The times., 1898-07-04

but small heed to his surroundings at
such times. In one of the villages in that
neighborhood there was man-and he's
there yet, ! guess-who had a remarkable
genius for carving and modelling efigies
of animals in wood. He once carved a
wooden dog for patron, and had placed
! it on the sidewalk outside his shop to give
passers by the privilege of admiring the
| work of art. So natural in pose was the
figure. and so true to life that a vagrant
and scrappy coach dog that came along
soon afterward stopped in front OF the
wooden dog. bristled up and growled and
then pitched into the mock dog with a
savageness and earnestness that left no
doubt in the minds of those who witness
ed the assault that the coach dog was
deceived by the cunning of the artist
into believing the wooden dog real one
The coach dog did not discover its error
until ii had wiped up the sidewalk with
the image several times and Knocked its
legs off. Then the real dog dropped the
wooden dog. gazed a SECOND or so at the
shattered ruins with staring eyes and
then sneaked away with its~taiI between
| its legs, about the most ashamed and
sheepish-looking dog that ever found it
self detected in foolish business
This artist in wood carving got an or
der from a Reading harness maker one
time. about twenty years go. to chop out
lfe-Size bay horse, which the merchant
wanted as a sign in front OF his store
The horse was TO be built standing at
rest, in an easy horse-like pose and TO
| be mounted on four large, easy-running
| casters, so that II could be moved in and
out Of the store with the least possible
amount Of wear and tear on the clerk
This order was executed to the letter,
and in a manner that excited the wonder
and admiration Of all who saw It. 1t was
so natural, some one declared that If
the wooden horse had neighed il wouldn't
have been any more than one might have
expected from it. This masterpiece was
stored in a shed to await the pleasure of
the Reading merchant.
about that time Uncle Joe Sheester
/ tied his old mare Betsey az the tavern
hitching post one evening and took his
usual place in the barroom 10 WOO con-
VITALITY While he was thus engaged
some of the boys We're seized with an
idea that they thought had promise of
particularly brilliant results. and they
Immediately proceeded TO carry il out
They surreptitiously removed the wooden
horse from the shed put the saddle and
bride on II, led Betsey to the shed and
shut her in and tied the counterfeit pre-
sentiment of a horse 10 the tavern hitch
ing post The night was dark About 10
o'clock Uncle Joe came out of the tavern
| with a large cargo aboard. Some OF the
/ boys helped him on the horse. united the
! halter as they always did with Betsey,
| and put the reins in Joes hands. Joe
I had submitted 70 all this mechanically.
as was his habit, but when he straight
ened up in the saddle, and Betsey did not
| dash away, he sat a moment speechless
with establishment and then slappng his
! leg with one hand exclaimed in tone of
maudlin despair:
My alt Petsey iss palky nit me. py
shing,
Wait, Uncle Joe said one Of the
! jokers. IN lead Betsey a ways, then
she'll go all right
The road from the tavern was wide
! and smooth. and had a steep, straight
| descent just beyond the tavern of 200
! feet or more. At the bottom of the hill
! was a level stretch of a few yards, when
| the road raised another hill to the level
| country beyond The wooden horse was
| pulled along until it was well started
| down the hill and then left to itself. II
| kept right on. and as it increased its
| speed Uncle Joe gave a whoop of delight.
| Two or three of the boys ran after the
| horse to note the climax of the joke and
| its effect on Uncle Joe. The wooden horse
| on wheels sped down the steep. hard hill.
! scooted across the level space at the bot
! tom, and started up the ascent on the
| other side. There its speed of course
| soon decreased. and the horse at last
| came to a standstill. Just a moment
! it was quiescent. and then began back
| ing down the hill, and stopped on the
J level at the bottom. IT was plain that
| Uncle Joe was dumfounded- He sat still
! a moment in the saddle, and then scram-
| bled to the ground. He passed his hands
up and down the horses legs and then
exclaimed:
She iss tet! Ny alt Petsey iss tet.
! shift und shtrait in her shoes, yet!
| Udderwice, de witches has her. alrettyr
"Joe's alarm over the strange situation
sobered him up somewhat He started
| back toward the tavern. Anticipa ting
this, the jokers had removed Betsey to
| her place at the hitching post. Presently
| Uncle Joe appeared there, putting from
! his hard pull up the hill. Before he
| could report his astounding discovery,
| Betsey greeted him with a whinny of re-
cognition. Joe stopped short. and for
| full minute stared at the mare with
| bulging eyes, while she stamped impa-
! tiently. Then he sank down on the tav-
| ern steps and threw his hands in the
| air.
My ait Petsey shift set in TO holler,
! alretty,' he moaned, unit my alt Petsey
| alife unit vinnerin' here on tie hiA, yitl
TIE witches sure hass my a11 Petsey,'
while Uncle Joe was bemoaning the
| possession of his mare by witches the
/
| from the hollow. As it was run up in
| frint of the tavern one of the boys said:
I knew that wooden horse was as
natural as life. but l didn't think it was
natural enough 10 get up and run away
''Uncle Jose rose from the steps. He
looked at the wooden horse moment.
| Then ne united Betsey.
| Ven l git me so l don'd ken tell my
alt Petsey from a bainted hoppy horse.
yit,' he exclaimed, ten l sign te bletch,
| py ching!'
"Joe mounted Betsey and away they
went in the old-time fashion. But they
didn't go straight home this time. Uncle
| Joe rode to the justice of the peace of the
| township and, routing him out of bed,
made him draw up a stiff and strong tee
| total affidavit. Joe signed ii there and
| then, and he kept 1t faithfully all the rest
| of his days"
| ic