Title : The Bull Calf, and Other Tales
Author : A. B. Frost
Release date : December 22, 2014 [eBook #47735]
Language : English
Credits
: Produced by Chris Curnow, Elisa and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
BY
A.B. FROST.
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
NEW YORK.
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"Make veal of that pretty creature! 'Tis a shame!" says the Humane Man. "I will buy him and take him home to the children."
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"Ef Oi was you, Oi wud niver toi that rope around me waist," says the former proprietor of the calf.
"Oh, never fear; he is a gentle thing," says the Humane Man.
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The "gentle thing" develops a tendency to play rather startling to the Humane Man.
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And takes him for a little dash down a stony hill,
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But is stopped at the bottom by a small dog.
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"Be still, little calfy, till I untie this cord–that's a good little calfy," says the Humane Man.
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Renewal of hostilities by the dog, and a circus performance by the Humane Man and his purchase.
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Sudden termination to the circus performance owing to the want of more rope. "You micro-cephalous idiot," says the Humane Man, "if I had a knife I'd—"
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—but the sentence is never finished, for again the dog interferes and the Humane Man is unfurled.
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The "pretty creature" becomes really alarmed and goes through a break in the fence leaving the Humane Man in a serious position.
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Rescue of the Humane Man by natives–mutual astonishment.
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"Boys," says the Humane Man, "you may have that calf–he is yours on condition that he is made at once into veal – minced veal!! "
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"Look at that hill, Maria; when we was children how we did roll down hills like that. Wouldn't it be fun now?"
"Lor'! Toby! we're too old and fat fer the likes of that."
"Fat nothin'! come on, let's do it?"
"Well, you go ahead, I'll foller."
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"Hi! Maria, aint this glorious?–like we was children agin!?"
"I don't know, Toby, I think I'll stop!"
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"Hold on, Maria; stop me!!!"
"Hold on to what, you ole fool, stop yerself!"
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"Them–was–briars–Maria!!"
"Think–I'm–'s–big–fool–as–you?"
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"Hol'–on–Maria–hol'–on."
"I–won't–ol'–fool!"
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"Are you there, Maria?"
"What's left of me's here!"
"Hol' on tight, Maria, we may start agin any minit!"
"I wish you would, and never stop!"
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"Well, you're a nice lookin' objeck, Maria."
"If I look half as bad as you, I want to die right here!"
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Voices of the night : "You ole fool, I wish I'd never seen you."
"Fool who? You proposed it, Maria!" etc., etc.
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Mr. Hankins:–"I 'clar it's a shame to burn up a good suit ov cloze like dem, jist when de man's gittin well, too!!"
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Mr. Hankins:–"Foh de lan's sake! I haint got a match! and dey aint a house widin a mile ov dis!! Have to go git one though!"
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Dizzy Joe, the Wanderer:–"Well, here's luck! The gen'l'min's gone in ter swim and fergot to cum out. Looks as if they'd jist fit me!"
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Dizzy Joe:–"I hope these cloze won't be as hard ter git out of as they was to git in ter! I'll jist give him my ole uns soze he'll have somethin' to wear!"
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Mr. Hankins:–"Jerusalem de golden! I never see a suit ov cloze go to pieces quick ez dat suit of cloze did; dey must be jist chock full er germs!" ( Dizzy Joe takes in the situation. )
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Voice from behind the fence:–"Lemme out!!! Come back you black sinner and help me out!! Help!! Murder!!"
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Dizzy Joe:–"I-didn't-expect-to-have-to-take no bath-this-year-but-if-I-must–
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...–I must."
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Dizzy Joe:–"I don't believe Adam and Eve ever made no suit of cloze outer leaves. I'd like ter ketch that black hyena that burned up my Sunday duds."
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( A month later. ) Mr. Peter Hisites:–"This is great. The quiet solitude of the mighty woods and a good lunch is what fits me ."
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Dizzy Joe:–"Excuse me, sir! I–whatsermatter?"
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Dizzy Joe:–"I was only about to remark, sir, when you slipped off the log, that I would like to buy one of them sangwishes if you'll take my note for it at thirty days."
