Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-11-18
7LERSON COUNTY, " VA SATURDAY. NOV EMBER l8 6l6 NJ

the straw, aud went back to the house to re-
pair damages.
Gracious me What's the matter, Mr..
Mopps ?" exclaimed Mrs. Griggs, as he enter
cd tbe kitchen aud laid the pan down on the
table.
81 don't thiuk that confounded calf has
much of an appetite" he replied, feeling bis
nose to see if it was broken.
Have you been fghiing?' she inquired
with alarm, looking at his torn and dirty
clothes, his skinned nose and generally bnng-
ed up appearance.
Fighting ?-uo. I've been feeding the
calf, be answered, pulling the hay out Of bis
hair
"Why. you look as II you had been rolling
in the barn yard" sho slid, as she stuck
piece of plaster on his nose
lie did not reply, but went up to his room,
washed patch Of dir; off his cheek, combed
the COB ocbs aud haysoed out Of his hair,
brushed bis clothes, sewed on button or two.
and sat down and pondered over the whole
affair till the bell rang for dinner.
a guess what the calf requires is to be
taken out in the open air" suggested Mrs
Griggs, at dinner, sitter sympathizing with
Mopps ou his scars and bruises.
Mopps thought to himself that what the
brute most required was fifteen inch cannon,
loaded with solid shot, to be placed within
two feet Of its head, and man 10 fire it of +;
bct. he ssid, as if he had been revolving il his
miud the same idea as her:
" Exactly, that's just it."
"Wcl, if only dare ask you to lead him
out for a little while this afternoon ! know it
would do him good, she said appealinely.
Mopps felt convinced that he knew Of
club receipt that would have done the beast
twice as much good, but be smiled hypocrilic-
sly, end said, as ift was the happicst thought
that ever emanated from woman's fertile brain:
"Ill do it, with pleasure
After dinner he lii a cigar and went back
to the barn, punched the calf over into cor
uer with the rake handle, united the rope,
and dragged him out into the garden, where
the obstinate animal positively declined to
promenade, and hung back with force that
would have required team Of oxen, harness.
ed to him, to have led him about with any
degree Of satisfaction.
"Well, you're pleasant pet, you brute !"
exclaimed Mopps, hauling on the rope till he
was red 10 the face and his hands blistered.
The cali started at last, with rush that
nearly tore bis arms out Of the socket, drove
his false teeth through bis tongue, and lifted
his feet clcar off the ground FOR a minute aud
half. The calf once going, cautered gaily
away, while Mopps, at the other cnd Of the
twenty foot rope, which he had taken the
ptecauton to wind around his wrist, galloped
madly 10 his rear, touching the ground occa-
sonally with his toes, as if it was a matter Of
form, and by 90 means necessary.
At the second turn around the garden, a
dog crawled under the fence, and joined in the
race, and the speed became something fright
fal hen, with dozen young chicks, Cross
Ell their path she will have to grow new
tail, aud only have to provide worms for the
survivors Of the brood.
Mrs. Griggs, who had been watching him
with alarm from a window, came running out
to his relief, sat tried to head off the calf by
shaking her apron at him, but the brute shied
OF, made a circuit, wound the rope affection
ately around her feet, and tilted her head first
over wheelLarrow. Just then Mopps, at
the other eni Of the rope, came skipping a
long, turned a somerslult over the handles
and for tLo next few inmates there was a
surging, Topping laundering, and badly-mix-
ed mass Of whee.barrow, profanity, striped
stockings, feminine shrieks, pantaloons, rope
back hair, boot legs, bushes and bruises.
When they did succeed in extrcatiug them
selves, aud crawled ont from under the barrow,
they returned to the house, and devoted the
res, of tie day in cumming adhesive plaster
over themselves, and thinking what misera-
Die world this would be to live IN without
aruica