The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-09-26
Alb AULDER's GOAT.
by JOHN W. HArros.


Alb Auider lived a lonely life, for he could not
agree -,
With kith nor kim nor friend nor foe, so cross and
was he; ,.u -,
But Abner had weakness for dogs AMI goats and
And as often as he ate himself he fed the mice and
rats.
He loved his horses cows and sheep, but most OF
all goat,
Called Billy, whom he oft declared had sense
enough 10 vote. -,
II Billy so very wise twas Aoher maoe nm
For everywhere old Abner went the goat was sure
He taught the beast to hght the boys. and drive
them from the place,
And laughed until his sides were sore at many
frantic race. .
Full many boy went iimping home to nurse his
.Aut never ioitered thereabout nor pestered Ab
again.
and when peddler CHANGED that way, to vend his
He paused without the gate awhile, to feel of
Bily's head
Which was hard as any stone-he felt its hard
ness, too,
For Billy spread him on the ground and banged
him black and blue.
Bible agent came one day; pious man was he,
But Billy chased him out the yard and up an APP
pie tree,
From which the man of tracts made tracks, in
haste to get away,
When Billy left him for a spell to MUNICH wisp OF
And when the man of lightning rods came down to
Aulders farm,
Old Abner said the goat was tame, was sure he
meant no harm;
But ere the pedder drew his breath, he thought his
BY something like thunderbot, as fast and hercely
Now all the neighbors Stunned the place; old Alb
was LETT alone.
In health, in Sickness all the same none heard MS
plaintive groan.
He almost died when sick one day-none tried his
life to save:
But all agreed that Billy should go with him to the
They'd " kill that goat when Abner should pass
in his checks" they said;
Some favored tortureal agreed to kill the creature
Now Billy had grown cross of late, for want of
ercise:
He mated everything that moved, his master, too,
despised.
But Abnec loved him all the more, the meaner he
And chuckled at the mischief done, the money he
He swore if Parson Brown would come that way to
sing and pray
He'd pay his salary for year, and plank it down"
next day.
But Abner knew the parson would as lief whal-
ing CO.
Like Jonah, as to meet old Bill, and take his head in
The wicked shall not live tits said, but half three
score and ten,
But Abuer had grown pretty old, and very gray, in
And the goat was sure the devilH own, if goats
owned below,
And all agreed where Abner went the goat was sure
to go.
Hard by, bridge of logs was built across a
chasm deep,
And TO this bridge old Alb would go to mediate
and sleep.
Now Alb hal bought some strychnine and soaked il
well in corn
To dose flock of turkeys that belonged to Mrs.
Dorm.
The poisoned grain he placed with care upon
corner shelf;
No creature knew the secret dire, except old Alb
himself.
Then Abner hied him to the bridge to take his
MONDAY sleep,
While Billy eyed him from afar, SO plump, and fat
and sleek.
He thought how funny it would be to pounce 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 goatl The goatl" the farmers cried, old
Billy now must go.n
But Billy had forestaed his foes; he'd eaten of the
His wicked master had prepared upon this fatal
morn.
MORAL.
Those who delight in giving pain will soon or late
be found
Caught in the trap. for others set, as they &c
sneaking round.
COLUMBIA, Mo.