Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-11-09

o
shilling large one, that might have been
bought the next week.
Still this was a capital Neddy, when
one kept ones eyes off the other.
Tom and Maggie took good look a
their purchase before il was rolled up
in paper
Tom even made Maggie laugh out
loud by making Neddy look ashamed
Of hlmself'-an expression which toy
donkey shows at once, when his head is
unlocked from the wire aud pushed in
as tar rs 1t will go, SO as to leave him
with hanging head and no neck what
ever.
1 This donkey had beautiful neck with
a woolly mane, when it hung properly :;
his bride was decked with plated trap
pings, little basket WORK panniers were
slung across his saddle, and his stand
had the delicious smell of new TOYS.
1t was only when Maggie proudly
brought her parcel cut of the shop that
Tom revealed the real cause of his an
xiety TO come alone with her to day.
He went and bought gunpowder, and
other chemicals III their blue parcels,
for making fireworks-an art forbidden
at home.
I'm not afraid. You know" he ex-
| planned, but / must take care of you.
Maggie, and girls always get in the way
Oh. | say, there's the donkey yonder
with his head over the gate.
Away they went to Farmer Stubbins'
donkey, Maggie running as fast as she
could; it was Il rare opportunity of max
/ ing acquaintance with a real live Neddy
Tom told Maggie to hold the gum
powder parcel Then he made a rough
bride ont of the donkey's halter, noun
ted his bare back by climbing up the
gate, and certainly kept his seat-for
the simple reason that the donkey stood
quite still.
( At last, when coaxing and humping
We're in vain, ION climbed down again,
voting it a silly animal; and Maggie,
holding her own parcel, WAS put up in
stead. Now this donkey of Farmer
Stubbins was apt TO take odd whims in
to that patient-lookinG head of his.
No sooner was the little girl on his
back than he turned away from the gate,
and to her great delight went off with
her at a most leisurely walk.
"Oh, it's beautiful, Chuk, chuk, chuk,
gee up, what dear Neddy!" shouted
Maggie with pride and glee. why, it
is quite easy TO ride without saddle
Anybody could DO it, and" The
words ended in a scream.
Over went the deceptive Neddy, legs
in air, rolling on the grass.
And Maggie was down on the grass too,
all pain. all fright, struggling out of the
way and content to scramble ANYHOW
through the mud and wet of Yesterdays
rain.
The brute" roared Tom, running to
her "Oh! Maggie, Maggie, are you
much hurt.
Not much-Tom dear-oh, take me
home" she sobbed, sitting on the grass;
and then She could only cry ont loud,
with choking sobs.
Tom was in great trouble for her, but
he was in greater rage with the DON
key.
The big shaggy beast had got up
again, and after good shake all over
seemed harmlessly to forget the fit of
mischief and frolic.
IN give it ohiml I'll make him go,
I'm break him in cried Tom, snatching
lnotty branch from under the hedge
And somehow he sprung upon the
donkey's back in tree, and 50 venge-
fully gave it to Neddy with the stick,
that in half minute he found himself
clinging to the denkey's neck, and going
now at a trot, and now at a canter down
the field.
He was riding a harebacked steed now
at last. but the difficulty was, not to
keep on, but 10 get Of.
He clung TO the name tenaciOusly; no
prospect of stopping, no prospect of es-
,caping.
At the end of the field there was a
shallow, Shiny pool, locking very min-
vitiug. and now straight into the middle
of this walked the donkey to coolhis Oh
stinate legs.
There he came to stand-still, and
putting his long ears back viciously,
lifted his head on high, opened his
mouth, and sang. and snorted, and hee-
hawed, till the very air rang with the
braying.
Tom let 90 of the name, and sat
straight up with sense of relief.
He mustwalk ont of this some time, y
he reflected, land the moment I'm over
dry ground, off I'll go with a jump.
The vexatious brute-wouldn' 1 like TO
Gck him."
Al at once the brsying ceased, and
the frolicsome mood caught the donkey
again.
Up he went rearing straight, and
away out of the pool, plunging and
whisking his tail; and splash-splash
went Tom at full length into the stag
nant water,
Half an hour later-were these the
same children that had gone out, now
, returning home in such sad plight?
A very wet boy, all muddy and Shiny,
sometimes trying to carry, and some
times helping along on his arm lame
girl, with a red, fearful face, and drag
gled ream-and-crimson dress all ovel
I soils and stains.
| In the pocket OF the boy was parcel