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

| BE cheerful, patient, still and strong"
| H. II. Bennett, In 81. Nicholas.
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.
"Nedr' he shouted, as he entered
the kitchen. Where's Ned?"
Here amp came CHEEKY voice
in reply; and an instant after bright,
strong boy of some sixteen years en-
tered the old-fashioned country kitchen
from the adjoining woodshed, where he
had been cutting potatoes for the days
planting. "Do you want anythingP"
81 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. ssOld Dan must
be killed! Just see the state am in,
and all from that worthless old rascal!
l 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 nightr' 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. "Did you fall into the creekP"
&C might as WE'LL" he replied, half
laughing. "Old Dan butted me into
the watering-troughr'
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-troughp''
"But," explained her husband, she
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, l tell you, before 1 could
get out. He knew he had done mis-
chief. Anyhow, he's got to be killed
to-day, sure. He's only nuisance,
and I'll 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 out
of the yard, Old Dan suddenly APP
peared close to the gate, and, wagging
his tail as ip derision, gave utterance to
a 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 itr'
Ned and Carrie were the only chill
dren. Leaving Carrie in the house
alone, after they had considered for
a while whether there was any way 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 LOTT
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.
Time fled. The dishes stood in shin
ing rows upon the pantry shelves, the
broom had performed its work, and
Carrie was preparing the vegetables to
be boiled, when there came faint
knock at the door. Surprising it to be
one of the neighbors, the little girl did
not rise, but called
"Come imp
The door was slowly opened and a
man stepped within.
He wore long black coat, buttoned
to 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 q bat
tered 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 a queer looking
visitor.
GO Is your ma at home, MissP" said
he, in half whine, as he glanced sharp
ly about the room.
"No, sir" replied Carrie, wondering
why he asked; "she has gone to Un-
derhill. Did you wish to see her."
90, no." the man replied. 81 only
asked out of politeness, you know
and he smiled solemnly at the little
girl, and winked one eve. "No, L
came on business with your pa-partiN
ular, urgent business. S'pose he's
round, is he notp''
mo, sir; he went to town with
mother" said Carrie.
"Now, that's too badr' exclaimed
the visitor, as he seated himself; "and
I've come so far to see him! But per-
hans UOur hrOthar or oicfa,. mould A. =.
we'll"
81 haven't any sister," said the lit
tie hostess, laughing, "and my BROTH
er's over in the back lot He'll be in
by and by, though, if he'll do"
"Well, l don't hardly believe he will,
after ALL" said the man, shaking his
head thoughtfully; "and 1 can't wait
to-day anyway; hain't the time. But
Pm terribly hungry. If 1 could, I'd
stay to dinner, miss. However, under