The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-19

wig Vaughn that finger of hers in the
Ecunnin' little way she has, an divil a
fsniile on her face 'You-are-a-great-
says 1, not KNOWN what she was
drivin' at
: You told me a lie she says.
=" No. ma am. says l. / never tell
no lies
"'You just said that you can train
rabbits to do tricks she says.
:" Yes. ma'am, an that's right,
too says I.
"'Oh, you awful big storyteller,' she
says. You told me you'd never seen
a rabbit
she had me there, sure enough.
II thought you meant rabbit
like Nellie there says 1, at last, when
l could get my head thinkin' free; an
pointin' to the squirrel, I can train
that kind O. rabbit dead easy. I don't
know no other kind
THE kid don't say nothin' for min
ute. She just looks at Nellie, an then
at me an thinks.t Just about that time
I'm dom pile of thinkin' myself.
." She's picture thinks, an I'm
an old scamp to lie to her when she
takes my worst lies for gospel truth
was just maxim UP my mind to make
break for it an own up to the truth
when she says to me: What's your
name?'
"'Jo, ma'am,' says I, kind o. sur
prised at hearin' the truth from my
own mouth. Mother says 1 mustn't
call soldiers by their first names She
says, What's your other name?' 'Ra-
ven, ma am says 1, sayin' unto myself,
and that's another lie, though this one
don't count
We'll, Raven, said the kid, I'm
goin' give you-a-rabbitr Thank ye,'
says l, wonderin' what was comm
t. An -you-to-teach-it-
tricks says she. Sure, ma am says 1.
. 'An-to-stand- on-its- head, she says.
Me. ma'am, says 1. Don't be silly
she says. e-rabbit-te-stand-
on-its-own-head.' No. ma AMI mean,
yes, ma'am,' says 1, thinkin' o the con-
trac' before me, if she ever did give me
a rabbit.
well, goodbye, Raven she says,
gettin' up an holdin' out a little hand
about as big as my thumb. 1 took it
between my thumb an finger, scared
to death I'd break it. Amt you goin'
to kiss me?' she says. She did for a
fac, sir, an I'll be da- blamed, 1
mean. if the little lady didn't smack
ME on my ugly old mug. She did for
fac. 1 told her she mustn't do that;
her mummy wouldn't like it; but she
says all right. She liked me, she said.
q DO a lot Tor that kid.
Goodbye she says. I feel sorry
for you. Goodbye, ma am says /,
thinkin' she don't feel half as sorry for
me as does for myself, pervidin' I has
to teach a rabbit to stand on it's head.
That was the day afore yesterday.
Yesterday she comes up to me with a
bit of a basket in her hand. Mornin',
Raven she says. 'Mornin', ma'am,'
says l. How long will it take you to
teach rabbit to stand on it's head?'
she asks. Bout a year. says I.
What% she squeaks in a high little
voice. That fetched me. Guess 1
cd do it in a month, ma am, if 1 tried
very hard 1 says, thinkin' 1 was safe,
as there was no rabbit comm, anyway.
"A months an awful long time, she
says; but if it's the best you can do, I
s'pose ii can't be helped, and she lifts
up the lid of the little basket an hauls
out his nibs here" and the old man
took the bunny from his Shirt and held
1t at arms length, with a hopeless ex-
preston on his face. AN / have to
train that there animal to stand on
its head in a month or forfeit my job
an lose my reputation for tellin' the
truth. If don't do it, my names Den
mis- with the kid, that's dead sure.
Stand on yer head, you CROCODILE"
he roared at the rabbit, as he turned
u.
Stop yer wigglin' now, an I'll balance
We on my hand. if it takes a year.
Steady now. Whoo-oop. Ye would.
would YEP" he said, catching hold of
the rabbit as it tried to squirn out of
its uncomfortable position. well. if I
turn you topsy turvy any more you'll
die of water in the brain, am then what
'ud the little lady say? You'd better
git into yer house an go to sleep, I
guess" he added, as he once more put
the rabbit carefully into his bosom.
We'll, sir, I'll have to go into the bar
racks now; there's the mess bugle
blowin'. So if you'll just give me a
hand till get my crutch ready, I'll do
the same for you some time when we're
visey versey.'
He added with a laugh as he walked
off: IF you should happen fer to see
the little lady, an she asks you how
the rabbits gettin' on with its tricks.
just tell her that it's the damndest fool
rabbit you ever did see. Tell her it's a
lunatic rabbit. Tell her anything. but
try and square me. Good night, sir"
LAURANCE GRAHAME.