Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
A TALE OF LIFE IN THE
BOER REPUBLIC.

up on every hand, this thing is certain
"a knife will cut wood, and one cog
ged wheel will turn another. This is
sure.
Waldo found an unreasonable salts
faction in the handling OF his machine,
hut Doss winked and blinked and
thought it all frightfully monotonous
out there on the fat and presently
dropped asleep. sitting bolt upright.
Suddenly his eyes opened wide. Some
thing was coming from the direction of
the homestead. Winking his eyes and
looking intently, he perceived it was
the gray mare. Now, Doss had won
dered much of late what had become
of her master. Seeing she carried
some one on her back, he now came
to his own conclusion and began to
move his tail violently up and down.
Presently he pricked up one ear and
let the other hang. His tail became
motionless, and the expression of his
mouth was one of decided disapproval
bordering on scorn. He wriDkled his
lips up on each side into little lines.
The sand was soft, and the gray
mare came on SO noiselessly that the
boy heard nothing till Bonaparte dis
mounted. Then Doss got up and moved
back step. He did not approve of
Bonaparte's appearance. His costume,
in truth. was Of unique kind. It was
combination of the town and coun-
try. The tails Of his black cloth coat
were pinned up behind to keep them
from rubbing; he had on pair of
moleskin trousers and leather CATERS,
and in his hand he carried q little whip
of rhinoceros hide.
Waldo started and looked up Had
there been moments time he would
have dug q hole in the sand with his
hands and buried his treasure. It was
only a toy Of wood. but he loved 1t, as
one Of necessity loves what has been
born of him. whether Of the flesh or
spirit. When cold eyes have looked at
1t, the feathers are rubbed off our but
terfy's wing forever.
what have you here, my lad" said
Bonaparte, standing by him and point
ing with the end of his whip to the
medley Of wheels and hinges.
The boy muttered something inaudi-
BILE and half spread his hand over. the
thing.
But this seems to be a very ingen-
ious little machine" said Bonaparte,
seating himself on the ant heap and
bending down over 1t with deep inter
est. What is it for, my lad"
"Shearing Sheep"
ut is very nice little machine"
said Bonaparte. "How does 1t work.
now? I have never seen anything SO
ingeniousv
There was never parent who heard
deception in the voice that praised bis
child, his firstborn. Here was one who
liked the thing that had been created
in him. He forgot everything He
showed how the shears would work
with a little guidance, how the sheep
would be held and the wool fall into
the trough. A flush burst over his face
as he spoke.
II tell you what, my lad" said Bona
parte emphatically when the explana-
ton was finished, 1--WE must get you q
patent. Your fortune is made. In
three years time there'll not beSa farm
in this colony where it isn't working.
You're a genius: that's what you arew
said Bonaparte, rising.
IF 1t We're made larger" said the
boy, raising his eyes, at would work
more smoothly. Do you think there
would be any one in this colony would
be able to make it?"
"I'm sure they could" said Bona
parte, "and, If not, why I'll do my best
for you. I'll send it to England. 1t
must be done somehow. How long
have you worked at it?'
"Nine months" said the boy.
"Oh, 1t is such a nice little machine"
said Bonaparte, zone can't help feeling
interest In it. There is only one lit
tie improvement, one very little iEl-
provement, should like to make.''
Bonaparte put his foot on the ma
chine and crushed it in the sand The
boy looked up into his face.
Looks better now" said Bonaparte,
doesn't 1t? If we can't have it made
in England. well send 1t to America.
Goodby; ia. to :" he aided. you're a
great genius. a born genius, my dear
boy. There's no doubt about it,
He mounted the gray mare and rode
off. The dog watched his retreat with
cynical satisfaction, but his master lay
on the ground with his head on his
arms in the sand, and the little wheels
and chips of wood lay on the ground
around him. The dog jumped on bis
back and snapped at the black curls
till, finding that no notice was taken.
he walked of to play with a black
beetle. The beetle was hard at work
trying to roll home a great ball of
dung 1t had been collecting all the
morning, but Doss broke the ball and
eat the beetles hind legs and then bit
off its head And 1t was all play. and
no one could tell what it had lived and
worked fora striving and a striving
ind an ending in nothing.
II have found something in the loft"
said En- to Waldo. who was listlessly
piling cakes Of fuel on the kraal well