Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-03-18
Che family Circle.
Rob-.

and then he grew up to be tall, long. leg
ged dog, who was not only very fond of
Harry and Kate, but of almost every body
else. In time he filled out and became
rather more shapely, but he was always
an ungainly dog too big for his size, "
us Harry put it.
1t was supposed that Rob was partly
bloodhound, but how much of him was
bloodhound it would have been very diff
cult to say. Kate thought it was only his
ears. They rcsembled the ears of Il beau
tifll African bloodhound that she had in II
book At all events Rob showed no signs
of any fighting ancestry. He WAS as gen
tie as calf Even Blinks was a better
Watchdog But then. Rob was only
year Old and he might improve in
time.
But in spite of his general inutility. Rob
was 4 capital companion on Il country ram
bic.
And so it happened, one bright day to-
wards the close of April. that he and Harry
and Kate went out together into the woods
b vonl Aunt Matilda's cabin. Hates OBJ
iects in taking the walk We're wild flowers
md general spring Investigations into the
condition of the woods: but Harry had an
eye to business. although to hear him talk
YOU would have supposed that ne thought
us much about ferns and flowers as Kate
did.
Harry had an idea that it might possibly
be good thing to hire negroes that year
to pick sumac for him. He WAS not GER
tain that he could make it pay, but it was
on his mind to such a degree that he took
Il great interest in sumac bushes, and hunt
ed about the edges of the woods, where
the bushes We're generally found, to see
what was the prospect of "A large crop of
leaves that year.
They were in the woods, about a mile
from Aunt Matilda's cabin, ana not very
far from Il road when they separated for Il
short time. Harry went on ahead, con-
tinuing his investigations, while Kate re-
manned in little open glade, where she
found some flowers that she determined to
dig up by the roots and transplant into her
own garden at home.
While she WAS at work she heard a heavy
step behind her. and. looking up, she SAW
Il tall man standing by her. He had red
hair, a red face, n red bristling moustache,
and big red hands.
sH0w dive do? said the man
Kate stood up. with the plants, which
she had Just succeeded in getting out of the
ground, in her apron.
Good morning. sir, she said.
The man looked ut her from head to
foot, and then he said, Shake hands"
holding out his big red hand.
But Kate did not offer to take it.
Didn't you hear me?' said he. l
said, Shake hands >"
II heard YOU" said Kate.
Well, why don't you do it. then? -
L owl tn,
peated his question.
well, then. if must tell you,n said
she; in the first place. l don't know you;
and then,s I'd rather not shake hands with
YOU. anyway. because your hands are
dirty"
This might not have been very polite in
Kate but she was II straightforward girl
and the mans hands We're very dirty in
deed, although water WAS to be had in
such abundance.
whats Your Nance" said the man.
with his face considerably redder than be
fore.
Kate Loudon," said the girl
"Oh, no, LOudon, is it? Well, Kate
Lou(lon, if my hands too dirty to shake.
YOU II find it isn't too dirty to box your
ears"
Kate turned pale and shr,nk back
against tree. She gave hurried glance
into the woods. and then she called out, as
loudly rs she could
Harry"
The man who had made a step towards
her. now stopped and looked around. rs if
he would like to know who Harry was,
before going any further.
Just then, Harry, who had heard Hates
call, came running up.
When the nun saw him he seemed re-
lievel, AMI Il curious smile stretched itself
b, meath his bristling red mousttche.
Whats the III ltter?" criel Harry.
oh Harry" Kate exclaimed, rs she
ran to him.
Matter? said the man. The mat
ters this, I'm going to box her ears
- Whose ears?
That girls" replied the red-faced man
moving towards Kate.
MY sister, Not mlch!'
AMI Harry stepped between Kate and
the man.
The man stool and looked at him, and
he looked very angry, too.
B 1t Harry stood bravely before his sister.
His face was flushed AMI his breath came
quickly, though he was not frightened not
a whit
And vet there WAS absolutely nothing
that he could do. He had not his gun
with him; he had not even a stick in his
hand and a stick would have been of little
use against such a strong man as that, who
could have taken Harry in his big red
hands and have thrown him over the high
est fence in the county.
But for all that, the boy stood boldly up
before his sister.
The man looked at him without a word.
and then he stepped aside towards small
lockwood bush.
For an instant, Harry thought that they
might run away; but it was only for an
instant That long-legged man could
catch them before they had gone dozen
vards,-at least he could catch Kate.
The man took out knife and cut a long
and tolerably thick switch from the bush.
Then he cut off the smaller end and began
to trim away the twigs and leaves.
While doing this he looked at Harry
and said:
Il think I'll take you rst.
Hates heart almost stopped beating
when she heard this, and Harry turned pale;
but still the brave boy stood before his sis
ter as stoutly as ever.
Kate tried to call for help. but she had
no voice. What could she do? a boxing
on the ears was nothing, she now thought;
she wished she had not called out, for 1t
was evident that Harry was going to get
terrible whipping.
She could not bear it! Her dear brother,
She trenbled so much that she could not
stand, and she sank down on her knees.
Rob, the dog. who had been lying near by,
swapping at flies, all this time, how came
up to comfort her.
.Oh. Rob-" she whispered, 20 wish
you were cross dog"
And Rob wagged his tail and lay down
by her.
Il wonder" she thought to herself,
' oh. wonder if anyone could make him
bite
"Roh,'' she whispered in the dogs ear