Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14

preached Tant' Sannie with the book
in his hand. Waldo came a step nearer,
eying it like dog whose young has
fallen into evil hands.
This book" said Bonaparte, .is not
fit and proper study for young and
immature mind"
Tant' Sannie did not understand a
word and said:
"Whatw
"rhis book" said Bonaparte. bring
ing down his finger with energy on
the cover, "this book is sleg, sleg,
davel, davel!'
Tanr Sannie perceived from the
gravity of his countenance that it was
no laughing matter. From the words
sleg and davel she understood that the
book was evil and had some connec-
ton with the prince who pulls the
wires of evil over the whole earth.
where did you get this book?" she
asked, turning her twinkling little eyes
on Waldo. Il wish that my legs may
be as thin as an Englishmans If it
isn't one of your fathers. He had
more sins than all the Katfirs in KAT
firland, for all that he pretended to be
so good all those years and to live with
out a wife because he was thinking of
the one that was dead! AS though ten
dead wives could make up for one fat
one with arms and legs!" cried Tant'
Sannie, snorting.
ut was not my fathers book" said
fhc hNv co. ,oDlvy F,,o,
loft"
"My loft! My book! How dare you?"
cried Tant' Sannie.
TT was EMS fathers. She gave 1t
me-" he muttered, more sullenly.
"Give 1t here. What is the name of
it? What is it aboutY' she asked, put
ting her finger upon the title.
Bonaparte understood.
Political economy" he said slowly.
Dear Lord" said Tant' Sannie.
"Cannot one hear from the very sound
what an ungodly book it Is? One can
hardly say the name. Haven't we got
curses enough en- this farmW cried
Tant' Sannie eloquently-"my best inn
ported Merino ram dying Of nobody
knows what, and the Shorthorn COW
casting her two calves, and the sheep
eaten up with the scab and the
drought? And is this time to bring
| ungodly things about the place, to call
down the vengeance Of Almighty God
| to punish us more? Didn't the minis
ter tell me when was confirmed not
to read any book except my Bible and
hymnboolS; that the devil was in all
! the rest? And l never have read any
other book" snid Tant' Sannie, with
vigorous energy, "and never wilt!
| Waldo saw that the fate of his book
was sealed and turned sullenly on his
heel.
$50 you will not stay to hear what l
sayw cried Tant' Sannie. "There, take
your gollity-gominy, your DEVILS
bookF she cried, flinging the book at
his head with much energy.
/ 1t merely touched his forehead on
One side and fell to the ground.
$50 ont" she cried. 81 know you are
| going to talk to yourself. People who
talk to themselves always talk to the
devil. Go and tell him all about 1t. Go,
go! Rum" cried Tant' Sannie.
But the boy neither quickened nor
slackened his pace and passed sullenly
round the back Of the wagon house.
| Books have been thrown at other
heads before and since that summer
afternoon by hands more white and
delicate than those Of the Boer wonl-
an; but whether the result Of the proc
ess has been In any case wholly salts
factory may be questioned. We love
that with a peculiar tenderness, we
treasure it with peculiar care, it has
for us quite fictitious value, for
| which we have suffered. If we may
not carry 1t anywhere else, we will car
ry it in our hearts and always to the
end
| Bonaparte Blenkins went to pick w
the volume, now loosened from its coy.
| Ell, while Tant' Sannie pushed, the
1 stumps Of wood farther into tile oven
I Bonaparte came close to her. tapped
the book knowingly, nodded and looked
at the fire. Tant Sannie comprehend
ed and, taking the volume from his
hand, threw it into the back of the
oven. 1t lay upon the heap of Goals
smoked, 1ared and blazed. and the po
litical economy was no more-gone out
of existence, like many another pool
hereto of flesh and blood.
Bonaparte grinned and to. watch the
process brought his face so. near the
oven door that the white hair on his
eyebrows got singed. He then inquired
II there were any more in the loft.
Learning that there We're. he made
signs Indicative of taking up armfuls
and tiinging them into the fire. But
Tant' Sannie was dubious. The de
ceased Englishman had left all his per.
sonal effects specially to his child. II
was all very well for Bonaparte to talk
of burning the books. He had had his
hair spiritually pulled, and she had nc
wish to repeat his experience.
She shook her head. Bonaparte was
displeased. But then happy thought
occurred to him. He suggested that
the key of the loft should henceforth
be put into his own safe care and keep
ing, no one gaining possession of II
without his permission. To this Tant'
| Sannie readily assented, and the two