Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-04-22

to try on new shoes.
He slipped on the socks, and then
began the tug of war. Pair after pair
of boots were brought out, but Sam,
who was sharp trader, had some OBJ
lection TO each. One pair was too large,
another too small, and Obadiah, whose
feet ached ana panied at a touch, longed
for roomy pair which would let him
stretch his poor toes out. But he was
shrewd enough to see that his father
was raising objections in order to avoid
buying at all, and Norris, the shop
keeper, who saw it too, came quickly to
the rescue.
to suit, he said. "Here, Wilkins"-to
a clerk-''help the boy TO pull on these
boots. | Thought so. Couldn't be a
neater fit, You see, Sam. Why, Obi's
feet look quI.@ respectable in EN-.
"Dey jest fits, pappy, said Obadiah,
trying to smile, as he stamped his feet
on the ground, though he felt more like
bowling at the pain. Sam was reluc-
family obliged to pull out his pocket
book, casting dark glances at the boots
as he did so.
Now boy wearing boots for the first
time in his life, and with his feet
chapped and swollen, is not likely to
walk very comfortably. After the first
strut or two. when the spirit overcame
the flesh, Obadiah began to limp visibly.
"Wot you limpin' like buzzard
fur ?" Sam demanded, turning back to
look at the boy. "Dem boots is too
tight, is dey ?"
"No dey amt, trying to walk steadi-
ly: II only jest knocked my foot agin
big brick
But tho big bricks must have been
plentiful on that path, for whenever
Sans head was turned, the boy limped
worse than ever. When they had near
ly reached the cabin Sam said:
"Look heah, Obadiah, you'd better
go arter de whiteface COW fore Won
comes in. She's got calf, an she's at
de big pastur'. A good run will stretch
Your new boots too, an dey looks like
tight fit."
With all his pride in his boots, Oba.
diah had intended taking them off before
starting on any of his domestic duties.
If he did it now, his father would be
sure to take them back to the store upon
the plea of their being too tight. Never
again, he knew, would pair of boots
come into his possession if these were
taken away. The agony was nearly in.
supportable, but he was determined to
stand it and give no sign.
But he wondered how he could ever
manage to drive up "Whiteface."
frisky young COW, who usually took the
utmost activity of his bare, agile feet
to manage her. Fat as he was, Oba-
diah was usually spry and active. but
to-day his prisoned feet hardly suf1iced
to hobble along. With sore difficulty
he reached the pasture. Yes, there
was "Whiteface" quietly feeding, but
q short distance from her was Squire
Ransdell's crooked horned bull-the
terror of all the boys in the neighbor-
hood.
ooh, wot eber is / gwine to do p
and the sweat poured down poor Obs
face. "Ef dar amt Crooky, and l
darsn't go a-nigh Whiteface wild him
dar. I'll run and tell pappy. He's
scared at Crooky hisself.
But in order to save his wretched
feet. he made kind of short cut which
brought him near the grazing animals.
Crooky had been paving the ground
and glaring viciously around for some
thing to attack, when he caught sight
of the red bandanna that Bets Jane
had proudly tied around her SON. eek.
1t was challenge, and Crooky /. ,ver
blenched from a challenge. Many
time had Obadiah kicked up his heels
in derision when the bull made
after HIM, sure that his feet would
carry him to some vantage ground,
but he had lost all confidence in
them this day. He uttered a shrill
cry as the bull, with a loud bel
low, and head bent down, charged upon
him. For moment he felt neither
boots, nor pain, nor anything, but that
Crooky would be sure to have him, but
after few minutes race he saw that the
boots were dead weight against him.
He could not keep up the pace much
longer with his feet screwed in a vice.
and had it not been for doubling around
some trees in the way, which action re-
duced Crooky to state of furious i'm
becility, his career would have ended
then and there.
Ell it warn't fur desc boots, I'd skin
up dat tree and be safe" was Obadiah's
agonized thought as he dashed hither
and thither, striving to reach high
t ndary fence to the right. on the
other side of which h, would be secure
from his enemy. If he had run in a
straight line. Crooky would have had
him, but he circled and doubled, and at
last reached the boundary and fairly
tumbled over it.
There he lay for some time unable to
stir hand or foot, with defrauded
Crooky on the other side, believing and
tearing up the ground, and hooking
viciously at the bars.
Poor Obadiah with difficulty raised
himself to a sitting position. He had
no further fear of his baffled foe. but
how was he going to get off "dem
boots -? Even without the swollen
feet, he could not have got off the boots
without difficulty, but as it was, he
pulled and tugged and the fit was tighter
than ever, and the pain more overpow-
ering. Walk step he could not, in
fact it was impossible to stand, and the
pasture was in loraely place where it
was likely no one would come that day.
The forlorn boy lifted up his voice
and cried aloud, and then began to crawl
on all fours to the cabin. It was not a
long distance, but his progress was slow.
and it was late in the afternoon when
Betsy Jane, who had gone to her front