The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-02-11
OLD DAN.

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.
"Nedm he shouted. as he entered the
kitchen. Where's Ned?"
Here am" came a CHEEKY voice in
reply; and an instant after a 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 days plant,
ing. do you want anything?"
Il want to tell you this said Mr.
Henderson, as he washed himself at the
sink, and rubbed his weather-beaten
face with the coarse towel until it was
even MOI red than before. "Old Dan
must be killed! Just see the state I am
in. and all from that worthless old ras.
cal! Iwon't have him about the house
another day. He's good for nothing but
to make trouble, and he must be shot
before night" added the farmer, wrath.
fully.
Ned was about to plead for his pet,
when his little sister came into the
room.
why, papa, what is the matter?'
she cried, running to him in astonish-
ment. Ibid you fall into the creek?"
II might as well" he replied, hall
laughing. "Old Dan buttcd me into
the watering-uough!"
There was shout of laughter from
both children, in which their mother
joined.
"Well, Jedediah." said Mrs. Hender.
son. coming into the kitchen, and still
shaking with mirth, "wlls.t could you
have been thinking about to let ap old
ram, most twenty years old, knock you
into the watering-trongh?"
But" explained her husband,i" che
took me unawares. l had just filled
one pail to carry to the barn, and was
stopping to dip the other, when the old
rascal came at me like the wind, and
knocked me completely into the water
He scampered, I 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 nuis.
ance, and IN shoot him tonight, when
we come back from town, if he's on the
farm!'
Two hours later Mr.. and Mrs. Hen
derson drove away to be absent from
home until night. As they ratified ou
of the yard Old Dan suddenly appeared
close to the gate, and, wagging his tai
rs if in derision, gave utterance 10 {
hoarse "Ba-a-ar'
The farmer turned, shook his whip a
the fellow, and cried, This is your las
day. my boy, make the most of Citw
to III II, al, ll,o,
Leaving Carrie in the house alone, afte
they had considered awhile whethe
there was any way ofaverting Old Dan
sad fate, Ned shouldered his hoe an
marched off to his work. planting pota
toes with Bronson, the hired man, in tn
"back lot"
But the little girl of thirteen had n
thought of being afraid. She had tn
breakfast dishes to wash, some sweep
ing to do. and the dinner to get, all be
foretwelve o'clock.
Time fed. The dishes stood in shin
ing rows upon the pantry shelves, tn
broom had performed its work, an
Carrie was preparing the vegetables t
be boiled, when there came a fain
knock at the door. Supposing it to b
one of the neighbors, the little girl di
not rise, but called:
"Come in!''
The door was slowly opened and
man stepped within.
He wore long black coat, buttoAe
to his chin, and very threadbare. Hi
trousers, too, were black and shiny, an
much too short for him. On one toe
was q boot, while the other was grace
by ragged shoe. He carried ba
tered silk hat in his hand. His face Wa
long and solemn, but quite red, his eye
bleared, his hands very dirty, and a
together he was g. queer looking visito
lis your ma at home, miss?" said b