The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-02-11
Miss Putnam's Colt.

"
England woman, as proper and Puritanic
as her name, and very brief acquaint-
} ance would show any one that She had her
own ideas of lites proprieties, as stern
and changeless as the Laws of the Medcs
and Persiansn
This dainty colt was part of the farm
stock, and so was counted in among Miss
Putnams possessions, without any espec
ial valuation for the farm had been left
her by her father, and she carried it on rs
successfully as he had ever done.
But DIR. Walden. living a mile away,
had looked with longing eyes upon the
colt; his own horse was growing Old and
dult; he felt that it would be Ikea glimpse
of new life to hold the reins over that
glossy back, to watch the set of those fine
ears, the arching OF the graceful neck.
Thou shalt not covet,n he said to him
self, and laughed at the schoolboyish re-
! proof; but at the same, he wanted the
colt
At last he gathered up his courage, and
stopped, one warm summer night, ut the
cow-yard barn, Just us Miss Putnam was
coming out with five or six shining tin
milk pals on her arms, to milk the cows
that she would not trust to any othe lhand.
Good evening, Miss Putnam said the
doctor.
The woman turned, not swift, or slow,
but with Il firm, decided motion, and look
ing the speaker tull in the iace, said:
is anybody sick down to lliram's?N
mo, oh no; in fact, the village is re-
markably healthy this season, and there
are very few people sick anywheren
II am glad to hear it. You spoke SO
sudden. YOU startled me- and as though
that settled the matter, she moved ON,
The doctor coughed whistled Il few
notes, and then said
Miss Putnam"
She rose with the milking stool in her
hand. and fixed her clear, questioning
eyes on him, but did not speak
81 was a-thi,kino-tbat is don't s,n-
pose lis any sort Of use To say ANYTHING
about it, but was a-wondering if YOU had
ever thought OF selling that ,orrrl colt Of
YOURS"
Akeen. satirical light Shot into the grry
eyes, and with almost Il laugh, >hr an
swered him:
don't know us there's any law against
u mans buving horse il he wants u.
You needn't stanmer so over it."
Then YOU will sell him ?n
Fl did not say so'
''But YOU meant it-vou implied it?
'.No;" The word was prompt and de
cisive, and the tone had Il dash Of bitter
ness in it, THAT colt was born aut
brought up ON this tarm-same as Wa.
and here he will do his work, and live and
de-same as shall"
She sat down again as She said this, and
the doctor, still leaning on the bars. could
hear the soft cheel. cheel, cheel- will-cheel
as the milk strcamed into thd pail forced
by the firm grasp of Miss Putnam strong.
vet GENTLE fingers
lie thought how invaluable such u calm
active, selt-posse.sed woman would be
amou@ sick people, especially children,
whose mothers were generally panic
stricken and utterly useless
He alncw her house was rs neat rs WAN
work, her farm well cared for, but seldom
the voice of kith or kin WAS heard there,
and never a little child PLAYED round her
door Musing thus he did not notice that
the pail was full until the straight, 1.-the
figure stood before him; then recovering
his consciousness, he said
IL bee vour PARDON Miss Putnam,
hope have not offended vou...
"No.,. She answered. II do not take
offence easily: but" and her voice crew
more bitter than before. II am not in the
habit OF raI''nS stock |" SelL, an" n@ralS
thlnk II Wou,a pay aI t!l'N ll'Ae me- To
take up lne business o' Il morse !"eN'N:
By lAL' tiliie sae h't'l L"N'h 'n"Ih'l P"H'
seated htfStli ny 1h"ln'I fo"' 'Id WIS
gong ON "ith hrr WoIA'
heel-WeeI' tAeeI-"eei went ''lc ih'IN,
win q ShaIP fiI9 "9'll'St t,le p"lIo'ii oi
Ihe pau, ;h'' 10 'n'9 I'''' '"'' "o'V'f Wake"
away thlhNihg' -. go,
me mex! ''4E, r''Iln2 10 see Il IivA emo;
nc lo''ll't II "'W" WIN 'V"ll'I lcN'l' """
peloFe lAe "tEN was '''t u "o|'" "i'it
cases appeared ne was oU'{ oay ana
hiShl, as MISS WIS u'i''nl nr''n" oy W"S oI
her ili'e" hel'. anu one nioln'''7 sue ~"
nun p's>. III Sii9 MS l'' "Hce|S ""' St
along as last as ne couId'
'Nhat fool am she said resolute-
/ H. ttO keep that lazy little Sultan eatinn-