The Opelousas courier., 1907-08-17
How Sam Struck Oil
X
BY a
n -

evidently much worried, and with his
clenched fist threatened a dark cloud,
which, though receding, was still
darkening the horizon. The cloud
was an immense swarm of g~rasshop-
pers, and hundreds of these pests
were still crawling around on the
ground and on the fence rails.
Starbottle was furious and paid no
attention to the colored boys who,
singing and laughing, were feasting
on grasshoppers, which they had
roasted over a large bonfire. He did
not look at his fields and orchards,
for he knew exactly how they must
look-not a green leaf or straw left
anywhere. He knew that he was
ruined, as was nearly every n else
In that section.
He turned about quickly, threw a
stone at a strange dog which was
chasing his turkeys, and then went
into his neighbor Habakuk jenkins
store.
The owner of the store was alone
when S%tarbottle entered, and he
wasted no time in useless preliminar-
les. but poured q generous measure
OF whisky Tito a tin cup and showed
it across the counter to his customer.
The farmer coolly emptied it and said
in the most matter Of fact tone:
II haven't got a cent left in this
world, Hab."
"That doesn't cut no ice. Want
another cupful? You might as well,
for I will a darnsite rather give it
to you than to my creditors"
Starbottle needed no urging. He
emptied the second cup, wiped off his
mustache and said: FL think I bet
ter get my nags out OF the stable and
go West. I calkerlate there'1l soon
be q lot Of cheap land and a lot of
more tramps."
Jenkins smiled.
II guess I'd do the same thing,
take along all I could carry and skip,
but. of course. I can't do 1t because
OF the kid. Sammy, where are your"
A shrill voice was heard. It come
from an empty flour barrel, and a
dwarflike. misshapen figure came
crawling out.
II am right here, and I have heard
every word you've said"
well, there was no secrets in It,"
growled Jenkins.
mo, but lots OF foolishness," cried
the boy. @Now, lookee here, pop!
You want money, Starbottle wants
whisky, and I want to learn a lot Of
things from books"
4You.p laughed S~tarbottle.
aYes, /. and you need not laugh,
for ! do want to learn. though / know
! am shaped like q banjo, and l will
get the money, for / am the smartest
fellow In the country. Now listen"
With cat-like bound he jumped
TO the counter and began to tell the
two men his plans.
Two weeks later any one who
passed might hear Starbottle rail in
the most awe-inspiring manner, but
no one paid much attention, for that
sort Of talk had become rather COM
In the community since the visit
Of the grasshoppers.
He stood, ready to start on, In the
yard, close 10 his. hors6s, which
seemed In just 81 bad humor as their
master.
They smiled at the bucket Of water
he held to their noses with every sign
Of disgust that an equine face can
possibly show. And really when one
looked at the water ii the pail one
could hardly blame them, for the
water was covered 9th Il kind of Aim
which shone In ali the Oolors OF the
rainbow and the ssmell was hardly
more inviting. Starbottle shook his
head. looked at the contents of the
pail. smeIled 1t and finally showed 1T
some Of the neighhors who had
come to see what had caused Starbot-
ele TO use even more profane lam
guage than usual.
They. too, looked nc the peculiar
duidinm, dipped their fingers In ii,
snaelIed 1T and looked duly surprised.
Where did you get that stun?s
asked.
where Az you suppose? From
ny well, OF course.
There was q rush for the well and
another bucketfuI was hoisted I'm.
looking exactly like the first. The
who was considered an expert
everything, turned around and
,aid:
friends, WANT to tell B that
starbottle has come near making al
ass OF himself By preparing to leave
his farm, for as sure as / am more
han two feet tall this IS oil.
And s0 II was, indeed. The news
lpread like Wildfire all over the
and State. The Weekly Earth
iuake sent out 3 special edition and
PREDICTED that In two weeks the new
IL well would produce at least 5000
,arrels q day. and III anticipation Of
he boom which must come the editor
announced that he had raised the !,
rice of bis paper to three times the /,
resent.
+ WINS not<Iong before spectators /,
,egan to show up. The wen con- 1
inued to produce oil. showing that |
here must be an immense reservoir !,
Ionewhere ear 1t. Everybody a. !
Used StarbottIe and jenkins to sfnk /
Eells on their land, but they refused.