Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-12


Her flowcr-pot soped from the door to
the road, unfenced. Nearly every week
large droves of cattle went past from
up-country down to the distant market,
and the drovers always stationed boys
and dogs ahead at the unprotected
plsces, while the herds marched oy.
But panic had seized upon this drove,
and, before help could arrive, the fran
tic animals had surrounded the house,
trampled every green thing into the
dust, and rushed on and away like an
avalanche.
Cathe stood among the ruins with
face of despair; and her mother was
standing behind her speechlcss with
dismay, when the owner of the drove
came rafting up in his wagon. The
cattle were at that moment careering
over distant hill, the drovers still far
behind them; but he leaped from his
cart and came up to Cathic
"Why, little girl, If this isn't pity"
he exclaimed in q voice of such COM
passion and sympathy that Cathie hid
her face in the dish-towel and sobbed
aloud
Now, don't cry, dearr' he begged.
al saw, when went up the other day,
what pretty sight your posies were;
and here I've been the means of spoilin'
'em. Money cant replace 'em this
year, but there's ten dollars, and Pm
mighty sorry, besides" And he placed
n bill in her hand
oh. no, mol" sobbed Cathie. "You
couldn help it; nobody was to blame"
And she held out the money. But he
was mounting his wagon and wiping
the moisture from his tired face, with
his ewes on the distant cloud of dust.
"You keep that money, little girl.
It's small recompense, he said, shak-
ing his head emphatically; and he was
off aud away before she could speak
again.
Cathie dried her eyes and looked at
the bill in astonishment.
"Oh, mother!" she cried, suddenly.
May 1 do just what l want to with
thisp''
"Why, yes, dear" said her mother:
"whv shouldn't youp And don't feel
badly about the flowers; they'll grow
again"
but, mother, are you sure that you
are willing for me to-to-give this
awavp"
"Give it awayP Well, it's your own
money, Cathie. am sure your father
will be willing for you to do what you
choose with the first money you ever
had. And you have worked hard for
your flowers, Cathie; we all know
that"
"And, mother r'--Cathie kept on,
eagerly" shall want you and father
to promise that you will never tell any
body that l got this money" Her
cheeks were bright, her eyes glowing.
She had forgotten her flowers.
awe will do whatever you wish, my
daughter, about this money. 1t is
right that we should. But, sometime,
you'll tell mother about it?''
81 will tell you this very minute,
mother!' And she did. st-s..
So much toward the realization of
her dream! And now new difficulties
arose. She dared not buy the books,
aware of his need. She could think OF
no way of sending the money to him
that would not cause him to think she
had begged for him. or made his wants
known. He might burn it in pride and
shame if he could not find the giver.
She thought of catching one OF his tame
doves and tying the money under its
wingybut he would know then that it
was sent as gift to him. Cathie was
puzzled, but she kept on planning, and
at last she decided that there was but
one way. She must manage so that he
would seem to find the money.
There were difficulties connected
with this method, also, which she did
not foresee; but she laid her plans care.
fully and carried them out.
One day, when she saw him coming
up the road, and knew that he was 90
ing to the library in the village beyond
she ran swiftly out at the opposite side
of the house, through the orchard, anG
down into the hollow, a quarter of +,
mile beyond. Here was little ever
green thicket, with u brush fence OF
the edge of the road. She placed the
bill in the hard, beaten track in full
view, scrambled back over the fence
and awaited his coming with an anxious
heart. What if somebody else shoult
co ne along and discover the money be
fore him? eo4
When, at last, he came limping int,
the hollow on his crutch, her heart wa
beating so hard that she felt as if i
could be heard.
He saw the money-few things es
capped his sight-stopped and picked
/. up, and stood looking at it for som
, time, with his back to Cathie. The
/ he put it in his pocket and started bac
, toward home. This was surprise t.
her, and she knew that he would cal
at the house to tell her what he ha
found. What could she dop She coul
t not follow Immediately without bein
seen. The only way was to wait unit
t he had gone into the house. and the
run back the way he had come as fas
: rs she could.
She entered as demurely rs was pos
, sible under the circumstances.
Her hair was roughened her dres
torn, and her eyes were shining wit
suppressed excitement, to be sure; bu
, she bore herself with remarkable calm
, ness, as her mother afterward assure
her.
Oscar came forward eagerly fror
r talking with her mother.
'See, Cathie," he said, ~ hav
found ten dollars!'
| ''Oh, am so gladp she cried, CLASP
: ing her hands
r s.But 1 must find the owner, Cathie,
| he answered gravely, looking at her a.
, most reproachfully she thought.
"Oh, you never will, know, Oscar
| 1t is yours yours to keep and-an
, buy books with, or whatever you wish.
1 Mrs. Brown was trembling O
Cathie's eagerness, but she dared no
5 say an encouraging word to Oscar 10
? conscience sake. She saw more cleal
= ly than charity-blind Cathie how Osca