Evening journal., 1898-09-03
pEcKHAM,s LAwN
he Arrnnges a Intcnt Device 60 Keep
People in Their Places and
Tries IL Himself.

Some people are naturally lazy. In
fact, most people are. 1t is this Unborn
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 tc
get a good brand of sod upon the ex-
posed corner OF his neat little lot.
Half dozen extra steps arenecessary
TO take one around Mr. PeclSham'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.. Pecllham put up n 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 a
vow. 1t 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 enc end
Then he secured 20 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 fliphaps 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.
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-
ticus.
So he got a hatchet and pounded his
81 axes into the ground so far that
horse might have pulled at either Of
them without dislodging it, and then
lie tied his piece of clethesline across
the path that had been worn into his
lit'le patch of lawn. The rope was
about six inches from the ground
just high enough to trip a trespasser
4 going or coming.
"Now, gol durn you" said Mr.. Peck
ham, as he finished the job, 'well see
! how you hlSe that / guess maybe
/ there's more than one way of doing
most things, but think thisll be good
enough for me-"
The nhe retired to his porch and sat
down in a dark corner, from which he
could see the fun, without being seen.
"By George" he said TO himself, its
n shame not to let anybody else en-
Joy this. / wish Dave Brimmer could
be here. He'd split himself wide
open laughing. Dave would just take
to this sort of thing. Iwonder-"
But while Mr.. Peckham was indulg-
ing in his mental talk there came a
sudden changing of bells and rattling
of wheels, and somebody around the
! corner yelledi "Firel"
Ebenezer Packham leaped clear
over the railing of his porch and start
ed for the conhagration. The sight or
sound of a fire engine always aroused
the sleeping youth in Mr.. Peckham.
Like an eagle IN his flight he swept
around the lilac bush near she side
walk, and then there was display of
! pyrotechnics beginning with soar
ing rocket, continuing with a sort OF
pinwheel movement, embracing a bril-
liant shower of stars, and ending with
low, plaintive groan, as Mr.. Peck,
ham, with a dislocated shoulder, a
nose that had been doing special duty
as plowshare, and trousers that had
once known their proper place, rolled
over on the grass.
They put him tenderly to bed; kind
hearted neighbor pulled up the stakes,
and people come and go across the
Peckham lawn again at their pleasure.
Cleveland Leader.