THE REFERENDUM 



93 



THE TRAGEDY OF JONAH 

 BY IRENE POMEROY SHIELDS 



"Oh, mother, come quick! Come quick!" 

 shouted a shrill, childish treble. "Here's 

 a big snake with horns on." 



The mother rushed out to the assistance of 

 the terrified child, and sure enough, there 

 was a snake of a species entirely unknown 

 to her. Not very long but of an immense 

 girth and with a pair of crooked horns ex- 

 tending back over his repulsive head. Greatly 

 alarmed and surprised, as no snakes aside 

 from an occasional water snake or a harm- 

 less garter had ever been seen in this north- 

 ern region, she summoned her husband from 

 the nearby potato patch. He came, incredu- 

 lously scoffing, but speedily alive to the ex- 

 igencies of the case, on catching sight of 

 the repulsive reptile. 



A few vigorous blows with the hoe and the 

 mystery was solved. 



His snakeship was a common garter that 

 had swallowed no less than three toads and 

 was then vainly endeavoring to engulf the 

 fourth victim. His capacity being unequal 

 to his appetite he had but partially succeeded 

 in the effort, and the hind legs of the last 

 captive extended back over his head • in the 

 exact similitude of a pair of horns. 



On being released this modern Jonah 

 seemed none the worse for his experience, 

 and calmly hopped away to contemplate his 

 miraculous deliverance. 



As he sat beside a sheltering stump, blink- 

 ing at Fate and the world, some doubt was 

 expressed as to his survival, and the mother 

 suggested putting a dab of paint on his back. 

 Thenceforth Jonah became a marked char- 

 acter. 



He lived for years in the garden, making 

 his home in the old, hollow stump, and when 

 that disappeared before the march of time 

 and civilization he took up his abode beneath 

 a large stone, screened by a grape vine, in 

 one corner of the garden, and there lived as 

 contentedly as before. 



As years passed on he grew to such an 

 immense size that the boys became proud of 

 their pet toad, and began to aid him in pro- 

 curing a varied and abundant diet. 



It soon became his custom to hop up on 

 the porch steps in the warm summer even- 

 ings and sit placidly awaiting the flies, bugs, 

 spiders and other insects they caught for 

 him. He took them at first from the end of 

 a long, sharp stick and afterward from a 

 toothpick. 



After ten years of this halcyon existence 

 the family built and moved into a new house 

 some twenty rods from the first. 



A 'few days after the flitting old Jonah 

 was seen, laboriously hopping along down 

 the path toward the new house. Some one 

 compassionately carried him the remainder 

 of the distance and he thereupon took up 

 his residence under one of the porches until 



the next year, when a drive well was pul 



down iii the yard. 

 Soon after that event he disappeared and 



was seen no more for several months Con 

 siderable speculation was indulged in regard 

 ing his probable fate. During the sumi 

 it became necessary to m.-ike some changes 

 in the connection of the pipes al the well and 

 the cavity at the top was opened, There, 

 serenely winking at the sun, sal Mr. Jonah, 

 apparently as cheerful as ever and little r< 

 garding the fact of his release. 

 > The cavity was about ten feet deep and 

 six or eight in diameter, and walls and floor 

 covered with cement. It looked like a most 

 undesirable home, and whether he had de- 

 liberately chosen it or fallen in while ex- 

 ploring under the loose planks covering the 

 top was an open question. 



Suffice to say that he soon again disap- 

 peared, and was again found in the same 

 place, and so on for a period of about fif- 

 teen years. When, for any reason, the space 

 was uncovered there would be seen old 

 Jonah, looking as though he had just awak- 

 ened from a refreshing nap, though one pe- 

 riod of imprisonment lasted nearly two 

 years. 

 _ He certainly did diminish considerably in 

 size, however, doubtless owing to a less 

 abundant diet. 



Last summer the elements of a probable 

 tragedy were disclosed. When the well was 

 opened at that time the family gathered about 

 to greet the old fellow, but no trace of him 

 was to be seen. There was, however, the 

 skeleton of a large snake lying coiled in one 

 corner, and the conclusion was obvious. 

 Poor Jonah had doubtless fallen a victim to 

 his ancient foe. 



A gifted pen might weave a romance from 

 a far less tragic ending. 



BAD CREE HUNTERS 



Editor Recreation: 



Have been noticing various criticisms in 

 Recreation and I wish to register a com- 

 plaint. The Cree Indians of Canada are 

 spoiling our best hunting grounds. I saw, 

 in a two weeks' hunt this fall, six black-tail 

 deer, where two years ago I saw nearly one 

 hundred in a four days' hunt. This year 

 the Indians have hunted the country to a fin- 

 ish. They move as far south as the Mis- 

 souri River brakes and go into camp there. 

 Then they hunt the country surrounding with 

 dogs. If you could bring these facts before 

 some one in power I would be ever so 

 much obliged. If there is anything I can 

 do, I'll be glad to assist. 



W. H. Kitts, Lewistown, Mont 



THE CAT PROBLEM 



Editor Recreation : 



For more than two years past Dr. C. F. 

 Hodge, of Clark University, Worcester, 



