Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-06-30
Calls and Sketehes.
From the Argosy
One Day i'm a Settlers Life.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY


at all any dog in particular. He was vel
low and understood, with only white
spot on the forehead by way OF an orna-
ment and he was inclined to be lazy. He
had come to them one stormy night, a
lame, starving vagrant from some emf
grant train, and kind-hearted Roland fed
him, put liniment on his leg, and called
him David after faithful dog he had re-
Gently possessed and lost. And David
contentedly remained. exhibiting no
marked talent for anything and sometimes
betraying lack of decent intelligence.
His mental faculties had been dwarfed by
persistent il-treatment, Mr.. Hardy
thought; the dog seemed to be cowed.
One peculiarly of his was, that he never
asked for food. He was the most unob-
trusive, retiring sort of an animal that
ever yearned tor cold meat. If meat
came to him, well ard good; but he
never uttered whine, or gave one beg
carly wag of his tail to indicate that he
was hungry. He would not have done it
if he were starving. Jenny was wont to
say that he was poor, but proud. SO to-
day, when he planted himself before his
mistress. and looked at her with all the
soul he had in his eyes, and whined like a
professional beggar. he was regarded
with good deal of astonishment.
More dinner. David? Is it possible
you have brought yourself to ask for more
dinnerP' going to the cupboard and carv-
ing bone for him.
David looked hurt Nevertheless, he
took the bone gently, carried it to his rug
in the corner and left it. That caused
Mrs. Hardy to look at the rug, which she
had not done before; and then she saw he
had not eaten his dinner. The dog re-
turned to his old position, whining before
her as she sat.
''Oh it is water, them
No, it was not water. He retreated
from the basin with an air of increased
injured feeling, and continued to regard
his mistress with appealing eyes. All at
once some Instinct penetrated to Jenny S
mind and her heart gave leap of fear.
david! David! Is it your master? Is it
Roand?"
The dog made bounce of Joyous re-
lief, as if glad of being understood at last
and trotted to the door, casting look
back at her over his shoulder If ever a
look said plainly, Come on. that look did.
IL will come. old fellow" said Jenny,
going to the wardrobe and hurriedly get
ting on some wraps and her fur-lined
overshoes: Something is the matter
with the dog, and it may be that At any
rate, there will be no harm in my running
out to the woods" she added, with Il ner-
vous little laugh. "Roland need not
know how silly am; can say wanted
to find lchens"
The sun was disappearing behind IA
bold. haZy horizon; a chilly wind whrled
the snow clouds across the level plain.
terreting out the fallen leaves, that strove
to hide from it, and sent them scudding
on again. The still radiance Of the win
ter day was giving place to an early and
boisterous night; to such night that will
not be forgotten in that country by living
man or woman.
In her staunch overshoes, short cloth
skirt and shaggy walking jacket, cos
tune in which she had tramped many a
time with her husband on expeditions to
the distant postotlice, where blacksmith
shop and grocery store had put their
heads together and declared themselves a
city, Mrs Hardy prepared to start. But
she first of all unlocked small store chest
and excavated from its depth a sealed bot
tie, with "Catawba Grape" written in
homely chirography on its deiciously
dngv label.
"My dear old father!' she exclaimed,
by no means addressing herself to the bot
tie; but with dim eyes of the kind hands
that were young hands when they made
this wine; which, from its age and
strength. was, as cordial, equal to bran
dy. The hands are old hands now ca
pable of little but writing her shaky let
ters from the dear old homestead. "Who
knows but Roland may be past its aid ;
that some dreadful acciIent-but won't
think of it. And who knows but may
meet him trudging homcward; and he
will ask me what on earth have brought
out the wine for? But he shant see it :;
will not show it; and tomorrow shall
laugh to myself for these foolish fears"
Talking thus incoherently, but doubt
less thinking connectedly enough, she
poured out ilaskful of the wine, secured
it IN her pocket, threw her husbands scarf
over her arm, and told David she was
ready. AT which word the dog gave an
other appreciative bound and fahly flew
past her as she reached the door
Dut, OiSC III tHC pam icuuinS " llb lot
est, David seemed to have his brief flicker
of intelligence taken out of him. Instead
Of trotting on and leading his mistress in
he right direction, following the record
ed example of all sensible dogs, he held
back shrnkngly. evidently declining to
axe an active part in the search, or to
cad. 1t was Just as though he meant to
say: II have done my part, you go and
10 yours"
You are an awful idiot, David or else
am !" snapped Jennie. But David only
neekly curled his tail and trotted behind
ler
The forest. or the "wood lot" as Ro-
and called it, catching the word from the
other settlers, was a good mile away.
Mr.. Hardy's acres covered an amount of
ground that would have turned his late
New England neighbors dizzy with its
vastness. 1t would soon yield him an
ample return; at present, during these
struggles, 1t was not much
more than living. But in the event of
4 certain phantom railroad becoming a
real railroad, he would make speedy
fortune.
The path was rough, Roland's boots
alone had formed it. tramping backward
and forward to his tree-felling. Gener-
H.. "a H.