Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1882-04-13

We made our way through the ducks and
hens, skirting perilously yard full of plgs,
and tremblingly passing small window IN a
shed. where protruded a great head, with
short horns and sofl beautiful eyes, but a
low rumbling note proclaimed that i, was
the bull. the terror of our field walks and
grove picnics. Not that we had really ever
encountered him in the body, but IN the
spirit ne always seemed TO haunt the next
field. or bs screened hy the shadlest tree
"Oh. Bardic. don't like the looks Of
him." | whispered.
Take hold Of my hand; III take care Of
you" said the little knight and We passed
the monster, that looked yearnnglv at us ii
our freedom. and gave Trsoundlug below
that shuddered through and through me.
Bardle laughed at NY fears.
What are YOU 'frald of, Nora sweet P
He ha, got hig ring M h.s nose. and can't
do anything. Anybody can lead him about.
Papa SAID once that II YOU could only put a
ring on person, YOU could lead him 10y his
nose.
What's that P" asked Aun, urana from
/ behind.
We entered the barn, full to ovcrAouing
with sweet new hay. and fragrant with 1t,
t
COW that lay contcn,cdlv IN her corner, with
her head raised in watchful care Of her
ltte weak legged. scrIwnV oH spring.
had never seen yer! young calf before,
, and vas disappointed.
Veal A." pronounced Aunt lrania "Aud
not particularly good at that. should
sa,
Bardic did no, understand the prophecy.
Isn't he lovely ?" he cricd. II wish papa
would buy 1t for me. the dearest h'ile
thing What makes j, look 80 funny and
vet
'.l,. mother ha, been giving It something
which ., good for all l.,tic children. Bar!le. 90
SAID my aun, "Paruollar.y for little ho,,.
\ good .iCklus
Bardir understood this time. and looked
,cngeiuily at her, Then swapping THE
finger, Of hi, minute hand 10 the old dog
that lay near. happIng heavy good ua'IrrI
tai. against the hard boards, he uttered a .ow
bu' perfectly ii,,nc, Hist. bo, ''
Up jumped the obcI.rnt Huc, with /.
clumsy rAp and ran, barking inudly. 10 THE
other door where he supposed the unseen
cueny TO be lurking Aunt ranIa fIget-
ed
Did you do that. YOU li,tlc rascal p" ,hc
asked, not quite sure, however, for She h.i
been watching my successful effort 20 climb
To- the top Of great mountain of hay
where nov sat amid the fragrance Of
dried clover leaves, and fcl, IN paraI.-c
II vas an admirable point Of view. but
not Convenient place 10 render assistance
IN au emergency. And thu, j' happened
that could see the COW. growing uneasy at
the hunbuh. rising Ia her feet, and fiaallv
with threatening look. advanced step pr
two with lna,rrd horns | could see j, all.
but vi. Po~crirs, to help, and cpu.I only
scream.
"Auuiy BArdsc the COW the COW r.
Q4Ick a. i ~InA BAIIlr slipped past Tie
ansn animal and. A. b. expressed H..
".hinued up" the haymoS. whcr, be- pcrthcl
himself tuumphauiIy beside me. Dignity
aud aye alike forbade the exercise Of saIn-
H.ng to aunty. notwithstanding BArdIt'~
opinion Of her length Of hmh She way
cred. tried for one brief momrn, 10 look
the animal III the eve" but a forward move
meut on the COW par, put tina, .drA to Il sht.
and she turned and lied, pursued only q fra
steps b, the disturbed mother. VINO saw
her to the door With loud moo Of d!,mi,-
sal. echoed m a distant thunder from the
excited eve pursued also. am ashamed To
SAY, b, ierts.ye laugh from EardIc. Who
stood on one leg. balancing himself with a
pltchfork. and shrieked out. Il told you she
hated red things. Isn't 1t fun :"
We snugglrd down IN the hay and let the
COW quiet herself by ,igorou. return to
her nursery duties, and then | whispered a
little admonition TO Bard.e on the subject Of
his behavior to aunty. 1t MSS by no means
the first time | had rebuked my small
charge, and he took it very penitcntly :;
though when | found myself SAVING, 1T
isn't like mammals little bo, to act 50,
came 10 a full stop, with a sudden rcmem-
hrance of Susle's inNeterate naughtness
hen Aunt Uranla was IN question.
He liked To hear about mamma, the sweet.
bright, unknown image, whom nobody but
| had ever brought to his mind, and he lay
with his head in my lap. listening to my
stories Of our childish play and adventures.
until the pleased smile grew vasuer and
softer, and the long la,hes dropped lower,
and he slept, looking more than ever like
wandering cherub of heavenly rearing
Then, a. Sd, doubly prisoned by the foe
beneath and the friend above, ! heard
quick, unexpected step, and Henry Bent en-
tered the barn with an amused and perturbed
face.
The COW had settled to a comfortable nap,
the flies droned in the sunshine. and IN the
quiet noon hush he would have turned away
without discovering Us, but that low. girl
lsh giggle, of which | instantly felt ashamed.
revealed our retreat
He looked up, laughing. "Oh. there YOU
gnnnpb buf u. here IN small
boy p
Here too" said in very low tone, and
he vaulted upon the hay. and saw the pret-
" sleeping bow and his face soflened into
the mingled sadness and brightness which
ofteHed noticed upon il as he looked at her
child
Il met Miss Scudamore Just now with
terrible tale of danger and msbehayior. 1t
is all r.ght. see. But what does possess
the child to behave badly to her. lie is
perfect lamb with you"
"lie has it by inheritance" | said with a
smile that ended in sigh. "He never looks
so like his mother as when the irresistible
naughtiness comes over him. which Aunt
Urania has the unfortunate talent for eyok-
ing"
The same smile was reflected in his face,
the same sigh IN his voice. O
True" he said ''you see, as do, the
wonderful likeness in everything
why do YOU never talk to him of Susie p
| said, with desperate plunge into the diff
ficult subject, for | had never before men
toned her name to him since her baby was
left motherless. at is not right, Harry, to
let him grow up in Ignorance of that sweet
est of creatures. He is, as you say, her liy-
ing Image , he ought to know and love her,
yet he hardly knew what the word mother
meant until he came here to me-"
IL could not. | could not" he answered
much moved. Il am glad you do. | knew
YOU would do him good this summer.
cannot tell YOU the comfort it is to me to
have HIM in the country, and with you.
knew YOU must love the little fellow, for you
loved his mother well"
"Loved her, yes" | said, my tears sud
denly bursting forth. al can't get used to
doing without her, Harry | can't get over
it."
II see," be said. "We are fellow-mourn-
ers, Nora"
The little head stirred one or two Of my
tears had dropped on the sweet baby face.
and wakened him. He sat up, and rubbed
his ewes, amazed.
.xiy