St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-11-11
The Broken Record
BY q. E. c. Peabody.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THE day was drowsy with sunshine,
and even Muggins, six foot two and
with the frame of giant, felt the in
iucnce of the perfect California day,
as he meditatively chewed the end OF
o lemon sucker and watched the last
load of oranges leave for the packing
house, with the Mexican Manuel
perched high on top. his tall peaked
sombrero bobbing wildly up and down
as the heavy loaded wagon jolted over
the narrow winding trail that by cour-
tcsy was called road.
Il knew hit" rumbled Muggins
from. within the depths Of his throat,
ms he saw the wagon lurch to one side
and come to a sudden stop. II knew
hit! 1 told thet miserable greaser to
look out for thet chuck hole. and now
he's in hit up to his hub!"
.yyhat is the matter, pop?
Mnggins' daughter, laden with pop
pies fresh from the mesa, rivaling the
glow of health upon her cheeks. had
come up where her father was stand
ins shaking his fist at the excited
Mannel, xho, was wildly fourishing his
whIp -
'.alstter enough" ," grumbled Muggins.
Look thar" he exclaimed, as he point
ed in the direction of the now crazy
Mexican, who was jumping up and
down in his excitement.
sStuck?" asked his daughter. shad-
ing her eyes with her hand and looking
down the road
'sWorse than a tenderfoot with 40
acres of wash, " grunted Muggins.
sWell, it serves you right! l told you
TO never trust him out of your sight. ]
never saw q greaser yet who knew
enough TO herd bees!"
'.Since when, Beth" answered her
father, drily, "has this yere ranch
been given over to pettycoat govern
ment?"
Ever since you married nom, !
reckon." she answered, demurely.
Look at him!" CALCULATED Muggins,
again pointing in the direction of the
perspiring Manuel and ignoring the
home thrust, for it was matter of talk
throughout the whole district that
although Muggins bossed all the men
within 20 miles, he himself was bossed
by his little wife, who only tipped the
scales at 100 pounds. ''See him hitchin'
up his right shoulder? Thet means thet
he is swearin' in Spanish! Thar goes
the other shoulder! He's swearin' with
United States now! Thar they both 70
together! .Thet means thet he is hold
ing an international cussin' convention!
Stop thet!" he beloved; IN knock
you on from thet thar wagin if you
don't stop beatin' thet OF hoss!"
'Pop," said Beth, taking hold of her
fathers arm and pointing on to the
southwest, do you see that bright line
along the horizon?"
aOf course! Hits the ocean! You
don't suppose, do you, tthet have lived
here IS years to be told where the
ocean is?"
"a little further on ther is an island =
continued his daughter.
'.Meanin' Catalina? ?''
Exactly. They say the goat hunt.
Ing over there IL excellent"
'.Wul, amt thar, be I?''
mo, AMI you amt down there
either,"' answered Bess dryly. pointing
at the stalled wagon. leave the
greaser alone. If he isn't able to swear
the wagon out of the rut the case i.
hopeless. How many more loads ar,
there to go?"
Thet thar reptile down thar has gu,
the end of 'em-Humph, he has go,
out at last! If he gifts thet wagor
stalled again I'll murder him!"
The last!' cried Beth, glancing un
consciously a. the rancher's clock-th,
sun. Then you are coming out shor,
on your estimate?"
mot . bit Of hit! On the contrar,
/ am coming ont with IS more boxe.
than Thought ! had"
They must have been an uncommon
tpry lot Of pickers," was Beth's com
ment-
.sThey wux," chuckled Mnggins
The fact wuz, thet I promised thu
critter what picked the most Grange,
thet he might have the honor Of III,
fest dance with We tonight when ",
celebrate the close of the pickin'."
QN you did" snapped his dangh
ten ternipg fun upon him with an an
CRY look in her eyes. "Well, all car
say il that ! hope you can deliver th'
goods: Pretty pop you are! I'd lik,
10 1ce myself dancing with greaser o.
I. .Chinnman just because he happened
@ pick the most orangesi"
ssWul, yon see" said Muggins, apollo
getieellY. 'them oranges had to b,
piclked, an ! didn't see any o.her wa,
to get them to do Mi" !"
Beth threw the poppies she Was car
ryipg npon the ground and stampes
uron- then.
II WON'T haze anything to do wltl
MI abe exclaimed.
= asked mou.s returned Nagyina