Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-01-12
OLD DAN.

Farmer Henderson came in from the
barn one morning with his hands and
clothes wet and covered with mud, his
face red, and his eyes flashing.
"Ned!" he shouted, as he entered the
kitchen. "Where's Ned?"
Here I am'' came CHEEKY voice in re-
ply; and an instant after, bright, strong
boy, of some sixteen years, entered the old
fashioned country kitchen from the ad-
! joining woodshed, where he had been cut
ting potatoes for the days planting. DO
you want anythlng?''
II want to tell you this said Mr.. Hen
derson, as he washed himself at the sink,
and rubbed his weather-beaten face with
the coarse towel until it was even more
red than before. ''OId Dan must be killed
just see the state [ am in, and all from
that worthless old rascal! [ won't have
him about the house another day. He's
good for nothing but to make trouble, and
he must be shot before night!'' added the
farmer, Wrathfully."
Ned was about to plead for his pet, when
his little sister came into the room.
"Why, papa, what is the matter?" she
ibid you fall into the CT eek?"
Il might as well.' he replied, half
laughing. s'Old Dan Quilted me into the
J watering trough"
There was shout of laughter from both
children. in which their mother Joined.
"Well, Jedediah,' said Mrs. Henderson
coming into the kitchen, and still shaking
with mirth, "what could you have been
| thinking about to let an old ram most
twenty years old, knock you into the
watering trough?'
'But," explained her husband, she took
me unawarss. had just filled one pail
to carry to the barn, and was STOPPING to
dip the other, when the old rascal came at
me like the wind, and knocked me com.
pletely into the water! He scampered, I
tell you, before could get out. He knew
he had done mischief. Anyhow, he's got
to be killed to-day, sure. He's only nu-
isance, and I III shoot him tonight, when
we come back from town, if he's on the
farm!'
Two hours later, Mr.. and Mrs. Hender-
son drove away to be absent from home
until night. AS they ratified out of the
yard, Old Dan suddenly appeared close to
the gate, and wagging his tail as if in de-
rision, gave utterance to hoarse 'Baa-a!'
The farmer turned, shook his whip at
the fellow, and cried, "This is your last
day. my boy! make the m ost of i'll"
Ned and Carrie were the only children.
Leaving Carrie in the house alone, after
they had considered for awhile whether
there was any way of averting Old Dams
sad fate, Ned shouldered his hoe and
marched off to his work, planting potatoes
with Bronson, the hired man, in the
''back lot.''
But the little girl Of thirteen had no
thought of being afraid. She had the
breakfast dishes to wash. some sweeping
to do, and the dinner to get, all before
twelve O'Clock.
Time fled. The dishes stood in shining
rows upon the pantry shelves, the broom
had performed its work, and Carrie was
preparing the vegetables to be boiled, when
| there came faint knock at the door, Sup
posing it to be one of the neighbors, the
little girl did not rise, but called
Come imp
| The door was slowly opened. and man
stepped within.
| He wore long black coat, battoned
| to his chin, and very threadbare. His
trousers, too, we're black and shiny, and
| much too short for him. On one foot was
boot. while she other was graced by a
ragged shoe. He carried battered silk
hat in his hand. His face was long and
solemn, but quite red, his eyes bleared,
his hands very dirty, and altogether he
was a queer looking visitor.
! sIs your ma at home, miss?" said he, in
half-whine, as he glanced sharply about
the room.
mo, SIR" replied Carrie, wondering
| why he asked; ''she has gone to Underhill.
Did you wish to see her?''
sch, no. the man replied. IT only
asked out of pollteness. you know,'' and
he smiled solemnly at the little girl, and
winked one eye. mo, I came on business
with your pa,-particular, urgent bust
ness. S'pose he's round, is he not?"
s.No, sir: he went to town with moth
err" said Carrie.
'sNow that's too bad?" exclaimed the
visitor, as he seated himself; ''and I've
come so far to see him! But perhaps your
brother or sister would do as well!''
81 haven't any sister, said the little
hostess, laughing, land my brothers over
in the back lot. He'll be in by-and-by,
though if he'll do.''
ssWsll don't hardly believe he will
after all, )" said the man, shaking his head
tnoughtfully; land can't wait to-day
anyway haint the time. But Pm terri
hin hungry IL I could I'd stau To dinnar