, 1876-11-10

boys stood by with a lighted lantern,
/ for it had grown quite dark now, and
the farmer saw what had happened
"WhO did this?' he asked, grOan-
ingly.
".John Welton did it, said Tom
Frost. coming up at that moment.
He's been losin' sheep, and l guess
he's got kind of wrathy."
g But my,dog never killed sheep
never He's been reared to care for
sheep. How came he down tIere?'
" He went over to the mill with Sis
and me, said the younger boy, sobbing
as he spoke; " and he was running on
ahead of us toward home. l heard a
gun Just before we got to Mr.. Welton's,
but OH I did not think he could have
shot poor Carlo"
Mr.. Bracket was fairly beside him
self. To say he was angry would not
express it. He had loved that dog-it
had been the chief pet of his household
for years. He was not q man in the
habit of using profane language, but
on the present occasion a fierce oath es-
capped him; and in that frame of mind
literally boiling with hot wrath and
indignation-he started for Welton's.
John WeltoD and Peter Bracket had
been neighbors from their earliest days,
and they had been friends, too. Be-
tween the two families there had been
bond of love and good will, and a spirit
of fraternal kindness and regard had
marked their intercourse. Both the
| farmers were hard-working men, with
strong feelings and positive character.
istics. They belonged to the same re-
ligious society, and sympathized in pol
itics. They had warm discussions, but
never yet direct falling out. OF the
two, Welton was the more intellectual,
and perhaps little more tinged with
pride than was his neighbor. But they
we're both hearty men, enjoying life for
the good it gave them.
Mr.. Welton entered his kitchen, and
stood the empty gun up behind the
door.
What's the matter, John?" his wife
asked, as she saw his troubled face.
I'm afraid I've done a bad thing"
he replied, regretfully. 80 fear have
shot Brackets dog"
"Oh, Johnp
But 1 didn't know whose dog it was.
I saw him,coming out from the shed
it was too dark to see more than that it
was dog. I only thought of the sheep
/ had lost, and fred"
g am sorry, John. Oh, how Mrs.
Bracket and the children will feel.
They set everything by old Carlo. But
you can explain it."
Yes, can exp plain it."
Half an hour later, Mr.. Welton was
going to his barn, with lighted lantern
in his hand. He was thinking of the re-
cent unfortunate occurrence, and was
sorely worried and perplexed. What
would his neighbors say? he hoped
there might be no trouble. He was re-
hecting thus when Mr.. Bracket APP
peared before him, coming up quickly,
and stopping with an angry stamp of
the foot.
Now, there may be volume of cleo
trie influence even in the stamp of
foot, and there was such an influence in
the stamp which Bracket gave; and
Welton felt it, and braced himself
against it. There was, moreover, an at
mosphers exhaling from the presence of
the irate man, at once repellant and ag-
gravating.
John Welton, you have shot my
dogl" The words were hissed forth
hotly.
Yes" said Welton, icily.
:" How dare you do it p
1 dare shoot any dog that comes
prowling about my buildings, especially
when 1 have had my sheep killed by
them"
esDnk - 5or, ,a,a,. 4-onhlad uonr
sheep, and you know it."
How should l know it?"
You know that he never did harm
to o sheep. 1t wasn't his nature. 1t was
mean, cowardly act, and ian oath) you
shall suffer for it."
Bracket, you don't know to whom
you are talking"
"Ohoi Well find out (another oath).
Don't put on airs, John Welton. You
amt saint. I'll have satisfaction, if /
have to take it out Of your hide?"
"Peter, you'd better go home and
cool off. You are making yourself ridic-
ulous."
Now, really, this was the unkindest
cut of all. Not all the mad words of
Bracket put together were so hard as
this single sentence, and John Welton
put all the bitter sarcasm in his COM
mand into it.
Bracket broke forth into torrent Of
invectives, and then turned away.
Half an hour later John Welton ac-
knowledged to himself that he had not
done exactly right. Had he, in the out
set, in answer to Brackett's first out
burst, told the simple truth-that he
had shot the dog by mistake; that he
was sorry, and that he was willing to do
ANYTHING in his power to make amends