Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-20
SCOEIELD,S GOAT.


tor of billy goat. The miscllievous
pranks Of this quafiruped were fully up
to the average, and: were the source of
continued anxiety to Mr.. Scofield. The
goat was the terror of bill posters, for
he could reach handbill OIL the highest
fence, and one day circus troupe
which had lost heavily by visiting the
town charged their bad luck to Sco-.
fields goat, who had eaten their posters.
Small boys with red stockings always
gave his goatship plenty of room when
ever he took a promenade. A strange
boy only needed bntting over once to
boys. The goat had great dislike for
yellow dogs, and never missed an oppor-
tunity to pitch one Of them into the
Bronx if he could catch him on the
bank of the river. A fight among the
village dogs could he broken up at once
by shouting "Scoield's goat" Young
ladies', too, knew Scoficld's goat, and
never wore red, color which annoyed
him.
Scofield says he has spent more than
$40 for ropes TO tie the goat up, but that
he is capable Of eating. clothes-line
fifty feet long within thirty days. The
depredations of this animal around Mr..
Scofield's yard and in his house have
beei. very diseouraging. Not long ago
he ate one of his masters gum shoes,
and cheweC q hole In 4 new felt hat.
Then he barked favorite ounce bush,
and broused all the branches Off small
pear tree-a new variety Last week he
devoured an execution against thrcsh-
ing machine without distur bing his
stomach, and then ate all the batting out
of bed-quilt that was hanging out of a
window. The next day when Scofieid
arrived home, he spied the goat on shed
chewing y sheep skin which he had
just dressed and spread out to dry. SEQ
field tried to frighten the goat from the
roof by throwing sticks aud stones at
him; but after breaking pane of glass
In neighbours house he decided TO go
up and help him down. On reaching
the top of the shed the goat darted be-
tween Mr.. Scofield's legs, stiil clinging
to the sheep skin. Scotield sat down
| with the velocity of a cannon ball. The
roof gave way anu Mr.. Scofield fell into
an empty potato barrel as though he had
expected a chair there to receive him.
The goat fell OH pile tf coal and then
darted into the yard, leaving Mr.. Sco-
field struggling TO get out Of the barrel.
just dis he had almost freed himself the
barrel went to slaves, the ultimatum be-
| Ing that he reached the ground still in a
sitting posture and III a very unsettled
| frame Of mind except ON one point, aud
that was to sell the goat to the irst man
that came along. "Yes, by dad, that
darned goat must go-that settles it, -
said Scofield, as he clambered to his
| feet, surveyed the surroundings, and
saw the goat in the fence corner still
chewing the sheep skin.
| On Friday, however, he sold the goat
TO = German fer So. On Saturday the
Gernsn called for his goat, with rope
aud boy. The boy was assigned to
fasren the rope to the goats horns. The
| next minute the buy was elinging to
the limbs Of an apple tree, and scream
ing like a screech owl. The man then
mounted the fence and lasSoed the goat.
Billy went along well enough until he
| reached the street. Then lie set both
fore feet down that he would go no fur
tller. The mau tugged at the rope, but
his goatship was as tirn as pine stump.
All at once Billy lungei forward while
| the German was pulling hard ut the
rope, and he fell backward against q
| gate and tumbled into "A neighbours yard.
Away went goat and rope toward the
| village at high speed. Billy had his
dander up, and was In for sensation
The cry "rhere comes Scuaeld's goal
| with fire in his eye," was started, aiid
|
down the street he saw himself in q
looking-giass which was standing In
front of furniture store, aud mistak.
ing the reflection for another goat, he
stopped, looked wise, took deliberate
aim with his shaggy head aud went
through the glass, emerging on the
other side with his horns entangled In
the wires OF spring mattress and his
face covered with blood. The proprie.
tor of the goat soon arrived, aud tying
his legs, put him IN a wagon aud Started
for home, saying: II vix der id
goat, ven gets him home.'
On Monday the German took the goa
back to Mr.. Scotield and demanded hIl
money. He said, II never see such q
goat vat vas like him. not keep suct
goats like him. Last night he butt my
front fence down, and yesterday he xiii
my dog vot pays $25 init. Why got
not deli me de goat lie got some bricks
eh ?''
/ Mr.. Scofield informed the German
that he could not take the goat back, bul
the owner left the animal there.
! Mr.. Scofield says that he will keeE
the goat few days and then take ou
An execution against the German fol
boarding the goat, and ii the German
don't pay the bill he will sell the goa