Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02

was an object of interest to every man and
boy who came to the house, near 1t. and
the CHEEKY requests for information as TO
his health and condition from passers-by
were met by the invariabe reply, 'Oh. he's
all right to which q laughing You bet he
is. was an unfailing Tejoinder.
Mrs. Velton thought 1t odd that people
should manifest such concern about a small
rooster, and she began to notice that when
the boys were away Pete usually disap
peared; and this excited her surprise. One
afternoon she came face to face with mas
ter Tom, whose appearance was ludicrous.
His coat was buttoned over some bulky
thing he evidently wished to conceal
Tom, what have you under your coat?"
''Oh, nothing much, mother
Nothing much, indeed Why you look
ike one of your pouter pigeons"
He laughed, and as he laughed little
red head thrust itself into view; and Tom,
his cheeks crimson with the consciousness
of deception, ran off as fast his legs
would carry him. Mrs. Velton told Aunt
Lucy, who also laughed
Don't ye know what he gwinter do.
honey?
t'Of course, don't" replied her mistress.
We'll he's off ter fight Pete. Ye see
Pete he greet fighter, jes loves 1t; done
whopped neatly cherry rooster in de place,
an de men an boys berry proud OBJ i'm, an
willin' to bet der las cent on i'm. Most cherry
day some one comes round yer blowin bout
der ROSTERS. Eff We b'lieved all dey say,
dar's no udder BOOSTERS in de town wuth
cent. De las boy dat come boas mo- den
de rest but our boys lay low-jes play pos
sumter lead i'm on 'Fo' long ne say:
Hear ye got rooster dat can fight
someY
oh. jes little says Tom 'Nothn'
much ter brag bout
g I'd like ter see i'm
!" Well. cast you eyes ober by de coop in
de corner
DE boy look round de yard; den he say.
is yo' sight failin', says Tom, p'intin'
to where Pete was scratchin'. Oar he is
de feIler watched he bantam fer while
den laugh scornfnl, an his face say plain
he tink Pete no count.
oh, he amt much fer looks says Tom,
careless like.
:. Why, my rooster would jes mop UP de
flo'' wild dat little bird; dar wouldn't be
muffin left oh I'm but few fedders'
DE boys want to laugh so bad dey neatly
choke, an dat James, he ready to splode
he hab TO go In de pantry an pcac'ble; greet
he hab to go in de pantry an she de do;
but Tom say, innieent like, Pete he
being small an peac'ble: greet pet in de
family, an we don like to courage i'm ter
fight
asOh. va don't, saws da how Wall re-
yerd lot bout what dat chicken can do,
an jes sided ter let my rooster lick i'm
an stop de talkin'.'
Tom 'peared to HESITATE as tho he was
den he answer; wouldn't like ter see i'm
hurled
AN de braggin' fool swaller de battles
gobble it down; oh, I'll call off my rooster
soon as you cry 'nough, he say
SO, after mo- talkfn dey pint time an
place fer de meetin'; an spec po'. peac'ble
little Pete, de greet pet in de family viii
come putty close to KILN dat rooster, when
dey do meet" And Lucy laughed glee-
fully. Il
And you let them do such wicked things,
Lucy and not tell me?" asked Mrs. velton,
reproachfully.
= Deed chile. I can't stop EN-; sides, I
DON know fer fac dey fights; amt seen
EN-; only spfcions IT."
1T Is about time to put stop to such
disgraceful behavior" declared her mis-
tress. with decision
Could Tom have heard HIS mothers
words he would not have looked forward
to events planned for the morrow with
quite the same enthusiasm; but no hint of
trouble threw its shadow upon him. nor
upon the friends with whom he was eagerly
discussing some topic of absorbing inter
est,
Wen stop for you and Bob about four In
the morning and there'H be no time to lose.
SO don't keep US waiting was his final
caution.
Don't worry about US; we'll be ready"
was the confident answer, as the boys part
ed for the night
(To be continued next Saturday,