Evening journal., 1898-08-18
pEcKHAM's LAWN
He Arrnnges n Patent Device 90 Keep
People In Their Places aud
Tries IL Himself.


Some people are naturally lazy. In
fact, most people are. II is this inborn
disposition to get through life with the
least possible effort that makes one
walk on the grass merely to save three
or four steps. incidentally this nat
ural laziness upon the part of the
human race is responsible for the fact
that Ebenezer Peckham, who lives out
on Cedar avenue, had been unable to
get a good brand of sod upon the ex-
posed corner Of his neat little lot.
Half dozen extra steps are necessary
to take one around Mr.. Peciham's cor
ner, but five out OF every six people
who have in the past had occasion 10
turn that way have felt il their duty to
"cut across"
Mr.. Peckham put up a keep-off-the-
grass sign, but nobody paid any atten-
tion to it-perhaps because there was
no grass left at the place he referred
TO. He upbraided the boys, swore at
the men and looked contemptuously at
the women who violated the sanctity
of his corner, but it all went for
naught They kept right on ''cutting
across and wearing the path deeper
and deeper day by day
At last Ebenezer Peckham made n
vow. II was to the effect that he
would get even with the human race
or know the reason why. In pursuance
of this determination he got two stout
stakes, each about two feet long, and
he pointed each of Them at one end.
Then he secured 20 feet of clothesline'
and chuckled softly to himself.
Revenge is sweet. In his minds eye
Ebenezer Pecl1ham could see members
of all the various grades of society
turning fliphaps and cartwheels and
standing on their heads and roofing
up the turf He thought of inviting q
few friends around to see the fun, but
that would involve delay, and he
couldn't wait.
1t was threatening rain. A tree
shut Off the range of the nearest cleo
trio light, and Mr.. Peckham's corner
was very dark. The time was propi
tious.
So he got hatchet and pounded hil
stakes into the ground so far that
horse might have pulled at either o
them without dislodging it, and thel
he tied his piece of clothesline acros
the path that had been worn into hi
little patch of lawn. The rope wa
about six inches from the ground
just high enough TO trip a trespasse
going or coming.
"Now, gol durn you," said Mr.. Peck
ham, as he finished the job, "we'll Sc
how you like thatl i guess mayb
there's more than one way of doin
most things, but l think this'll be goo
enough for me-"
The nhe retired to his porch and sa
down in a dark corner, from which b
could see the fun, without being seei
"By George" he said to himself st
a shame not TO let anybody else "a
joy this. wish Dave Brlmmer coul
be here. He'd split himself wild
open laughing. Dave would just tax
to this sort Of thing. wonder"
But while Mr.. Pecbham was indull
ing In his mental talk there came
sudden changing Of bells and rattlin
of wheels, and somebody around tn
corner yelled: "Firel"
Ebenezer Packham leaped clea
over the railing of his porch and star
ed for the confagration. The sight G
sound of fire engine always arouse
the sleeping youth in Mr.. PeclShnn
Like an eagle in his fight he sweI
around the lilac bush near the sid
walk, and then there was q display {
pyrotechnics beginning with a soa
Ing rocket, continuing with q sort ,
pinwheel movement, embracing a bri
liant shower of stars, and ending wit
! a low, plaintive groan. as Mr.. Pecl
ham, with a dislocated shoulder,
nose that had been doing special dut
as plowshare, and trousers that hs
once known their proper place, role
over on the grass.
They put him tenderly TO bed; kin
hearted neighbor pulled up the stake
c and people come and go across Il
: Peclham lawn again at their pleasur
b Cleveland Leader.