The Red Cloud chief., 1902-06-20

w years ago, a shor, tine
after that popular song.
I'll" Turned Her picture Toward the
WALL came out. was then living at
Branton, our family consisting of my
self, my wife and two children. Mat.
tie. AGED iiftecn. a,d George. aged SOW.
rnl"cn. We possessed an organ upon
which my daughter played. George
singing. and Mrs. Writers and myself
coming in on the chorus in regular
country fashion.
r. | was the musical enthusiast of the
family. and while | did not like all the
SongS then cztnnt. when one did strike
mel Immediately mastered it. | went
into r".'acics over this particular song,
and whiStlcd ii in the ~woOdshcd.
bumm"d it in the parlor,. SAM it to
visitors. n%eighhOrS and friends. Many
of th"s" took the fever: but mine was
especially malignant. and the song
haunted me for weeks after everybody
clSo had caught onto something new.
My wife casually mentioned an
asylum for lunatics several times a
day. Pit ! still repeated the song. the
first thing on rising in the morning,
and the last thing on retiring at night.
Then She cypostulatcd and vcntured
D. 10 hope that no more popular songs
would come out for at least a year. |
realized that my state was becoming
alarming. Something must be done,
ana Immediately.
Mrs. Wilters," l said, ''the thing
shall bO stopped"
But how, dear" she Qucricd wear.
ily.
-; shall lock up the organ"
Which | did; but the song still ran
in my mead. At last | collapsed. l was
i'll from an overdose of music. The
doctor said | would recupcrate after
coming convalescent | must refrain
from al music; | must not even sing
"Iankcc Doodle Ben Holt" or
MARY Had a Little Lamb"
Right in the midst of this mental
iribulation something happened. Mrs.
Writers staggered into my bedroom one
morning, her eyes as large as sauccrs.
and exclaimed:
Sam Writers, every picture ia the
parlor is turned to the WALL
Yes" chimed in George. "and the or
gan Is unlocked"
And pa" added Matte. the organ
stops are open where you play, He
Turned Her Picture"
Instead Of throwing me into Il mental
.k.n,. ths. nen,,, 90. .l,l Al. --.-
II broke up the musical trend of my
thoughts.
Reverse every picture" | com.
manded. Lock the organ and fetch
the key to me-"
| was obeyed. Then | said:
George, go aud fetch my gun from
the attic"
"Oh" gasped my wife.
YES. ! will sit here in bed. armed.
and 1T the first approach of danger.
leap from it and shoot the person who
is pcrpctrating this Joke"
But You are too sick To think of
anything of the kind" cEpostulatcd
my wife.
Il shall need only 10 step from the
bed and fire. Pity ii I cannot sing n
popular song. Wen see about it,
'It will lac murder" said Matte,
with fearful eyes.
in the first degree, too cried
George. severely.
1T won't be murder, tn simply be
defense against II burglar. See
They all saw; and as | was master of
the house and thoroughly aroused tn
the situation. it was decided that |
should 20 on picket dnty that night,
Mrs, WiltcrS. you will rctir. to The
chamber above | ordered M bedtime.
Aud, Matte, You can accompany your
mother. As for you, George, get Il
club from the woOdSicd and become
Il sort Of body guard I" me-
As nighi set in the darkness OF the
rooms became intense. Not Il flicker
OF light anywhere; just total darkness.
George sat in the lmrlor behind Il case
Of books containing poetry, prose and
enough dictionaries 10 scare an ordi
nary burglar out of his wits. | sat holt
NJ light in bed. my back resting against
y ~haAIhoard, my truSty gun in my
20
~ clock struck one, two three. The
nj of the bell had scarcely ceased
II IA loud noise came to my ears.
Striking Il match. | pceped into the
room where George was sitting, lie
was fast asleep and his falling club
had awakened me-. | lighted the lamp
and stared at the pictures,
George" | shouted.