Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1899-05-04

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his hand oveto examine the scratch
the broke. surface of the stone
T%Tg4t TS;stls hjI eye He gave a LOUD
"Io9Enere, Sam. Stop your laugh
ing ap<see what is inside your white
elepl<nt potato
With that keen interest in "speci-
mens' which is the natural birthright
of every Rocky Mountain boy. Sam
stepped eagerly forward.
"Geode?"
"Not muchl Nothing so common
as that. 1 never saw anything like
it..
''What do you reckon it is?"
Jim shook his head, turning the
stone from side to side and letting the
sunlight play over its surface and re-
veal its delicate beauty, for in the
heart of the common brown stone lay
a circular ribbed hollow lined with
mother of pearl and in one side of this
polished nest was cluster of crystals.
''It must be the impression of a
fossil shell" said Sam, eying it intent
ly.
"Why, yes-of course"
And jim stopped to pick up the
other half Of the stone.
eyes, here it is. Did you ever see
anything so perfect? Some spiral
thing that seems to go way down into
the stone. Just look at the coloring,
will you? Rainbow tints, every onel
And-see?- ?-here is the hole where
that little bunch of crystals was broken
out, and the inside of the shell, or
animals whichever it ISIS lined
with crystals as far down as you can
see."
"Jim, you're in luck. You can sell
it at the museum, and for a good
price, too"
''No, I shall give it to Miss Lamb
for her cabinet. I owe her something
for her starting me in business.
81 do believe jim, you'd give away
your head if it was not well fastened
on your shoulders. But come, there's $
the first bell and we must hurry
Miss Lambs admiration of the fossil
was all that he could have desired
81 cannot tell you what it is, )" she
said, "but I am sure it is something
too rare for you to give away. 1t
ought to have considerable money
value. cannot accept it from you
until have ascertained its worth. l."
"All right, then," said jim, wink
ing at Sam 'You can sell it if you
wish, aud all above s. hat it brings
you may give to me for my CHECKER
] house"
slt's bargain, s.. SAID MISS Lam a.. ?
Children's Fresh-Air fund
The following Saturday Miss Laml
took the specimen to Professor Black,
an eminent geologist.
ga turrilitel" he exclaimed, ex.
citedly. "Where did you find it?'
Miss Lamb told him the story.
''Well, well, WE'LL Now, l might
go on breaking open stones with my
geologist's hammer till the end of time
and get nothing for my pains, while
this unlettered boy, by chance blow
why, this is really the finest speci-
men of its kind that ever saw! Such
perfect fracture-the whole thing so
completed See how perfectly the two
pieces fit together-not fragment
gone
''There you are. Just common
stone again. You can scarcely see the
crack. Why, Miss Lamb, if [ had
that in my cabinet | would not take
500 for it.
''Will you give that for it?"
''Do you mean to say it is for sale?'
''Yes, the finder is a poor boy aud
would make excellent use of the
money. He is going into the chicken
business, and that sum would give
him a good start buildings and all.
[ tell you, professor, Jim Jones has
real pluck and principle" "
81 Judge so from the novel way in
which he was using this rare stone, "
giving it affectionate, professional
little taps.
eyes, I will give you $1O0 for it and
thank you very much besides.
Ihe professor wrote his check, gave
it to Miss Lamb and locked the tur-
rilite in his choicest cabinet.
OF course Jim could hardly believe
his good luck, but you may be sure
he was quite reconciled to it. By the
time his modest chicken house was
finished and dozen glossy black
Langshans strutted proudly in their
grassy run the old Brahma was off
with ten healthy chicks and was given
the most comfortable quarters and the
choicest food that the yard afforded.
Miss Lamb and Sam Simmins were
invited on special Saturday to in
spect the new buildings and stock.
They both smiled when they saw a
neat arch over the gateway upon
which was painted;