St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-01

| past eleven. 1nefc were more things
to attend to than he had anticipated,
and it was near four OF clock before the
pigs were fed. They would have been
forgotten entirely if they had not kept
up such a terrible squealing that Mart
went over to the pen to see what the
trouble was. He soon found out, and
relieved their suf1erings.
After this he hurried into the house
to eat his dinner, which had been await
ing him a couple of hours or more
Susie hustled about and took the meat
and potatoes from the oven, where they
had been stored to keep warm, and was
just pouring the steaming coffee when
Freddie came in and informed his father
that the horses had gone crazy, and
were paving great holes in the barn
floor, and were gnawing the feed-boxes
in the managers.
Poor Mart jumped up with very red
face and hurried out; he had forgotten
the horses. After he had fed and
watered them he hurried back to the
house. Susie was out, and Freddie,
who had one hand fast in the sugar
bowl, did not know where she was.
Mart was in the actEof sitting down
again, when he heard a deafening bonn
bardment in the direction of the wood
shed, and going thither he beheld the
wfe'of his bosom making frantic efforts
in trying to split piece Of stove wood
from anzelm log which had insall proba-
bility worried1he eldest Davis boy, and
possibly q. the entire Davis family. for
many q year. S.#s3M4B3E$ ~
.'susie! Il Susie!''<s exclaimed MART
you must be crazy! What do you
mean? Desist, | beseech you, and
come in. As soon as dinner is over I'll
come out and split enough wood to last
you month - ~.
mo, mop said Susie. Hurry up
and eat your dinner; | am afraid you
will be late; it is nearly time to milk
and feed for the night.'
Mart felt for his watch, but, alas! He
then looked around at the mastiff, who
was looking weary and lean beyond
description. He had not been fed since
the day before Susie was in need of
wood; she stopped, however, and passed
into the house followed by Mart, who,
instead OF sitting down to dinner, or
supper, rather, picked up the milk pals
and went straight to the. COW she'd to
milk.
Well, the farmer (?) got through
somehow that evening about nine
O clock, and went to bed determined to
get up early the next morning and take
time by the forelock. He did wake up
early for a wonder, and after rousing
Susie, he arose and made fire. He
could not tell what time it was, for he
had no watch, and the clock had
stopped; but then the chickens were
growing, and Susie said it must be day
light or midnight, and gently init
mated that it vast likely the latter.
At this Mart tlared up, and informed
Susie that he was no fool, and inquired
what she took him for; and then Susie
was about to say something terrible,
and curbed her. passion, and only ac-
cused him Of using slang, and invited
him to 90 out and look at the mastitf
and find out what time it was.
Mart said not a word to this, but fixed
up an old lantern that he had bought
from the eldest Davis boy, and started
for the barn. He fed the horses and
commenced to curry one by the light of
the lantern, but changed his mind in a
short time, saying to himself that he
could do a better job by daylight. After
closing the barn door he went to the
COW shed to feed the COWS, but they
were all lying down, apparently asleep,
and would not get up. He next went to
the pig pen, but the swine jumped up
and ran off in a squad at sight of the
lantern, granting and making a dread
full racket III
"Well, this beats ALP said Mart,
starting for the house. 81 do wish |
knew the time of night ...a..
He was nearing the house, stumbling
over the old moving machines, plows,
rails, pens and the like, when all of a
sudden huge creature sprang from the
darkness in front of him. Then there
was a loud barking and growing, and
Mart had dropped his lantern and sprang
up sapling near by, and the fifty dol
lar mastiff was under his master, bark
ing furiously, and gnawing at the root
of the tree.
Chow did that COMPOUNDED dog get |
loose?" cried Mart. 81 wonder if he Il |
know me?''
But the dog did not know his master,
though the latter whistled and talked |
kindly, and then not quite so kindly,
but all to no purpose; the villainous dog
remained immovable.
II would rather die than call Susie
out after that spat we just had, and I'll
be frozen stiff or torn to pieces by this
hungry dog before I'll say one word''
And Mart closed his lips firmly together
and shut his eyes.
How long he might have remained in
that position no one will ever know, for
at that moment his wife came to the
door to call him to breakfast, and he
had to answer. r.a.s $50
Why don't you come imp