Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-13

tue more Iney IaugleQ. Finally only
Deacon Foskett's pasture lay between
them and Mr.. Whittaker's field, where
the berries grew. The farmers who
lived in the valley turned their cattle out
into the mountain pastures for the sum-
mer. Mile remembered hearing that
Deacon Foskett had a fierce bull in his
pasture, so she was afraid to cross it,
though not creature was in sight.
Well leave you behind if you won't
come or" said the others, after trying in
vain to persuade her.
They went on across the pasture, while
Mile sat crying on the stone wall. The
unhndest cut of all was that Lois should
go over to the enemy. All the pleasant
ness of the day was darkened; she wished
she hadn't come.
As Lois climbed the opposite wall she
looked back at the lisconsolate figure of
her friend in the dIjtance. She had not
felt quite comfortable in her mind before.
Now she said, low, to Roy,
think it's real mean in US to 60 off
and leave Mile like that"
She needn't be such a 'fraid-cat then"
said Roy.
" She can't help it. Folks is different.
Come, now, Roy, you 90 back and bring
her; | guess she'll come now. You amt
afraid, are you?"
No, stree. Come on, Bose" and,
WhIstling to Bose, back Roy went across
the field
Mile hoped down to meet her deliv-
erer, smiles radiating her fearful coun-
tenance. They started back together.
Miles fear overcome by her desire to
join the rest.
"Oh!" she said, chow good you are,
Roy. I'll never-oh! mercy, Roy, there
he comes now! What shall we do?n
The bill had actually come out from
behind clump of young pines, and stood
staring in amaZement at the strangers
He seldom saw people out here on the
mountain.
If we run for it, guess we can get
across" said Roy, and, taking Miles
hand, he headed for the wall, behind
which the other children stood, worse
frightened, if possible, than Roy anC
Mile.
Roy's course was not the wisest. II
they had walked quietly along the bull
might not have molested them, but see
ing them in flight he at once started in
pursuit, stopping now and then to paw
the ground fiercely, believing and toss
ing his head in a warlike manner. Roy
and Mile ran as fast as they could, but
between fright and running their breath
was fast giving out; they were still some
way from the fence, and the bull was
rapidly gaining on them. Millie, dragged
along by Roy, stumbled on in a sort of
blind fright, beyond screaming or crying.
Old Bose was proving along the stone
wall looking for possible woodchuck
holes, when suddenly he heard all this
uproar, and realized that his master was
in danger At once all his war spirit
was reused, and he rushed to the rescue.
In he darted, Selling the bull by the
throat. The bull, unprepared for this
sudden assault, stopped and tried to
shake himself free. But old Bose shut
up his eyes and hung grimly on, with a
grip like iron. When Roy and Mile
were fairly over the fence Bose let go
his hold, and was off and safely away be-
fore the Infatuated, clumsy animal had
time to recover himself and pursue him.
The children ran till some bushes hid
them, and then threw themselves down
on the ground tC rest and recover breath
Old Bose limped along after them, lame
in one foot which the bull had stepped
on, but otherwise uninjured. Every one
patted him and made much of him.
well" said Roy, "what do you think
of Bose now?"
"I1l never call him homely mans dog
again" said Mile. "And when I'm
grown up, Roy, I'll write book about il
and put you and Bose in it."
Don't say anything about me, il
makes a fellow feel so spoony. And, my
young friend, as the committee say when
they make remarks, let me give you q
little good advice. Don't you be so silly
again. If you'd come right along in the
first place we shouldn't have had all this
row."
"Don't you two get to quarreling
again." said Lois.
Il shan't ever quarrel with Roy again, u
said Mile, mo matter what he does"
Lets eat our dinner now," proposed
Teddy; "Im starved to death"
$50 am l." said every one.
CHOW, I'll tell you what" said Ralph
"'tain't anywhere near dinner-time yet.
Let's pick some berries first and rest
while the sun is the hottest"
The rest were reluctantly obliged to
admit the force of Ralph's remarks, SC
the lunch-baskets were left in a shady
spot, in Bosses care, and they went to
picking berries. How good the berries
made their fingers smell and how fresh
and delicious they tasted! Only every
other one, on an average, ever reached
the baskets. 1t is surprising how many
strawberries it takes to cover the bottom
Of big basket. At least SO Teddy
thought. Then the sun poured down
such hot rays that their heads swan anC
they were really dizzy STOPPING over
Before long even Ralph was ready tC
think it fully dinner-time.
Under the thick, wide-spreading shade
of big oak tree a spring Oozed out Of
the mountain-side, making a little poo
of clear, pure water, and then tricklec
away down the hill, marking its course
by the brighter green of the grass along
its way The boys threw off their hats
| lay down on the ground, and drank right
| out of the spring Lois and Mile made
cups out of maple leaves that would hole
considerable water if they were very
spry.
The oak trees shade made a pleasant
! dining-rOom. 1t seemed so cool anC
shady after being out in the hot sun, anC
| there was such a fresh, sweet-ferny
pasturey" smell, as Mile said. Scat
! tered rocks, bits of the mountains back
bone pricking through, made capita
backs to the soft, grassy seats. Dow
below they could look off over miles an(
miles of the Connecticut valley. There
were houses, farms, villages; the feld
looking like patchwork with their diff
ferent-colored crops, glimpses of TIL
winding river shining in the sun, and ia
| beyond hills and mountains the children
had never seen before In the north
west, Mt. Monadnock lowered up
They tried in vain to distinguish g grand
mas HILL" where the sun always shont
last Sunday nights. That remarkable