The Washington herald., 1907-05-26
B1lD2Jhr Flank!
Fate PursOOs Him Ike a Evil Mem
mysIs and Tries to XIV Him In
ysrlOus Ways But Fails

Hank Dewberry, one Of our most re-
spected though dilatory citizens, had
a turrlble run OF bad luck last Tues
day. Hank says there is days IN his
life when everything seems 70 go wrong
from the time he gets up in the morn
ing until he retires 10 rest at night
DAYS when some evil spirits Of Sata1
seems 70 pursue him, as II were, with
malignant intent to do him dirt and
make him unhappy and give him feel
ing that perhaps after all life amt
worth while. and that Il would Of been
a good cal better II he had not Of been
borned, and since he was borned that
a milestone would be hanged about his
neck and him be drowned in The depths
OF the sea.
Last Tuesday was Just such a day
for Hank. He got up at HIS usual time
Of about o'clock-threo hours later
than the average citizen Of Bingvilie
rises and buckles on his armor for the
days toll. Henk seen that the sun was
shining brightly and that Il was fair
day. and he made up his mind that he
would dig some worms and take his
fshin' pole and tramp over 10 Gootchic
Pond and spend the DAY fshln for what
ever would bite Hank thought how
Joyous Il would bs to lissen to the
waves softly lapFIrg the rocky shores
Of GootchIc and the weird shreek Of
the loon and the PUNK Of the mushrat.
and Jest to set and fish and fish and
fish while the cotton clouds was a
fioatin' through the blue and the golden
sun a shinin' over all.
Well, when Hank went 10 pull on his
pants he was half asleep and so ne
got en- on front part behind. He said
then he begin 10 get suspichious and
was afeard things would go wrong with
him that day, being as It is a sure sign
when you get your pants on wrong.
But Hank went downstairs and set
down TO breakfast. When he went 10
take a drink Of coffee the cup slipped
outen his hand and the hot contents
Of the cup spilled in his lap. After he
had et he took a grub hoe and went
out back of the barn 10 dig some worms,
and while he was diggin' like mad the
hoe come often the handle and went up
in the air about so IT., and while Hank
was wondering where II had went to. II
come down and struck him right on top
Of the head. almost knocking him down
and rendering him horse de combat, as
you might say.
But bye and bye Hank got enough
worms and had his aunt with who he
lives put him up lunch and he started
for Gootchic. Two mile west Of Bing-
Vile while he was crossing Noisy Brook
on top Of a old hemlock tree which has
been a favorite crossing place for 10,
these many years, blamed II the log
didn't break and Hank fell into the brook
clean up to his waist and broke his fish
pole and got so wet that he had to take
of his pants and under-drawers and
ring EN- out Hank says II he had Of
had any sents he would Of turned right
around and come home, but like a blamed
fool he kept on lords Gootchic arriving
there about Il o'clock.
AS everybody knows Ben Wade. who
lives on the shore OF Gootchic, has a
old flat-bottomed boat and Hank he bor-
ried this boat from Ben to fish out of
and pushed off from the shore about
noon. Pc thinks II was. After he had
rowed out about a hundred yards from
shore he took In the oars and let the
boat float and put some worms on his
hook and throwed hook and worms into
the lake and IL up his pipe and fest let
the boat float while he flshed. He says
It wasn't more than five minutes till he
got a bite and he pulled with all his
might and ysnked a perch about six
inches long out Of the water Hank
isTked so hard that he tore the hook out