Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-07

.peech just TO please her. and as
.hough IL were n matter Of no cOnSe-
ousncc 10 him. He would then spend
the rest Of his timc before the banquet
IN arranging that speech. and fire IL OF
- an entirely "eNtemporaneous" ar
fair The very thought Of the glory
awaiting him as the result had an cN-
hilaratinr effect. and Mr.. Liml1ns
raised his chin IN the air, clcnchcd his +
fingers. and pranced along like a
ree-year-old."
The next morning as Mr.. Liinkins
was leaving the house for his Office he
said - his wife as he patted her on the
head IN a fatherly way: Vow. little .
woman. IL il viii please you viii make .
few remarks at your banquet.
That's a dear, coed boy" said Mrs.
Limkins. "and you viii let me write
out something for you, won't YOU?
NO. little woman" he replied. i
can't come down 20 that. YOU know
but YOU shall not be ashamed Of me.
And MIR. Iimkins went of. leaving Mrs
LimlinS with some misgivings as TO the
final outcome Of her plans. For when
a woman has been the constant com
panion OF man for il years. she rs
very apt 20 have a fair idea fhis men
tai capacity.
During the next few days Mr. Linn
| kins devoted the greater part OF has
time 20 the preparation OF his extern
| poraneous" speech. II was matter OF
so much Importance TO him that he
even neglected his business 20 % con-
siderable extent: and when the morn
inc OF the dav OF the banquet arrived.
Mr.. Iimkins had written out and com
mitted TO memory a speech that he
considered very high-class. However.
he felt that he needed a little practice
in delivery and determined 10 let his
clerks GO home early in the afternoon
in order TO have the Office all 20 himself
for rehearsal. BY three O'Clock the
( last clerk had gone. anG Mr.. Limkins
after locking all the doors began hi.
recitation. However, he did not fine
this sort OF practice at all satisfactory
at first. The dead. bare walls OF his OF
nee did not give back any encourage
+ ment. and he tried again and agoii
Z some particular sentences, with tn
- same unfavorable results. He felt tina
ne could do better is he had some iivinl
B. thing 10 speak tO-cven IL only a dog o
n a cat. He needed n living pair Of eye
q that he could fix with his eyes, in orde
20 concentrate his attention and prop
s erly reach his climax.
d Now. IL the shuttle OF the closing on
of the worlds fair. among other odd
" and ends that had been sold at auction
y Mr.. Liml1ins had come into posscssio
.e of small white donkey that had bee
RI used In the Streets Of Cairo. Mr.. Lin
Ia llins made this purchase for Silas. JI
and Silas. Jr.. boy-like. had, for the fr'
N few weeks OF his possession enjoye
re the donkey 10 tbV fullest extent; bl
n the novelty had worn of. The donkC
ld was now an old story, and was allowt
10 TO fan into q state of innocuOus desu
tude-so far as Silas, Jr., was CO
IL cerned.
~ Silas, Jr., who had tired Of riding AZ
driving the donkey. now seldo
id thought OF him, and when he did thin
TO of him il was usually during one
to those FITS OF ennul-which boys "
nd have-and on these occasions, Sill;
Jr.. had for some time past been in L
rs, habit of going into the barn, aecOl
a panied by a long sharp pointed stiC
70 with which he would prod the donk
Se- into giving a first-class exhibition
1 high kicking. This sort of thing h
ch been going on long enough 10 give [
ny donkey considerable practice and
20 had already attained a very high r.
nix ord for so small donkey. Silas.
nd had not. however, thought il nee
,ut sary TO take anyone into his confideI
on regarding his late achievements w
lst the donkey.
ms When Mr.. Limkins felt the need
'ou some living thing 10 inspire his {
ck- quence. this living relic of the M
'et, way" very naturally came into his mi
me He knew the donkey was at leisu
ND in the barn at home. and he az once
us cided the donkey should have the be
Irs. fit OF his rehearsal 4 few minu
he later Mr.. Limkins entered his ba
her closed and locked the doors behind
and was alone with the donkey.
ion Mr. Limlsins pTefaced his rema
lrs- with few kind soothing words TO
en- donkeyship, and taking a position
nth mediately in front of him began
ulc oration. The donkey was standing
MI. the middle of the barn chewing 81
men scraps Of straw that were seattle
hat about. and paid but little attention
YER his visitor at first; but as Mr.. Liml
ave got well into his subject and be
G II 10 throw in a Delsarte movement
len and there, he raised his head
tai seemed 10 take considerable inter