Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-17
PART Nj.
CAWKY. THE CROW.

"a Wk4. THE CROW.
After the fox hunt. Buster John felt that
he had recovered some lost ground. as the
saying is. Up to that time he had been
somewhat handicapped by the experiences
of Sweetest Susan. You will remember
that 1t was Sweetest Susan who discovered
the Grandmother of the Dolls. This was a
very important discovery, too. for it led to
the acquaintance of little Mr.. Thimble-
finger, and to the queer adventures Of the
children in the country next door to the
world. More than that, Sweetest Susan
had been kidnapped by the crazy man. 1t
was natural, therefore, that Buster John
should feel put out" as he expressed it.
by these events. But his talk with MIR.
Bobs had led to the manufacture of the
wonderful bubble. and now he had Witness
ed real fox hunt, perhaps the most inter-
estfng one that ever occurred IN all that
part of the country
he didn't put on any airs about 1t,
some boys would have done, but he took
pains TO relate every event to his sister
ana DruSllla, just 1t occurred, as far a
he could remember it: and he patiently an
swered every question they asked him. For
long time the. story of the fox hunt was
the only piece of oral literature the chill
dren had to discuss, but there was always
something new to be said of Hodo, or the
sorrel horse, or Joe Maxwell.
sweetest Susan hardly knew whether to
feel sorry for Old Scar-Face or not. Some
times she was inclined to regret his taking
off. but when she remembered the scream
of the poor little rabbit she was willing to
believe that the old fox had received his
deserts.
sympathy for Old Scar-Face. I'm glad
dey cotch i'm" she said. DE dogs done
i'm des like he done de yuther creeturs
An pom top er dat he sot up dar an grin
h<,rxr \,
L near oil folks say dat dem what do de
mos braggin is de mos no count I'm
glad dey got i'm. He had plenty time ter
go way; he DIES hung 'roun here kase he
D neVe dey amt no dog kin Guido i'm.
This sort of talk led, of course, to Joe
Maxwell and Hodo, and before Buster John
knew it he would be describing the famous
chase over again. For a long time this was
interesting, but after awhile the small au-
dlence grew tired of hearing 1T, and Buster
John grew tired of telling it,
Christmas and New Years came and
went, and were followed by weather so
cold and stormy that the youngsters had
to stay in the house, and Johnny Bapter
had as much as he could do to keep the big
hickory logs piled high enough in the wide
fireplace. A fire big enough, it seemed, to
roast an OK would hardly keep the dining
room or the sitting room warm. 1t rained
and sleeted and then showed. and the snow
stayed on the ground long enough to give
the children AN OPPORTUNITY to enjoy them
selves on some clamsy sleds that Johnny
Bapter made for them.
But toward the last of March a heavy
rainstorm came 9 roaring and sweeping
along, and after that spring came out Of
her hiding 4ace and brought warm sun
shine and the flowers with her In a little
while the psach orchard, which had looked
so bleak and cheerless few weeks before
seemed to be covered with pink snow, and
the mocking birds flew about singing
Johnny Bapter had one sign for spring
weather WHICH he, said never failed. You
see dem peach blooms We'll. OF Jack Frost
hear de mockin' Bird singin' while he flynn
you kin go on an plant yo' corn an cotton,
kaze dey amt gwins pc no mo. fros dat
It was while, the peach orchard was in
full blossom that the, children's mother
CHANGED to remember that she had another
supply of clothing for little Billy Biscuit,