Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-01
ATOloney'B Goat.

MOloney's Goat.
A few days ago, boy sat in the dock Of
the police court at San Francisco, weeping
bitterly. He was charged by his father with
disturbing the peace and leading u disso-
Lutte life. His name was Moloney. His
father was contractor who, at the expense
of the city, earned al honest political liv-
ing They took newspaper, and the un-
fortunate boy read an incendiary item 10 the
effect that Frank Buckland, the naturalist,
had discovered that goat was an excellent
thing TO keep in stable along with horses,
as 1t would face fire and the horses would
follow it through flames He thought it
over He wanted TO show his father what
thoughtful and considerate boy he was.
Besides, he wanted goat. He went down
on Rincon Hill and found one. 1t was u
goat Of Irish proclivities and ownership,
and of the male gender. Would it face tiref
1t would. 1t wasn't expensive to keep. 1t
had lived for a month on shingle-nails and
oyster cans and the different ropes with
which il had been tethered. Would the man
sell him He would give thIs one away be-
cause he liked the little boys looks. And
the poor, unsuspecting little boy started for
Natoma street, down First, the goat leading
the boy. He felt pretty good for goat.
Whenever a horse went by or dog hove N
sight he would get up on his hind legs and
walk Spanish, while the dogs let out for
the Mission, and the children on the front
piazzas had fits on an averageOf about eight
TO the block. Finally he got an idea and
ricocnetled up Mission street in jumps that
would have sprained the ankle of any goat
but him. The boy acted rs rudder and
steered him TO Natoma street. 1t was after
dark. There was hay in the stable visible
through the open door. The goat debated
the matter while and then went in. The
boy said nothing about the investment TO
his kind and lovirg parents. Fortunately
his father was down at the grocery store
and knew nothing. Ee would come home
50 full OF politics that he couldn't tell a goat
from six bit umbrella unless the goat had
time TO explain. He hoped that his father
would not go TO the stable. He prayed tina;
he wouldn't. He had faith and confidence
in his father, bat be doubted that goat
The So clock in his bedroom struck IL, and
he knew by that that il was l2:45, and that
the old man would be along shortly. He
heard him coming, heard the gate slam and
then, first trembling and then in anguish,
heard his fathers footsteps going towards
the stable. He head the paddock rattle,
heard the door swing open, and then he
heard whizz, a spasmodic puff as if
small balloon had burs;ed, and then skiff-
ling noise as the heels OF his fathers boots
slid along the planks and he fell backwards
in the mud, about eight feet and three quar-
lers from the door. lie raised the window
and looked weeping and silent upon the
scene. lie knew what the goat could do,
and 1t was hard to hear his dear father gasp
like a goldfish as he tried to initiate himself
again. Finally he forced down enough
wind for meagre Conversational purposes
He said .-.-as7Sr
'C'm out herein (hic) gimme show.
Yee bloodi coward ~
Still no response except faint clatt9r of
hoois that told the listening son that the
concealed thunderbolt was prancing around
on his hind legs aching for another shot.
is that you, Moloney2 I'd shpake wild
YOU" The voice came from the bedroom
window where the night oap of the boys
deIr mother appeared surmounting her kind
Cant en- up. Got somefn here chic.
Sumfin blowed up
"Whart is il I"
"DOn'no (hic.) GueSsr roof fell in
"Why don't yer go an see3 Air We goin'
ter shape there all night, ye drunken ould
freckle rancho 7"
Braced up by the conuumbial indorse-
ment, the father arose, as did also a large
portion of the loose SOL ia the yard along
with him. Triangulaling with some diff
Guilty to the wind ward side of the door, he
unroofed himself and peered in. No eX-
plosive agent was visible in the darkness,
and the spawned mare delivered a reassur-
ing whinny Mr. Moloney had prize-fought
in his younger days, and il occurred 10 him
that il would be strategic and defiant TO shy
his hat at the ambuscade. The ambuscade
took in the shy but remained quieScent,
save for the motion necessary to mastiCate
It.
Having regained his wind and some cour-
age, he concluded to enter. lie placed him.
self tempungly in the doorway, facing out
ward. No sign! He took a ep back
ward, still with safety. y third, and still
no trouble.
Moloney struck match, and there stood
revealed meek-looking billy-goat, largest
size, copper-fronted and sweet of express
ion, who, as the last two inches of hat rim
disappeared down his 9sophagus, promul-
gated gentle ''baa"
The kind ju ge noticed that the little boy
had been standing up all the time he was in
the dock, though there were plenty Of
benches, and understood why he wanted to
go to the Industrial School until his father
broke his arm and his mother caught the
paralysis. He told him to cheer up, how
ever, and he would see about his case, and
the little boy wiped his nose on the sleeve
of his coat and went below.
HOnttOu Lace.