The Brookhaven leader., 1883-08-16
THE SQUlRE'S FUN.


Squire Doolittlc was farmer. fat
and Jolly, who liked fun, but always
preferred it ut some one else's ex-
pense.
If he could play trick upon one of
his sons, he enjoyed it hugely. As a
consequence. the boys did not reverence
him very much, and were always try
ing some practical joke upon their
father. Sometimes they succeeded, but
not often.
"Im too old fish to be caught by
the pn-hooks of boys he would say,
when some plan of theirs had miScar-
rjrd and the joke was turned upon
themselves, much to his delight and
their chagrin. you've heard of
wcascls, haven't you? Yes? Well.
wcascls, especially old weasels, never
sleep.
We must Get laugh against him in
some way" said Tom. "He's too pro-
yoking. I'd give dollar to trick him
in such a way that he wouldn't like to
hear about it,.
$50 would l." sad John.
And Id make il two," said Robert
But we're hardly sharp enough,
iilft the tTOubIp.
Il happened that the Squire was in
the haymow in the barn when this con
verSation took place, and the boys
were sitting on some boxes on the barn
floor.
He chucklcd as he listened, and mo-
ment later called out from his lofty
perch: I'm tell you what II do, boys.
When you get good joke on me, I'll
buy each one of YOU hat"
The boys looked foolish. But finally.
because they had nothing else to say,
they accepted the challenge, and in
half-heartcd sort of way set their wits
to work to earn the hats.
In the squire's flock of sheep was an
old ram called David. The animal had
a chronic spite against the whole human
family, and never lost an opportunity of
exhibiting it to any individual of the
family that crossed his path. If a
stranger entered the yard or pasture
where David was, the poor man was
fortunate if he was not knocked down
as suddenly as if he had been struck by
lightning. The ram always attacked
from the rear. He would get behind
the object of his attack, curb his neck,
shut his eyes, and charge! As may be
imagined, the great horns of the ami
NAL, bocked up by the momentum
gathered by his charge, gave anything
but Il pleasant sensation when they
came in contact with the legs of his un-
suSpecting victim. Generally a board
was strapped to his horns, over his
Woolly face. to obstruct his range of
vision and serve as a warning to strang-
crs of his warlike propensities. But he
often cOntrived to tear it from his head
and then alas for his unsuspecting
victim.
The boys enjoyed many an hour OF
fun with David, The sheep pasture
came up to the barn-yard on one side,
and creek ran along by both. Where
the pasture came to the creek there was
very high bank, and this bank was
steep. The Doolittle boys used to get
upon a narrow rock that was Just under
the edge of the bank. Here, when they
stood up, all of their bodies above the
waist could be seen above the level of the
paSur Placing themselves in this posi-
tlon they would attract the attention of
Old David by calling and shaking their
hats at him. He was always ready for
battle. With lowered head, cnrbed
neck and n snort of anger, he would
rush at them with his eyes closed. TAX
ing advantage of this popularity, the
boys would drop down behind the bank,
and David would 90 over them and into
the water with plunge that would have
done credit to q Newfoundland dog.
Then he could get back to the shore,
looking wrathful and sleepish; but he
could not be induced to renew the attack
again at that time.
His memory, however, was poor, or
his pugnacity was too strong for his dis
cretion, for in an hour, if the boys came
back and showed themselves above the
bank, he was ready for another charge.
Perhaps the foolish animal thought that
some time he would be too quick for
them.
The squire had often watched this
sport, and laughed at David's reckless
ness and at his appearance as he
plunged into the water and cane forth
with wet wool and disgusted and wrath
ful aspect.
One day the squire was in the barn
yard sailing the cows. He had half
bIshel measure in his hand, and as he
looked over the fence into the sheep
pasture, and saw David watching him,
he held up the measure and shook it at
the old fellow.
David gave a snort of defiance, and
began TO curb his neck and shake his
head, as if challenging the squire to
combat