The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-09-20
The raniC.

While that which they so much dccry,
OFT proves blessing by and by.
The Panic.
"What's il all about?" said one of
Mrs. Sells ducks to her friend, as they
listened to splashing noise in the lit
tie brook dam.
81 cannot Think" quacked Duckey;
'let's go aud see"
And they sailed down the brook TO the
place, and found great piece of wood
which had fallen across the bank, and
the wat was splashing over it. The
rest of the ducks, seeing these two in
such hurry to get to this spot, followed
supposing some fresh plan of operations
for the day was being projected, or that
new nest Of snails had been discover
ed. SO they waddled into the brook
and swan off in thosame direction.
II was difficult for their two compan-
ions to persuade them of the truth and
they all quacled cloud in their inquir-
les, that hen, who was taking her ten
lltttC CfilthtiLo lOl u luOl hiLt5 w Nuihs tOAu
them to remain very quiet under the
WALL while she went to the water-side
to see what was the matter, and to
mind and not touch the corn that would
be thrown down for them, till she re-
turned.
Whether her clucking and the in
creased quacking were favored by the
wind l can't say, but the sound went
over the charchyard into Freek the
Shepherds garden, where Drover lay
doing in the esun. He started up, prick
cd up his ears and bounded away.
A cow that was grazing in the lane,
seoing him scamper off at such rate
thought it wise to follow him; so hav-
ing filled her mouth, she walked dolib-
erately round the corner to the place
that Droyer seemed to mako for. In
his way he saw the potter's horse stand
ing in the Bede House close. "Hey,
Drover," said the horse, "what's the
matter"
"Who knows ?" said Drovor; "I'm
going TO see. Don't you hear the
noise?"
SO the horse went up to the hedge of
the close, and looked over on the brook
but being old and tired, he couldn't
make up his mind to go any nearer.
"Have you heard?" said an old crow.
"What ?" said the others.
ooh what noise! A fight, l should
think. saw Drover running as if to
break his neck, and the old COW and
the potter's horse are on the road, and
1 don't know who besides"
"Oh, let's go, by all MEANS" said the
crows. So they flew off, and took pos
session of the willows that hung over
| the brook.
"What fun ~ said Il sparrow; "the
crows have gone to see some G rand do
ings somewhere; let us go toov and
away went whole flock Of sparrows,
who had been busy moment before
with the wears currant bushes.
Every remarkable % said an old
jackdaw. "What it can be about 1 can.
not divine. propose, my brethren,
to call a meeting, and consult upon
measures adequate to the OCCASION"
And so all the jackdraws might be seen
| coming out of their holes in the
church tower, and ranging themselves
along tho ledge near the top, ON the side
facing the brook.
! "Is ii an invasion of the French 90
said one. us it a company of masons
coming to repair the church?" said
another "that would vastly more in
terfere with US and our nests"
Now, Just as Drover got to the brook,
the two ducks, having convinced their
friends that there was no secret cause
for their movement, the whole party
We're sailing calmly down the stream,
and the quackiug had completely ceas-
| ed.
"What's it all about ?" said Drover to
the last of them.
| "What?" said the duck.
"Why, the noise" said Drovcr.
"Nothing?' said tho duck.
Nothing !" said the hen, going back
to her chickens.
Nothing !" said Drovcr, with mix
ture of contempt and vexation at hay.
had his run for nothing.
ibid he say nothing, Mr.. Drover ?''
said the old COW, who immediately
proceeded to Craze again.
"Nothlng" called out the old horse
from over the wall. "H0w glad | am I
didn't go any fartherv
"NOthing! nothing!" jabbered the
sparrows. "What fun Only think OF
taking in all these good folks" And of
they flew to the currant trees again.
"Nothlng!" !" said the crows, who flew
over to Mrs. Sell's yard to pick up tn,
: corn that the hen had left.
"Nothing" said the DAVIS. "Hov
exceedingly impertinent to make sucf
fuss about nothing.
Every" said Kitty Keelby's ole
brindled cat, who had been feasting OF
some of the deserted chickens, Will,
their mother was gone to find out 'wha
the noise was all about" And so thu
water went on splashing over tn,
wood but there was an end of tn,
wonder.