Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-14
Bury;ng The
Ratchet

| quietly around inc mousse dllu lulO LIZ
garden. He hoped Dot would not dis
cover him until her unfortunate
chicken, which lay in the box covered
with roses and clover-blossoms, was
safely buried.
| The chicken, during it's brief life
had not been source OF unmixed 10,
to any one but Dot; for it was moth
erless chick that she had found ant
brought into the house, and, as sool
as it was strong enough to run about
| it followed her everywhere with Its
ceaseless "Chirp! chirp!" in wa!
that was very inconvenient. 1t wa.
constantly under foot, endangerins
it's own neck and making people I'm
comfortable; but, as Dots pet, 1t was
tolerated by everybody but the cat
Tabby failed to see any reason FOL
treating it with respect, and so one
day she bounced upon it and choket
it out of existence.
Dot had covered her favorite with
tears and flowers; and Rob, at his
mothers suggestion, had tried &c
spare the small maiden the grief OF
witnessing the burial. But the at
tempt was vain. A shrill voice called
Rob, what are you doing?" And IN a
moment Dots inquisitive eyes were
taking in the whole scene. Fortunate
ly she found it so interesting as to
tighten in some degree its mournful'
ness.
"I'm glad you're making it in such
a pretty place, Robby,' she said. i
s'pose chicky was good deal in the
wav. Mother says so. And, anyway,
she'd have been a big hen pretty soon,
and that wouldn't have been so nice.
But I'll never like Tabby again, not
one bit!"
ooh, see here now, Sis; Tabby
didn't know any better!' said ROD
in good-natured expostulation. "Shes
only a cat, and she didn't understand
that you'd made pet of this part1cu'
lar bunch of feathers. Being cross at
her won't bring chicky back again:
So you'd better bury the hatchet aho
be friends"
I "What would l bury the Ratchet
for?" asked Dot, more impressed oy
that strange advice than by ner
brothers reasoning.
Rob laughed.
"That means to stop quarrel1ng -
not to be angry any more. When IN
dams have been at war with each 9th
er and are ready to be friends, they
bury a hatchet- That's a sign that
they're willing to stop fighting.
"Do folks always stop fussing after
the Ratchet Is buried?" asked Dot. y.
"Of course. That's what it means
Dot watched the smoothing of the
Ground with thoughtful face, and
walked back to the house by Roo 3
side in unusual silence.
The family had finished dinner
when Fred, Rob's senior by two years,
came to the door with sharp, call.
"Rob. where have you put the ax?'
"Nowhere. 1 haven't had It," an
swered Rob, promptly. But the reply
did not satisfy Fred. Yes, you nave.
You must have had 1t, II you'll only
take the trouble to think. You're al
ways carrying thing off and forget.
ting where you put them. Come OUT
and hunt it up!'
Fred was In a hurry, and decidedly
impatient; and Rob's face flushed at
the order.
Hunt it up yourself, if you want it,
I tell you 1 haven't had it, and don't
know anything about 1t"
"Boys!" interposed the mothers
grieved, reproving voice. But any.
thing more that she might have said
was drowned in wall from Dot.
ut didn't do 1t! l tried, and it isn't
true! Rob said, if you buried a
Ratchet, folks wouldn't quarrel any
more. couldn't find any hatchet. So
I dragged the ak down, and buried 1t
side Of chicl1y. And you boys fuss
worse'n ever!"
The boys looked at each other with
a shame-faced smile gradually displac-
ing the flush OF anger.
where did she put it?' asked Fred,
in a tone that had lost its sharpness.
"I'll show you," Rob answered.
There was very little trouble in find
ing the missing implement, for Dot
was not a success at digging. Then
Fred met his brothers eyes, and
laughed.
I'm afraid she didn't get it deep
enough for lasting peace. But say
Rob, we might be little better temp
cred without hurting ourselves. Ill
try it. if you will
"Agreed,' said Rob.
And to this day, when clouds arise
in the Lincoln household, some one Is
sure to ask, 'tISn't it about time to
drag the AK into the garden?"