" THE LITTLE IMP STRIKES AGAIN "
By:
Lynne G.
Everything had been fairly normal on the Ponderosa lately for the Cartwright family. Ben Cartwright and his oldest son, eighteen year old Adam were busy with ranch work, while Ben's middle son, twelve year old Hoss was in school, and the baby of the family, five year old Little Joe was home and most likely into mischief. The little boy did have certain chores that he needed to do everyday, and for the most part he did his chores before he got into some kind of mischief.
This five year old bundle of energy was in constant motion unless he was sleeping, which even then he moved around in his sleep. Mischief and trouble followed Little Joe around like a shadow, and this little boy loved to play jokes on his big brothers which kept them wondering what their little imp of a brother would do next. With Little Joe around, there was NEVER a dull moment in the lives of the Cartwright family.
One day Little Joe was trying to figure out what to do when he finished his chores. Then an idea popped into his head, that he had not played indian for a while. Boy, did he remember what happened the last time he played indian. He ended up scalping his oldest brother Adam, for which he was spanked by his Papa.
He got out his stick horse that Adam had made for him several months ago, and he rode around the yard yelling, " Oooh, woo, woo. Oooh, woo, woo" over and over. " Oh no, it sounds like Little Joe is playing indian again," Adam said as he felt his head, and he remembered back to the evening his baby brother scalped him.
As Ben, Adam, and Hoss watched the little indian running around the yard from the safety of the front porch, Little Joe rode up to the porch on his stick horse, and he said," I'mma gonna gets me a white man. I's a injun chief, so I's gotta capture someone." " Who ya gonna capture big chief?" asked Hoss. " I's dunt know yet." said Little Joe.
After dinner that night while Adam and Ben were in the barn, Little Joe got his stick horse out again and he said to no one," big injun chief back." Hoss was sound to sleep in a chair near the fireplace which Little Joe noticed and he thought to himself," me capture big snoring white man." As the little indian rode around the livingroom, he stopped by Hoss, and he laid his horse down on the floor, and he reached under the chair and pulled out his rope where he had hidden it earlier that day, and he began to tie Hoss up to the chair. He started with Hoss's feet, and once they were tied together, he began to tie Hoss to the chair. Once Hoss was completely tied up, he picked up his horse and he rode circles around the chair yelling, " Oooh, woo,woo!" Hoss continued to sleep.
The first thing Ben and Adam saw when they came through the front door was a snoring Hoss tied to a chair, and Little Joe riding his stick horse in circles around the chair Hoss was in. " Oooh, woo, woo!"
" What the heck...?" shouted Ben, as he and Adam stood there laughing. Hoss suddenly woke up and realized that he was tied up. " Oooh, woo woo!" " Hey, what's goin' on?" asked Hoss as he looked around. " Oooh, woo, woo!"
" Looks like you're a little tied up there little brother," Adam said laughing. " JOSEPH, did you tied up your brother?" asked Ben " Uh, no Papa. Da injun dun tieded him up. He's gotts captured," said Little Joe trying to look very innocent. " Joseph, please untie your brother this instant," Ben said. " Kay. Sawee Hoss. I's was ownwee pwayin' an injun and you's gotts captured," said the little boy as he was trying to untie Hoss. " Papa, I's can't gets em untieded. It's too tight," the child reported. Adam went over to untie Hoss. " Thanks Adam," said Hoss as he stood up and looked over at his baby brother. " Hi ya Hoss. What's new?" asked Little Joe very softly as he looked at Hoss with his big green puppy dog eyes. " Very funny little brother," Hoss said.
For several weeks now, Little Joe had been collecting as many small feathers as he could find. He had found a lot of feathers in the hen house and around the chicken pen. The smaller the better he thought. Everytime he added more feathers to his collection, he giggled to himself. He had a plan for these feathers and he wouldn't tell anyone what his plans were.
One day while Hop Sing was busy in the garden, Little Joe snuck into the kitchen, got a small bowl and spoon. He found where Hop Sing had a jar of honey, which he carefully took off the shelf, and he undid the lid. He carefully put the spoon into the jar of honey and he spooned out several spoons full of honey, which he put into the small bowl he had on the table. When he had just the right amount of honey for his plan, he put the lid back on the jar and he put the jar back on the shelf. He then licked the honey off the spoon and he headed up to his room with the bowl of honey and his spoon. Once he was safely in his room, he hid the bowl and spoon, and he giggled out loud this time as he left his room.
