Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-04-05

the SICK COunIe0NnCc Ol NlIs MOOIb Oub
of his mind, or the tired, worn face Of
his wife, or, more than all, little Bessie
standing alone in the dusty turnpike,
watching him as he took away the only
pet and playmate she had.
1t annoyed him, and it was some
thing new for him to be annoyed in
this way. He was glad when he found
himself approaching another farm
house, and il he blew n louder blast
than usual on his horn nobody but him
self knew that it was to give vent, If
possible, to emotions that were getting
too strong for him to manage.
Tom was very quiet all the way home.
He seemed to be thinking very deeply
about something, but when occasionally
he did speak it was sure to be some in
nocent remark about Bessie or her
father, which only gave his fathers
conscience fresh prick and served to
irritate him still more. So by the time
they got home he was, as his wife sad,
"dreadful grouty."
As they were sitting at supper that
evening Tom burst out suddenly:
Father, would you sell that calfP'
" Yes, and be glad to get rid of her,
il can get my price.
"Well, I'd like to buy her if I've got
money enough in my bank"
"You! What do you want of herP'
"Oh, something. Will you sell her
to me?''
"Yes, l suppose so. Yes, you may
have her for ten dollars-just what |
paid"
"And do exactly as please with
her, fatherP"
His father hesitated. He suspected
what Tom was going to do, and he saw
a difficulty in it for him. However, he
replied at last:
"Yes, Tom, you may buy her and do
exactly as you please with her upon
one condition; and that is, if by buying
her you get yourself into a hard scrape
you will work yourself out of it with
out help"
Mr.. Thyson thought by binding
Tom to that promise that he should
have a good chance to teach him a val
liable lesson in shrewduess and fore
sight about making a bargain.
Tom readily promised, for he could
not imagine what scrape he possibly
could get into by buying Clover. So
the bargain was soon concluded and the
money paid.
- Meantime, Bessie had dried her tears
and gone home, trying very hard to be
cheerful; but as soon rs she had eaten
her supper she crept up to her little
bed and sobbed herself to sleep. The
next morning she felt braver, and
thought she wouldt very hard to for
get Clover. Her father usually lay on
u lounge by tho sitting-room window
through the day, and for several morn
ings Glover had been in the habit of
coming there and putting her head in
to be caressed. So Bessie made q
point of getting basket of fresh clover
blossoms, with which her father would
feed the calf while Bessie and her
mother were at breakfast. But the
morning after Glover left Bessie sat
down to the table with a heavy heart,
for she missed Glover then more than
ever. She had hardly taken a mouth
full, though, before her father called
out:
"Bessie, just bring me basket of
clovers, won't you? Clover wants her
breakfast"
Bessie sprang from her chair with a
bound, exclaiming: "Why, papa,
you've forgotten! Clover's gone!''
But no! there was the sweet, white
face peering in at the window, and
there, holding her by a cord, stood Tom
Thyson, his face covered with smiles.
| 90 Why, Tomr' screamed Bessie,
:" did she run away?"
"No, bought her of father, and I'm
going to give her back to you. She's
yours again now. Good-by;" and be-
fore Bessie could express her thanks
Tom was gone.
Now, although the return of the cali
brought great joy to Bessie, it brought
equal concern to her parents, for the
question arose how Glover could be fed
Mr.. Thyson had foreseen that difficulty
from the first, but Tom, in his eager
ness to get the calf back to Bessie, had
not thought of it. Mr.. Thyson said
nothing, though. He thought he would
see how Tom would manage.
Toward night Besse's father called
her to him and told her that, although
Tom was very kind and thoughtful tC
bring Clover back, she couldn't stay
for he had not feed enough to keep hel
through the winter, and no money tC
buy any. So the next morning Bessie
started to take her back to Tom. l
was two miles away, but it was a lovel,
morning, and Bessie enjoyed the wall
very much. Tom saw her before Sh'
reached the house and ran to meet her
81 know you've brought her back, )
said he, laughing heartily, "becaus
you haven't any feed for her. forgo
she would have to eat, but don't yol
worry, Bess. You shall have this cal
for yours, if you have to wait till she i
a cow" and then they both laughed t.
think she wouldn't be much of calf b,
that time, "But, you see," he added
"rm in scrape, whether l give her t.
you or keep her myself, for haven
any feed for her, either, and it neve
will do to ask father for any. I'll go tt
bed soon after supper and think it out.
So Bessie left the calf, and Tom tool
part of what money he had and went t.
his father to buy some feed for her. ii
was determined not to ask him to Civ
} him any, and his father was pleased t
! see that Tom was sticking to his prom
/ Use not to ask his help.
3 The next morning he said to his ia
l ther:
rather, nave you anything yo
could hire me tn do this winterp | al
going to carry the calf back again thi
: morning. l am not going to give thi
, job up, now that I've started. So al
going TO earn enough to feed her thi
winter myself" "
"Ah! So you are going to work tn
|, ealf's board, are youP Well, if yo
want to take Jim's place here you ca
e earn her board and something beside
: You could do his work before and afte
school if you were smart and got II
i early"
V "Well, I'll take it and try. I'd lik
!; to buy feed enough now to keep he
d this week, and after this l can earn
+. and carry it over"
G His father smiled at Toms business
like way, and thought to himsel