Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-01-20
dren be mine or yours2 Can't my calfs calves be
nina. father ? Won't thav ha nine ~

why hef caves won't he lnlnci uetcfmlnCu 10
bring my father to a definite agreement on the inn
portant point.
"Well,' he said.
well, and what does that mean, father? They
arc mine, are they? all Bossy's children they arc
mine"
AS likely as not, Harry, but better wait ill they
come"
Jumped enthusiastically up, cxclaiming, ooh,
what a drove I" How | l0ngcd to race over the
hills, and tell tne satisfactory adjustment Of the
case to Joshua. But that was out Of the question,
and | contentcd myself with s%trutting around Boss
patting her sides, a1cctionately shaking her tail,
examining her small teats, until, forgetting alto.
gcther the dignity becoming to the master of n
drove, l suddenly threw my arms around Bossy's
neck and kissed her. Bossy made some show Of
surprise, and coquettishly attempted to withdraw
from my embrace. Some time during the day, un
der a generous impulse. | determined TO give n
calf to each Of my brothers and sisters, just as my
father had given Bossy to me, "0nd they shall
choose for themselves" | said, "the haIdSomest
and best, if they please Never did feel richer
aud what was letter, generous rs rich and in
these aflucnt circumstances | continued for several
happy days.
One morning in the succeeding week, my father
sen me into the field with Il basket of potatoes for
planting, promising soon to follow. | began to
drop them into the hills, and went on dropping,
dropping, until the basket was quite empty, ever
and anon looking towards the house, ana wonder
ing what had become Of my father. lie did not
come, and having flushed this part Of the work, |
concluded to cut across the barley field and run
home for the hoe. In the yard l saw Il man,
whom | instantly remembered my father more
than once to dodge, and | also, inStinctiyely, be-
gan to edge off, until | caught sight of Bossy with
IL halter round her neck, on the point Of being led
away. When father saw me he turned and went
behind the shed.
What are you going to DO with her ?" / asked,
as the man Jerked BOssy along. He looked back,
but made no answer.
what are you carrying off my calf for ;" l de-
manded, boldly marching after him.
Your calf?' he demanded sneeringly.
Yes, it is my calf! Father said So"
Your calf?" he repeated, and / shall never for
get his tones.
What are you leading her off for ~ l asked
passionately, as he drew her farther ana farther
down the hill. "Shc don't want to 20, she don't.'
"'Tisn't as she says, l guess said the man in
a surly tone.
still ran after, hardly knowing what to do or
think. 10 go back and ask Of father an ~explnua-
tion, and l should risk losing sight Of Bosssy,
and to lose sight Of Bossy could not be thought
of.
Where are you going to take herr" l demand
ca, my courage rising with the painful emergency,
shes mine"
Shes not yours, youngstcr. she's Mr.. Gibbs,
l have Just taken her for Il debt. I'M the sheriff,
ana l shall take you soon if you don't leave of :"
and quickening his pace he tugged RoSsv after
him. The sheriff" l stopped. frightened at
my owE holiness, and still more for tie fate OF
DosSy. The sheriff was IL formidable and dreaded
iunctlonaly-l did not exactly know how nor why.
only tnat Ae had been mysterlOusly connected with
much agitation ON the art of my father, and the
occasional disappearance Of hens from the coop.
pigs from the pen, and lambs from the fold. This
then, was tie sheriff! l stood still. afraid to 90
farther, and straining my eyes in the direction Of
my captive tayOTlte, as they were about To make n
bend IN the road, l roared out in a kind Of wild
excitement, 'Bossy! Bossy!" She pricked up
her ears and turned round; then the man ierked
the halter, and both disappeared behind the trees.
l shall never forget my feelings, impetuOus hoy
that | was, when TIE last yestige of Bossy's tail
was lost to my view. | pressed my hands to my
eyes to stihe the hot tears, while / m~anfully tried
to master the cry Of agony that rushed up my
throat. Then | ran back to the house. Father
was no where to be seen; the voices Of the younger
children were heard in the distance; and | went
wildly IN search OF my mother. 'Oh, mother !"
sobbed, and unable to restrain my feelings, |
leaned my head against the window and burst into
a hearty tit of crying,
My son," she said, we'll divining the cause.
Justthen the children came running in ooh,
Henry !" they began, but she hushcd and motioned
them all away.
| tried 10 stop my tears and sat down on a block.
Mother, " | ut length asked, breaking the mo4ra-
ful silence, what did the sheriff take Bossy Oft
for %"
For n debt which your father could not pay"
she answered mourniully.
And can they take anything for a debt %
asked with anxious interest.
Anything, even to the house over our heads
though | pray God it may never come to hat" ant
her voice 1rembled Il very little.
Then | will never be in debt ~ tho current Ct
my feeling suddenly changing, "never! never
HeceT!" ! cried with fierce energy "never, if they
can take what we love best" and Bossy's dear i'm
age again dimmed my eyes with tears. land
Iul,l / nn-au .4. In, no, g1i I -aa --z .:-y
before | could venture on this question, aud then
TREMENDOUSLY enough.
You can go down to Mr.. Gibbs and see her
but you must try to keep up heart. Harry" ST.,
; added with n forced cheerfulness; perhaps thing
r will 80 better bye and bye, and may he, if you ar
| a good and industrious boy, you can earn a calf al
yourself"
e And if | do, never a sheriff shall lay a fngo
on her" and with IL proud sorrow ] went back t
a the field. l could not go to the pasture that night
Ben and Neptune brought home the cows. Neithe
could | trust myself with a sight of the BARNARD
is and slender appetite had | for my bread and milk
for was it not Bossy's mothers milk? just betor
going to bed, | crept round the house to take
? peep whore Bossy used to be. There was the sol
n cow" and there Star" chewing their evenin
cud in sorrowful loneliness. | took IL mournfu
pleasure in going where Bossy had been, and / a
wheel, she might still be found behind the shaL
ows. "Ah, It's no use: Bossy has goue-my drov
Y has gone, and nothing is left. When l grow up
: no sheriff comes near me--lll never be is deb
!. No taking my Bossy. Mr.. Sheriff! No, Mi
Sheriff! No, Sir" and | shook my finger at III
/ ideal image of that respectable official in stern dc
fance.
After going to bed I could not sleep for thiDkin
of the days history. Joshua is best off, lie ba
= got his lamb; and IL have lost my whole drove
and Bossy into the bargain. There is one thing
G I'll never be in debt. Never! | wonder wher
Bossy is-Bossy-Bossy;" and sleep bore me o.
y with Bossy in my heart to the land Of dreams.
Such was my first experience Of a debt.-M J
Independent.
I From the Missouri Republican, Dec. IS.