The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-08-30

show shall we know it 10 pulk when
see. it2"s..u Ia, "a. - ,.i,rsc IA ,.-,
Easy enough. When you see some
thing that doesn't look in the least like
anything you ever saw before in your
life, you may be sure il is pulk. You
need not be at all afraid Of it; it's entire
ly harmless" ,nnorcr aa u'
Then she went cracking down among
the cedars and pines, their aromatic odor
filing the hot air, and seeming like a
balm that should heal all ills.
She heard the children'so voices
growing fainter and fainter as she
went; the last thing she dis
tinguished was sound of talk about
the color, and suggestion from
Roland that drum should be made of
the skin.
There was particularly-tall pine near
the center of the place, and to this she
made her way. She was startled and
for u moment COMPOUNDED by what she
saw. Tied to the slender stem of a
birch close to the tree, was an animal of
SO nondescript an appearance that for q
breath she almost believed she had really
found a pulk. Her orders had been
obeyed and embellished. This visit to
the pulk-hole was really more curl
GUS than she had expected. The ami
NAL writhed and squealed at sight of
her, and was evidently already fright
ened enough to run furiously if it got
loose. In a moment more Aunt Lou
had slipped the cord, tapped her broad
! hat in the face of the bewildered Great
ure, and it had started off in the direc-
ton she had intended toward the spot
where the children were stationed. 1t
went like the wind-wildly, as if the
very hounds were after it.
The boy and girl heard Aunt LOUIS shout
of "Look outl there's pulk running your
way !" and she heard their indistinct ex-
CARNATIONS in response. -t f..,...
She tore through the bushes quicker
than she had ever done before, so that
she might see the young hunters when
they saw the game. 4-laees1S aa
Taking shorter cut, she gained the
open space of the pasture just where she
could see them. and she wished che
could linn in perpetual brightness the
picture they made. They were both
under young pine tree whose low
growing branches half embraced them.
Roland was on one knee peering through
the huckleberry bushes, his eyes dilated
and burning with the intensity of expec-
tation, his sling forgotten on the ground.
Bertha was behind, leaning on his
shoulder, her face glowing, her long
hair blown back, her hat on her shout
ders, and from both their hats trailed
long ferns which she had put in.
At that instant the strange, bristly'
green thing which Aunt Lou had started
from its lair sprung into sight and dashed
along within yard of the children.
They started as if electrified, then with
wild screams of "There it is pulk /! O
pulkp' they both went struggling and
houndering through the sweet fern and
huckleberry, and Aunt Lou after them,
calling ont, "Be sure you keep it in
sight y feeling tolerably sure which way
the animal would go.
And it justified her expectations; for
it flew down toward the lane, the chill
dren after it, looking as if they would
plunge heels over head, but keeping
their footing in some miraculous way,
and, breathless, crying out some mar
ticulate exclamation as they went. 1t
required all Aunt LOUIS nimbleness to
keep near them.
Now they were in the lane, the green
animal ahead, gaining rapidly; and now
Roger, tied to the fence down by the
house, set up n vociferous barking,
which grew louder AS he saw the game.
In minute more the creature had
gained the barn. yard, and was crouched
up in corner at an angle of the wall,
and they all came up painting ana hot.
1t was queer-looking sight, thick,
short, bristling, green thing, heaving with
its quick-coming breath. Two tips of ears
we're visible, and two eyes like balls Of
green fire. Whatever it was, it evi
IDENTIFY was not going to run any more
now, and it did not seem afraid either
The children stood In front of it, looking
with all their eyes; then they creep
nearer and nearer, while Aunt Lou sa
on the wall and famed herself with he
hat. ..a-o.r, ..4 ,,.. sf
The animal did not stir; it was APP
parently fast becoming tame.
Suddenly Role, who had gone still
nearer, cried out sharply:
cit purrs p pfA $3.50
"Whatp exclaimed Bertha, fiinging
herself down quite recklessly beside tn
thing. "Do pulks purr? Oh oh r.
These last two calculations wer
caused by Bertha's putting out her hant
and the creatures rising to its feet ant
revealing that it had white, soft legs
and then both the children screamed /:
It's Kitty White It's our kitten
1t isn't pulk at all See the burs OF
ita"
, They were now sitting down on tn
grass, eagerly picking the burs from tn
cat, who seemed grateful to them.
+ "Aunt Lou" said Roland, reproach
/ fully, after kitty was Invested of he
strange garments, Aunt Lou, did yo
r put those burs on poor Kitty White %
r She felt that if she had done 80 sh
8 would indeed deserve the reproach in hi
t face and voice. olaa el
"No, 1 had no idea she was to hav
them on. was as much surprised a
you to see them. I gave the kitten {
Tim little while before we started 70
: the pasture, and thought he was &c
1 ing to disguise her in some coiored rags