The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-12-04
ABB AULDER,S GOAT.
BIZ JOIN ". HLTToN.

Ab Aulder lived 3 lonely life, for he could no
agree
With kth nor kn, nor friend nor foe, so Cross and
mean was he;
But Abner had weakness for dogs and goats and
And as often as he ate himself he fed the mice and
He loved his horses, cows and sheep. but most Of
all goat,
enough to vote.
II Billy was so very Wise twas Abner made him
For everywhere old Abner went the goat was sure
to 60.
He taught tho beast to fight the boys, and drive
them from the place,
And laughed until his sides were sore at many .
frantic race.
Fun many boy went nmping home to nurse his
But never ioi:ered thereabout nor pestared Alb
again.
And when a peddler chanced that way, to vsnd his
wares, tits said,
He paused without the gate awhile, to feel of
Which was as hard as any stone-he felt It's hard
ness, too,
For Billy spread him on the ground and banged
him black and blue. =,
4 Bible agent came one day; pious man vas ne
Bot Billy chased him out the yard and up an s}p-
pie tree.
From which the man of tracts made tracks, i}a
naste 70 get away, :
When Billy left him for spell to MUNICH Kisp Of
hay.
And when the man of lightning rods came down TO-
Aulder's farm,
Old Abner said the goat Was tame, was sure he
meant no harm;
But ere the pedder drew his BREATH he thought HE
spine was riven
By something like thunderbolt, az fast and fercey
driven.
Now ali the neighbors Stunned the place; old Alb
In health, in sickness, all the same none heard his
plairtive groan.
Ee almost died when sick one day--none tried his
But ali agreed that Billy should go with him to the
grave.
They'd kill that goat" when Abner should pass
In his checks" they said;
Some favored torture agreedto kill the creature
Now Billy had grown cross Of late, for want Of e1
erciSe;
BE hated everything that moved, his master, too,
But Abler loved him all the more, the meaner he
And chuefled at the mischief done, the money he
had saved.
He swore if Parson Brown would come that way to
He'd pay his salary fora year, and plank It down"
next day.
But Abnsr knew the parson would as Lief whal-
ing go,
Like Jonah, as 70 meet olo Bill, anu take Dis neao IN
tow.
The wicked shall not live, tbs sad but hall three
score and ten,
But Abner had grown pretty old, and very gray, in
sin;
And the goat was sure the DEVILS own II sOatI srs
owned below,
And all agreed where Al Yer went the goat vs surs
to go.
Hard by, bridge Of loss was built, soron .
chasm deep,
And to this bridge old Ab would 60 to mediate
and sleep.
Now Alb had bought some strychnine and seahA It
we'll IN corn
To dose flock Of turkeys that belonged 10 Mrs.
Dorm.
The poisoned grain he placed with caro- upon .
corner shelf;
No creature knew the secret dire, except old Ab
himself.
Then Abner hied HIN to the bridge to take his
MONDAY sleep,
While Billy eyed him from atar, 80 plump, and fat,
and sleek.
he thought how funny it would be to pounoe him
IN the rear;
For Alb had learned him all these tricks, and he
should have his share.
The neighbors found old Abner dead, down In the
gulch below;
"The soatI The goatl" the farmers cried, "old
Billy now must CO."
But Billy had forestalled his foes; he'd eaten Of the
His wicked master had prepared upon this fatal
morn.
Those who delight in giving pain will soon or late
be found
Caught in the trap. tor others set as they go
sneaking round