Evening journal., 1898-10-13
pEcKHAM's LAWN.
He ArrRnwes "a Patent Device 60 Keep
People Ia Their Places nnd
Tries IL Himself.

Tries IL Himself.
Some people arc naturally lazy. In
fact. most people are. 1t 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 laainess upon the part Of The
human race is responsible for the fact
that Ebenezer Peekham, who lives out
on Cedar avenue, had been unable TO
get good brand of sod upon the ex-
posed corner of his neat little lot.
Half a dozen extra steps arenecessary
to take one around Mr.. Peckham's cor
ner, but five out Of every six people
who have in the past had occasion TO
turn that way have felt it 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 contomptuously al
the women who violated the sanctity
ol MS toihtis buA ~ al NNhN ioi
naught. They kept right on "cutting
across" and wearing the path deeper
and deeper day by day.
/ At last Ebenezer peclSham made
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 90 feet of clothesline
and chuclSled softly TO himself.
Revenge is sweet. In his minds eye
Ebenezer Peckham could see members
OF all the various grades of society
turning flipfaps and cartwheels and
standing on their heads and roofing
up the turf. He thought Of inviting o
few friends around to see the fun. but
that would involve delay, and he
couldn't wait.
It 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
stakes into the ground so far that a
horse might have pulled at either Of
them without disodging It, and then
he tied his piece OF clothesline across
the path that had been worn into his
little patch of lawn. The rope was
about six inches from the ground
just high enough 10 trip a trespassci
going or coming.
"Now, gol durn YOU" said Mr., Peck
ham, rs he finished the job. ''we'll see
how you like thatl guess mayh,
there's more than one way OF doing
most things, but think this'll be gooS
enough for me-"
The nhe retired to his porch and sa
down in dark corner. from which h,
could see the fun, without being seen
, "ny George" he said to himself, at
? n shame not 10 let anybody else en-
J Joy this. wish Dave Brimmer com
. be here. He'd split himself wild
? open laughing. Dave would just tax
| to this sort Of thing. Iwonder-"
e But while Mr.. Peckham was indnlf
r ing In his mental talk there came
sudden changing Of bells and rnttlin
of wheels, and somebody around th
corner yelled: "Firei"
Ebenezer Packham leaped clea
: over the railing Of hisporch and start
ed for the connagration. The sight 0
sound Of a fire engine always arouse
the sleeping youth in Mr.. Peckhau
Like an eagle IN his flight he swer
around the lilac bush near the sid,
walk, and then there was display q
+ pyrotechnics beginning with soai
Ing rocket, continuing with n sort q
pinwheel movement, embracing a bri
liant shower Of stars, and ending wit
low, plaintive groan. as Mr.. Peel
ham, with dislocated shoulder.
nose that had been doing special dut
as a plowshare, and trousers that ha
once known their proper place, role
over on the grass.
They put him tenderly to bed; kin,
! hearted neighbor pulled mp the stake
and people come and go across th
Pcckham lawn again at their pleasur
7, Cleveland Leader.
I
a White tynsf, Wells