Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-18
A SPECIAL CONSTABLE.

at village in Yorkshire. 1t stood
apart from the village, and they often
felt uneasy at night, being leae~wsmea,
One day they received a considerable
sum Of money, bequeathed them by a
relation, and that set the simple souls
all IN futter.
They had a friend in the village, the
b.acksmith's wife so they went and
told her their fears. She admitted that
theirs was a lonesome place, and she
wonld not live there, for one, without a
man. Her discourse sent them home
downright miserable.
The blacksmith's wife told her hus-
band all about it when he came in to
dinner.
''The FOOLS" said he show is any
body to know they have get brass in the
house," ~- r-.
We'll" said the wife, sthey made
10 secret about it to me you need not
90 for to tell it to ali the town-poor
souls -
Not l." said the man; ''but they
Will publish it, never fear; leave women
folks alone formaISing their own troubles
with their tongues"
There the subject dropped. as man
and wife have things to talk about
besides neighbors.
The old women at the toll bar. what
with their own fears and their Jobs
comforter. began to shiver with appre-
hension as night came or. However
at sunset the carrier passed through the
gate, and at the sight of his friendly
face they frightened up. They told
him their care. and begged him to sleep
in their house that night. why, how
can ?" said he. Il am due at
but will leave you my dog" The dog
was a powerful mastif.
The women looked at each other
expressively. HE won't hurt Us, will
he" sighed one Of them family. Then
ne called the dog into the house, and
told them to lock the door. and went
away whistling.
The women were left contemplating
the dog with that tender interest appre-
hension IS sure to excite. At first he
seemed staggered at this of:-hand pro-
ceeding of his master it confused him.
then he snufed at the door; then. as
the wheels reiterated, he began to see
plainly that he was an abandoned dog !;
he delivered fearful howl and flew at
the door. scratching and barking
furiously.
The old women fed the apartment
and were next seen at-an upper window
screaming to the carrier; Come back :.
come back, John! He is tearing the
house down"
sDrat the varm;nt J" said John and
came back. On the road he thought
what was best to be done. The good
natured fellow took his great coat out
of the cart and laid it down on the floor
The mast;f instantly laid himself Oh It.
Nov" said John sternly, ''let Us have
no more nonsense you take charge Of
that till come back, and don't you let
nobody steal that there, nor yet wives
brass. There now" said he kindly to
the women, u shall be back this way
breakfast time, and he won't bulge till
then"
And he won't hurt us, John"
lord, no! Bless your heart, he is
as sensible as any Christian; only,
Lord sake, woman! don't We go to take
the coat from him, or you'll be wanting
a new gown yourself, and maybe a
petticoat and all"
He retired, and the old women kept
at a respectful distance from thei,
protector. He never molested them,
and. indeed, when they spoke caiolingly
to him he even wagged his tail in a
dubious way. but still as they moved
about, he squinted at them out of his
bloodshot eye in way that checked
any desire on their part to Try on the
carriers coat. Thus protected, they
went to bed earlier than usual, but they
did not undress; they were too mucf
afraid of every thing, especially then
protector. The night wore on, and
presently their sharpened senses let
them know that the dog was getting
restless he snufied and then he growled
and then ne got up and battered about
muttering to himself. Straightway witt
furniture they barricaded the dool
through which their protector must pas:
to devour them.
But By and BY, listening aeutely, they
heard a scraping and grating outside the
window Of the room where the dog was
and he continued growing low. TAi
was enough tney sppped out at th'
back door, and then left their money t.
save their lives; they got into the
village. 1t was pitch dark, and all tn,
houses black; one was the public house
and the other was the blacksmith
house. "Oh! Jane, the thieves hav,
GOMEZ" and they told her in few word
all that had happened.
Nay, Jane, we heard the serapinl
outside the window. Oh, woman, cal
your man, and let him go with US.
''My mamie Is not here" +
"Where is he then ~
81 suppose he is where other VI /
ingwomen's husbands are, at the publ
house," she said, rather bitterly, ifo
|3nin had had her experience.