The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1900-01-17
An Unexpected 'Possum Hunt.

/
occurred an 'possum hunt not
down on the program, near Hen
derson, wherein two young ladies.
lamp, broomstick poker and
a hatohet played star parts.
The mon of the family were
away from home, and when COM
motion arose out in the dark of the
night in the direction of the chick
en- yard, it was "die or do" do
the marauder, be he man or beast,
or die for the safety of the chick
ems, (and future fries and roasts }
The girls on being awakened by
the mothers sudden whisper
Somebody's at your chickens!
Hear 'em2" Listening and peeping
through the shutters in fear and
trembling to locate the pilferer,
they heard nothing for awhile un-
til hutter of wings and dull
thud against the window pane, fol-
lowed by smothered "squawk"
plainly pointed out the chicken
coop as. the seat of the disturbance.
So hastily doning decent" and
proper "negligee," the girls, armed
with those erstwhile peacefully do
mestio implements, but now weap-
ons of warfare always
were dangerous in the hands of a
woman with her "dander up"
hurried with quaking courage to
the conflict.
Opening the chicken coop door
and suddenly turning up the light
to bright glare, there the william.
Gus thief was shown up in the
very act. He was near the door
with chicken in his grasp, and
with the sudden, binding light in
his eyes, he turned and ran back
to the farther side of the coop,
where it was all dark. The girls
screamed "here he isl" and at the
same minute a poker with muir
derous intent struck him on the
head, and Mr.. 'Opossum, the in
truder, who, like certain of our COL
ored brethren, finds that Chicken
nevah roosts to high 70 me-" lodged
under the hen roost, assailed with
punches of the broomstick, which
long handled implement of torture
finally ousted him, when he sud-
denly squeezed through wire net
ting into another room.
The girls followed through the
door, and now Mr.. 'Possum was "a
goner" as far as getting out was
concerned; but how to capture him
was the question.
He ran across the roosts in this
room, and scootched down under a
big awkward Brahma chicken that
hid him from sight. The rooster
didn't object bit-he kept right
on roosting as comfortably as ever,
and unconoernedly affording a
warm protection to the late muir
derer of his brother chicken. But
Mr.. O. p. was ousted agnin when
he peered forth from under the
chicken at his would DO captors,
and now he saw the game was close
to up" SO he tried one of his own
and laid quietly against the wall
with his eyes shut and played
'possum," to all appearances "done
up"
But he was just awaiting his
chance to got away, and soon his
ear gave wink as he took little
squint to "see where he was at"
Then the poker come into quick
play again, and pinned him by the
back to the wall, where he squirm-
ed and bit at everything within
reach.
Lets put box over him and
keep him alive" said one, but this
project was abandoned Immediate
ly as the varmint quickly showed
what he would do at the smallest
chance of freedom. mo, go and
bring in the hatohet," she then
cried, well have to kill him, or
he'll bite" The other turned in n
rush to get the Ratchet, when q
scared hon flew up at her and
knocked off the lamp chimney.
For goodness sake, don't let the
light go out!" the one screamed
"or he'll get away, sure" The
other made grab at the hot ohm
ney, caught it on the rebound
from the floor, and replaced it in
time to save the light from being
distinguished, then dashed to the
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