The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-03-14
Patsey's Goat.

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When Mr.. Terrence McFadden died,
his widow made rattle of her household
goods. Out Of all tho collection, Patsey
Conley drew a three.weeks old billy goat
at first but when--before it had been a
member of his family two days-it butted
the baby down cellar, ate up the week s
wash that was spread on the grass, aud
climbed to the top of fifteen-foot board
pile when Mrs. Couloy came out at it with
the clothes FOUNDER, and looked calmly
down at her as he chewed the last ruflle
on a night-gown, Patsey set his heart
on tho kid and took it under his special
protection. He named it Beelzcbub.
AS Beezebub increased in size and age,
he made it extremely lively for the Con
Icy neighborhood. He was always ready
for fight, and would eat anything that
he came across. He would 90 mile out
Of his way to lunch off door mat, aud it
would never do to hang carpet out. He
took especial delight in bulting school
children over in the street, and eating
their lunches, books, aud satchcls
Finally the people got out Of humor
with Beelzebub, and they told Patsey he
had better keep him in. So lie tied a
long rope to one of the goats hind legs,
and fastened him to post. But Beezc.
bub quietly butted the post down, and
then deliberately proceeded to take in
the rope. He swallowed it all up to his
leg, and was beginning On that when Pat.
sey discovered him, and cut the rope.
MIR. Conley was obliged to give Becl-
zebub holiday now and then. On one
Of these, last summer, he wandered down
by the riverside. Two boys were in
swimming, and Belzy recognized in one
Of them boy who had few days before
fed him pack of lighted ire.crackers.
The goat walked leisurely up to the spot
where the boys clothing lay and ate up
a pair Of pants and two shirts. Every
time the boys made as if they were com
ing out at him he put himself in the shape
of buck beer sign, and they went back.
He kept the boys in the water three
hours.
On another of his holidays, few weeks
ago, Beelzebub acquired an accomplish.
ment which for time gave the most
unmitigated pleasure to his master. La
borers were engaged in cnlargng cut
on railroad mile down the track The
goat, hearing the noise of the blasts, went
to see it there was anything in the job
for him. Some Of the men lived long
distance away, and carried their dinners
with them. The bright tin lunch. pals
standing here and there along the track
struck the eye of Belly. He had smelt
of one, pranced about it awhile, and at
last, with ono grand butt, sent it flying
down the track, scattering its contents
along the route, and giving it the appear
ance Of a Aattened oyster.can. The result
Of this so delighted Beelzebub that he
forsook all other pleasures and laid in
ambush about the cut. watching for din
ner-pails. Patsey became aware of his
amiable pets new diversion, and daily
bore him company to the spot to enjoy
the fun. BY and by the men took to
hiding their pals, and Beelzebub giew
morose and low.spirited. One day last
week Patsey and his pet walked down to
the cut. Beelzebub seemed more than
usually sad. He hadn't seen dinner
pail in some days. Suddenly, as they
neared the cut, Belly became strangely
elated. Ahead of them, near the track
stood a pail. 1t was beauty, and had
been placed on a stone, affording splen.
did mark for the goat. Patsey rolled on
the ground, he felt SO good. Belly fair.
ly gloated over the prospect. He stopped
within few PAGES of the pail. He rear
ed up on his hind legs and pranced about
in perfect frenzy of joy. He shook his
head, and made several fcints of bearing
down on the pail, as if reveling a while
in sweet expectancy. Presently Belly
waltzed back little further. He threw
his head down, and with a b.l.a.a.t that
expressed all the unaduterated cussed.
ness OF his nature, went for that pail as
if he had been shot out of cannon. He
struck it like battering ram. There
was sound as of thunder clap, aud by
the pieces of goat, rock, and earth that
fell thickly about, Patsey knew tha,
Beelzebub had been deceived, and would
never, never butt dinner pals any more
Belly had butted can of nitro. glycerinc