The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-01-24


quite seriously and limpcd off to the
house. where the young beauty could
hay" her sweet little laugh all to Sham
rock alone. And Katy. came off I'M
scratched as usual
Now this story opens far back in an
tiQuity. even before the steam ears were
sweeping to and fro through Cecil, north
of Elkton, and nearly I'LL travel was done
ON horse back. and very often equestrian
travellers lodged at the hnStrlry ut Fox
chase. for Katy set II good and plentiful
tahl" withstanding she was one of the
most avaricouS old ucrs"ns known to
exist any where.
onc balmy morning in lovely June,
when the pretty roses were noddng
drowSily at the sweet honcysuckle. IL
handsome middle aged man rode IN to
the old hoStclry, and after making his
Jadrd horse fast to the hitching post. he
walked up To Katy, who was then
sweeping of the inn porch. and asked
for lodging for the day and night. This
man was famous vCntIilouuSt and was
then on his way down the state to give
entertainments of his wonderful skill of
both magic and vcntrluuuiSnl.
~ "S, yes. said Katy. | will rive YOU
the very best that nave. Shamrock
catch Il fat chicken, little dear catch Il
pullct for the gcntlrman'S dinner
Now from the appearance of things,
tn" Professor thought that he saw lots
of fun just short ways ahead. Little
Shamrock in the mean while was max
ing a pretty top!lnot puIlrt sail around
and around. and the nimhlc little Jade
in ,.g 4
Sh" runs into old Katy, and the old lady
turns complete SommcrSault, but
Shamy has no time to pick her up. At
last she SprawlS herself right over ON the
pullet and it is hers. BY this time Katy
has gotten to her feet and says give her
to me, and I'll bet that will put her
past running.
The Ven is sitting just ON the end of
the porch, just where he has Il clear
vista of the scene, and just where he
has IL clear shot that he may chuck that
wonderful mimic voice of his right into
that pullct's very mouth.
%, o. o." cried the pullct. please. oh
please, don't cut my head off. and | will
lay you two eggs Il day for one year"
'Shoo, shoe, you hussy." cried Katy.
and she hurled that chicken clear over
that smokc-housc and stood gazing in
that direction like one palsicd.
shamrock. no Little Shamrock" call
cd Katy, did YOU hear that fool chick
en-" But the little hcaut was at the far
side of the lot by this time and fright
encd nearly to death. But she came
back to Katy, asking in very low
toned voice, ''wh, VIII, what is the matter
with that chicken any how"
oh" said Katy, that wasn't the
chicken talking, it was them children of
MillerS over in their orchard. Get an
other Shamrock. get Il rooster this time.
hurry, for | must get it ready. and
cooked for dinner But the jovial Ven
was laundering after chicken for his din
ner, and kept his voice all to himself this
time, when Sham came to Katy. holding
the rooster at arms length, and saying.
'now you keep quiet"
"You cut its head off dear. quick.
quick, Shamy." And peace reigned at
old Katy's for a little while, hut only for
little while, for yondcr comes Mig,
katy's old hostler, down the highway.
the black man has been on an crrand
for his old mistress. and he knows that
she will give him Il big dram when he
arrives. and he is ambling ut double
quick to get dar. This old darkcy had
served Katy for several years, and he
was a fugitive from the South, having
skipped out from slavery, and he had
landed mt the FoXchasc. The Ven is
still sitting on the tavern porch when Mig
arrives.
'Monin muS>ah. want yo boss fed"
Yes, water him and put him in the
stable. and ask him what he wants for
his dinner. You don't have any horse that
can talk do you"
The coon scratched his head. and the
whites of his eyes We're turning first to
the Ven. and then toward the horse.
NO sab. | never huron tell of hosS dat
cud talk, | guSs you ony funncn wild me
maSSah.'
He will tell you all about it when
you take the saddl" and bride off" said
Ven.
All of this time Katy and Little Sham
rock are in the Kitchen. But Katy can
sec right through II door to the bar
room. and rs yet Sham has not been
called ON to rum and Srlv" any patrons.
and they are both busy with preparing
dinner. Mine hostess has finished pluck
ing the chanticlccr, and she is now plac-
ing him by piece into the stew pan. and
soon the delightful odurS will he in order
at KHty's old hoStclry.
The vrntrilouucSt has left the porch
and has gon" to friendly apple tree,
just Il few PAGES from the stable. the
doors OF which are all open wide. Mig
is ut the watering trough with the horse,
and Little Shamrock is prltng the old
coon with potatoes, hut Katy is ignorant
of the fact that Shamy is throwing so
much of her precious cSculcut to the
winds. Mig is now leading the quad.
rupcd in through the stable door. and tn"
vcntrloQuiSt is taking long rcspirations
and holding the same for almost full
minute. and beating his breast the while.
Surely there is to be something done.
Look out for next week. for we are
going to tell our readers all about Katys
and Little Shamrock's big fight in the
harn-yard with Katy's stump-tail bull,
and how this death struggle led Little
Shamrock to the golden stairs. and how