El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-26
BUCK.S EXCUSE.

BECk'S EXCUSE.
In the hills about Hogwallow lived
Buck Poat who never felt at home
unless he changed locations at least
twice a year. He would move into
a roadside cabin with the voluntary
public declaration that ne had at last
found a place to his liking-a place
at which he could settle down for life
and raise his family as il ought to be
But. after Buck had been there a couple
Of months or so he would hear Of some
other place that would suit him better,
and so he would move again His
four dogs never ventured far from
home fearful that they would get left-
and the chickens roasted on the tongue
Of the old wagon that now seemed to
them so much like home. One day in
early spring Buck moved into a nice.
two-roOm house that was surrounded
by a patch Of ground fertile enough
for making Of an excellent crop He
was well pleased This here Is the
place I've been iOokin' fer; hits right
here I'm going to live out the rest
OF my days"
needed a tenant. and knowing Of POats
reputation as move, compelled him
to sign a contract for year Now.
each time Poat changed locations he
found some suitable excuse for so do
ing. II the roof did not leak, the rats
were bad. or there were no young
grasshoppers for his young turkeys to
eat. or the kitchen flue did not draw,
or the fleas bothered his dogs This
time there was no ground upon which
he could establish a reasonable excuse
for moving had he sought one. And
he set TO work preparing for his crop,
and he Iabored with much energy until
came June and July, when the midday
sun crosses the imaginary line between
warm and hot and Bucks energy began
to drag the ground. so to speak. He
got so he hung around the house a
Minnie said he to his wife, don't
our roof Leak
No. it's right new
Have YOU ever noticed any snakes
around here I'm So afeard the emil
dern air going to git snakebit
She had not seen single snake
ANY reaches or antsE he asked
No" she replied
NAV he so. but you know 1 believe this
cisfern water is maxim me bilious. The
Children look yaller. too, he ended,
shaking his head earnestly
mo. Buck You know this water Is
fine. and the Children air as healthy
as Young mules" Buck was defeated
Though he had left mo stone I'M
turned" for a fault he had found none
But somehow he was impelled TO
move. And so. without saying another
word, he hitched ms team 70 the wagon
commanded the chickens TO 90 into the
COOP. roped the muley COW to the
coupling pole and drove away down
the road. calling the dogs
VIXEN not a great way along ne was
avertaI[en by an acquaintance, who OBJ
served that the P9ats were we're. m 91oy,5Is
vas as with It'll the house up the road
aoh. no trouble a-tall." Buck an
swered. But you know l couldn't .i1.
II 70 me- Not that the place amt all
right. but I'VE got too much spunk
ana humanity in me TO stand Ior
LOT of things. I had pet CATFISH
named Reffv. that I fetched with me
from the last place We lived at I put
the fish in the pond and ct, it. was asa, get tbo
tim along peaceful and fine until the
Other day when the owner put some
other fish in the pond. and the. them Other
fish jumped on Betty and trled TO run
her ont Of the pond. 7 went out there
this mornin' and found the poor little
thing in some tall grass purity nisht