The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1905-12-23

HIS IOTeHeuu. vi, HOW nONCu v" AA"S
Bob. He would come every morning up
to the front door and eat out OF my
hand anything | would give him
crackers, nuts, candy, anything and
everything, all the same to Bob, ne
would Just eat it. Gracious me, what
a voracious appetite Bob had.
"How cute" interpOsed Mrs. Smudge
eyes, indeed; but of he went into the
mortgage hopper, along with the poultry,
ducks, geese, turkeys, peafowl, pigs-real
Rigs, Mrs. Smudge, not razor-backs with
bristles rolling all over their spines like
the Falls of Niagara-hOgs so fat they
actually couldn't see and would blink
and grunt at you over the stye. On,
dear, uncle thought so much of his hogs,
and he would lean over the pen smok'
ing his pipe for hours together, watching
them grow fat, Sundays and all. Even
when aunt would take me to church in
the pony carriage uncle would remain at
home, smoking and watching his hogs
Poor, dear man, what u comfort they
were to him, to be sure. But away they
went, like an express train, along with
the furniture and aunt's beautiful rose
wood piano, down the throat of that
tO-be-satisfied mortgage.
what do you think of that, now?
Wasn't that fearful?"
ooh, that was horrible, horrible"
gasped Mrs. Smudge, with alarming en-
phasis.
Wasn't it, thought" returned the mar
rator, her open, though deeply lined
countenance lit up with the conscious
grandeur of tragic climax.
"And Bob! Poor Bob" requested the
lawyers wife, "what became of BobY
ooh, the pony, you mean? Why, | saw
him afterward peddling milk. | went
up to him, patted his neck and called
HIM Bob but he just hung his head as
II he didn't know me, poor fellow. His
harness was all caught up with pieces of
Irvine and wire, his coat ragged and
matted, like as if he hadn't been groomed
for year, looking for all the world like
forsaken tramp. 1t was great come
down from lady's pony chaise to Il
rickety old milk wagon"
"Indeed it was" said Mrs. Smudge
sadly.
"And then, just see what came after
it all; how one calamity followed an
other. Uncle, poor man, went straight
and died, moaning over his lovely pigs
to the last, while Aunt Emma, after she
had put headstone over his grave and
placed two little plaster of paris pigs,
which she bought from Hi-talian, one
on each side, just packed her trunks
and scOOted out West, without note
of warning to anyone. Not even her
nearest kin knew where she had gone
And the next we heard of her she had
married copper king, or something of
that kind, regular nabob with money
to burn. And now just think, she has
seven children, four sons and three
daughters, all grown up into fine, strap
ping young men and women; and all
along of mortgage. Mrs. Smudge,
take my advice, and whatever you do
don't fool with mortgage. Oh, dear
no. am really afraid of them, for if
you once get foul of one you have no
show whatever. Not in the least. Not
in the least" tartly interjected the
boarding mistress. 81 tell you, and
know what / am talking about. A blan
ket mortgage has no more scruples or
regard for ones feelings than brass
candlestick."
81 shall certainly be very careful, after
what you have related to me this even.
ing, about getting myself mixed up with
any such thing" said Mrs. Smudge, with
unusual show of spirit.
"Our little home is free of all en-.
cumbrance now, and it would be such
pity to loose it. Poor Mr.. Pipps worked
so hard, denying himself so many en-.
joyments, let alone necessities even, in
order to pay for it. He had just paid
the last assessment when he was taken
down the last time. But, oh! what an
awful experience it must have been for
your poor dear aunt to see her home and
all her beautiful things 90 under fore