The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-11-29

cred upon the stalk of lush bush in
still, it might have been pixies con-
certina, painted dusty green and or
namented with brilliant pool balls
from pixie pool table. TO Penrod
and Sam it was known as tobacco
worm and it was the largest and fat
test they had ever seen. The two
boys stared in silence for long time;
finally Penrod spoke in a hushed
voice.
81 wonder what he's thinkin' about"
"Thinkin' about how fat he is, may
be-" Sam suggested
81 bet you don't know which end
his head is" said Penrod.
81 bet you don't, either"
swell, whoever said did," Penrod
retorted GROSSLY.
swell, did say did,"
''Well, whoever said you did say
you did?"
A movement on the part of the green
creature distracted the attention of
both boys momentarily.
'Lsok p Penrod cried. He's
mopin'!'
"Climbin' up the bush,'' observed
S&m. THAT shows which end his head
is; it's on top"
'It doesn't have to be on top just
because he's climbin' up the BUSH"
PeErod remarked scOrnfully. II guess
he could back up, just as well as climb
up, couldn't hep"
well, he wouldn't" Sam argued.
"What would he want to back up for,
when he could just as easy climb up?
proves it,"
Penrod laughed pityingly. Suppose
sumpthing was after him; he'd want
to have his head on the bottom end
COS he could keep watchin' out to see
II 1t was comm after him up the stalk,
wouldn't he: That proves it,
guess !"
So it did-so far as Sam Williams
was concerned Sam was overwhelm-
ed he had nothing to say. He dug the
ground with the toe of his shoe, de-
spondently, then frightened all at
once. 81 bet 1 know sumpin' about
grasshoppers that you don't" "a =
go ahead and prove it"
81 bet you don't know grasshoppers
chew tobacco"
At this Penrod yelled in consuln-
ing scorn.
'eYou waltz" Sam began to browse
in the grass searching.
"Grasshoppers chew tobacco!" howl
ed Penrod. ezra shoppers chew to-
bacco Grasshop--oh, no, ho!"
Here" said Sam, bringing a grass
hopper for his inspection. "You watch
now"
He gave the grasshopper a command,
squeezed him slightly about the mid
die. and proved the case absolutely.
"LoAk there!" he cried, fourishing
Exhibit A upon his thumbnail. "Now,
say grasshoppers don't chew to-
bacco!"
Pcnrod was beside himself, but not
Gas would have been proper) with con-
fusion: ecstasy was his emction-and
there followed n bad-quarter of an
hour for the grasshoppers in that por-
ton of the yard.
"Pshaww said Sam. "Pve known
grasshoppers chewed tobacco ever
since was five years old"
Penrod paused to seek further
knowledge at it's fountain-head
"Sam, do you know anything else?"
he inquired hopefully.
"Yes, I do'' replied Mr.. Williams
with justified resentment. "Lemme see.
Oh, yes I bet you don't know if you
put black hair from n horses tail in
bottle and put water in it. and leave
1t there for three weeks, it'll turn into
q snake"
"I DO, too" said Penrod. 81 knew
that, ever since I was Penrod
paused; n sudden light in his eyes.
''Sam, did you ever try it?"
"No," said Sam, thoughtfully. st
guess when l heard it we didn't have
any horse. and was too little to get
one from any other peoples horse-or
sumpthing."
Penrod jumped up eagerly. swell,
we aren't too little now!" he shouted.
"Yayr' This jubilant cutlery from
Sam demonstrated what reciprocal
fires of enthusiasm were kindled in his
bosom on the instant. Where's
horseY'
simultaneously their eyes fell upon
what they sought. In a side street
stood a grocer's wagon, and the gro
Ger had just gone into the kitchen. At
tached to the wagon was an elderly
bay horse. Attached TO the elderly
bay horse was Il black tail. The pros
pective snake manufacturers drew
near the raw material.
The elderly bay horse switched his
black tail ut a fly, gesture unfortu-
nate for Penrod, upon whose eager
countenance it eliminated.
'Oofw He jumped back. suffering
and the horse looked around inquiring-
ly; then, seeing boys, assumed an ex-
preston of implacable fury.
Go on" Sam urged Pull 'em out.
Two's enough"
PeIrof, glanced uneasily at the
horses horizontal ears. You pull EN-.
SAM" he suggested, edging away. 'I'll
so and be getting the bottles ready to
put 'em in. ="
mo. Sirl" Sam insisted. you start
cd to pull 'em and you ought to do
1t. I dida't start u pull 'em. did IT'
NOW. see l,lc-~" pearod became