Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-07-19
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A GREAT CURIOSITY.
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"Mv graciousl What can il begi, no ast,oa
himself, in an excited whisper. But evil
IDENTIFY not further enlightened by his first
query. he repeated the question. sam
dissatisfied, he raised himself ON tin-too
and leaned over the iron fence TO get n
closer view OF the mysterious sign-board
AT last, by dint OF much craning n,
neck and screwing up OF conntcnance bo
discovered another sign further down ON
the post and at right angles to the former
one, a hand, a strange uncouth hand
fashioned by some rustic artist. But he
discovered more than that. The post it.
self was dashed to an iron upright OF an
other fence, that stretched off indefinitely
lost in a grove OF oaks on distant Hill
side. The mysterious hand pointed along
this fence, which he now discovered
branched off from the highway fence. a
few rods further down the street.
Somewhat relieved but in nowise satis-
fled, Ebenezer Hawkins, IT,, disengaged
his shirt bosom from an iron spearhead Of
the fence, and shufiicd hastily along the
sidewalk.
He was amazed and delighted to find.
when he reached the point OF demarka-
ton, not one fence, but two parallel lines
of fence, enclosing narrow lane, which
was evidently well travelled just the ro-
mantle passage to lead to such startling
wonder as the sign-board indicated.
His watch told him that the forenoon
was already advanced, but he resolved to
run the chances OF delaying his aunts
dinner for the sake of solving the sign
board mystery without further delay.
But the gate to the lane resisted his ut
most efforts. for no amount of rattling
I'd shaking could affect IL in the slightest
degree. Bafiied and perspiring he backed
away few steps to take the full measure
of his enemy.
But after a few minutes OF alternate
cooking his head on this side and that, and
running his fingers through his sandy
hair, he at last succeeded in poking his
umbrella through the iron framework of
the gate and lifting the bolt ON the inner
side of the fence.
With pride he marched through the
vanquished portal into the lane-highway
| to mysterious wondersl The day was
decidedly warm, but the exercise Of
climbing the rough uneven hillside WAS
even warmer, and poor Ebenezer Hawkins,
| jr., felt his courage oozing away, for each
turn of the lane disclosed another dis
heartening stretch OF distance.
But every time he paused in INDIGESTION
his mind coniured up vague fsncies of the
strange wonders that awaited him II he
persisted, so he plucked up fresh hope and
/ pushed on, but with diminishing zeal.
1t seemed to him now that he had tray-
eled an endless distance, and he scarcely
dared even think of how long il would
\ take him to get back to his dinner. Blu
I just as he was about TO turn back in
I despair for the last time, he espied broad
| pasture ahead Of aim, and at the juneture
Of pasture and lane stood another gate and
above the gate another signboard.
| He rushed forward and read with fury
the following rustic inscription:
Z .ssssssss.sss@*ssxsssss es@st..
| . Great Curiosity ! +.
Sometimes known as Inquisitiveness
You have il bad. /.
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