The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1908-12-16

. heart ache if have to live 4 hundred
years longer to do it. That's all"
Don't lie afraid of my touching yonr
Old grasshopper."
MY cricket, you mean
Mrs. Bowser passed into the library
and took down a volume OF the enc!-
cloneGia and returned with it. She
found quite i space devoted to the
cricket. accompanied by an illustration.
and she asked:
Does that picture Of cricket look
like your grasshopper?'
Madam. the case WAS settled five
minutes ago. Please keep quiet. My
cricket has come to a strange house.
and wish him to get friendly and be-
gin to sing. In passing. may remark
that l do not care rap for all the
encyclopedias on earth. For the first
sixteen years Of my life lived in the
country. l saw owls; saw crows; I
saw crickets; I saw grasshoppers; /
saw toads. l do not think l have de-
generated into such a blooming idiot
that / cannot now tell one from the
other"
Then 1 had perhaps best 90 upstairs
and give your-your insect chance to
feel at home and begin warblins?'
1T might be a very good idea. mad
ana very good idea. imagine there's
something about your voice he doesn't
like"
Mrs. Bowser disappeared. taking the
cat with her, and Mr.. Bowser picked
the insect off the floor and began to
closely examine him. He had believed
it a cricket TO be loyal to himself he
must keep on believing. There were
the wings and the long legs, however.
II crickets didn't fly, and he didn't be-
Iieve they did. Of what use were the
wings: The cricket, as he remembered
him. hid in the creyces Of the hearth
stone and sang songs. Then Of what
use the long legs: The farmer was
an innocent looking man. b'sosh, but
had lie played a trick? Fad lie sold
his integrity for dollar? No! Never.
1t was cricket all right. and it was
his place to stick to it until death over
took him.
Came to Talk Politics.
IIe lad just put the insect down
again and was listening intently for q
few low notes Of song when the door
bell rang, and he went to answer the
call. He found Smith, Green and
Jones on the steps. They had come to
talk over ward politics with him. AS
they entered the sitting room he said:
Boys. I've got 4 prisoner here. and
you'll have to look out and not step
on him. I've been wanting a cricket
for a long time, and farmer brought
me one today"
Cricket on the hearth, eh?" laughed
Smith. "Ah, see him! Say, you don't
call this cricket, do you:"
"Of course do
''TLen they've got new breed since
1 was boy! l should call this q
grasshopper."
"Sure it is" added Green. "Bowser,
O1O you uS siS SOl( lAol. w
were all brought up in the country, re-
member
Yes. it's a grasshopper, and a
humping big one," said Jones as
clincher.
Mr.. Bowscr turned seven different
colors in seven seconds. His first idea
was to order the men outdoors, but he
saw it wouldn't do. They looked at
him and noticed his perturbation, and
Green said:
"Perhaps you are not feeling very
gay this evening, Bowser?
"N-no"
That's plain to be seen, and we'll
come in tomorrow night. Come, boys"
And when they had gone Mr.. Bowser
went downstairs and got the ak and
brought it up. Then he took of his
coat and vest, spat on his hands. seized
the instrument Of death. and after one
awful blow the cricket was no more.
Then be went up to bed. and good Mrs.
Bowser never let him see the smile ON
her face. VI. QCIsD.