How Would You Like to Join This "Bunch"?

From the Clayton News-Letter, Aug. 15, 1912. It is unusual to find local cartoonists published in weekly newspapers in any era. Paul Weeks was 18 or 19 years old when he drew this. Mr. Weeks now qualifies as an official fellow Washington State Obscuro cartoonist!

I can't make out the word balloons of the bystanding bird and farmer, but the driver is declaring, "We're going huckleberrying!" A passenger notes the old farmer at the fence and observes, "I bet that fellow wishes he was goin' to."

At the rear of the wagon someone is singing, "Do, do, do, a huckleberry do!" And another, with rifle in hand, shouts, "I'm goin' to kill a bear!"

Man, I loved picking and eating huckleberries around here in the woods when I was growing up. The bushes were frequently found growing out of Old Growth stumps. And once in awhile I would run into a black bear after the same delicacy, so I would just let them be and move on. The huckleberries here are red and tart.