Another thing Little Joe had collected were two rattles from two dead rattlesnakes. He also had plans for them as well. He waited for the right moment to come so he could use the rattles.
The day finally arrived for his plan with the rattles. He knew what time his big brothers were due home that afternoon, so he hid up in the hay loft in the barn and he waited. About thirty minutes later, Adam and Hoss rode into the yard, got off their horses and walked the horses into the barn. As they were unsaddling the horses, Little Joe shook one of the rattles. Both Adam and Hoss stopped what they were doing and listened. "RATTLE RATTLE !" " Hey Adam, did ya hear that?" asked a worried Hoss. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " Hoss, don't move. There's a snake in here," Adam softly said. By now the horses were getting a little nervous too. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " Can't tell which way the sound is comin' from," Hoss said. So they both looked around, and they each picked up a pitch fork to use as probes. " I don't hear it anymore," Adam said as he and Hoss were still looking.
Meantime, up in the hay loft, Little Joe was giggling to himself which was hard for him, as he almost giggled out loud a couple of times. He decided to shake the rattles again. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " There it is again Adam," shouted Hoss. " I sure hope Little Joe doesn't come in here with a snake in here somewhere," said a concerned Adam. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " Sounds like its comin' from the loft," Adam said. " I ain't goin' up there," Hoss said.
Adam stuck the pitch fork up towards the loft and Little Joe rattled the rattles again. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " It's in the loft alright,: Adam said. " Whats we gonna do now Adam?" asked a very worried Hoss. " I'm not sure Hoss," Adam said as he was thinking what he was going to do, so he wouldn't be in any danger.
About that time Ben walked into the barn looking for Little Joe. " Boys, have you seen your little brother around anywhere?" asked Ben. " No," they both said.
" Pa, there's a rattlesnake up in the loft," Adam told Ben. " OH NO ! I hope your little brother isn't up there too," Ben gasped. Now all three Cartwrights were very concerned about the youngest member of the family.
Little Joe was still giggling to himself, but he was also getting worried that he was going to be in BIG TROUBLE with his family, which he knew would end up with a little discussion with Ben.
Ben slowly climbed up the ladder to the loft, with Adam's gun in his hand. Once he was able to get a good look around, he reached down to grab a pitch fork and find out where the snake was. Little Joe was now hiding and he hoped that Ben wouldn't see him.
" Hey Pa, see anything yet?" asked Adam. " No, not yet," Ben yelled back. " RATTLE RATTLE !" " There it is again !" shouted Hoss. As Ben was looking towards where the rattle sounds had come, he noticed a head of curly brown hair behind some sacks of grain. " Why that little imp. Just wait till I get my hands on that little bottom of his," Ben thought to himself.
Ben walked back over to the ladder and motioned for Adam and Hoss to come up to the loft. Once they were up there, Ben whispered to them to follow him. When they got to Little Joe's hiding place, Ben pointed to the head of curly brown hair. Adam and Hoss were both relieved about there not being a snake up there, but they were also upset with their baby brother for pulling this kind of joke on them. Ben whispered something to both of them, and they nodded.
" Well boys, it looks like the snake is gone. Let's go and look for Little Joe now," Ben said as he, Adam and Hoss climbed back down the ladder. They hid in an empty stall to wait for a certain little imp to climb down from the loft.
Little Joe thought he was safe, and he relaxed, and he let go a deep breath.. He laid the rattles down and he crawled over to the ladder to climb down. He only had one more step to go before he was on the floor, when suddenly Ben grabbed him around his waist. Little Joe screamed and passed out from fright.
Adam and Hoss came out of the stall as Ben laid Little Joe down on the floor of the barn. " Geez, I didn't think he'd get that scared Pa," said Adam. " Little Joe, wake up. Open your eyes for Papa, baby," Ben was saying as he was lightly slapping the little boy's face.
Little Joe slowly opened his eyes, looked at his family looking at him and he started to cry. " Joseph, it's alright now son. You don't have to cry," Ben told him as he picked up and held his crying, and trembling little son. Ben really felt bad about scaring the little boy so bad. Adam and Hoss also felt bad. They had no idea that Little Joe would get so scared.
