Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1877-10-11


men.
One day they received a considera-
lie sum of money, bequeathed TO
them by a relative, and that set the
simple souls all in tiutter.
They he'd q friend in the village,
the blacksmith's wife; so they went
aud told her their fears, She adj.
mitted that theirs was a Lonesome
place, and she would not live there
for one-without q man. Her dis
course sent them home downright
miserable.
The blacksmith's wife told her
husband all about it when he came
in from dinner. 1.-The FOOLS" said
he, ''lew is anybody to know they
lave got the brass in the house :"
"WelI, y said his wife, 'they make
no secret of it 10 me; but You need
not 20 to ten it to the town, poor
souls -
mot /, /, sand the man; ''but they
will publish it. never fear. Leave
women folk alone for making their
own trouble with their tongues"
There the subject dropped. rs q
man and wife haYe other things to
talk about besides their neighborS-
The old women at the toll bar.
what with their own fears, and their
Jobs comforter, began to shlver
with apprehension as night came on.
However, at sunset the carrier pass
I'd through the gate, and at sight ot
his friendly face they frightened up.
They. told him their care, and beg
ged him to sleep in the house that
night. "Why, how can Z" said
be. ssFm due at. But l will
leave you my dog" The dog was d
powerful mastiff. ~
Tie women looked at each other
expressively. .'He won't hurt us,
win he ?' sighed one OF them,
family. mot he, said the carrier,
cheertully. Then he called the dog
into the house, ttld them to lock
the door. and went away whisthng.
TIE women we're lett contemplat-
ing the dog with tender solicitude
which apprehension is sure to ex-
cite. At first he seemed staggered
at this off haLded proceeding of bis
master; it confused him; then he
snuffed at the door; then as the
wheels retreated, he began to
see plainly he was an abandoned dog.
He delivered fearful howl, and
few at the door, scratching and
barking furiously.
The old women fed the apart
ment, and were next seen at an up
Der window scrt aiming to the carri-
en-. ~Come back, Come hack, John
lie IS tearing tie house down ~
..Drat the valnlint l'' said John
and came back. On the road he
thought what was best to do. The
coed -ratured fellow took his great
coat out of the cart, and laid it on
tie floor. The mastiff instantly laid
himself on the coat. "Now,n SAID
John, sternly, let Us have no more
nonsense; you take charge OF that
tan / come back, and don't let no
body steal that there, nor yet the
wives brass. There, nOw,' said he
kindly to the women, "Ishall be back
this way breakfast time, and he
aon't bulge till them"
s.Ald lie won't hurt us, John ?''
"Lord, 10, Bless your heart, he
is assensible as any Christian; on
ly, Lordsake, women, don't ye go to
lake the coat from him, or you'll
lie ganting a new gown Yourself and
maybe petticoat and all.
lie retired, and the old women
kept at a respectful distance from
their protector. He never molested
them; and indeed, &hen they spoke
.cajolinglY to him, he even wagged
his tail in a dubious way. But still
as they moved about, he squinted at
them .ort of his hloodsbot eye In a
way that checked all desire on their
farts to try on the carriers coat.
II US protected, they went to bed
earlier than usual, but they did not
rndress, they we're too much afraid
tf everything, especially their pro-
tector. The night wore on. and
presently their sharpened senses let
them know that the dog was gett-
ing restless; he snuffed, and then
lie groEled. and then he got up and
patted about, muttering to himself.
StraightMay with furniture they
barricaded The door, through which
their protector must pass TO devour
them.
But by and by, listening acute
ly, they heard a scraping and a
grating outside the windoW of the
room where the dog was, and he
continued growing low. This was