Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06


night to hide in. but she had no time
to finish it, for what do you suppose
happened?'
"Oh. I know" said Skeezicks. his eyes
so big and round that if they had
stretched any more his lids must nave
cracked THE airship bumped into the
balloon and broke it,
Exactly agreed Uncle Joe. THAT is
precisely what happened. and then YOU
had better believe there was an a"iui
time up there in the clouds. The ar
ship caught in the ropes of the balloon
and they both began to sink togetnet
Down. down. down. down they went,
whirlng and twirling and SQUIRTING. and
where do you suppose they landed?
In the water replied Skeezlcks,
promptly.
NO. sir. said Uncle Joe When you
fall out of anything that is painted in a
picture you simply fall back to the pic
ture Amy body ought to know that. Well.
the COW and the bear and the balloon and
the airshlp and Bill Mosquito and the
easel bird all came tumbing whack! down
to that picture and out on the deck OF
the steamer. There was no time now for
the old COW to paint picture, so when
she got on the deck she simply ran across
il and Jumped off into the water. the bear
right after her. They lit on the water SO
hard that they broke 1t. and went spans:
through that picture to the railroad traln
They hit the railroad train so hard they
broke that and landed swish! in the
branches of the tree. The old COW summed
down the tree first and then she took her
ak and chopped the tree down and stun
ned the bear. She ran back to her nay
stack and-would you believe 1t?-that
baby had never left off crying. The baby s
mother was still angry, but the old cow
lodged the 'rollng-pin, jumped through
that picture into her own nice pasture
field and began to eat quite bu,tere cups anu
SkeeZcks drew long, long sign OIL
mingled satisfaction and regret
It's such a short story he objected
''Tell another one, Uncle joe
The young man looked appeahnsly at
Miss ELMER, but she had no mercy for
him. She merely smiled with glee.
Yes. do tell another one" she urged
with full appreciation OF his dlhcuit
position.
1t was Uncle Joe's turn to sigh. He had
already scraped the inside of his head to
find stories for this Unsuitable small
nephew of his and the work was very
exhausting. Fortunately. the Elmer
maid of-all-work saved him by appearing
in the doorway just that moment.
"A package from the dressmaker Miss
Elizabeth" said Katie, whereupon MISS
ELMER. with an exclamation of pleasure.
very promptly got up and with squeeze
for Skeezcks, whom she placed In the blg
leather chair. and a pat on the head FOR
Uncle Joe, she was gone. A new dress.
especially one that Is to form part of a
trousseau. is more important than any
thing in this world.
Uncle Joe looked at SkeeZickS Solemniy.
Never. never do it, my boy he said.
Il won't" replied Skeezicks. What:
Never have a wedding" said Uncle
joe earnestly. Look at the awful eX-
f1,n hot ic u q
look at the trouble it makes! Why, Skee-
ticks, this wedding is going to cost enough
to have bought real mission library, a
gun, and two good bird dogs. Look here.
marriage. but if you are ever tempted to
have a wedding, just you cross your
fingers and touch wood, and say, very
slowly, three times, with your eyes
closed
Trouble. trouble, let me be!
Trouble. Trouble, twenty-three!
Trouble, Trouble, prunes for you!
Trouble, Trouble, oh, skidoo!'
Skeezicks turned the matter gravely
over in his mind and silently moved his
lips. He was trying Uncle Joe's trouble
invocation and he found it very fascinat-
ing.
''Of course. Skeezicks. marriage itself is
a serious business anyhow" went on I'm
Gle Joe. looking at his watch. Its more
uncertain, really. than prize fighting, as
people who have tried it a few times tell
me. To begin with, you might-under-
stand 1 say might-get the wrong girl;
and the danger of that will be greater
now than ever, for the last of the very
best ones will be one when I make Miss
ELMER your sure-enough Aunt Elizabeth.
l don't believe that I'm mistaken in her.
She'll always be good and kind to me.
don't you Think
On this point Skeezicks had no doubt
whatever; in fact, he was enthusiastic
about it-with good and substantial rea-
son. too, for he was an almost daily
caller at the Elmer home, and he knew
just how good and kind Miss Elizabeth
could be.
And as for myself, l shall not club
her any oftener than is absolutely needed
to show who is the boss in my own
house. You believe that 1 think?'
Skeezicks laughed aloud at this. but
sobered his face instantly in answer to
his Uncle Joe's serious expression. II
Uncle Joe wanted to keep right on max
ing believe. why. Skeezicks was ready.
He could do 1t all day, If need be; no
trouble at all for either one of them, in
fact.
Eyes. sir" Skeezicks soberly replied
though his eyes would twinkle in spite
of him.
well. I'm glad you think so. You
don't think you will change your mind
about ii very Soon?"
NO sir" said Skeezicks.
We'll. I'm glad to hear that too be-
cause if you think people will not be
good and kind to each other you ought
to stop wedding between them. and in
our case when the minister asks if any
body knows good and just reason why
we two should not be bound in the bonds
of holy wedlock, you won't feel 1t your
duty to raise any objection
mo. indeed" Skeezicks promptly as
sured him.
Il have your promise on that?''
Yes. sir" Skeezicks grayely affirmed.
He was used to these whimsically solemn
talks with his Uncle Joe, and by that
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