" Little Joe, were you making those rattling sounds in the loft?" asked Ben. Little Joe looked up at Ben, with tears still running down his sweet little face and he softly said," Yes." " Son, that was a mean joke to play on your brothers in the first place. I don't ever want you to do that again." Ben told his young son. " I's bery sawee Hoss, Adam. I foughted it would be funny, but I's guess it wunt, huh?" the child softly said. " NO IT WASN'T, LITTLE BROTHER ! We really thought that there was a snake in here," Adam said to his baby brother, who still had tears running down his face. " Adam's right Punkin. It wasn't very nice what you did," Hoss said.
"Boy's, I think the three of us should have a little discussion with a certain green eyed, curly haired little boy here. What do you think?" asked Ben. Hoss and Adam looked at each other and they agreed with Ben on this matter.
Ben sat down on a bale of hay, and he put his little son over his lap, and he told Adam and Hoss they could each give their little brother two swats to a his little bottom. They each gave the child two very light swats to his little bottom. Then Ben also gave the child two very light swats across his little bottom. When the little discussion was over, Ben stood his crying son up and told him to please go his room. Little Joe slowly walked towards the house with his head down. He was soon in his room, where he laid down on his bed and he cried himself to sleep.
The following week, Little Joe was ready to pull his newest joke on Hoss. Very early one morning, Little Joe got up before his family did. He got the small bowl of honey, the spoon and his collection of feathers. He quietly walked out of his room and into the hallway, and he headed for Hoss's room. He very quietly opened the door and he crept in and he walked over to Hoss's bed, where his big brother was in a deep sleep and snoring away.
Little Joe very carefully spooned the honey all over Hoss's face, and when he had finished with the honey, he got out his feathers and he started to put them all over Hoss's face. Once he was finished, he looked at his feather covered brothers' face and he giggled to himself. He quietly left the room and closed the door behind him, and he carefully walked back to his room, put the empty bowl and the spoon back in it's hiding place and he climbed back into his bed to wait for Hoss to wake up. He didn't really go back to sleep, but he did just dozed off and on.
Ben and Adam were sitting at the table drinking coffee waiting for Hoss and Little Joe to come down to breakfast, when all of a sudden they heard Hoss yelling, " PA,HELP!"
" What in tarnation is going on up there?" shouted Ben. They both looked up when they heard Hoss running down the stairs still in his nightshirt, with his face covered in feathers.
Adam broke out laughing as did Ben. " PA, HELP!!!!!!!! WHAT HAPPENED? WHY ARE THERE FEATHERS ALL OVER MY FACE?" yelled Hoss. Ben and Adam stood there laughing and looking at Hoss, who did looked really funny. About that time, Hop Sing came out of the kitchen to see what all the laughing and yelling was about. As soon as he saw Hoss, he too started to laugh. " Why you got feathers all over face for?" Hop Sing asked while still laughing. Ben, Adam and Hop Sing walked over to Hoss and they touched his face. " Something smells like honey," said Ben . " This ain't one bit funny you guys," said Hoss, who just stood there trying to figure out had happened to him. " Sorry Hoss, but you look so funny," said Ben as he was still laughing. Adam was almost rolling on the floor in laughter.
Little Joe was laying in his bed giggling at the sounds of his family that he could hear.
" Pa, I bet Little Joe did this," Hoss said. " You could be right about that son, but he usually isn't awake this early," Ben said as he looked towards the stairs. Ben walked over to the stairs, and he could hear loud giggling from up stairs, so he walked up the stairs towards his little son's room. " Why that little imp !" he said to himself as he walked into Little Joe's room. As he looked over at the child's bed, there was Little Joe giggling out of control and rolling around on his bed. Ben stood there watching his little boy and he was slowly shaking his head back and forth, and he had to laugh at this sight in front of him.
" Joseph, did you cover Hoss's face with honey and feathers?" asked Ben, who was trying so hard not to laugh at his giggling baby son. The child couldn't talk because he was giggling so hard.
Ben sat down on the bed and he picked his giggling little imp. " Little Joe, settle down now boy. Joseph, come on now son settle down," Ben kept saying. The child continued to giggle away. " P.P. Papa did ya see Hoss?" asked the giggling child. " Yes I did Joseph. Why did you do that to your brother?" asked Ben. " Dunno," giggled Little Joe.
Ben picked up his little giggling imp and carried him down stairs. When Little Joe saw a feather covered Hoss, he began to giggle out of control again. " This ain't funny little brother. You jest wait till I get even with you, you little varmint!" yelled Hoss. Ben put Little Joe on the floor and the little boy fell down and was rolling on the floor giggling like crazy.
