The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-10-15
5Misccll
Old Dan.

one morning with his hands and clothes wet
and covered with mud, his face red and his
| eyes flashing.
Ned p he shouted as he entered the kitch.
en- "Where's NedY
Here am " came CHEEKY voice in reply
and an instant after bright, strong boy OF
some sixteen years entered the old-tashiOncd
country kitchen from the adjoining wood.
shed where he had been cutting potatoes ior
the days planting. DO you want any
thing 2"
al want to tel you this, said Mr.. Hender-
son, as he washed himself at the siuk, and
rubbed his weather-bcatcn face with the
coarse towel until il was even more red than
before. "Od Dan must be killed Just sec
the state | am in, and all from that worthless
old rascal. won't have have linn about the
place another day. He's good for nothing
but to make trouble and he must be shot be-
fore night" added the farmer WNthfully
Ned was about 10 plead for his pet when
his little sister came into the room,
WHY, papa, what is the matter" She cried,
running to him in aetOnishmcnt. Did you
fall into the creek :"
81 might as WE'LL" he replied, half laugh
mg. "Old Dan buttcd me into the watering
trough
There was Shout of laughter from both
children, in which their mother joined
"WelI, Jedcdiah," said Mrs Henderson,
coming into the kitchen shaking with mirth,
"what could you have been thinking about
to let an old ram, most 20 years Old knock
you into the watering trough"
But explained her husband, "he took me
unawares. ] had just filled one pail 10 carry
to the barn, and was STOPPING to dip the
other, when the old rascal came ut me like
the wind, and knocked me completely into
the water! lie scampcrcd, tell you, before
| could get out He knew he had done mis-
chief, Anyhow, he's got TO he killed day,
sure. He's only nuisance, and I'll shoot
him tonight, when we come back from town,
if he's on the farm
Two hours later Mr.. and Mrs. Henderson
drove away to be absent from home until
night. AS they ratified out of the yard old
Dan suddenly appeared close to the gate, and
wagging his tail as if in dersion, gave utter.
ance to Il hoarsc "B a.a-am
The farmer turned, shook his whip at the
fellow, and cried, is your last day, my
boy, make the most of TIP
Ned and Carrie were the only Children
Leaving Carrie in the house alone, after they
had considered awhile whether there was
any way of avcrting old Dams sad fate, Ned
shouldcrcd his hoe and marched off to his
| work, planting potatoes with Cronson, tho
hired man, in the"back lot
But the little girl of 10 had no thought Of
being afraid She had the breakfast dishes
to wash, some sweeping to do, and the din
ner to get all before 10 O'clock.
Time fled. The dishes stood in shining
rows upon the pantry shelves, the broom hat
| performed its work, and Carrie was prepar
ing the vegetables TO be boiled, when ther,
came faint knock at the door. Supposinl
it to be one of the neighbors, the little cir
did not rise, but called:
| "Come in ~
The door was slowly opened and ma
stepped within.
| He wore black coat, buttoned to his chin
and very thrcadbarc. His trousers, too, wer
black and very shiny, and much too short 70
him. On one foot was Il boot, while the otl
or was graced by ragged shoe. He carrie
a battered silk hat in his hand. His face wa
long and solemn, but quite red his eyes bleal
ed, his hands very dirty, and altogether
was queer looking visitor.
as your ma at home, miss 7" said he in
half whine, MS he glanced sharply about til
SOON.
"No, sir" replied Carrie, wondering VIII
he asked "shc has gone to Underhill. Di
you wish to see hery"
"Oh, no" the man replied. II only askc
out of politcncss, you know" and he smile
solemnly at the little girl, and winked OF
eye. NO, came ON business with your /
particular, urgent business. S'posc he
round, is he not"
mo, sir he went to town with mother
said Carrie.
'Now, that's too bad y exclaimed the Wis
tor as he seated himself; and I've come
far to see him, But, perhaps, your BROTH
or sister would do as WELL
81 haven't any sig ar," said the little ho
tess, laughing, md my brothers over in Il
back lot. He'll be in byand by, though,
he'll do
"Wcll, l don't hardly believe he will, aft
all, said the man shaking his head though
fully, land l can't wait to-day any way
hahn got the time, But I'm terribly hl
] cry. If l could I'd stay to dinner, miss
: However, under the circumstances, perha
o you had better give me light lunch beED
] 60; piece of pie and cup of tea and
!, little meat, or something of that sort"
"Oh, certainly, only can't give you t
!, meat, for we haven't it in the house." sa
I Carrie, rising; "but / will find something
And she brought from the pantry a who
n apple pie, which she placed before him wi
II knife and fork.
fyou will help yourself TIL have the I
f ready in three minutes"
AN right, my dear" said the man, soizi
the knife and drawing the pie toward him
~ will act upon your advice The last iii
took dinner with Gen. Grant," he cont
ued, MS he cut great piece and began to q
che said to me Governor, Governor, said
never disregard lady's ADVICE and Ii;
h. always remembered what he said" and
4. chucklcd mcrrily, and nodded his head at
p =, delicious looking pastry before him
c. Carrie wondered little at the table mi
d. ners of the man who had dincd with Ora
but she STEPPED his tea, favored it with +
cream and sugar and passed /; to him