Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-05-23


Poor old Abner he WINGED with a
tw0ng o the rheumstiz- and when he
got over ii he SAYS 10 Caleb
THAT'S another good idee." says
he. only don't set the trap in front
o. the door. Set IA under che window.
n the thief comes he'll be sure you've
got the door locked and he'll go 10 the
winder TO climb in ssys Abner. set
zhe trap under the winder." SAYS he.
~,Caleb said be would, and along in
the afternoon he started with the
trap for the cabin. On the way there
he got another i6ee. He wouldn't set
the bar trap ~ the cabin He'd RIG
I'D y dead fan door that'd come down
with bang and ketch on the bottom
the minute the thief opened the reel
door 10 the cabin and stepped inside.
Then he'd nail the winder down
and as the dead fal door couldn't be
opened from the inside. he'd have the
thief snug in the cabin and has leg
wouldn't be all smashed by q trap.
Caleb rigCed up sesch door.
The work took SO long that Caleb
didn't git back home till way after
dark. and his sufferin' old father had
gone 10 bed. so Caleb didn't disturb him
10 tell him about st.
Next mornin' bright and early.
Caleb went over 70 the cabin TO see II
anybody had been circumvented in try
in 20 walk of with sheep OF two O.
hisn. and sure enough the desd-fan
door was down.
'''~Ha. ha,- SAWS Caleb. I've got
u - rr--r .-e-
He yanked the keich of the door
open and riz the 6ea6fan- Josiah. who
Go you s'Pose walked out O. the cabin?
Caieb's poor old father.
Now. most fathers. after being
treated like that. would have been 80
tremendous mad that they'd have
made the fur fiy around there. and no
mistake. but sufFerin' old Abner wasn't
mad. he was jest hurt.
His poor old heart was banged. He
looked III sorrow al Caleb. and he
says:
s'"Csleb.~ saws he. I'D never "a
thunk il ~ you Al only son. tool"
he saws. And trappin' for his poor old
father as sheep thief, IL You didn't
want me around no longer. Caleb" he
says. I'D "a gone fur. fur away. II
you'd only give me a hint. But. no mat
ter. You needn't git no warrant. I'll
J g give myself up. You've cooked the
evidence ag'in me, AL right. and my
gray hairs'u 60 Gown in sorrow 20 the
county seat and rest in the jail"
Caleb he Jest bellered and beIlered.
20 think that Abner should imagine
for 8 minute that he s'pested him o.
bein' q sheep thief.
.'.- -Tain't SO much what you've
done 70 me. Caleb says poor old Ab-
ner. "but wbat'u jimmy say? VIII
Jimmy be likely 20 take up with the sol
q suferin' father that you've gone
and made out to be a sheep thief2 Sh,
won't 90 il. Caleb, In Amin at your
poor old father I'm aseerd that you'v,
put the ball under your own foreshoul
der, Caleb he says
This made Caleb feel worse and
worse 20 see what terrible thing D.,
had gone and done. and he begged OF
his sufferin' parent 20 tell him what b,
could do 20 undo IL
Well says Abner. the tears run
min down his cheeks. can't never fee
the same lords VOC as 7 use to. Caleb
SAYS he. but seem as you're cor
science-struck. won't disgrace you b.
exposin' what you've done. provide,
you give me 500 IN cash and pay N.
ftaEin' 20 sprout Hill. over in Jerse,
where I've wanted To spend my closir
DAYS for q long time back" says Al
ner.
And Caleb. sorrowiu'. done IL An
he never sot 10 more traps for shee
thieves. And the funny part Of n va
that he never loEt 10 more sheep no
chickens. which he said was more tina
he deserved. after treatin' his poor ol
father the way he did. when he la
got mp and gone way over 20 the cal
in 10 the night. sufferin' as he va
with the rheumatic, 20 watch agi
the comm . thieves and chase 81
away. not wantin' 'em 10 gift in the iaw
o the big bar trap that he though
was Eot under the winfer.
Caleb and Jimmy got married. br
, see what q narrow escape Caleb hs
from losin' her, jest by trapPin' 4,
sheep thieves
: OF course SAYS ]. there hahn =
setch danger In your tryin' bar ira
! IL your chicken coop. II you want.
I sayE. but bar traps clutches II
rnencouK hard. and there's them Il
+ in neighbors 20 you thet--well.' "a ,
you've heerd my little recollection
= the Knob country. and II you want
set q trap. why set g., That's sui'
, says
Josiah Eot and thunk a spell, Al