Ben took Hoss out to the washroom to get his face cleaned up, while Adam stood there watching his baby brother rolling on the floor, and he had to laugh at that. " Boy little buddy, you sure got Hoss didn't you?" said Adam. He wooks so funny dunt he Adam?" Little Joe said as he was trying to get back in control again. " Yes, he does look funny little brother. Come, we need to get you dressed so we can have some breakfast," Adam told his little brother as he bent down and picked up the still giggling little boy and he carried him up to his room to get the child dressed.
Once Hoss's face was clean again, he headed back up to his room to get dressed too.
Finally the Cartwright were ready for their breakfast, but everytime Little Joe would look at Hoss, Hoss would glare at him, which would make Little Joe start to giggle again. " Joseph, please stop that giggling now, and eat your breakfast !" Ben told his youngest son.
Little Joe looked at Hoss again, and he said," I's weawee sawee Hoss. Pweaze dunt be mad wiv me. I's wuv ya Hoss" as he looked at Hoss with his big green puppy dog eyes. " OK, punkin. I ain't mad at ya, but ya jest wait till I get even with ya," Hoss told his little brother, with a big grin on his face.
After breakfast, Ben headed for his desk to do some more paper work, while Adam, Hoss and Little Joe headed towards the barn to do their chores. Little Joe was keeping an eye out for Hoss, just to be on the safe side.
After all the barn chores were finished, Adam and Hoss got the buckboard ready and the horses hitched up, so they could go into Virginia City to get supplies. Little Joe was busy petting and talking to the horses when Hoss snuck up behind him, grabbed him around the waist and carried him outside. Little Joe was kicking and screaming, " PUTS ME DOWN HOSS, PWEAZE !!!! PUTS ME DOWN HOSS !!!!!!!!. Adam followed his two younger brothers towards to the water trough, and he watched Hoss drop their baby brother in the water. Little Joe came back above the water spitting water out of his mouth. " Now we are even little brother," Hoss said as he and Adam were laughing at their little brother, who was sitting in the water with his little arms folded across his chest as he glared back at them. "Bery funny Hoss !" shouted Little Joe.
Little Joe stood up and looked at his two big brothers, and he was shivering, which Adam and Hoss noticed right away, as it was a cool day. " Come on kiddo, lets get you into the washroom and out of those wet clothes before you catch a cold," said Adam as he lifted his soaking wet little brother out of the cold water. " Hoss, please take him to the washroom, while I get some towels and dry clothes for him," Adam said to Hoss.
" Why little boy dripping wet?" asked Hop Sing as Hoss brought Little Joe into the washroom. " Hi Hop Sing. Seems like Little Joe met up with the water trough," Hoss said with a big grin on his face. Hop Sing slowly shook his head as he went back to the kitchen mumbling in Chinese.
Ben looked
up and saw Adam with some towels and some of Little Joe's clothes. " Adam, what are you doing with those?" asked
Ben. "
" Papa, can I's go inta town wiv Adam and Hoss pweaze?" asked Little Joe. " I don't know son. Do they want you to go with them?" asked Ben. " Uh huh. Days tolded me ta ask ya if'n its OK wiv ya," Little Joe told Ben. " Alright, but you be a good boy and do what Adam says. Have fun sweetheart," Ben said. " I's be a good boy. I's wuv ya papa," Little Joe told Ben as he gave Ben a hug and kiss. " I love you too Little Joe." Ben said.
One day in early fall, the day was very cold, colder than normal for that time of year, but inside the large ranch house it was nice and warm. Little Joe had been very busy that day filling up all the wood boxes in the livingroom, kitchen, and the front porch, before his family had returned home for the day. Hop Sing was very busy in the kitchen, so he asked Little Joe to please play with his toys in the livingroom. While the little boy was playing, he started to worry about his pony Ginger getting cold in the barn, so he snuck out to the barn to visit Ginger. " Hi ya Ginger. It's coded in here. How's bout I's sneaked ya inta da house, coz its wamma in dar.
Little Joe quietly looked around to see if anyone was around, and when he didn't see anyone, he led Ginger into the house, and up the stairs to his room. Once safely in his room, he closed the door, and said," Kay Ginger, ya gotts ta be bery quiet so no one hears ya. I's be back wader."
