The Ketchikan miner., 1907-04-13
LOCAL CURI0S


 upon.
 There are many so-ealled lawyers, with few clients, who by close appli- cation could have made themselves into good wood choppers.
 To the man who has something of importance to do there is no such word as tomorrow.
 A bed bug in hotel scant,
 Has changed the course of many a
 reverie:
 A pesky flea on maiden aunt
 Is generally up to some deviltry.
 1t was Reclamation day in sc hool not more than thousand miles from Ketehikan, and the proyerbial dunce they have al least one in every school-was called on 10 speak his piece With grave and solemn mien he stepped forward with the the boldneSs of male sheep, but catching the eye of the handsome though not overly young. lady teacher, was seized with that species of stage fright which causes the stoutest heart 10 quake and the victim to hesitate in fear and trembling. He commenced somsewhat tremuously: At midnight, in his guarded tent. the Turk lay dreaming of the hour. when Greece her knee, Greece her knee, - Greece her knee. -"
 And with an appealing look at the repeat the last words, when sup pressed giggle from the big boys caused her ladyship to take in the sit nation and she went for the unfortun- ate declaimer and ''greased the knee" that was ''in supplianee bent" with the extract of spruce in way that was calculated to either remind him of the remainder of his lines, or forever obliterate them from his memory--it was hard to determine which.
 -Curio had dream the other night He had been indulging in a rarebit with hard cider accompani ment. and had looked over the map of southeastern Alaska just before retiring for the night. and as a con- seq uence nightmared that he was an angel, and hanging onto the beautiful gate ajar. arguing with woman who had done his wash ing thirty-fve or forty years ago. To his left was a pit-a kind of mining shaft-with the exception that il didn't have any pumping machinery. and that smoke was issuing from il in dense volume. II would like 10 look over l-the surface indications, said Curio to the woman: twill you accompany me:' She brushed back her hair from her forehead, let down her apron-so like the days of long ago and the next moment they stood on the brink of the seeming crater. peer ing down into it's apparently bottom l less depths. T must go pow," finally l said the woman there are two en- tries on the books for today: hark." she excjtedly exclaimed. they have arrived. and are talking with St. Peter-I hear them. Approaching nearer. they beheld three persons two in ordinary citizens garb. and the other in long flowing robe. and a plumed hat something like those worn by navy officers when putting on their best style and trying to show themselves of for all they are worth. IL was evident to Curio that the last mentioned person was somewhat embarrassed. il not to say pug zled: in one hand he held a key about the size of one usually used in opening a church door. and in the other he car ried long, pointed. gold mounted staff. Where do you come from?" he oueried of one of the men. whose complexion was rather copper-hued. From Wrangell your reverence. From where?' From Wrangell- Southeastern Alaska, not far from Ketchikan. ''Oh. ah. Wrangell- unfamiliar name that" unused St. Peter, being the first man I've met from place of that name. you can walk in. And turning to the other he began the examination with Where are you from?'' From Juneau. your riverence. ," It was evil dent from his brogue that the man was Irish. How long have you liv- ed there?; For years" "You have had enough punishment, said the saint as he threw open the gate, 'pro- ceed :" Then they all entered the gate, swinging it to with a bang which awakened Curio to conscious ness. In the meantime, the bedbug had abandoned his claim. and made relocation just out of reach on the small of Curio's back.
 Ice cream made from ullre cream