Show AN STUMBLE deacon bodkin relates a tale of ills youth whereat mrs 13 Is scandalized 14 pa said samantha to deacon bodkin what was that story you were telling at the post postoffice office yesterday afternoon aftem oon 1 I oh bothin much said the de deacon acon it was about some of ochia his pranks when ithen he lie was a young man ill be bound said lire I 1 rs bodkin oh do tell us chorused both girls wal said tho the deacon it was when u I 1 was jest about one anteen ty au an I 1 was down to the grocery one day a politics with the boys when in came black john who is black john asked the girls eirls wal he be was a curls old fellow as black as the ace of shovels as tho the fellow said he ile was a character black john was he used to drive a gray hoss about a eddei 1 n he ile waa was mighty proud of t that a t li iooss oss and lie bragged that lie could beat any boss hoss in town a wal bill Trent bim bini as is squire trent tnt now was there an he be bet black john a gallon of molasses that he could beat the gray with his roan mare in a race to the corners round the old red schoolhouse an back black john tuck him up an the bosses was saddled an brought round black john liked his gin pretty wellna wel laa while he was fillin up tip one of the one of them said martha it was you f I 1 guess one 0 the boys went on the deacon got a clothesline clothes line in the grocery an tied one end to tho the ring in the back of johns saddle an hitched the other end fest to the feed trough in front of the grocery one odthe of the fellers went up the road a piece and dropped his handkerchief for a start an they went off together black john give a yell an dug his heels into his horses borses side do with all his might the next minnit there was a spill john fetched up wih with a to take his head mad olt bt girth broke the hosa hoss slid out from front under john of course came down all in a heap in in the road we all ran to help him up and to unfasten the rope and get it out of sight but lie up before we could reach him bini and shook off tb the e 1 bilut I and said tG golly olly if my hoss stumbled id a i won that race eliuah ought to be ashamed of yourself deacon said mrs bodkin that you had bail a part in such a thing and I 1 dont sec see liow how you can langh as it now I 1 do hope girls you dont never play such tricks on nobody but you ou arc afe both juat just as bad as your pa |