Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-02-24
Dads Experiments with Billy.

iaSusS hSes an Old farmer, whose gwen
name Is Zury,- hard working, honest
old Englishman, owning a good farm Of
over hundred acres, and two good
boys, who had been brought up to WELD
the agricultural implements. From one
of these | have my story.
Old Zury had an old goat on the
farm, who is not one of the most peace.
full disposed creatures in the world; on
this account the boys take delight in his
leTdship on his taps once in awhile,
For long time the old man had motto
ed that when Billy came home at night
he was completely covered with mud
and water, and Znry could not imagine
how he should find out the cause Of
poor Billy's daily misfortune.
One day he left the boys to pick up
the rakes, &c, after hard DAYS work
Of haying, and walked around to the
ridge where Billy generally kept himself.
1t was about time for the goat to 90 to
the house, but there he lay quiet and
dry;so old Zury seated himself behind
a stump determined to watch his move
ments for that night at any rate. He
had not been there more than fifteen
minutes, when who should he see com
ing along the ridge but the two boys,
his first impulse was to tell them to keep
back, but upon the second thought he
said nothing.
Take my load, Hank said Dick; it's
my turn to take the Teller tonight
Hank took Dicks load from his back,
and Dick going down the hill little
ways, soon showed himself within a
few yards of where the goat was lying.
Billy had already caught glimpse
of the boys, and was soon on his feet
Hank laid flat on the ground, and Dick
on the edge Of the ridge, now present
ing full front, which did not seem ex-
actly to please his goatship, for he point
ed for him, and down went Dick to ag-
gravate Billy to still desperate lunge
again the signal rose, and Billy jumped,
but just as he got within few feet Dick
lowered himself about two pegs, and Mr.
Billy had lowered himself about fifteen
feet INTO a ditch of marsh and mud and
water.
Hank had caught a sight of a corner
of the old mans hat above the stump,
and sloped for the bars, while Dick was
not little surprised at the sudden trans
formation Of the old stump into human
being, and that too the old man at fif-
teen PAGES, who by the way was not
one Of TIE most forbearing persons in
the world, and as he looked around up
on the ground, Dick thinking that stone
or club might possibly be the object of
his search, started on a keen jump for
the barn. The old man made up his
mind that the mystery was solved. That
night Dick and Hank didn't come home
to supper.
| thoughtI should not be able to hold
myself together as Hank related the sur
prise of old Jury and his son, as they
stood face to face.
But hold on said he, 4 haven't told
you the best of ityet. Abouttwo weeks
from that time, me and Dick had been
working all day, and we made up our
minds that We should seq old dad buck
ed, for lie hadn't been in the field at all
in the afternoon, and he always kept a
good barrel of ale in the cellar; but when
We started who should we see but the
old man, edging around the ridge; so
Dick and me went over that way.
There was old dad, and there was the
goat. We layed flat on the ground
anxious to know what the old man was
going to do, when what was our sur
prise to see him take the same position
Dick had taken a couple Of weeks be-
fore.
We said nothing, for we hadn't seen
any of that kind of sport fora long time
The old man presented rather forinid-
able appearance. But Billy, nothing
daunted, pointed for the mark, and the
old man lowered, but little to late, for
the goat took him plump. We heard
something strikeinthcnud, butt wasn't
Billy, for he stood looking down over
the ridge. Me and Dick pulled for the
barn, and in a few minutes we saw the
old men padding for the house, cover
ed with mire from head to foot.
That night the old man was dressed
III his best clothes. | venturcd to ask
him if he was going over to see the Dea-
con.
See the Deacon? No. Can't a man
put on good clothes without going to
see the Deacon"
Yes said Dick, sneaking ont Of the
door: cant man go and see the goat,
without tumbling in the nude
Dick was gone, and old dad looking
at me and then very Significantly at a
heavy bootjack; ! slept out the back
door.