The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-08-24
cob no deari You,ro too l;ttlo ~

On, no, dear! You're too little"
But, mother-please! It'll be so
much quicker; besides, they sleep so
sound at the Dunning's, perhaps 1
couldn't wake them. Oh, please letme
go! l want to show father I'm a manly
boy"
Mrs. Brainerd could hardly speak
for coughing, and, anxious for doc
tor, said: 81 don't know but what
you'd better. Wrap up warmly, dear;
God keep you from harmr'
Willie thought it was grand thing
to do, and went about his preparations
with stout heart He wished father
had left his pistols home; but, at any
rate, he would take his little one. "the
real caps might brighten Teller" The
Bralnerds kept no man, half-grown
boy coming every day to do the chores;
so Willie went to the barn himself and
saddled the horse. Then, kissing his
mother good-by, and assuring her he
was not afraid, he started.
AT first he felt no fear-it was splen-
did fun. Along the road he could see
a lamp burning at the Dunnings,-Abe
Dunning had told him they burned
light all night. He reached the corner
and turned towards Milton. Even in
the darkness he could see the white
bridge; but that crossed and the hill
climbed, there was long stretch of
road, with hardly house, and thick
wood to pass. The boys courage sud-
denly failed. How awfully still it was!
What was that! Only a nighu-hawk
screaming. He tried to whistle, but
somehow no whistle would come; and
if he spoke to the horse, his voice
sounded so strangely that he gave it
up.
Glow l wish had Shep," he
thought; "he'd be company But
Shep slept in the house while Mr..
Brainerd was away, and Willie had
carefully shut him in that he might be
some protection to his mother. just
as he was passing the woods he heard
a swift. running sound behind him.
The boys nerves were so thoroughly
up that he felt ready to drop.
"Wolves!" he thought; but, deter
mined to die fighting, he pulled out the
little pistol and held it ready to fire.
moment a big shepherd dog
was jumping at the horses head, and
Willie gave cry of delight: sob,
Shep! good fellow, good fellowr' The
dog seemed like reassuring word from
his mother, for he knew that she must
have let him out and told him to fol-
low her boy.
The rest of the way was not at all
frightful, and soon the doctor was
reused. He started in establishment as
ne opened the door, for, at first, he
looked straight over Willie's head and
saw no one.
my mother wants to see you, sir.'
"Bless my eyes! Willie Brainerd
out at this time of night! Come in,
child, and I'll make you cup of hot
coffee. Wen be off in ten minutes.
You shall drive back with me, and Wen
fasten Billy behind"
"Willie laughed to see how fast Billy
Balky had to go home. {" He tried not
20 co. he would say afterward, "but
ne couldn't balk-oh, wasn't he madr'
Sooner than she dared to hope, Mrs.
heard Shops bark and her
Boys voice. The doctor was able to
luiet her cough, and they all slept late
walked through all the confusion, and
could not understand why they did not
ret up betimes. "Shure, it's the SLapy
disease that l thought yez had" she
said, when they came down to break
fast.
Mrs. Brainerd wrote to her husband
If Willie's midnight ride, and almost
week afterward, as he and some other
Boys were playing in the road, he saw q
white pony coming along.
"What beautyn
"There, that's what I'd like"
"That mans too big for the pony"
exclaimed the boys.
Totheir establishment the pony turned
n at the Brainerd's! You may be sure
Willie followed The man asked if
Willie Brainerd lived there.
Eyes" said the boy, his eyes getting
rs big as saucers.
"Here's note for him. sss
Willie scrambled into the house, for
ne couldn't read writing. Mamma,
read thisn'
Mrs. Brainerd read: 'The accom-
panying pony is a gift from the firm of
Brainerd Bros. to Willie Brainerd, Jr.,
as a token of appreciation of the valu-
able services he rendered to the firm on
the night of Dec. 20, 1877. Hope Led
,Jnrd In ~ Y Observer IT,