The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-25
PLANTATION PAGEANTS.
Continued.

By JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
1899, by Joel Chandler Harris.

him how Mr.. Bobs could set a crow to
catch a crow. He said the same plan had
been practiced for many long years. He
had heard his father, Ben Ali, tell about
Il Indeed. the probability is that out of
this practice the saying, "Set thief TO
catch thief had arisen, for nobody
could trust thief to catch a thief unless
the first thief was securely fastened.
But Aaron, on his side, had something
mite as interesting 10 tell the children
From a negro whom he knew he had
bought a raccoon, a genuine, full-grown
raccoon. This was news indeed, and so
exciting in its character that Aaron was
compelled to answer, or to parry, volley
after coley of questions.
20. how old is it, and what does 1t look
like?' cried Sweetest Susan.
And who is 1t to belong to, and is it
tame. so tame that you can put your hand
on it," asked Buster John.
why didn't dey kill it an cook it?" in
CURED Drusilla.
Aaron put his fingers in his ears. He
couldn't answer all the questions put 10
him. Finally there was lul in the ex-
what did you give for him?" Buster
John asked after pause.
Something, replied Aaron, smiling.
But how much?'
Enough"
"shucks," cried Buster John, eff I had
known there was some great secret about
il l. wouldn't have asked
Aaron pinched the boys ears gently and
said "Come!" He went to his cabin, the
children following, and when they went
pacing back and forth The length of the
|, small steel chain which held him. He
paused and regarded them curiously
twisting the end of his sharp nose about
nal1t In ba clyc
of the floor with his forepaws, which
seemed 10 be as supple and as useful as
a boys hands.
Coon raised himself on his hind legs and
uttered a cry almost identical with the
scream of a rooster when bird suddenly
flies over, or a hawk appears in sight.
Buster John knew it was warning and
What Is the trouble Frog Eater-Tad-
poe-Clatcher?" the Son of Ben Ali sharp
You can't fool me-" snarled Mr., Coon
I've seen creatures like him before. They
poked my sides with sticks and pulled
But this one is different, Bug Eater"
said Aaron.
on call me what you please, Son of
Ben Ali. l was glad to come with you,
but l didn't invite myself here. did l? II
You were hungry, and thirsty and tied
fast, and saw coming toward YOU ore
of the creatures that had made misery
y
Likely not" replied Aaron "But you
have been fed, Frog-Eater. You said you
had enough"
Enough of the kind, Son of Ben An;
yes, and TOO much. If You want me to
eat corn get some that is soft on the cob
and juicy. If you want me to be nice fetch
me couple of young chckens-or a hand
ful Of black beetles Sweetest Susan
sniVered
We'll, Tadpole-Catcher," said Aaron.
FT4 I'D . y.
these friends. They have been touched.
Tney know everything you say, and when
you are hungry or thirsty you have only
10 give the sign"
Al this Mr.. Coon paced back and forth
very rapidly. This was the way he
showed his Impotence. He was anxious
70 go with them. Aaron unfastened the
Snaln and placed one end in Buster Johns
hand. The youngster held it very ginger
~ and was inclined to shrink when Mr.
Iooh came too close, but he soon got over
eHdt Ieeilng, and so did Sweetest Susan
ana Drusilla; so that, in little while,
tney We're more familiar with Mr. Coon
man they had ever been with any of their
They lost no time in giving him his din
neri which consisted of chicken heads and
4 sLplets Mr. Coon smacked his mouth
Eyer mem, and when he had finished de-
A many a day, and remarked:
ute Es nni9m gig loblum og iggieP' which
b b'Sgganl{ translated means Big dinner
a am "a. III
l continue to get such fine fare. ri
"4ve 10 get my clothes made larger"
Io It may interest readers who are no
,onser young to know that in the lam
suage of animals, the root word fabian
1 StahQs Tor things, and it's variations lib
4 Ky, lopium. ieblim, liblom, etc, mean the
4 ,hns at hand, or, to be more exact the
about. INNS '"iANu
IL IS pity that Joe Maxwell. who is
i sEps ,hd for these dry details, did not
my ne trouble 10 write the language
UoW9 from Buster Johns recipe. But he
S0S 80 OIL from day TO day, aud now there
dmGl.n'ng left but the rough notes of these
s.oIles, and some scattered FRAGMENTS of
XabOVe w - PtSse"'Nu
we Meh % shoe all this away Mr.. Coon
~ as nghiy del ghttd with his dinner, and
Wa" as ready 20 curl up and lake nap, or
S@9 WhLng 10 join the childcen in a frol G.
tDey-ted him into their play-Ioom in the
Xep3 nlisha pped The chain from his collar
sHeoes" gave MN the freedom Of the wide
Ilrst, Mr.. Coon must poke his nose or his
erS PAWS Anto everything He paced round
IN ey lGunG ne room, smelling al or feeling
H. WY nook and Granny. When he was
3Nni331Ieu with his Inspection, nothing
<n.ooit.uu4 40 but ne must feel in Buster John
&n.rtes' re puiied out marbles, nails frag
Sea 5'S OF chinaware, which the youugster
80 ~ IN pace of money. With few frag-
nv ~" Is OF hne chinaware in his pocket Bus
hi 1uun Always felt rich. With this form
8
4 PONIES and large arsenals of guns, p,s-
r re- sWords and war cannon from imagin-
vendors.
n Ice by piece Mr.. Coon Brought Buster
n Nm treasures to light and examined
f IN catefuEg. The children noticed that
r, Ion lcreDaWs were very much like
ragel, lands, and that his hind feet made
Ms N the sand that looked like those
ra wee baby. OF course, it was Sweetest
ae VINO made this discovery. Whenever
zen ielt the prints Of his feet visible
III vpuid most imagine that some small
,u ID human shape had passed that
TSso gong on all-fours. Almost Why.
49, Susan did imagine it
sure of &c. indeed
lever she was In Make Believe land,
she lived most of the time. Sure
could not be more wonderful than
yguhtIy next door to the world whore
Mr Rabbit and Mrs. Meadows and
lpuNing glass children had their abode.
& lev. days MIR. Coon feasted and
me children thought he should be-
10 pay for his board; first, by Civ
an account of himself and next IN
sutner way that might be devised
lar as Mr.. Coon was concerned he
pStlectly willing to accommodate
children. lie was never bad tempered
ss ne saw q cat or dog, and such Of
as We're about the house and yard
earned 10 give him a wide BERTH
"N Giaws and teeth were sharp and he