The Cairo bulletin., 1906-09-07
BY KATHERINE MANN.

were d.ffereit i'd Chida."
Il hardly think it could be mole,
remarked the only young lady of the
party, because it didn't drown wheI
Brer Fox let 1t sink in the water"
mo, it only went 'Kerblinkty,
blink, pped the voice of little girl
"Barjory, dodt Interrupt What is
your opidiod of the terrabid, Bliss Sib-
bods?"
The lady addressed was a small. ner-
vous-looking spinster. Il imagine II
must be of the rat Species
Here all the ladies screamed,
"A ratI Why, deyer thought of
that"
Not unlikely" added an evidently
uninterested man of 40.
The next suggestion was made by a
youth.
Il think a t-t-t-terrapin is a k-k-kind
OF ot-ot-Ot-otter,"
Indeed shouldn't be surprised If
Mr. Tupper's conclusion is correct, +"
spoke again the uninterested man,
An old gentleman of learned appear
ance, with long, white hair, apparently
thought it was his duty to say some
thing.
These Americans" he began, give
such peculiar names to common OBJ
jects, that perhaps, after all, a terrapin
may merely be a badger, weasel, a
wild duck, frog, or even a cat"
Yes, cat can swim; but kittens
can't. because we tried"
Here the small girl was silenced by a
look from her mother.
After having delivered his category
of possibilities, the old gentleman nod
ded Familiarity to an austere parsonage
of the opposite sex.
Go en-, my dear, what do you make
or it,"
Il an not playing was the curt re-
ply. ~ hate games.
At this threatening iuncture the un-
interested man darted sympathetic
lnok at the last speaker, but on be-
holding her withdrew it again imme-
diately. The hostess lost not mo.
ntent in deity diverting the general
attention.
Now, Bisses Weakly, it's really your
turn"
Thereupon all eyes were fixed on the
unfortunate Mrs. Weakly, who whim-
pered IN an aggrieved tone:
Il really can't think of any other
animals; all those had in my mind
have already been mentioned.-unless
unless it could be buffalo"
"Oh, dear, no, surely mott" exclaimed
several voices
"A sheep?" said some one from a
back seat
This opened up a new train of ideas
for Immediately there ensued shouts |
Of Dog" Wolf" Lamb" Cow"
The attention of the company was
at last captured by a Frenchman. who
had been distraetedly fumbling in his
pockets for some time, and who had |
now risen to his feet.
Madame he calculated. Il hef
seen terrapeen" On the instant there |
was silence. "Mais oui, | hat seen
a terrapeen yesterday" Most of the |
guests had also risen 10 their feet.
"Yees-in my dictionnaire" There
was a collapse upon the chairs.
wat a peety | leaf it behind to-
night | cherche for re vorrd terre--
la terre-and ! find ground, cart, |
World and-and-zer vas four worlds /
-grround. CART, world, and globe
yees, globe. Bon. see terrapeen on zee |
same page-5ut hat no Of it attention |
paid. Eat ees zee way, madame, cen zis
World Wee not learn a Zing ven wee
hat zee chance, and ven zee chance
ees-ess partie, wee desire to take her.
Zls terrapeen resembles moch see
gorrd terre. zen link zee terrapeen
,es an animal vat goes on zee ground,
World. globe. Eat is vat I link a ter
rapeen ees.'
Sitting down. he mopped his brow.
The others followed his example.
Capital explanation said the I'M
Interested man, as he crossed 10 the
hostess and murmured that he must
slip on 10 catch his train.
Sooa afterwards the party broke up.
md everybody went home vowing 70
aunt dictionaries. natural histories.
md. IL necessary. museums, in order
10 solve the difficulty.
When they had all gone. the small
boy VINO had given the recitation ap-
preached his mother and said. Il
,now what terrspin is, mamma
"You know" cried the irste parent
Then why didn't YOU say -, sou
ioung simpleton7'
wei. when Marjory spoke. you told
her to-
Not another word, Go on to bed
his Instant"