The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-25

asked in a gentle voice, speaking
across the fence.
Herbert did not look up. nor did he
relax the scientific frown upon his
brow. No" he said They always
are losin' things. espeshly Aunt Julia,
when she comes over here, or any.
where's else, but / wouldn't waste my
time lookin for any old earrings or
such. I've got more important things
to do on my hands
Internationally he spoke the high
truth-after his digital researches in
ant holes" the most important thing
that could have been done on his
hands would have taken him to soap
and running water. But Noble did
not press this point. though II was
indeed obvious. He said: Has your
Aunt Julia lost an earring. Heroert|'
Her Well, she nearly always has
lost somer'n or other. but that isn't
bother'n me any. got better things
10 do with my time Herbert spoke
without interrupting his preoccupa'
tions or relaxing his forehead. Mach
er1 history is q little more important
to the inhabitants OF the universe than
a lot o. worthless jew'lry, guess" he
continued.
II don't guess there's one person in
a thousand" he said, that knows
what they ought TO know about our
inseck friends"
No" Mr.. Dill agreed readily. Il
guess that's so. guess you're right
about that, Herbert When did YOUR
Aunt Julia lose the earring, Her
beut"
IL d know" said Herbert Now,
you take my own father and mother
what do they know? Well, mighty lit
tie. They may have had 10 learn a
teeny bit about insecks when they
were in school, but whatever i, was
they went and forgot i; probably Ions
before they were married. Well. that's
no way. FIR instance. you take 4
pinchin' bug: what do you suppose my
father and mother know about its po'
sition in the inseck world?'
"Well-." said Noble. uneasily.
Well" He coushcd. and FASTENED to
add: But. as I was saying, if she lost
her earring somewhere in your yard.
Or
The scientific boy evidently did not
follow this line OF thought, for he in
terrupted: "Why. they wouldn't know
thing about il. and pinchin' bug
isn't one of the highest inseckS at all.
Ants are way up compared to most
pinchin' bugs. Ants are way up, any
way. Now, you take an ant" He
paused We'll, everybody ought to
know q lot more'n they do about ants.
It takes time. and you got TO study
EN- the right way. and Of course
there's lot Of people wouldn't know
how to do it. I'm soln' to get a book
I been readin' about. It's called The
Ant"
For a moment Noble was confused
He followed his young friends dis.
course but hazily. and Herbert pro
nounced the word ant" precisely as
he pronounced the word aunt The
result was that Noble began to say
something rather dreamy concerning
the book just mentioned, but realizing
that his intended remark was NAL:
apropos. changed his murmur into a
cough and inquired:
when was she over here. Her
BERT"
WHO"
Your Aunt Julia"
Yesterday evening" said Herbert.
Now. f'r instance. you take COM
mon lightning bug
did she lose it them"
Lose WHAT"
Her earring"
IL d know" said Herbert. you take
the common lightning bug. or. Ak it's
called in some countries. the FREELY"
Herbert talked at considerable
length about lightning bugs, but az
his voice happened rather precocious.
~ 10 be already in q state OF adde's.
cent change. the sound was not sooth.
ing: yet Noble fingered. Nephews
were queer. but this one was Julia's--
and finally mentioned her, as an incl
dental to lightning bugs; whereupon
the mere nearer Of sounds became In.
stantly a listener To words.
Well. and then says" Herbert con-
tinued. Il SAYS, It's phosphorus, Aunt
Julia guess there's hardly anybody
in the world doesn't know more than
Aunt Julia. except about dresses and
other useless thing under the sun. She
says: Ny! l always thought II was
sulphur" Said nobody ever told her 1t
wasn't sulphur. ] asked her. I said:
You mean to sit there and tell mo You
Ia AiHaranrar 4
she says: I don't care one way or the
other she says. She said She just as
soon n lightning bug made his light
with sulphur as with phosphorus: II
says. and they could go ahead and make
their light any way they wanted: she
wouldn't interfere. That shows what
Aunt Julia knows. I guess. All In the
on the front porch and say: oh. You
don't mean that to somebody like
George Plum or Ncwlsnd Sanders or
the oir widower Ridgely.'
When" Noble asked. impulsively.
When did she say that
''Oh. I don't know" said Herbert. II
expect she probably says 1t To somebody
or other about every evening there ts'
"She does"
"Fiorsncc says So" Herbert informed
him catelessly. Florence goes over TO
grandpa'y after dark and ats on the
ground, up against the porch. and lis
tens"
Noble first looked startled. then I'M
easily reminiscent. Il don't believe
Florence ought TO do that" he said
grave!y.
II wouldn't do r." Herbert was en-
phatic.
That's right. Herbert. I'm glad you
wouldn't"
mo. sir" the manly boy declared.
You wouldn't never catch me takin' my
death q cold sittin' on the damp grass
Liza 49,