Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-29
Farmer Giles Lesson.


Il tell you it's of no use. 1 will not
hear word about it." and farmer
Giles brought his clenched fist heavily
down upon the table as he concluded
his remark.
But. father. Prince has been such a
good horse"
"Well, if he has been, he isn't now"
irascibly replied the farmer.
Husband, 1 remember" it was
soft-voiced Mother Giles who spoke
now, 81 remember how Prince brought
us over from mothers to our new home
the day we were married"
whats that got to do with it ?"
snarled the farmer.
Father. wasn't it Prince that car
ried you after the doctor the night /
was SO awfully sick?" asked Jamie, a
lad of seventeen years. "You know
you have told me the story-how you
patted his neck as you sprang into the
saddle, and said, Now do your best,
old fellow, do your best; we must get
the doctor quickly if we want to keep
our baby And you thought Prince
knew every word you said; he almost
flew over the ground; then, when 1 got
better, one day you took me out in the
door yard, and Prince came trotting
up and laid his head on your shoulder
to look at me, and whinnied so soft
ly."
HE was worth something, then" re-
piled Mr.. Giles, a little less firmly.
But" he added, call this talk amounts
to nothing. Prince is old and helpless;
l shall not keep him any longer. To
morrow turn him out"
Willie, the spoiled boy of five years,
the baby, at this moment looked up
from his play and said: "Papa, if you
turn old Prince out to die, we bows"
the little fellow always Strengthened
up with sense of his Importance
when he said that, eve boys will turn
you out just as you get old so you can't
work hard. I'll set Bose on you,
too"
Go to bed, Willie, we cant have such
bad boy as you are around"
sits you that's bad, papa; you send
me off to bed, and turn old Prince out
to starve and die"
Farmer Giles did not seem to enjoy
his paper very well that evening, and
soon took his night lamp and retired
but not to Testful sleep-the words of
little Willie, ats you that's bad, papa"
kept ringing in his ears, and it was a
long time that the stars looked in upon
a wakeful man. Then when sleep
came, dreams came with it. He was
at last awakened by his wife shaking
him by the shoulders and saying:
"Why, Joseph, what's the matter?
What are you dreaming about?"
Awakened, Joseph Giles tossed un-
easily for sometime longer, but finally
sank into restful sleep.
The breakfast the next morning was
a rather silent meal, until at its close
little Willie grasped his fathers chair
and asked, as he looked into his
face:
ais you going to be a good papa to-
dayP'
"Yes, Willie; and now take my hand
and come out with me to give dear old
Prince an extaa bite of oats this morn
ing. You shall see that he has his
breakfast every day after this"
''Oh, apa, you are good, nowp and
the little fellow sprang into his arms
and Rugged him.
Joseph, how happened this?" asked
his wife.
Sarah, Willie's words rang in my
ears and colored my dreams. l saw
myself a poor, ragged old man, lean
ing on two rough sticks, limping out
of my dooryard, while old Prince. Dob
bin and Ned, standing on two legs.
kicked and drove me forth with hor-
rible neighs. The boys stood in the
door, laughing, and even your face
was at the window, Sarah. The dogs
barked and bit me, while was so
tremulous that it seemed as if I must
sink down, but dared not"
"Bless the saucy boy" said the in
dulgent mother, with a tear in her eye.
~and bless you. my husband, for heed
ing the dream"