The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-01-01
OLD DAN.

FARMER HENDERSON came in from
the barn one morning with his hands
and clothes wet aud covered with mud,
his face red, and his eyes flashing.
"Ned!' he shouted. as he entered the
kitchen. where's Ned?'
Here l ami came a CHEEKY voice
in reply: and an instant after, a bright,
strong boy, of some sixteen years, en-
tered the old-fashioned country kitch-
en- from the adjoining woodshed, where
he had been cutting potatoes for the
days planting. "Do you want any,
thing?'
g | want to tell you this" said Mr..
Henderson, as he washed himself at the
sink, and rubbed his weatherbeaten face
with the coarse towel until it was even
more red than before. "Old Dan must
be killed! Just see the state l am in.
and all from that worthless old rascal!
won 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, wrath
fully.
Ned was about to plead for his net.
when his little sister came into the
room.
"Why, papa, what is the matter?"
she cried, running to him in astonish-
ment. Did you fall into the creek?''
Il might as WE'LL" 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. Hen.
derson, coming into the kitchen, and
still shaking with mirth," "what could
you have been thinking about to let an
old ram. most twenty years old, knock
you into the watering trough?''
But explained her husband. she
took me unawares. 1 had Just filed
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, l tell you, before I
could get out. He knew he had done
mischief. Anyhow. he's got to be
killed to-day, sure. He's only a nuis-
ance. and I'll shoot him tonight. when
we come back from town. if he's on the
farm!'
Two hours later Mr. and Mrs. Hem
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
hoarse "Ba-a-a!"
The farmer turned, shook his whip at
the fellow, and cried, This is your last
DAY, my boy, make the most of it,"
Ned and Carrie were the onlv chill.
dren. Leaving Carrie in the house
alone. after they had considered for
awhile whether there was any wav of
averting Old Dams sad fate, Ned shout
dered his hoe and marched off to his
work, planting potatoes with Bronson,
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 sweep
ing to DO, and the dinner to get, all be-
fore twelve o'clock.
lime fled. The dishes stood In shin.
ing rows upon the pantry shelves the
broom had performed its work and
"a Sarl n was preparing the vegetables to
oe Dolled, when there came a faint
Knock az the door. Surprising it to be
one OF the neighbors, the little eirl did
not rise, but called WV
"Come in!"
The door was slowly opened and .
man stepped within.
ne wore long black coat. buttoned
70 his chin, and very threadbare. His
trousers, too, were black and shiny. and
much too short for him. On one foot
was boot, while the other was graced
by ragged shoe. He carried 4 hat
tered silk hat in his hand. His face
was long and solemn, but or;te
red, his eyes bleared, his hands VERY
dirty, and, altogether. be was . suee1
looking visitor.