The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-04-22

thing by himself"
These were some of the excited re-
marks heard from both sides the Hoop
pole board at the same time, while the
youngest asked, eagerly:
Poppy, may run see the hole right
now?"
''No, sir; you cannot. Such manners!
badger burrow! Mrs. Hightower, fear
you are sadly neglecting your duty
toward these children. Not one of
them has a particle of manners-not
particle"
"Tis very strange if they haven't,
Mr.. Hightower, when you took their
table manners into your hands some
time ago."
Excuse me, Mrs. Hightower, but !
did nothing of the kind; | merely said
intended doing so. hope that some
day you will learn to be more accurate
in your statements before these chill
dren. Keep on. and they will be whole
sale liars by the time they are grown,
and there will be no one to blame for it
but you. If you would take my motto
for the rule of your life you would not
be making ninny of yourself half the
time. Never assert anything until you
are absolutely sure that it is true. Now,
please, for gracious sake, Mrs. High
tower. try to remember that Do you
| hear?"
That's a good motto, my dear re-
piled Mrs. Hightower, with a smile;
but do you always follow it your
self? Are you quite sure of that bad
ger story you were telling just now?"
"Mrs. Hightower what do you take
me for? Of course | am sure of it.
Don't you suppose / know a badger
when l see one after my living so years
in Missouri, where they are so thick
that you cannot walk across the
yard after night without falling down
over a dozen of them?
"Oh. | have no doubt, my dear, that
you do; but you have heen getting
powerful nearsghted of late, and |
didn't know"
That was the coal that fell into the
powder key. Up jumped old Hoop-pole,
kicking his chair two somersaults back
ward. "Who-told you | was near
sighted?" he cried, shaking his fist
across the table. MY eyes are just as
good as yours ever were or ever will
be. My father never wore glasses in
his life; nor my grandfather, either
and he could see needle sticking an a
post hundred yards away when he
was 81 years old, tool"
"Oh. pal Sure enough?" ventured
one of the boys; and Mrs. Hightowe1
laughed as she poured herself out an
other cup of coffee.
Toward the door stamped old Hoop
pole, kicking the cat across the room
as he went. Cap! Go straight anc
get the shovel and grubbing-hoe. The
rest of you boys, come on here; III
convince that mother of yours in just
Is minutes that know what l am talk
ing about"
AT this good news everybody except
Mrs. Hightower jumped up from the
table and followed the old man out into
the yard. Some ran for tools and some
called the dogs. In few minutes al
were assembled at the east end of thu
smokehouse, where burrow, fortified
about with a pile of fresh dirt, gave
evidence that some animal had been a
work during the night.
"Pa," said the 12-year-old, in an un
guarded moment. that doesn't lool
like the badger holes do up in Mis-
souri,: it's too small"
"You go in the house, sir!" ordered
old Hoop-pole. giving his pride SLAP
on the jaw. go straight this minute
and stay there. If you must follow
your mothers example and dispute M.
word GO and keep her company" ant
with very red face and eyes that gilt
tered Hoop-pole jerked grubbing-ho'
from the hand of another son and fel
to work loosening up the ground. TIL,
harder he grubbed the redder his fac
grew, the farther back the boys stoot
and the faster Bulger and Tige wount
up their tails. In sew minutes h
ceased, and with as much breath as h
could find said, between his gasps:
"Get-get in there-whew!-
and throw-whew!-out that dirt will
your sh-shovel."
In Cap went, with both dogs mixet
up among his legs, and barking tn
badgers death song.
Get out of there!" growled OLE
Hoop-pole, making telling kick a
Bulger and falling over hoe in tn
hands of a young Hoop-pole. TAX
that blamed thing away from here!" h
yelled, scrambling to his feet. III
teach you but the boy had antici
pated what was coming by taking TIL
shortest cut to the hocse. "Confount
my picture! Get out of the way witt
that shovel" And the old man loosene,
up some more dirt for the boys to throw
out.
Presently Mrs. Hightower made he
appearance. Mr.. Hightower, though
you were going to town this morning
so fast that you could hardly wait 70
breakfast" she remarked.
Madam, will you please stay in tn
house and mind your own business" h
panted while the sweat flowed i