
mitted to the touch Of the skillful
hands.
"aistory repeats itself. Fordham. "
The speaker, q serene-fnced mau OF
imposing presence, advanced leisurely
into tho private Office of we'll. known
lawyer in Bombay.
$50 l have heard said the latter
glancing up with a smile Of welcome.
The visitor settled leisurely into a
seat. where he received the benefcencs
o. the puDksh swung from the ceilius.
Both men wore full suits OF white
linen, thnt, despite the unutterable