The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-02-07

1
little cold meat, or something of that
sort.''
80, certainly; only 1 can't give you
house," said Carrie, rising; "but l will
find something" And she brought
from the pantry whole apple pie,
which she placed before him, with a
knife and fork.
elf you will help yourself, I'll have
the tea ready in three minutes"
CAL right, my dearr' said the man,
Selling the knife, and drawing the pie
toward him. 81 will act upon your ad-
vice. The last time took dinner with
General Grant," he continued, as he
cut great piece and began to eat, he
said to me, Governor, Governor said
he, never disregard lady's advice;'
and / have always remembered what he
said;" and he chuckled merrily, and
nodded his head at the delicious look
ing 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 to him.
81 am not much of hand for tea,"
said the man, as he drained the cup,
I" but my doctor says that must drink
it for my digestion. Ruined my diges-
ton while was in the army, you see;"
and he winked solemly. ''By the way"
he continued, picking up the silver tea
spoon from his saucer, "have you any
more of these? They are as neat pat
tern as 1 ever saw, and odd, too. 1
should like to see the rest of the dozen,
if you have them"
"Mother has only eleven" said Car
rie, in her innocence, 'sand she is very
proud of them; but 1 will show them to
you"
Then she brought the little box with
the precious table-silver-eleven tea
spoons, four tablespoons and an an
Gent cream-jug-al pure silver, and
shining brightly-and placed them be-
fore her inquisitive visitor to admire.
He had finished his ''light lunch
That is, the pie was demolished, and
the teapot empty. AS the little girl
handed him the treasures, he arose,
took the box to the window, examined
its contents with a critical eye for
moment, and then, as if in joyful sur
prise, cried:
81 am right! They are the very
spoons! The very same identical spoons
that my friend lost when he was boy!
How lucky it is that have found them
at lastI'
With these words, and a very low
bow, the rascal opened the door and
slipped away with the spoons and
silver cream-pitcher down the path
toward the gate.
For an instant Carrie stood motion
less; then, rushing after him, she
shrIeked:
"Give me those spoons! They are
my mothers spoons, and you are trying
to steal them! You are thief, thief.
Bring them back! bring them backr'
The man, however, paid no attention
to the child's cries, but ran rapidly
down the path, carrying the box in his
arms; and the spoons and pitcher would
have been lost forever if new party
had not appeared on the scene.
Old Dan was quietly nibbling the
grass near the gateway. Hearing his
little mistress voice he looked up at
the very instant that the tramp passed.
What he saw about the man that dis
turbed him don't know; but, erect
ing his head with hoarse " Baa-a-ar'
he shot after him like cannon-ball.
The man turned to receive him and
defend himself, but the ram struck him
fairly in front and knocked him, half
senseless, fat on his back, scattering
the silver in all directions.
For an instant the fellow remained
sprawling in the dust, then he slowly
arose, limping and groaning, and with
out glance at his enemy, began to
gather up his stolen spoils.
He had partly completed his task
when Old Dan, who all this time had
been watching the proceedings from
beneath his shaggy eyebrows, shook
his long beard, and with another ire
mendous "Baa.ar' dashed at him
again, and over he went second time,
his treasures flying from his hands.
And now began strange battle.
With cries of rage and pain, the man
recovered his feet and turned upon the
ram, kicking and striking at him furi-
ously, while Dan, accustomed to such
warfare from years of experience with
the boys of the countryside, easily
eluded him, and in return butted him
to the earth again and again.
Inc spoons and pitcher were
knocked hither and thither, as the COM
batants struggled, the road was tram
pied into something like race-course,
the air was filed with very bad lam
g1uage, very angry baas and a great
cloud of dust.
But after some five minutes, victory
declared itself upon the side of the
quadruped; and, bruised and bleeding,
with clothes in rags, minus hat and
shoe, the vanquished man suddenly
turned away and ran limping down the
road, leaving his antagonist in full
possession of the field and the stolen
silver.
OLDHAM remained motionless, gazing
after his enemy until he disappeared
around distant turn in the road; then.
shaking the dust from his coarse wool.
he gave utterance to a low grumble of
satisfaction, and, wagging his tail, re-
turned to his dinner in front of the
house.
Half an hour later, as Carrie washed
the coveted spoons and the bright little
I ILL