The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-08-05

Bolero XIV, Registered
ssEUY WORTHY friend Job Jackson,

wi of Wayne county, said John
Gilbert, the travelling groceryman, has
a farm that covers great deal o.
Ground. and one of his fields is known
far and wide as the sinkhole lot, be
cause almost in the center of it is bed
Of uuicksand, or a quagmire, or some
thing of that sort, which has been
probed to the depth Of so feet withou:
any bottom having been found. For
wears Farmer jackson has dumped all
the spare stone ar other solid stuff
gathered on his farm into that pit, and
his neighbors have done the same with
similar collections from their farms,
but nothing has ever found a lodging
place in it so far as soundings have, been
able to ascertain. \ substantial board
fence in"loses this rapacious sinkhole.
to keep cattle pasturing in the lot from
walking into il and being swallowed
up. The last time my travels took me
in that neighborhood drove over to see
my friend jackson. l found him sitting
on his front porch, looking very hot and
illustrated, and mopping his face vigor-
ousIy with his handkerchief.
"'Hello, Uncle job said |. What has
happened to warm you up So?
"'.Iohn.' said he, after awhile, L don't
know how fur down he will git. but if
YOU ever should go to China and see or
hear of one chasin' red wagons around
the country there, you can make up
Your mind it's him.
This abrupt and to me incOherent re-
mark rather startled me, but Farmer
jackson didn't nave the appearance of
Il crazy man, and l sought further in
formation.
"'IIim?' said. Who is him."
"'Bolero XVI, registered replied
Farmer Jackson.
Il was on the point of telling Uncle
Job that / would drive on to town and
stop when | came back, when it seemed
10 occur to him that maybe he wasn't
making himself clear to me, and he
said:
hat blOoded Durham bull of mine.
That's who | mean by him. l bought
that bull only two weeks ago. He came
well recommended as to evenness O
temper, and the man I bought him Of
said he was so docile that he'd foller me
anywhere like kitten. / think he man
believed all he said about the temper of
that bull, but the chances is that he had
never tested it with red wagons. Ipaid
5000 for him and I've been goin' out
every day to look at him over the barn.
4 al
death over him and over myself for buy
in him. Why, | thought most as much
o that bull as | did o my new red demo-
crat wagon, and that was the flamin' est
and Gazlin'est wagon in this hull blame
peppermint belt!'
LAS | gathered the facts from Uncle
Jobs fitful narrative, the choice bull
had been on the farm week before he
knew there was a wagon of such SAN
culinary hue as the farmers new demo-
crat wagon close neighbor to him, for
Uncle Job had housed it in a shed on
account OF the snow. The snow having
disappeared, Farmer Jackson, on this
very day that | called to see him, had
hooked his team to the red wagon and
started for town. He drove out of the
shed to the road and then, for the first
time, the bull was confronted by the
wagon as it rumbled by, with the full
glare Of the sun on its belligerent glory
The bull had taken this as a challenge
and accepted il. With below that
startled the horses and shook Farmer
jackson where he sat, the bull charged
toward the road.
Bolero NNl., registered, that cost
me $500, is feelin' clipper this nice
spring day said Farmer Jackson. Jest
spirits, l s'pose.'
For the farmer had no idea that the
bull really had blood in his eye, and, be-
sides, the fence around the barnyard
was stanch and heavy. The bull struck
the fence with his lowered head and
went through it as if it had been paste
board fence and bore down with in
creased impetuosity upon the wagon
and its hated hue.
Why exclaimed Farmer Jackson.
Blamed if | don't believe that bull has
his dander up
But the farmer did not permit his
amaZeneGt at this sudden and unex-
peeted outbreak of bull temper and of
bG!i to subordinate his prudence. and he
whipped his horses to a run, thinking to
distance the bull and prevent possible
unrleasantness. He might have sue
cesded in this if the road had not turned
sharply TO the right just beyond the
barnyard. On making the turn the
wagon was brought broadside to the
bull. "nd taking short cut toward it.
the Helio"';:,% beast ran foul Of it. strik-
ing i. af2iIsh:ps. The shock was such
that Far.ner jackson was Jared from
his scat and tumbled into the ditch at
the side oftac read. The unchecked and