The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-28

That's What Was Did to Lem
esekins BY His Son Rufs, but
Il Was ! Axident { not Fatal
LET This Be 4 SoIlum Warn
ing to Others

Lem Gcokins, one Of our most re-
speckted citizens was shot in the woods
by his son Rufe who Is only IL yrs
old = going on Is by mistake. It's 4
lucky thing that Lem wassent shot fatal
he might of been killd jest as easy a.
not but on the contrary Lem is
now able to be up and limp about and
brag about what 4 narrer exc1pe he
had Here is how it happend:
Lem is quite rabbit hunter with =
dog and 4 shot gun and it amt very
often he goes out after rabbits that he
don't shoot somethink or other even if
it's nothink more than blue-jay or =
chickadee-
Well, Rufe. that's Lemis boy ever
sinst he was q little shaver has had \
hankering to fo1ler in his fathers foot
steps & also be 4 rabbit hunter, but
Lem has allus told Rufe there was
plenty of time and soon As he got big
enuff he, might go rabbit huntin with
him. All winter long Rufe has been
Pestering Lem to go with him rabbit
hunting so last Satterday Lem he says
to Rufe, well, come along thenI
callxilate I won't hev a minnit's peace
until I take your
Rufe he was turrible pleased and cali
ed "Towser" who is LENS rabbit dog
and the three of EN- started out in
high spirits. They had skeercely got
through LENS apple orchard back of
his house until Towser jumpd rabbit
which TUX down acrost the hoIler on the
jump with Towser fo1lering - fast as
he could which amt very fast being
as Towser is lamed up with rheumatic
and can't run as fast as he used to.
Bye and bye the rabbit TUX 4 circle
and begin to come back lords Lem and
Rufe. Here" says Lem to Rufe, you
take the shotgun and when the rabbit
comes clost by see if you can hit him. :"
alright" says Rufe and he grabs the
shotgun and cocks it and waits with
turrible exsitement for the rabbit to
come within range while Lem stood
several rods behint him and watchd the
perceedingA
Well, when the rabbit passed Rufe It
swung around and started to 70 be-
hint Lem who seen that Rufe was keep
ing the gun pinted at it and might pull
the trigger emmy minnit so he up and
hoIlerd as loud - he could holler, Ser
goodness sakes don't shoot me instid Of
the rabbit I"
But Lem spoke too late. Rufe was
80 existed that he diddent seem to see
nothink but the rabbit and jest as it got
in line with Lem he blaxed away jest
a. Lem turned and run. There was 4
turrible exploshion and the gun kicked
Rufe flat on his back into the snow
jest a. Lem fell ON his Ease and Toaned
"I'm shot p
Rufe rushed over to Lem and helped
him onto his feet and told him he was
awful sorry he shot him but Lem was
mad a. . wet hen and told Rufe he'd
whale him soon as he got able for
shooting his own father like that Then
Lem limped home follerd by Rufe and
Towser while the rabbit excaped.
Soon as Lem got home he sent for
Doc Livermore our human speshialist
& horse veterinary. Doc picked Is rab-
bit shot outen LENS person while Lem
laid on the bed and twisted & groaned
and cussed in words that Amt fit to
print in the Bugie.
Lem says that's the thanks he gifts for
taking Rufe rabbit hunting. with him
and that he won't newer do so agin
as long as he lives whereas Rufe is
expeckting to git good iickin soon
Is Lem . able to administer same to