The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-07-16
OLD DAN.

L 0AAD D1AASs
Farmer Henderson came in from the
barn one morning with his hands and
clothes wet and covered with mud, his
| face red and his eyes flashing.
"Ned!' he shouted, as he entered the
kitchen. "Where's Ned?'
Here am!' came CHEEKY voice in
| reply, and an instant after bright,
| strong boy of some sixteen years entered
the old-fashioned country kitchen from
the adjoining woodshed where he had
been cutting potatoes for the day plant
| ing. Do you want anything?"
81 want to tell you this" said Mr..
Henderson, as he washed himself at the
sink, and rubbed his weather-beaten
face with coarse towel until it was even
more red than before. ssOld Dan must
be killed. Just see the state am in,
and all from that worthless old rascal
1 won't have him about the house an
other day. He's good for nothing but to
make trouble, and he must be shot before
night!' added the farmer wrathfully.
Ned was about to plead for his pet
when his little sister came into the room.
/ sWhy, papa, what is the matter?" she
cried, running to him in astonishment,
s'Did you fall into the creek?'
81 might as well, he replied, half
laughing. ''Old Dan butted me into the
watering trough"
There was shout of laughter from
both children, in which their mother
joined.
"Well, Jedediah, said Mrs. Henderson,
coming into the kitchen shaking with
mirth, ''what could you have been think
ing about to let an old ram, most twenty
years old, knock you into the watering
troughr'
'sBut," explained her husband, she
took me unawares. had just filled one
pail to carry to the barn, and was stoop-
ing to dip the other when the old rascal
came at me like the wind and knocked
me completely into the water? He scam
tpered, tell you, before could get out.
He knew he had done mischief Anyhow,
he's got to be killed to day, sure. He's
only nuisance, and I'll shoot him to-
night, when we come back from town, if
he's on the farm"
Two hours latter Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
derson 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 derision, gave utterance to a hoarse
"Ba-a-a a!'
The farmer turned, shook his whip at
the the fellow, and cried, This is your last
Ned and Carrie were the only children.
Leaving Carrie in the house alone, after
they had considered a while whether
there was any way of aye1ting old Dan s
sad fate, Ned shouldered his hoe and
marched off to his work. planting pota-
toes with Cronson, the hired man, in the
'back lot"
But the little girl of thirteen had no
thought of being afraid. She had the
breakfast dishes to wash, some sweeping
to do. and the dinner to get, all before ID
o'clock.
Time fed The dishes stood in shining
rows upon the pantry shelves, the broom
had performed it's work, and Carrie was
preparing the vegetables to be boiled,
when there came faint knock at the
door. Supposing it to be one of the
neighbors, the little girl did not rise, but
called:
/ "Come imp
The door was slowly opened and man
stepped within.
He wore a black coat, buttoned to his
chin, and very threadbare. His trousers,
too, were black and very shiny, and much
too short for him. On one foot was a
boot, while the other was graced by a
ragged shoe. He carried battered silk
hat in his hand. His face was long and
solemn, but quite red, his eyes bleared,
his hands very dirty, and altogether he
was queer-looking visitor.
Is your ma at home, miss?" said he,
in half whine, as he glanced sharply
T about the room.
mo, sir" replied Carrie, wondering
why he asked; 'sshe has gone to Under
| hill. Did you wish to see her?'
"Oh, no." the man replied. ST only
asked out of politeness, you know" and
he smiled solemnly at the little girl, and
winked one eye. 'No, I came on bust
ness with your particular, urgent
business. S'pose he's round, is he not?"
"No, sir; he went to town with
mother, " said Carrie.
"Now, that's too bad!'' exclaimed the
visitor, as he seated himself; tand I've
come SO far to see him. But perhaps
| your brother or sister would do as well. !"
! 81 haven't any sister," said the little
hostess laughing, and my brothers over
in the back lot. He'll be in by and by,
though, if he'll do"
| well, don't hardly believe he will,
after all, . said the man, shaking his head
| thoughtfully, land I can't wait to day,
anyway; I hain't the time. But I'm ter
| ner, miss. However, under the circum-
stances, perhaps you had better give. me
light lunch before go; piece of pie
and cup of tea and little meat, or
something of that sort"
"Oh, certainly; only I can't give you
the meat, for we haven't it in the house,
said Carrie, rising; "but I will find
something" And she brought from the
pantry whole apple pie, which she
placed before him with knife and fork.
eff you will help yourself I'll have
the tea ready in three minutes
.'All right, my DEAR" said the man,
seizing the knife and drawing the pie to-
ward him. 81 will act upon your advice.
The last time took dinner with General
Grant" he continued, as he cut great
piece and began to eat, che said to me,
Governor, governor said he, never dis
regard 1ady's advice and I have al
ways remembered what he said, !" and he
chuckled merrily, and nodded his head
at the delicious-looking pastry before
him.
Carrie wondered little at the table,
manners of the man who had dined with
Grant, but she stepped his tea, favored it
with rich cream and sugar, and passed it