Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-16
A TW0-LEGGED RABBIT.
BY CHARLES M'ILvAINE.

If childhood's days are the happi-
est of our lives, as Dame Proverb in
her wisdom seems to have settled,
there is certainly much pleasure left
for later years in laughing at them.
1t was long ago that Tommy and
we're boys together on the old
farm, yet through all these years l
have never failed to have a good
laugh when thinking of Tommy and
his two-legged rabbit.
If Tommys name was ever
Thomas, it is not so remembered by
any living body. He was short,
pudgy, long-faced, and Irish clear
through and lengthwise Tommys
legs had no more idea of hanging
down the sides of a horse when he
rode on horseback, than would the
rockers of a cradle have of turning
any other way than up
One harvest day all were so BUSY
housing the grain, that not man or
stable boy could be spared from the
work to 90 for the ever important
tri- weekly mail, three miles away.
AS last resort, Tommy was put
upon Old Barney-one of the farm
horse pensioners, whose back was as
broad, fat and slippery as good liv-
ing could make it-and was dis
patched after it.
AS he rode up the lane and disap-
peared in the woods, the men
stopped their work to shout their
merriment at the sight. His only
stay on the horse was by an earnest
hold on the short bridle-rein for his
bare toes stuck heavenward at the
end of little legs that did not reach
to where Barney's sides began, and
were as rigidly horizontal as if they
had been nailed fast to keep him
from rocking. Nevertheless, in due
time Barney's huge form reappeared
returning through the sprout-land;
the mite of boy was protruding
from his back, and about him the
mail was tied, sashwise, in a check
cred handkerchief.
well, Tommy" asked my father,
as he rode up wearing a smile as big
as kite, did you have any trouble
finding the way?"
Not bit, sir. Sure, would
have had a bad time O. it at the
crossroads where the big tree stands
wild the pointin' boards till it, if it
hadn't been for Barney. But
Barney read the reading on the
boards, an that tould him the way
to go. An that's the way we whit
wish | was as good scholar as
Barney" -
But about Tommy's two-legged
rabbit. In those days | was tho
proud possessor of a gun, and
Tommy gloried in being loaded
down with shot-pouch, powder horn
and game bag as my humble follow
er and ammunition train, on many
a hunt over the hills of old Spring
ton Manor. One evening, just in
the dusk, accident quite as
much as aim increased Tommy's
load of game with a couple of
pheasants that thought themselves
safe quite close to such juvenile
sportsmen, and got shot for their
overcoafdence. A pair of proud
boys we were. We started home on
the dimly lighted lane through the
sproutland. Suddenly Tommy
grabbed me by the arm and excited
ly whispered; 'Seel See Lookit
therel There's a rabbit sittin' on
the tree beyantW
You're goose, Tommy" l said,
laughing. who ever saw a rabbit
sitting on a tree?"
Sure it is a rabbit" he whis-
pered There it is, sittin on the
branch. saw him move. It's a
two-legged one, an he's standin' up.
See his earsl Bang away at him be-
fore be rims. There he is on the wee
dogwood forninst you. Och, you're
blind as a dead fishl Can't you see
him2 He's as plain as the pepper
box on the table.
Tommy was pointing with all the
directness and certainty of the cross
road signboards he had declared old
Barney's ability to read. Sure
enough, there was something, look
ing in the deep shadow marvelously
ike a rabbit perched on limb
many feet from the ground. Two
legs were distinctly visible, but
there was not trace OF the other
two, well known to be the allotment
OF an ordinary rabbit The pair OF
pricked ears were undeniable.
Bang hint Shoot himl" said
Tommy, with suppressed eagerness.
Sure he's standin' on a
tree With but two legs under him.
raiscd my gun. propped myself
widespread IKE . sawbuck. hrlhtin