Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-04

neck ana kissed her. B0ssy made some show OF
surprise, and coquettishly attempted to withdraw
from my embrace Sometime during that dsy
under a generous Impulse, / determined to give a
calf to each ofmy brothers and sisters just as my
father had given Bossy to me; sand they shall
choose for themselves" said, 'the best and hand
soonest, if they please" Never did i feel richer
and, what was better, generous as rich; and in
these af1uent circumstances continued for several
happy days.
One morning in the succeeding week, my father
sent me into tho field with basket of potatoes for
planting, promising soon to follow began to
drop them into the hills, and went on dropping,
dropping, dropping, until the basket was quite
empty, ever and anon looking towards the house,
and wondering what had become of nv father
He did not come, and having finished this part of
the work, concluded to cut acress the barley-feld
and run home for the hoe. In the yard | saw q
man, whom | instantly remembered my father
more than once tried to dodge, and also instinct
lively, began to edge off, until | caught sight of
Bossy with halter round her neck, on the point
of being led away. When father saw me be turn
ed and went behind the shed.
"What are you going to do with herr" | asked,
as the man jerked Bossy along. He looked back,
but made no answer.
"What are you carrying off my calf forl" | de
manded, boldly marching after him.
Your calf" he echoed, sneeringly.
Eyes, 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?n | asked
passonately as he drew her farther and farther
down the hill. "She don't want to go, she don't!v
"Tisnt as she says, | guess" said the man in
surly tone.
still ran after, hardly knowing what to do or
think. To go back and ask of father an explana-
ton, and should risk losing sight of Bossy, and to
lose sight of Bossy could not be thought Of
'FWhere are you going to take herr" demand
ed my courage rising with the painful emergency;
"shes mine!
"She's not yours, my youngster, she's Mr. Gibbs.
| have Just taken her for debt. I'm the sheriff
and shall take you soon, if you don't leave off,
and auickening his pace, he tugged Bossy after
him. "The sheriff" Istopped, heightened at nv
own boldness and still more for the fate of Bossy
The sheriff was formidable and dreaded function
ary-I did not exactly know how or why. only
that he had been misteriously connected with much
agitation on the part OF my father, aud with the
occasional disappearance OF hens from the coop,
pigs from the PEN and lambs from the fold. This
then was the sheriff! l stood still, afraid to 90
farther. and straining my eyes in the direction of
nv captive favorite, as they were about to make
bend ia the road, roared out in kind of wild
excitement. GLOSSY. Bossy~ She pricked up her
ears and turned around; then the man ierked the
halter, and both disappeared behind the trees. I
shall never forget my feelings, impetuous boy that
I was, when the last vestige OF Bossy's tail was
lost to nv view. pressed my hands to nv ewes
TO stiAe the hot tears while manfully tried 10
master the cry of agony that rushed up nv throat
Then ran back to the house. Father was no
where to be seen; the voices of the younger chill
dren we're in the distance; and l went windy in
quest of nv mother "Oh, mother" sobbed' and
unable longer to restrain my feelings, leaned nv
head against the window and burst into hearty
fit of crying.
"My son." she said, well divining the cause
Just then the children came running in; "0h,
Henry" they began, but she hnshsd an motioned
them all away.
| tried to step nv tears and sat down upon a
block Mother" 1 at length asked, breaking the
mournful silence, "what did the sheriff take BOssy
off for?"
"For debt which your poor father could not
pay" she answered, sorrowfuly
"And can they take any thing for debt? | ask
ed with anxious interest
"Any thing, even TO the house over our heads,
though pray God it may never come to that"
and her voice trembled very little.
Then l will never be in debt,' the current of
my feelings abruptly turning never! nerer! never"
cried with fierce energy; "neverl if they can
take what we love best" and BoSsys dear image
again dimmed my eyes with tears. "And shall
| never see her again?" it was some time before |
could venture on this question: and then tremulous-
ly enough.
You can 90 down TO Mr. Gibbs and see her. but
you mast try to keep up heart, Harry" she adj
ded with forced cheerfulness perhaps things
will go better by-and by aud may be if you are a
good and Industrious boy, you can earn calf all
YOURSELF
"And if do, HeUer a sheriff shall lay finger on
her" and with proud sorrow | went back to the
field. l could not 60 TO pasture that night. Ben
and Nepture brought home the cows. Neither
could trust myself with sight of the brrn-yard,
and slender appetite had for my bread and milk,
for was it not BOssys mothers milk? Just before
going TO bed | crept round the house to take
peep where BOssy nsed to be. There was the old
cow and there "Star," chewing their evening cud
in sorrowfu loneliness. took mOurniul pleasure
in going where Bossy had been, and | almost ho-
ped, by some strange turn of fortunes wheel, she
might still be found behind the shadows. "Ah,
it's no usen sighed, leaning against post in the
my drove is gone, and nothing is left. When |
grow up, no sheriff comes near NELL never be in
debt. No, sir" and | shook my finger at the ide-
al image of that respectable official in stern def
ance.
After going to bed, could not sleep for think
ing of the days sad history. Joshua is best of
he's got his lamb and II have lost my whole
drove, and Bossy into the bargain. There is one
thiug-I1l never be in debt. l wonder where Bos-
sy -Bossy-Bossy;' and sleep bore me of with
Bossy in my heart to the land of dreams.
Such was my experience of debt.