Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1883 — Bombarding a Scarecrow. [ARTICLE]

Bombarding a Scarecrow.

They were two tramps, and they were crossing a cornfield in Flatbush in search of watermelons. The farmer’s scarecrow had fallen up against the fence. They armed themselves with dessiccated tomatoes and began pelting the figure. Then they began to make bets of $1,000,000 as to which could plunk it in the back or knock the hat off. As the sport grew exciting they approached nearer and nearer, and were soon firing young pumpkins at the nondescript. “See where that last tomato fetched him in the head!” said one. “Bet you can’t come within a mile of that shot!” “Bet you $1,000.” “Done.” “I’ll do better than that. Bet I hit him before you do!” “Bet you $1,000.” “Done I” And then to get the Bulge on each other they both started on a dead run towards the object. To make assurance double sure, they ran to within a couple of feet of it and then halted to take aim. And then as one went over the fence and the other landed in a near-by ditch, .the scarecrow picked up a hoe and, as it started in on another row, it recited the following paragraph: “I’ve been layin’ fur you fellers fur some time. I seed ye cornin’ an’ leaned over the fence ter give ye a chance at that watermelon patch. Ther next time ye come around this way drop in an’ take a bite—ov the bull-dog.” And the tramps made believe they were dead, and didn’t even dare to laugh at the farmer’s back, which looked as if he’d been shot with a tomato field. — New York World.