La Junta tribune., 1906-10-27

0~sssss seasss> s~e>ssssseANASssseoV
Josiah Preston always had been Of 4
despotie disposition. but his naturai
tendency in this direction seemed TO
strengthen after his renunerative ex
peEimengs in poultry raising.
JosiaLs mind apparently held but
one thou=ht-his hens The earth was
made for the sole purpose of providing
them with scratching ground The
sun rose to give them light and warmth;
night followed day that they might
have time 10 rest.
When Flower Preston. Josiah's only
daughter. came home from boarding
school. and her father discovered by
dillcent questioning that the words in
cubata-. brooder, trap nest, bone cutter
elected 10 answering enthus issn, he
gr,miel sarcastically. "a gal that's
been TO boardin' school for thsee years
and don't know leg band frJ-l bone
CUTTER
you must learn about things as soon
n you can. dear" whispered the moth
or nervOusiy. IF you can't talk poul-
try talk with your pa you might lust as
We'll be In the desert of Sahary."
There's one comfort" continued Jo-
siah: Il ain't raised the only fool there
is In this county"
There. there, pa" Mrs. Preston
spoke soothingly. What Is the mat
terT'
Squire Curtis boy got home from
college totber day. and what do you
think, instid of studyin' law SOS to help
his pa. he's been studyin' bugs. -Four
years in college. and don't know thing
but bugs"
Maybe his ia wanted him to," re-
marked Mrs. Preston pacifcaIly.
WAL harshly, Il can't crow over
Sqnire Curtis none. His boy don't
know nothin' but bugs. and, as near as
I kin fgger ous. that gal don't know
sothin' at all The only advantage 10
n took her year less 70 learn IT, -
When young Curtis began calling as
the farm. which he did with suspicious
promptne.a, JOsiah's cup Of misery was
full
'For the lands sake" he exclaimed
testify 10 his wife, cant you 70 In
there and setY'' Indicating with his
thumb the room from which cxr.e the
sound of young voices and laughter.
lyon let that gal git boys and bugs
inter that slim brain Of hern and she
won't lie good for nothin'."
There, there, pa. don't talk 30 loud
You didn't wanf my ma to come In and
81 when you used to come To 'ssse me"
Josiah's face purpled; he clutched al
his collar hand as IL he were choking.
"You don't mean he gasped.
Mrs. Preston nodded
Don't take II so hard pa" she mur'
INJURED S0othingly. Jim Curtis IL
one OF the likeliest young men. and'-
Il could sinnd 1t letter II .twan't for
the bugs" he moaned feebly. "If he
didn't want 10 he n lawyer like his pa,
why didn't he take up somethin' sensl.
BILE. than bugsi What good is a bugi
Bugs millions ON 'em-oouldn't hatch
out one chicken
Hes studying bees now. pa, and
they're good for honey" appeasingly
"he has ever SO many hives-newfan-
gled ones-in his pas hack yard"
Josiah only groaned-
And pa. it's all arranged. only
said he'd have to he old fashioned
enough TO ask your consent. and Flow
er. Ike a good girl. said she'd never
marry anybody without her pas con
sent. That's a good deal nowadays,
pa"
Perhaps IL was because of Josiah :
reputation for irascibility. perhaps be
cause the young man felt that he could
express himself more satisfactorily IN
writing. that his formal application for
the consent of the sutocrat reached
Josiah by mail.
The old man read the letter several
times. groanin. and grunting. When
he rose there was grim smile On bis
face and a look of determination in hi.
keen gray eyes.
This WAS on Thursday. In the even
ing Mrs. Preston reminded him
Aren't you going in to see, Jim, pa
'.Dunno's he's callin' on me-" testify.
But you-his letter.
II amt in no hurry 10 answer 1t
I'm maxim up my r;ind.-'
A similar reminder the next evening
met with n like rebuff
But on Saturday evening Josiah did
not want to be reminded. He marched