The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-07

tho I suspect that you've been here
since because 1 have seen the evil
dences."
Happy day. His tale of recogni-
ton was music to my ears! I remem-
bered the incident I remembered
that I didn't see the farmer but I
heard him In those days the ears
didn't bulge from my head like wings
to no avail Seeing is believing now
but not then. Hearing was enough.
We talked there on that porch until
my boy tugged at my sleeve and [
realized that a big part of the day
program was to be completed With
an eased conscience-someth new
to me as a trespasser on that farm
I left the farmer and started for the
creek below.
As we passed the shaded pump
down near the barn my boy requested
a drink InstinctiveIy I turned to the
pump. Ye gods, Drink from a cup
at pump when a few rods below was
a sparkling spring, trickling from the
rocks and flowing thru the water
cress to the creek! Never! Not that
day-of all days to me.
So I argued successfully a rather
complicated point to the youngster
and we started for the old swimmin
hole.
AS boy I knew an Indian route"
to this fountain of youth. This path
was laid out. as 1 remember, to cor
respond to the shelter offered by the
trees and shrubbery and creek banks
from the house above. It wound
around thru huge tree roots. past
gooseoerry bushes. behind n weed bor-
dered fence until it emerged well into
the woods and thence to the coveted
depths
decided to make my trip complete
and follow this ira The first Ia .
easy and l proudly tucked behind the
shrubbery. Then 1 slipped joyously
down the bank on to the stone ledge
at the water level The next feat was
a swing around the roots of a big
water elm. L am sure I did this
gracefully as my boy watched me
from above. My Panama was side
swiped. to be sure, Sut that mattered
not From here the path forded the
creek 1 looked in vain for a bridge.
OF course there was none Well, I
would resort to mere stepping stones.
No stones. Then I remembered Here
is where we slipped off eur pants and
'-waded 'er." AS 1 debated this prob
lem of removing shoes, socks. trous-
ers and rolling up B. V DIS a water
snake-at least two feet Iong-wrig-
gled from beneath me and with head
up slid into the stream A snakei
A chill ran thru me and I scra mbIed
up the poison ivy covered tree roots,
and peQaIeu my white SHOES into the
dirt bank Ripping the sleeve of my
decorated silk shirt-my wife's Christ
mas present. reached the top OF the
bank, perspiring, painting, disheveled.
My boy was hystericaI With laugh
ter.
DO it again, daddy. do it again. .
he screamed.
III never let that boy know it-bu1
I wasn't putting on a circus stunt for
I his benefit. I was DOWN. ght scared
I admit it Nothing but snake-noi
/ excepting a spiked helInetec Boche-
/ could have melted that agility into my
( frightened SYSTEM
1 And years before I hunted these
| snakes. had caught them by the tai
/ and snapped their heads Ike a whip
/ kept the smaller ones for school
( room and girl-hatred purposes.
No wonder they want young mer
for the army Age and vaIor won't
mix
t And I'm not old either.
/ But my love for snakes HAS
! COOLEDl
/ Selecting a more suitable and a les:
resisting course, I sneaked shaking