The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-10-26


when man came tearing into the yard,
crying out that mad dog was in the
place, and was making straight for the
field the cows were in. Quick rs light
ming the boy caught up pi'chfork and
away with him like . shot to the field.
His mother flew aftl. an shrieking ont
to him to stop, and shouting ont to the
men to follow. But he was as light of
foot and nimble ns the deer; and before
ever II one could overtake him, he had
come mp with the dog. The great ami
nal faced savagely round upon the lad
when he made at him with the pitch
fork, and bit and tore with fury But
the brave boy grapped with Inn, and
had pinned Inn to the ground by the
time the men came mp and gave the fin
ishing stroke.
"Now, mother DEAR" he cried in glee,
"the cows are safe Another minute
and the brute would have been into
them
Bnt the poor mother wasn't needing
the cows when her darling son, for
whom she'd have given all she was worth
in thc wide world, was there before her
ewes all bloody and covered with foam
from the beasts mouth. She washed
and laihed the bites, the boy laughing
at her the wlilc, and saying they were
nothing. And nothing there w's Tor n
time. But what all dreaded and were
looking for in trembling came at last.
He knew it himself, the poor fellow ! 1t
was pihful to see how he strove and
fought nanful against it ard forced
himself 10 drink, when even the sight OF
water or any liquid was unbearablc.
He'd try and try to swallow, though 1t
stranQled him. No use he couldn't get
down Il drop and the commissions were
dreadful. At length he grew Violent
aud went raving mad altogether; and
hand and foot they had to tho INN, to
prevent his doing himself or others
mischief. -,
The doctor came, but what could he
do? He was gOod-nntnred man, aHd
paye many sixpenco and shilling TO
those he knew needed nOurishmcnt more
than drugs but no one thought much
of his physicking. People said he had
but the one medicine, and that hd gave
il to all alike, no matter what allied
them. Not that thore was any harm IN
that, for il stands to reason that what
would do good to one Christian couldn t
he bad for another. When any OF the
quality were sick, they sent right away
oft to the city for the grand ioctor
there, hut the parish man was good
enough for the poor
Anyhow, not all the doctors in crea-
ton could I've Of any use to the dear
| Young master There was but the one
thing for him-his doom was sealed.
And now the question was how 1t was to
he done. Three ways were spoken OF.
70 smother him between two feather
beds, or else carry him down to the rive,
| md drown him, or to open vein nn'
let him bleed away to death. The
| nnthcr wouldn't hear Of the smOthcrng
When it was proposed to her, you'd THINK
,hcd 60 ont Of her SENSES. Indeed, fol
the matter oi iIat. it was much the same
Whatever plnn was talked of they
couldn't drag consent ont of her to any
If them God help her twas Il c'ncI
strait to be in. At long last and after
much dohatc, it was settled that n VEN
should lie opened; and, when it was
done. the pom fcllow-laid upon u he'd
Of straw in an clubhouse in the yard
was LETT to die.
ON. but that was the day of Woe The
misery of it, and the despair of the dis
tractad mother, il was talking till
doomsday ] couldn't describe. Her
il iehhors and cousin7 and the lads
unrl,s nockcd il, and were all gdtheied
round her in the best parlor, striving TO
comfort her. They made strong tea, IN
| HOMES tu get her to swallow sUmc. They
tried to raise her heart, telling her o'
Inc Grand funeral he'd havc-humdrcds
aud hundreds coming TO it from far and
nrar-thc handsomcst collin money
rouId buv, real oak, with brass orna-
mruts. and such Is wake ~ was never
seen III the country before no EXPENSE
spared But You might as well talk 10
the dead in the clay. She didn't hear II
word. but sat there without tear or
moan-only her mouth working with
the agony within-iust fro2e-up, stony
image of despair And you'd hardly
know her, she was so changed. The
bright. smooth, comcly face all drawn
and wrinkled like an old cronc's, and
CHASTITY pale Sure it was no wonder,
when all she loved upon earth was drip.
| ping out his young life within stones E
throw of her.
When they saw it was of no Use, they
let the poor woman alone. A gloomy
silence fell upon the sorrowful company
as they sat there waiting waiting fo'
| the end. The minutes seemed like
hours. There was no stir, except wher
| now and then some one would whisper
under his breath about the dying hoy
how pleasant he was, and gay! How
| generous and open-handed he'd been.
But no matter how sorrowful th'
house, or what woe and misery are with
in the walls, the business Of life outside
must 90 on. So, when milking-timt
came. Kitty M'Cabe, the dairy woman
though the heart III her DO wa!
breaking-slipped ont to call the milk
pirls and see the cows. Coming back
through the yard when the milking was
done, she had to pass by the outhous'
where they had lai. the 10y and for the
| lite of her she couldn't help stopping t.
try and listen how it was with him, ant
whether he was in heaven yet. There
was no sound. Strict orders had becl
| given that no one was to go III but thu
| door was not locked, and she though
she'd Just give it small shove and tax,
one look. 1t was an old crazy door, con
trary and iIl-ftting; and at the frs
push it gave a great sliriek and mad,
So sharp noise that she was frightened
and tried to pull it back again. TIN
sight. too, Of the blood trickling upoi
the hoor made her gidly and sick.
lis that you, Kitty MClbe ?" CAM
in weak, faint whisper from the ia
end.
Her heart leaped up at the voice sh
never thought Of hearing again. "Ayi
it. my life my dsrlin'l jewel o tn