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Mr. Peter Hisites ( ten minutes later ):–"Do you catch on? We'll make fifty dollars a week apiece and our board an' washin' out of it!"
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Mr. Peter Hisites:–"As I was sayin', there's more'n one way of wearin' a coat."
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Mr. Peter Hisites:–"Step up, gen'l'min! Here's the wild man of Hankhunkamunk; captured him myself, after a desperate resistance, jist as I am. He's very dangerous; I carry a gun all the time."
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Dizzy Joe ( to his spouse ):–"My dear, this beats wanderin' on a mountain in a straw ulster, and livin' on jerked black snake and blueberries–you bet!!"
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"You Lucullus Juniper! Has yo' done gone into yo' secon' chile-hood? What you bringin' ole woreout cast-iron images wif dey arms broke off roun' here fo'?"
"Don' you pester yo'sef 'bout dat figger Emmerline Jane; dat's a little surprise fo' Vi'let!"
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"Now you Vi'let, dis here gen'l'min is a mos' pertickler fren' ov mine. If I go 'way an' leave you, I don' want none ov yo' kicken tricks; you heah me?"
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"Dat's a mos' pertickler fren' ov his'n; well, I should smile!"–
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–"but bizness is bizness, an' here goes–!"
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"—!!!!!"
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"Brer 'Cullus, yo' 'pears to be mighty cheerful fo' a man dat's stanin' on the aidge ov de grave!"
"I ain' gwine ter die jist yit, Brer Hacklefeather!"
"Ain' dat yo' kicken' muel Vi'let?"
"Dis here my muel Vi'let, but she ain' a kicken mule no mo'! She done had a 'sperience!"
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Editor of the Weekly Whoop ( alone ):–"Been up all night with the baby, head aches, three libel suits on hand, men on strike, subscriptions falling off, what next? Murder would be a pastime fer me now—Come in!!!"
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Editor W. W.:–" What! a poem on Spring! I'll spring you—!!!"
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Small Quiet Party:–"Excuse me, sir, jist hold on a minute—"
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"I didn't expect to have to do no fightin', but if I must I'll have to get this 'ere coat off. Jist go up there a half a second!!"
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Editor:–"Wha–Wha–What do you want?"
Small Party:–"I was a-givin' Mr. Snees, the poet, a sparrin' lesson an' he says, jist slip my coat on an' run over to the Weekly Whoop with this 'ere Spring poem, while I git me breath."
Editor W. W.:–"Who are you ?"
Small Party:–"Jist excuse me—
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a half a second—
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and—
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I'll give you—
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my card—Professor Bolero, Cannon Ball Tosser and Lightning Change Artist, sir, to the Crowned Heads of Europe, sir."
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Small Party:–"I'm a poor man, sir, with a large family, sir, an' I'd be very thankful for any small jobs, sir, like givin' you sparrin' lessons, or massage, or takin' care of the furnace, sir!"
Editor W. W.:–"Well, call in again, Professor. This is my busy day."
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Editor W. W.:–" Come in!! "
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"Dat's a bad trick yo' muel Louisa's got, Brer Jackson!"
"I done bruk ebery shubel an' broom on de place on dat muel an' kyant cure her, Brer Peters."
"I kin, Brer Jackson!"
"Brer Peters, ef you cure that muel I gwine giv' yo' two pullets an' a water-million."
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"I'se gwine off heah in de bushes, an' ef yo' a honorable muel like w'at you looks like, yo' gwine to stan' still, an' no pullin' on dat ole rope, w'at ain't strong, nohow; you heah me?"
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"Look a' dat, Brer Jackson; look a' dat!"
"Ki, Brer Peters, ain' she a-gwine?"
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"Is yo' hurt, Louisa? Po' Louisa! I reely 'stonished w'en I see yo' git a fall like dat."
"Did yo' foots slip, Louisa? W'at make yo' jump in de water dat-a-way?"
" Po' Louisa! "
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"Louisa look kin' a down-hearted Brer Jackson."
"Dey ain' no mo' pull back in that muel; I jist keep de blinkers on her and tie her wif a piece of cotton thread dese days."
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Transcriber's Notes: