The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-20

don't know W0et1er q cricket has q
soul or not, but / feel In
with them.
Have just heard a tree toad. First
I've heard in twenty years, and the
sounds carry me back to other days.
b song of the tree load is an inno-
cent one. / believe it would melt the
heart of a convic and make a better
nian of him. I will write q letter 10 the
governor tomorrow and suggest that
tree toads be introduced into state
PRISONS"
-
The above line represents a break in
MI. BowSer's notes, caused by two
farmers who came along in a wagon.
When they saw him sitting under a
tree with his hat OF and a cigar in his
mouth tie team was stopped and one
Of them called put:
"You Teller there, but what are you
doingy"
What is that to your demanded
MI. Bowser as the song of the tree toad
vas forgotten in an instant.
"PIl show you what it is to me! I'm
a constable, and it's my business to
keep an eye out for such fellers as you.
Looking for a chance to rob some hem
roost, l s'pose:'
"You can s'pose any blamed thing
you want to-"
Mighty sassy, amt you? Waal.
I'll be back in about an hour, and If
you are here then I'll make it hot for
you"
For the next fifteen minutes MI.
Bowser was so mad that he paid no at
tention to tree toads, crickets or rus
ting leaves, but he finally began 70
o off and wrote:
Il have just heard the song of a
~whippoorwill, and it was not mixed up
with the notes Of a hand organ or the
ye!Is Of a street peddler. Mrs. Bow
ser VIII be sorry she didn't come.
The lowing Of the kline reaches my
ear. | Gn:'t knew what they want TO
l3w at nigh for, but the sounds are
those Of pastoral peace. 1 I'M an ass
that I haven't spent every night this
summer out here.
In the Bushes not far away a night
inG&le has 5ls:t broken into song.
While his notes are beautiful, they are
also sad. There i; somehow a dreamy
sadness about them that touches the
heart and reminds one off,
"!.-????-,.M-????-"
This break il 2lr. Bowser's notes
was occlsioncd by two tramps who
u-n,.a I.l,r1i-,, a., - ;,+> <or,~, I,,+ o+o~
ped when they saw him under his tree.
Hello, Gully! What's doin'Y' asked
Onc
"Eou So on" shouted Mr.. Bowser as
he identified them for what they were.
"Eh, Gully? What's de matter wild
you?" vas queried as they both drew
nearer. Say, Jim, de old baldhead is
on to something good and don't want
to let US in Oh de ground floor"
by thunder, but didn't 1 tell you to
SO mr. shouted Mr.. Bowser as he
scrambled up.
you did, Gully, but we are in no
hurry about it. Got a couple more
smokers? Why don't We give us de
glad hand and make us feel to homer"
Alas for the tree toads and Whippor-
wills and n~ightingales. Mr.. Bowser
sailed in. The tranps expected to pick
a fuss with him and win an easy vic
tory, but never We're men more mis-
taken. He had them licked and on the
run within five minutes. They mussed
him up some in return, but he sat
down and lighted another cigar, and if
he had been given half an hour to get
over it the songs Of he birds and in
sects might have appealed to his heart
again. Only about ten minutes had
gone by when the constable returned.
He had with him in the wagon six
stout yeomen, and as they all leaped
to the ground the official said:
"Now, then, you old sheep thief, will
you move on OF 60 to the county jailY'
How dare you apply such a term to
me! Dc you know who 1 am, STRIP
II don't, and l don't care. Come on,
fellersr'
There was but one thing for Mr..
Bowser to do. He took to his legs and
him; but, though he was short and fat,
the tree toads and whipporwills were
encouraging him to do his best, and
after he had been run a mile the pur-
suit was abandoned.
1t was 2 o'clock in the morning when
Mrs. Bowser heard soft footsteps on
the sidewalk. They turned in at the
gate and mounted the steps. Some one
unlocked the door. some one came up
| stairs. Some one undressed without q
word and moving around on tiptoes,
and some n fell into bed with q grunt
to turn on his back and say to himself:
Thank heaven she is asleep, and in
| the morning 1 will lie to her and tell
her I had the best time in my life!" Z
/ NJ OTIAn