The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-03-05

wrote was:
i have never counted the number
OF legs a grasshopper has"
Sorry-very SORRY the pencil
made him say. "A nine-legged grass.
hopper Is worth $4,000 to any museum
or natural history. Perhaps you NAV
have noticed red robin?'' ba
No. sir" was the reply. 6t
Sorry-very sorry. King Peter O,
servia has the only one ever seen
thus far and he values it at $50 600"
The pad was handed back this time
without. any message. Miss Oracle
wanted to be obliging to an unfortu.
nate stranger, but she had a slight
suspicion that nine-legged grasshop.
pers and red robins belonged to the
guy" family" She therefore turned
to her chair, and the stranger raised
MS hat and took his departure. The
girl lost interest in her book almost
at once.
why, he should have handed me
MS card-of course he should!" was
exclaimed after little bordering;
and she ran away to the kitchen to
ask Of the colored cook:
Nanny, did you ever hear Of a
nine-legged grasshopper?"
Go away, chill, f" was the reply.
But did you?"
No. nor anybody else. What
would hopper be doin' wild five
extra legs? He amt no fule, he
amt"
But did you ever hear of a red
robin?"
"Befo' de Lawd, no, no mo- dan
eber heard of a green goose! Sum.
body has been maxim joke on you."
why should he-why should hep"
unused Miss Oracle as she returned to
the veranda.
1t was one Of the aldermen of the
town who said to his wife and daugh-
ter a month later:
i have got to know Mr.. Bennett
OF the reservoir works wen enough
TO pronounce him a fine young man.
He isn't very busy just now, and !
think 1t would be very nice to have
Few at dinner and let him get &C.
quainted."
WHY. father" answered the daugh.
ter, they say you can't get him in
society"
He has surely been very busy
man up to now"
But his misfortunes."
What misfortuneS9"
why, he is deaf and dumb"
| Sos your granny! wish could
hear and talk as we'll as he does.
Where on earth did you get hold of
such yarn as that?'
THE girls have been talking about
It for weeks"
| The geese! You and mother ar.
range about that dinner right away.
I'm in want of a son-in-law just like
Mr. Bennett"
It was to be dinner for twelve,
and the name of Miss Oracle led. She
was told that she was likely 70 meet
a stranger to Eii,sdale, and no more.
By this time Mr.. Bennett had discov-
cred that Judge Brewster owned the
fine residence which he had passed
a score of times; that the judge had
a good-looking daughter to whom II
was more than likely he had played
the dummy" Had the alderman
limited that she would be at the din
ner the young man would have in.
vented dozen excuses to decline the
invitation.
The alderman's daughter hadn't
quite let go of the idea that Mr. Ben
nett was deaf and dumb, but she had
to when he arrived and began to talk.
His hearing was remarkably keen, and
he had very pleasant voice.
Then Miss Oracle stood before him,
and the alderman's daughter made the
introduction.
Then there was look Of puzzle
ment-ancther of recognition-and
Miss Oracle sweetly queried:
Have you pad and pencil With
your
Sorry to say haven't was the
answer.
you should always carry them. ]
wanted to ask you If it hurt very
much when you recovered your voice
and hearing?"
Not $3.50 very much"
Did you begin to look for nine
legged grasshopper at once?"
Not at once. but very SOON"
After that, did you have the good |
fortune to capture a red robin?''
mo, but I'm still hopeful"
Mr.. Bennett" began the girl as
she drew herself up with great dig
nifty.
"Oh, but on the street car With
young lady one day few weeks ago
you said you were inclined 10 take
humorous view of my misfortune"
For minute she chung to her dig
nifty, and then she smiled and said:
I'VE will both take that view of n.y.