The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-03-08

IHhSnlHcent creature tney naG QlScOy-
cred upon the stalk of lush bush In
the fence corner. The thing was so
still, 1t might have been pixies. con-
certina, painted dusty green and or
namented with brilliant pool balls
from pixie pool table. To Penrod
and Sam 1t was known as tobacco
worm," and 1t 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.
II wonder what he's thinkin' about"
"Thinkin' about how fat he is, may
be-" Sam suggested.
II bet you don't know which end
his head is" said Penrod.
81 bet you don't, either"
swell, whoever said l did," Penrod
retorted Grossly.
swell, did say dldT
"Well, whoever said you did say
you -1ld?"
A movement on the part of the green
creature distracted the attention of
both boys momentarily.
"Look!" Penrod cried. "He's
movin'"
"Climbin' up the BUSH" observed
Sam. "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,"
Penrod remarked scornfully. 81 guess
he could back up, just as well as climb
up, couldn't he?"
swell, he wouldn't" Sam argued.
"What would he want to back up for
when he could just as easy climb up?
His heads on top Of him, and that
proves It."
Penrod laughed pityingly. Suppose
sumpthing was after him; he'd want
SOS he could keep watchin' out to see
If 1t was comm after him up the stalk
wouldn't he? That proves 1t,
guess"
So 1t 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. ~ bet know sumpin' about
grasshoppers that you don't"
"Gc ahead and prove itf'
81 bet you don't know grasshoppers
chew tobacco"
At this Penrod yelled in consum-
ing scorn.
"You wait" Sam began to browse
in the grass searching.
"Grasshoppers chew tobacco!" howl
ed Penrod. "Grasshoppers chew to-
bacco! Grasshop-oh, no, hor
"Here," said Sam, bringing a grass
hopper for his inspection. "You watch
now"
He gave the grasshopper command,
squeezed him slightly about the mid
die, and proved the case absolutely.
'Look there!" he cried, fiourishing
Exhibit A upon his thumbnail. "Now,
say grasshoppers don't chew to-
baccow
Penrod was beside himself, but not
Gas would have been proper) with con-
fusion; ecstasy was his emotion-and
there followed a bad-quarter of an
hour for the grasshoppers in that por-
ton of the yard.
"Pshaw" said Sam. give known
grasshoppers chewed tobacco ever
since was five years old"
Penrod paused to seek further
l., InIc, e., t.
"Sam, do you know anything else?"
he inquired hopefully.
eyes, I do" replied Mr.. Williams
with justified resentment. "Lemme see.
Oh, yes ! bet you don't know IL you
put black hair from horses tail In
bottle and put water In it, and leave
1t there for three weeks, it'll turn into
snake"
81 do, too" said Penrod. II knew
that, ever since / was" Penrod
paused; a sudden light in his eyes.
"Sam, did you ever try it?"
"No," said Sam, thoughtfully. ~
guess when / heard Il we didn't have
any horse, and / was too little to get
one from any other peoples horse-or
sumpthing."
Penrod jrmped up eagerly. swell,
we aren't too little now!" he shouted.
"Yay!' This jubilant cutlery from
Sam demonstrated what reciprocal
fires of enthusiasm were kindled in his
bosom on the instant. where's q
horse?"
simultaneously their eyes fell upon
what they sought. In side street
stood 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 black tail. The pros
pective snake manufacturers drew
near the raw material.
The elderly bay horse switched his
black tail at fly, gesture unfortu-
nate for Penrod,> upon whose eager
countenance 1t illuminated.
''Oofw He jumped back, suffering;
and the horse looked around inquiring-
ly; then, seeing boys, assumed an ex-
preston of implacable fury.
~ Go DILL -,