The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
WILDCATS COME AND GO.
RAISED THIS MAN TO hFFLUFNCE,
THEN SUNK MN IN POVERTY.

II Happened in the Knob Country, Whore
Blacksnakes Grow Big and Hungry and
Swift, and BenefactOrs Of n Township
Sometimes Have to Go without Their
Tobacco 90 Vain Consolation offered.
MILFORD. Pa. July ST was scttin' in the
grocery over to the Eddy" said the man from
the Knob country. "talkin' to Eli and Jonas.
when the man come in. None Of us hadn't
never seen him afore. and he looked to me Jest
like feller who had been 'tendln stone frolics
and barn ralsin's pretty steady for q week or
so. and hadn't missed n single passin' OF the
Jug He sot down on q kit o. macker'l first. but
Simeon told him he'd have to git off o. that.
cause he was gon' to count some mackerl
out OF 1t fore long. and 30 the stranger clum
on to flour bari and sot there. was settin'
on a SOAP box. Ell was on the cracker bar'l
and Jonas was chawin' tobacker and Within
stick on the counter. Simeon was Jest
DRAWN a pint O. 'lasses when the stranger
says:
jest lost 500 he says. and done this
township big favor in dom 1t. too
Provldin' the township finds it, says,
sort o GRIMM at the Teller.
No. he says, not providin' the township
finds it. The township has found 1t already.
he says. But 1t leaves me mighty poor,
want to tell youn he says
Simeon got through DRAWN tho pint o.
'lasscs Jest then. and he riz up
49, II this here township has found your 500 ;
he says. don't know nothin' about it. but
she'll give 1t up II she S got 1t. he says.
Cause Simeon was Town Clerk. and he
knowcd what he was talkin' about.
Well, says the stranger. what mean to
say is. the township has only found my $40 as
1t were. Only as 1t WERE. he says But what
l also mean to shy is that they was the biggest
and sasscst and persistinest snakes ever
heerd Oh or see he says. and took to wildcats
like chickens to corn. he says.
Then Jonas quit within shut up his knife
and put it in his pocket, give the stranger sort
OF n skcery look. and started for the door.
Coin home, Jonas 2 says Simeon
Thought / would: yes SAYS Jonas.
The tobacker was five cents. says Simeon.
Cause Jonas was amazin' forgitful. and
things was always slippn' his mind. so if
simeon hadn't a logged it about the tobacker
the chances was that Jonas would gone clear
home without recallin the five cents that was
comm to Simeon for it. SO he says:
Why. consarn it. SO ii was. and he came
back and sot on the counter and went to
Within again. The stranger On the flour
bari hadn't seemed to notice ncthin. but |
guess he must a took in little OF It, for he says:
They took to wildcats like we'll he says.
like I'd take to tobncker II could git chaw >
he snys.
But Jonas was so busy whttl4' that he
didn't hear him. and by and by Simeon says:
I'd like to have this matter of the 800 and
this here township sort o settled says he.
This here township mustn't be suspicion cd o
keepin' no $40 that don't belong to herr!
Squire says the stranger, and Simeon
cooled down considerable and looked pleased
when he heord himself called Squire. cause
he was layin his pipes to be elected Squire.
and it sounded good Squire says the
stranger they was the biggest. the sassiest.
and pcrsistin est snakes ever ec,and they took
~ "'usa9 ny nc s'' , ne p""scu
there and cast his eye sort o lonRin'-like over
to'rd Jonas. but Jonas kept right on Within
and the stranger won't IN and s,y.". IT,,
chickens to corn, bnt I conId see Jis,nn,int.
ment stckn' out all over him. Squire, saw.
he. and simeon smiled and nodded 4 w,s
driyin, thrnngh th" deem wnada ' hont was
couple o. mile or more. and | hecrd n noise
'Iongside the road that sounded queer. 1
draTed W ny hosS r and got out to sort, O in
Ter STUMP. aad went VI to rs stSpn pFsffd
there. squenlin' and cawin They was pretty
nigh as big as tame cats groved
bounty 3 q Ssaa on xIcots Ths ssys
boiler stump" saws ]. that's pannln out
pretty toler'b bic" says l. and lugged the nine
kittens. kickin. and squawlin' ana scrntcnin''
to'rd the wagon | hadn't gone far with EN-.
though. when the mother Of the litter came
a-rippin' and trarin' out o. the woods and
made for me with hcr eyes full o. fire Til"
only thing could do 10 prevent n fight was 10
sock her full o pistol balls. and done it
80" Twice ten is twenty" | SAYS II guess
my folks won't have to stay home from the cir
Gus this year, says. and tum bled the old
cats carcass into the wagon and plt the nine
down as meek as mice and | ioe9ed The I'D
nile says the stranger when I happened to
after me in the road like a hurricane e'"''''
"'"That can't be n snake, Kin il ?" saysI
shadin' my eyes and scannin' tho road iii
wiggles like one, :" says |, but It can't be that
there's a snake anywheres in this country as
biz ms that outside OF n menagprie'' snys
But squirrel says the stranger, I WINS
wrong There was one snake as Big as that
outside OF a menagerie anyhow. and it was
the whip on tho old boss and put him on the