The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-07-19


said to his wife as he patted her on the
head in a fatherly way: Nov, little
woman, if it will please you will make
a few remarks at your banquet.
THAT'S a dear, good boy" said Mrs.
Limkins, land you will let me write
out something for you, won't you
mo, little woman he replied, u
can't come down to that, you know;
but you shall not be ashamed OF me
And Mr.. Limkins went off, leaving Mrs.
Lfmkinsi with some misgiyings as to the
final outcome of her plans. For when
n woman has been the constant com
panion of man for II years, she Is
very ant to have fair idea fhis men
tai capacity.
During the next few days Mr.. Lin
kins devoted the greater part % ms
time to the preparation OF his extern
poraneous" speech. 1t was matter OF
SO much importance to him that he
even neglected his business to con-
siderable extent; and when the morn
ing of the day of the banquet arr ived,
Mr.. .imllins had written out and COM
United to memory a speech that he
considered very high-class. However
he felt that he needed a little practice
in delivery and determined to let his
clerks 30 home early in the afternoon,
in order to have the office all to himself
for rehearsal. BY three O'Clock the
last clerk had gone, and Mr.. llmklns'
after locking all the doors, began his
recitation However, he did not find
this sort of practice at all satisfactory
at first. The dead, bare walls of his Of
ice did not give back any encourage
ment, and he tried again and again
some particular sentences, with the
same unfavorable results. He felt that
he could do better il he had some living
thing to speak to-even if only dog or
cat. He needed n living pair of eyes
that he could fix with his eyes, in order
to concentrate his attention and prop
crly reach his climax.
Now, In the shuttle of the closing out
of the worlds fair among other odds
and ends that lad been sold at auction,
Mr.. Limkins had come into possession
of a small white donkey that had been
used in the Streets Of Cairo. Mr.. Linn
kins made this purchase for Silas. Jr"
and Slas. Jr.. boy-like, bad, for the first
few weeks of his possession, enjoyed
the donkey to the fullest extent; but
the novelty had worn off. The donkey
was now an old story. and was allowed
to fall into a state Of innocuOus dosuc-
tude-so far as Silas, Jr., was con-
cerned.
Silas, Jr, who had tired Of riding and
driving the donkey, now seldom
thought of him. and when he did think
Of him it was usually during one Of
those fits of ennui-which boys will
have--and on these occasions, Silas
Jr.. had for some time past been in the
habit of going into the barn, accom-.
panied by long sharp pointed stick
with which he would prod the donkey
into giving a frst-eass exhibition il
high kicking. This sort of thing had
been going on long enough to give the
donkey considerable practice and h,
had already attained a very high rec
ord for so small a donkey. SiIas, Jr..
had not, however, thought il ncces-
sary to take anyone into his confidence
regarding his late achievements with
the donkey.
When Mr.. Limkns felt the need Of
some living thing TO inspire his clio
quence. this living relic Of the Mid
way"very naturally came into his mind,
: 4 |.
in the barn at home, and he at once de-
cided the donkey should have the bene-
fit of his rehearsal. \ few minutes
later Mr.. Limkins entered his barn.
closed and locked thefoors behind him
and was alone with the donkey.
Mr. Lmlains prefaced his remarks
with few kind soothing words to his
donkeyslip, and taking position inn
mediately in front Of him, began his
Grafton. The donkey was standing In
the middle of the barn chewing some
scraps of straw that were scattered
about, and paid bat little attention to
his visitor at first; but as Mr.. Limkins
got well into his subject and began
to throw in Delsarte movement here
and there, he raised his head and
seemed to take considerable interest
He peeked his long ears forward over
his head in an inquiring way and eyed
the speaker narrowly. This inquisitiyc
attitude encouraged Mr.. Limkins to
still! further effort and he became thor
oughly warmed up.
The donkey laid back his left ear.
Mr., Iimkius was nearing his climax.
the donkey was nearing his. Those
gestures became more and more famil-
lar and reminded him of other things.
Mr.. Limltirs closed an eloquent period.
shaking bis fist right in the face of the
donkey. Vow, the donkey was Of for
eign birth, and coult not be expected
10 appreciate an American speech any
how-evcn under the most favorable
circumstances.
He laid back the other eur; sudden
" changed ends and landed fairly on
Mr.. Limkins' seat of utterance. Mr..
Limkins sat down violently on pile
of old tomato cans and other rubbish
in n remote corner Of the barn, silent
". but rapidly opening and shutting