The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-08-12

JOE BRACE was a farmers son in the
town Of W, and by his tricks, and
games, and wild pranks, caused his watch
ful 'parient' no little trouble sometimes.
1t happened, on one occasion, that Master
Joe was caught in some misdemeanor, and
as punishment for the same, had been
compelled to hoe in the corn-feld until
such time as said "parient" should Judge
proper that he should be released. Joe,
ike dntiful son, took his hoe, and
straiohtwav commenced sad havoc among
the weeds, which obstructed the growth OF
the corn. Dinner time came, and passed
by, and still no call for poor Joe, who be-
gan to think his punishment "greater than
he could bear" but still he toied on, eX
pecting every moment to hear the sum
mons which would release him Ior time
at least, from his task. But there was no
such good luck for him. The old man de-
termined that he should "sweat it out" as
he termed it; and stretching himself out
on the lounge in the back room, was soon
fast asleep. Joe Iabored faithfully until
three o'clock, when, hunger getting the
better Of duty, he resolved to obtain some
thing to stay his "stemache," at all haz-
ards. So dropping his Loe, he steered
cautiously for the house, and entering the
back door unobserved, succeeded in reach
ing the pantry without detectiou-the old
man being asleep, and the other portion
Of the household being engaged with some
company in the front part of the house,
who had arrived a few moments before
On entering, he commenced an attack on
a mince pie that had been set on the win
dow to cool, being just from the oyen.-
When he had about half demolished the
pie, and was thinking Of some means to
escape detection, his meditations were dis
turbed by something coming in contact
with his limbs. On looking down, he saw
the fayorite pussy, who had stolen in at the
door, and was rubbing herself and purring
as if expressing her entire satisfaction at
the proceeding. On perceiving her, he
thought of a plan, which he Immediately
put into execution Grasping her fore
legs, he dabbled her fore feet about in the
remaining part Of the pie, and placing her
on the shelf, left the pantry, the cat jump
ing " LIc i4OOF, ana lOilOHIuS hlih, iC'''
ing her tracks, of course, both on the shelf
and on the floor. Joe now made imme-
diate haste for the field, much refreshed
by his bite" and was soon diligently at
work.
lie had been hoeing but a short time,
when hearing a noise in the rear, he look
up aud saw the old man coming, with
tabby under his arm, and his gun over his
shoulder. Neither spoke; the cd man
passing by, and proceeding round behind
a knoll which hid him from Joe's view
Joe leaned on his hoe for moment, list
enine, when the silence was Suddenly dis
tubed by the report of a gun, mingled
with the scIeech Of the cat, plainly Intl-
mating what had been the fate OF poor
pussy. In a moment more the old man
re appeared with his gun in hand, the
smoke still curling from the barrel; and
as he passed by his lsboring, hopeful, II he
had not been hard Of hearing, he might
! have heard:
There goes another rietim to circuHo-
stantiai erjdeHCe."
The coat of horse is gift OF nature.