The National tribune., 1897-03-25

good homei was planted; it was . bright
May afternoon, and all signs of an early
Spring were on the ground and in the trees
Adoniram did not know much about these
signs, but he did understand the house
question likewise, his wife. 1t was
square frame structure, well built, 10 rooms,
two, storied, with queer, small cupoia;
painted olive-green, with red trimmings and
tiled roof; after the fashion of all country
homes, the well and dismantled bucket
was in evidence; the barn and several out
houses stood well enough in the rear.
The good man and wife took mp with the
place; they moved out bag and baggage
just as everybody else does, and settled in
the house with all those skirmishings which
begin and finish such undertakings. Now,
at this point our story really begins; We
have followed Adoniram out into the
county, where he eventually gets fairly
housed with his brood. He dusts ont the
barn, and secures a COW, and a boy to milk
and tend her; he gets an assortment of
garden tOOls-spade, rake, lawn-mower, hoes,
ETC., hires farmer to pl0w his garden plot,
and the whole family pitch in to plant seeds
and shrubs. Busy as a bee, and cheered by
the wonderful novelty, Adoniram felt as
though he was on the right track at last
In the clear sky of all this pleasure cloud
was coming up, which the happy Joneses did
not observe until it's awful shadow shut out
their sunshine quick, and without mo-
nents warning. Adoniram carried his order
and system into everything he did. Healways
put the tools up every night, and locked the
toOl-room door in the barn; then, always
out early in the morning, he usually made
a bee-line for the same, unlocking the door,
nyhow, so that the folks could get at the
implements during the day.
That particular morning which forms the
time epoch of this sketch was an uncOmmonly
hot Fourth of July dawning. Adoniram and
the little ones were all awake and stirring
at the break of day. The minor Joneses
seized their packages of hrecrackers and
torpedoes, and started out to blaze away in
front of the house on the lawn, while their
father believed that he would get hoe and
put in an hour or SO in the garden. SO, he
strolled over to the barn, unlocked the tool
room door, and leisurely entered. As he
did, he was surprised by the sight of a small
black -and-whte animal, that ran across
the floor slowly away from him, where he
| stood on the door-sill. Pausing moment,
the instinct to capture this pretty creature
| possessed him, and he quickly stepped IN and
closed the door behind him. Adoniram
looked then very sharply at the beast; the
beast looked at him, and showed no sign of
| trepidation. The more Adoniram looked at
! it, the more he became pleased with the idea
| of capturing it, and thus adding another
object of interest to his country home. 1t
| had such glistening soft, silky hair, and
| such beautiful brush-like tail-like a
feather duster it looked so gentle and in
| telligently at him out Of its mild black eyes.
| Still, he was man enough to think Of Mrs.
Jones, and that possibly she might not want
another pet; the cow, the chickens, the
pigeons, the dog, and the cats were all on her
mind now as well as the children. "Tll ask
| Ellen to come out and look at this cute little
| fellow" said Adoniram to himself; there
upon he softly reopened the door, stepped
out, and shut it tightly after him
His story aroused the good wife's curiosity
so promptly that she Immediately finished
dressing. With her he hurried back to the
barn; pausing moment to instruct her how
to follow and step in quickly as he opened
the door, they entered. The animal showed
no fear Of them, only drawing off to the
opposite side of the room. Mrs. Jones was
soon eloquent in her desire to have the
"pretty squirrel for a pet, and while they
were discussing what sort of cage they
would improvse to put it in, three or four OF
their children came tapping at the door.
They wanted to know what was up.
LET them in" Adoniram," said Ellen
they want to see what we sect WON'T
hurt them" The door was opened, and the
young Joneses stealthily slipped in, but
close at their heels.
What followed words can but feebly de-
scribe This dog, nervous fox-terrier
made single yelp and bound toward the
new found object of attention-then an ex-
plosion took place that beggared the stun
ming power of gun-eotton. The air was
thickened instantly with horrible fumes
that fairly shut off the breath of the amazed
and stricken human witnesses Choking
and blind, Ad0niram managed to wrench
open the door, and the whole family stag
gered out into the air, each and every one o.
them trying to speak but utterly voiceless
Adoniram had received, with his family
an internal discharge from the batteries O
| skunk.
What did they do? They had to stril
off most all of their clothes, and bury them
That fearful odor hung heavy over their
place aud the immediate neighborhood 70,
seven long days and nights; then it only
abated because storm Of wind and raiI
pelted it away.
That 4th of July was celebrated with Z
vengeance by Adoniram and his brood. i
was day Of abject misery to him and all o
his kind. The children refused to be com
forted; the dog tore all over the place
burying his nose in the earth at frequen
intervals; even the chickens and the Gov
declined to eat.
1 When Adoniram dressed for his regula
trip to town the next morning he wa
unusually particular to get an extra amoun
of cologne on his shirt and outer garments
vet the Messrs. Blossom snifed and sniffet
many time during the day, and severa
times expressed the idea that there was
queer smell somewhere. Finally, he fount
| his associates all turning to him, with paine,
looks of silent inquiry. He could stand
no longer. He made o clean breast Of hi
misfortune, and he became the comical her
of the store instantly when 1t was confessed
Tears rolled down the cheeks Of his asso
ciates as they laughed over his halting ye
definite details. His employers followet
the fun mp by procuring copy Of Audo
bon's Mammals, beautifully bound; thi
they presented to the blushing bookkeepel
with an affecting expression Of their good
!. will, together with the hope that he woul'
study that chapter which related to Mephite
and then be sure that Mrs. Jones and tn
, children thumbed those pages, too.
, 81 want to say, Ellen" remarked Adoni
ram. several months after this particula
, | 4.;oi Gtbot T om WILLING tn admit that W