After dinner as the family was relaxing in their cozy livingroom reading and playing checkers, suddenly a loud whinny could be heard. Little Joe thought," OH NO !" Ben stopped reading his newspaper, looked up and listened again. Adam, who had also been reading, stopped reading and he too was looking around. Hoss stopped playing checkers too, but Little Joe continued to stare at the checker board, and he hoped Ginger wouldn't whinny again. " WHINNY WHINNY WHINNY !"
" WHAT ON EARTH????? Ben said as he stood up. By now Hop Sing came out of the kitchen. " Mr. Cartlight, Hop Sing hear horse whinny. Sound close, " Hop Sing said as he too looked around the room. " WHINNY WHINNY WHINNY !" " Hey, that sounds like it's comin' from up stairs," Hoss said.
Ben, Adam, Hoss and Hop Sing looked towards the stairs, while Little Joe continued to stare at the checker board. " WHINNY WHINNY WHINNY !"
Ben ran up the stairs, followed by Adam and Hoss. " JOSEPH !!!!!!!! GET UP HERE NOW !!!!!!!!!!!" yelled Ben. " What you do?" asked Hop Sing as he looked over at a very nervous Little Joe. Little Joe looked up at Hop Sing trying to look as innocent as possible. " JOSEPH !!!!!!!!!!!!", Ben yelled again. " Uh, oh, sompfing tells me I's in big twubo!" the little boy said as he walked up the stairs.
" Did ya caw me Papa ?" asked Little Joe as he walked into his room and he saw his family standing there next to Ginger. He looked up at Ben with his big green puppy dog eyes, hoping to charm his way out of this bit of trouble. Adam and Hoss were grinning at their baby brother, and trying not to laugh out loud at the looks on the little boy's face.
" JOSEPH, WHY IS YOUR PONY IN YOUR ROOM ???" Ben asked in a raised voice. " Um, hey Ginger how'd ya gets in my woom?" the little boy asked his pony, trying to act and sound very surprised at seeing Ginger standing in his room. " JOSEPH !!!" Ben shouted. " Umm, well Papa, ya see when I's wented ta see Ginger dis aftanoon, it was sooo code in da barn, and I's dunt wanted her ta be coded, so I's dun brung her in da house. Imma sawee," Little Joe told his family trying to look as sad as possible, and he even managed to get teary eyed too.
" JOSEPH, DON'T YOU EVER BRING GINGER, OR ANY OF THE OTHER ANIMALS IN THE HOUSE AGAIN !!!!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Ben said in a raised voice. " Yes, Papa. I's wunt neber do dat again. I's be a good boy. I's weawee sawee Papa," the child said in a very softly voice.
" Adam, would you please take Ginger back to the barn? It's just a good thing she didn't do her business in here," Ben said as he looked at his little imp. Hop Sing was still standing in the livingroom when Adam led Ginger down the stairs, and back out to the barn. He had a very shocked look on his face.
Hop Sing couldn't believe what he was seeing. " WHAT PONY DO IN HOUSE ?" shouted Hop Sing, as Ben, Hoss and Little Joe came down the stairs. " Well Hop Sing, seems that Little Joe didn't want Ginger to get cold, so he took the pony up to his room. Don't worry, she didn't make any mess," Ben told Hop Sing. Hop Sing looked down at Little Joe and he yelled," WHAT WRONG WITH LITTLE BOY? NO BRING PONY IN HOUSE AGAIN !!!!!!!!!! as he walked back out to the kitchen mumbling in Chinese.
Later that evening after Little Joe was safely tucked in his warm bed for the night, Ben, Adam and Hoss were still down stairs and talking. " I still can't believe that Little Joe brought his pony in the house, and up to his room," Ben said as he slowly shook his head. " I tell ya Pa, there is NEVER a dull moment around here with that little imp here," said Adam as he laughed. " Ya can sure say that again big brother," Hoss said as he too was laughing. " It's kind of funny though. Those looks on his face when he saw us standing next to Ginger, were just priceless and the shocked look on Hop Sing's face when he saw the pony coming down the stairs," Ben said. " It's just a good thing little brother doesn't have an elephant, or he'd probably bring that in the house too," laughed Adam. " OH NO, don't even think about that one Adam. Knowing that baby son of mine, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he did bring an elephant home one day," Ben said. They all laughed at that statement, but little did they realize, that several years later, Little Joe and Hoss would bring an elephant home.
THE END.
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