The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-04

! "A word applied TO noun to qualify
| or limit its meaning" the boy answer.
| ed giibly.
fright! And what adjective would
| you apply to this table?"
The boy thought a moment
Grand said he tentatively.
Correct. I'm going to have just
such a dinner every day on my farm
Then you'll have to have Polly too, .
said Tom innocently.
"Well you can spare her.
mo. sir the boy answered. "You
amt good to her. She cries every time
you go away"
There was an awkward silence, and
the widow began to laugh and Polly
and Trove to blush deeply.
Maybe she whispered. an he give
her talkin' to- said Paul.
d"Have you heard about Ezra Tow
err" said Mrs. Vaughn. shaking her
head at the boys and changing the
topic with shrewd diplomacy.
Much; but nothing new" said
Trove
well. he swears he'll never cross
the Fadden bridge or speak to any
body in Pleasant valley
"Why?"
1.-THE taxes. He don't believe in i'm
provements. and when he tried to make
a speech in town meeting they all jeer-
ed him. There amt any one good
enough for him to speak to now but
himself an'-an' his Creator"
In the midst Of dinner they heard
an cutlery in the yard. Toms game
cock had challenged the old rooster,
and the two were leaping and striking
with foot and wing. Before help came
the old rooster was badly cut in the
neck and breast Tunk rescued him
and brought him to the wood shed,
where Trove sewed up his wounds.
He had scarcely finished when there
came louder cutlery among the fowls.
Looking out they saw a gobbler strid-
ing slowly up the path and leading the
gamecock with a firm hold on the
back of his neck. The whole flock of
fowls We're following. The rooster held
back and came on with long but IN
equal strides. Never hating, the tur-
key led him into the full publicity of
the open yard. Now the cock was lift
ed so his feet came only to the top Of
the grass now his head was bent low,
d1d lis Ieel Ieil uedNlly. Through II
all the gobbler bore himself with dig
nifty and firmness. There was no show
Of wrath or unnecessary violence He
swung the cock around near the foot
Of the maple tree and walked him back
and then returned with him. Half his
journey the poor cock was reaching
for the grass and was then lowered
quickly SO he had to walk with bent
knees
Again and again the gobbler walked
up and down with him before the
assembled flock. Hens and geese
cackled loudly and clapped their
wings. Applause and derision rose
high each time the poor cock swung
around reaching for the grass. but the
gobbler continued his even stride, de
lfberately and, as it seemed, thought
fully, applying correction to the quar-
relsome bird. Walking the grass tips
had begun to tire those reaching legs.
The cock soon straddled along with a
serious eye and an open mouth, but the
gobbler gave him no rest. When at
length he released his hold the game
cock lay weary and wild eyed with no
more fight in him than bunch of
rags. Soon he rose and ran away and
hid himself in the stable The culprit
fowl was then tried. convicted and
sentenced to the block
Its the fate of all fighters that have
only selfish cause" said the teacher
He was sitting on the grass. Polly
and Tom and Paul beside him.
Look here" said he suddenly. 'I'll
show you another fight
All gathered about him. Down
among the grass roots an ant stood
facing a big. hairy spider The ant
backed away presently and made a
little detour. the spider turning quick
~ and edging toward him. The ant
stood motionless. the spider on tiptoe, |
with daggers drawn. The big, hairy
spider leaped like a lion to its prey. |
They could see her striking with the /
fatal knives her great body quivering
With fierce energy. The little ant was /
hidden beneath it. Some uttered a cry !
o. pity, and Paul was for taking sides. /
wait a moment said the teacher, |
restraining his hand. The spider had 4
begun to tremble in a curious manner. !
Look now" said Trove, with some I
Her legs had begun to let go and /
were Strengthening stiff on both sides /
of her. In a moment she tilted side I
ways and lay still. They saw twin
kle of black legs and the ant making
Off in the stubble. They picked up the
spiders body; it was now only an emp
t. shell. Her big stomach had been
torn away and lay in little strips and
down at the roots of the stub
BILE.
Its the end of bit Of history"
said the teacher as he tore away the
curved blades Of the spider and put
them in Polly's palm.
LET'S see where the ant goes"
He got down upon his hands and
knees and watched the little black
tiger, now hurrying for his lair. In
he was joined by others, and
presently they came into smooth lit
tie avenue under the grass. 1t took
them into the edge of the meadow,
around a stalk Of mullen, where there
were a number of webs.