Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1910-01-06

OF the straw brim which did duty as
a hat and applied one eve TO the hole.
The happy pair were sitting on a
bench on the opposite wall. Methuse-
labs puny shape and deformity max
Ing strange contrast TO the woman's
ample development Suddenly he
kissed her and she returned the salute
with a robust feryor which made Son.
son exclaim. Lard! Francella. you
hear dat? Dat is 'nough to meek de
cluckin' lizard In de thatchin trim
ble." Hardly had the words been
spoken when scream from within
made him return his eye hastily to
the hole. His mother stood upon the
bench. horror-stricken. her skirts gath
cred round her and her gallant lover,
armed with broom. was peering on
the ground with his short-sighted eyes
for the disturber of his bliss.
Wat me did tell your" the boy de-
manded excitedly of his sister and
rushed round to the door. shouting.
stop, Missa Methuselah! Stop, sab!
! will kill him for you!"
Francella followed, as she always
did when her brother led. though in
truth she knew nothing of what had
happened. On the floor lay large
lizard. which, stupefied by its fall, was
turning rapidly from gray to brown.
Snatching the broom from Methuse-
labs hand, Son-son lifted the stick
high in the air and was about to de-
molish the intruding reptile at blow,
but the cats breakfast had been for
gotten that morning and she, recog-
MIXING a chance of filling the void.
darted softly forward, then out of the
door with the prize dangling from her
mouth. Quick as flash the boy was
after her, but his mother stopped him,
saying. Look here, buoy. lef' dat puss
| alone, an go bring wood to cook the
dinner"
II did jes' teck aim for the middle
| of the lizard backbone, an IL Maria
didn' come / would have nail him to
de floor! Puss is de trifiiness ting in
de worl'!" muttered Son-son. still
scowling after the disappearing cat.
Then he went off to do his mothers
bidding. Francella following at re-
spectful distance.
When they were once more alone
Rachel said to her affianced husband,
Il got something to show you. but you
musn' tell nobody. You hear?"
He promised and she stepped out
side for moment, returning with a
small. rustic ladder, which she placed
firmly against the waited wall. and
clambering up drew from amid the
thatch of the roof a wooden money
box. This she showed to Methusaleh,
saying, II got 10 pound in dis box, an
goin' spen' some of it on de dress
for de weddin'."
"Ten poun!" he exclaimed, with
wide eyes Of establishment, you is
rich woman, Rachel"
She put the box carefully back in
its hiding place and came down the
ladder.
Nov, Methuselah, you is de only
one know bout dat money, so keep
you mout' shet, or it might be tiefin'
| from me-"
"Nebber you fear, Rachel, my love;
will let my communication be yea,
yea, nay. nay. Trus' me for dat
de pickney mus be come wild de
wood by dis time, so / beg you put
back de ladder 'gainst de fowl house,
an I will go boil little victuals for
you"
AS the little knock-kneed man got
| outside the door with his burden, Son.
son, who had been an unseen observer
of the whole proceeding, called out to
him: Hi Missa Methuselah, wat you
been doin' wild ladder in de house!
Me did t'ink dat you foot too twis' to
| climb dat?"
| Buoy" he replied. in solemply re
proachful voice. 'dere is no bear in
dis lam tank God! But dere is oddeI
viii things JUS as bad, an If you ever
go to Sunday school you ought tc
know wat happen dem dat mock al
de afflicted of de Lord"
Rachel. coming out of the house
heard the last words and asked, "Wha
him saying, Methuselah?"
| Rachel. am sorry to say your sor
standet' in great need of chastisement
He is mocker, NAM"
Den / goin' to give 1t to him." re
piled the mother, making a dive a,
Son-son. who. always on the alert fol
such emergencies. made good his es
cape.
.'Nebber min, me buoy! Wen you
clothes come off tonight is de time
Shurance. pickney!"
A threat which she made good in q
way that Son-son did not soon forget
and the wales ON his little body
served to keep strong his desire for
revenge until the opportunity came to
crafty 1t. This happened one market
day when Rachel went off to the near.
est town, taking Francella with her
Son-son being left to take care of the
house. Then the old, time-worn adage
concerning idle hands and mischief re.
ceived confirmation once again.
With nothing to do until time to cook
his midday meal. the boy lay under
the jackfruit tree and fell fast asleep.
He was awakened by the noisy cack-
| ling of hen who was slowly hopping
down the ladder of the fowl-house.
Up he jumped. soaring the hen until
she forgot her dignity and flew
screaming away to join the other
members of Rachel's feathered flock,
while he ran nimbly up the ladder and
as nimbly down again with a big.
| brown egg IN his hands, At the foot
of the ladder sudden thought
struck him; he put his finger in his
mouth and hung his head for a mo-
ment, then nodded as IL his decision
pleased him. Taking the ladder into
the house, he proceeded to investigate