Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-09-22
Che family Circle.
kOckO and the deer.

high opinions of themselves. Bocko was
the largest. and the rest looked up to him
although. to be sure, that was not much
trouble. as they did not have to look very
high One reason why they thought SO
much of their big brother was that he was
always talking of the great things he had
done, and the great things he intended to
do.
One dey. the family was out of meat
The mother-dog proposed TO send the
children out to a neighboring town to
prowl about the market and bring home
what they could pick up.
But Bocko opposed this plan. Il am
tired of bits and bones." he said. "There
is no reason why we should not have the
very best meat. We have gone on this
poor way long enough. Now, my idea is
this: Yoy will stay at home and take Il
nap, and make yourselves as comfortable
as YOU can, and will 90 a hunting. l will
90 into the forest and kill deer. Then
we can have the very best meat, and all
we want of it. A whole deer will last Il
long time"
.. Oh, that will be delightful" cried his
sisters. g But do you think you can kill
Il DEERE
xiii one" cried Bocko. Il should
think so. DO you see those tecth?'
"Oh. yes said his sisters and the
small brothers; " they're perfectly awful
when you open your mouth this way"
:" And do you see that leg, and this one,
and the two others? Did you ever see
stronger looking legs than they are? You
can feel my muscle, if you like"
The sisters and the small brother felt his
muscle, and declared that with such teeth
and such legs he ought to be able to kill Il
deer And the more he talked and they
listened, the more certain they felt about
it.
SO they agreed to stay at home and
take nap while he was out hunting The
old mother did not altogether approve the
plan, bn, Bocko seemed so confident about
the matter, that she thought she would
let him 90.
SO off went Bocko to the forest as fast
rs his short legs would carry him. He
had rather better fortune than most hun
ters for it was not long before he saw :.
very fine deer coming leisurely down Il
path in the woods.
Bocko Immediately ran toward it. The
deer looked at him, and then stopped so
did Rocko.
"Well?' said the deer.
Bocko did not make any answer He
did not think it proper to talk to animals
that he WAS hun ing. But he did not
know exactly what to do first. He had
never hunted 4 deer before. So he thought
ne had better bark = little. That 'camr
natural 10 him. So he ran close up to the
deer and banked.
| he deer put down his head, and then
he said:
What are you going to do? You're
4 very uncivil creature
mo. I'm not uncivil,' replied Bocko,
who thought that he must answer this
time. - came ont hunting. and not to
talk. am going to take a deer home for
the family to eat
And YOU think of taking me?" said the
deer.
Yes s,il Bocko.
The deer gave grin. Perhaps it was
not Il real grin. but it looked Ike one.
This made Bocko angry, and he ran
close up to the deer and tried to bite one
of his fore-legs.
Look here"' said the deer. stepping
back, " if You bite my legs | will give You
!, kick that you'll remember to the day OF
your DEATH
"Wcll. then. what am l to do?" ex-
claimed poor Bocko. Il suppose | ought
to take yoa by the throat, butts l can't
reach up
You'd like me to lie down, wouldn't
you?" asked the deer.
Yes" said Bocko. promptly.
"Well, you are COOL" replied the deer
Botko had nothing to say to this; so he
gave another sharp bark, SO as to let the
deer know that he still intended to press
the matter, and then ran around to see il
he could not get bite at the dcer's tai
But the tail was very short and very
high up. and there was no chance there
Then Bocko felt provoked, and he ran
i'll front of the deer again.
",You're afraid to put your head down,
said he
Am II" answered the deer; and he
put his head down SO low that his nose
went between his fore-fect. This was not
exactly the position that Bocko wished
him to take, but he was ashamed to ask
for anything more; and so he made a
rush ut the deer to take him by the
throat.
The deer turned around so as to kcer
his forehead toward the dog. and the mo-
ment Bocko came near enough, he stepped
forward quickly. pushed his horns under
him, and gave him tremendous toss that
sent him spinning into the middle of Il
great barbcrry bush, several yards away
For minute to two, Bocko did not
know what had happened to him; but Is
soon as he began to gather his sense.
about him, he cautiously peeped out of the
bush He saw the deer trotting SLOWLY
away.
" He's laughing" thought Bocko to him.
self. and then he crawled out of the bush
He examined his body and his valuable
legs, and finding that nothing was broken
he concluded to give up hunting for tina,
day, and to 90 home.
When his sisters and his small brother
and his mother saw him coming, they al
rushed out to meet him.
"Oh! where is the deer?" they cried.
eve are so hungry! did YOU leave it in
the forest? Show us where it is, and w.
will all 90 get some Of it. Come, brave
Bocko. where is it?'
Bocko stood silently, his tail going far
Their and farther between his legs.
whats the matterp" cried his mother
Can't you speak? Where is the deer:
Did YOU see one?"
Yes" said Bocko. in low voice.
{" And didn't kill it?"
No. said Bocko; "he wouldn't let
me-"
What chorus of disappointment and
disgust greeted this announcement,
Bow-Wow. bOw-bow WOW. WOW, bow.
WOW! bow-wow! WOW WOW. wow, bow
bow. wowwow! bow! bow! WOW! bow.
WOW WoW-wOw..
Bocko did not wait to hear any more.
He was sneaking away. when his mother
took him by the ear and led him aside,
ont Of the noise.
Bocko." said she, 81 it's bad enough to
boast about things you have done, but it's
ever so much worse to boast of what YOU
are going to do. Do you think you will
remember that?"
Il do" said Bocko.-St. Nicholas.