The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-05

a major general.
Then he, with an air of great dig.
nifty and GOODNESS, began TO examine
my baggage.
Among my effects were several
pounds of chocolate caramels, done
up in brown paper. Aunt Targeed
liked chocolate caramels and 1 had
brought her a good supply.
He tore off the wrappers quickly.
Bit one. 1t was good. He began
to distribute the bon-bons among
the geese, and they, with much lib
erality and good will, among the
goslings.
This was too much. | ventured
through the gate swinging my cord
wood stick.
'Shoop
He dropped his head on the
ground, and drove it down the walk
in lively waddle toward me.
Shoot
1t was Aunt Targood's voice at the
door.
He stopped Immediately.
His head was in the air again.
Shoe J
Out came Aunt Targood with her
broom.
She always corrected the gander
with the booam. If | were to be
whipped | should choose broom
not the stick.
As soon as he beheld the broom
he retired, although with much Of
Tended pride and dignity, to the lilac
bushes, and the geese and goslings
followed him.
Hester, you dear child, come
here. | was expecting you, and had
been looking out for you, but missed
sight of you. l had forgotten all
about the gander.'
We gathered up the bundles and
the caramels. | was light hearted
again.
How cool was the sitting room,
with the woodbine falling about the
open windows. Aunt brought me
pitcher of milk and some straw
herries, some bread and honey, and
fan.
While | was resting and taking
my lunch, | could hear the gander
discussing the affairs of the farm
ward with the geese. did not great
| ly enjoy the discussion. His tone of
voice was very proud, and he did
not seem to be speaking well Of me.
was suspicious that he did not
think me a very brave girl. A young
person likes to he spoken well of,
even by the gander.
Aunt Targood's gander had been
the terror of many well meaning
people, and of some evil dOers, for
many Yeas. | have seen tramps
and pack peddlers enter the gate and
start on toward the door, when there
would sound that ringing warning
like war blast, 'honk honk Y and
in few minutes these unwelcome
people would be gone. Farmhouse
boarders from the city would some
times enter the yard, thinking to
draw water by the old well sweep !;
in few minutes it was customary
to hear shrieks, and to see women
and children flying over the walls,
followed by air rending 'honks, and
! jubilant cackles from the victorious
gander and his admiring family.
Aunt Targood sometimes took
summer boarders. Among those
that | remember was Rev. Mr. Bon
ney, a fervent souled Methodist
preacher. He put the gander to
flight with the cart whip, on the
second day after his arrival. and
seemingly to Aunt's great grief; but
he never was troubled by the feath-
cred tyrant again.
Young couples sometimes came to
Father Bonney to be married, and,
one summer afternoon, there rode up
to the gate a very young couple,
whom we afterwards learned "had
run away" or rather, had attempted
to get married without their parents
approval. The young bridegroom
hitched the horse, and helped from
the carriage the gayly dressed miss
he expected to make his wife. They
started up the walk upon the run, as
though they expected to be followed
aud haste was necessary to prevent
the failure of their plans.
'Honk y
They stopped. 1t was voice of
authority.
Just look at him = said the bride.
oh ! ohr
The bridegroom cried 'Shoo,' but
he might as well have said 'shoo' to
a steam engine.
On came the gander, with his
head and neck upon the ground. He
seized the lad by the calf of his leg,
and made an immediate application
of lis wings. The latter seemed to
think he had been attacked by
dragons. As soon as he could
shake him off he ran. So did the
bride, but in another direction and
while the two were thus perplexed
and discounted, the brides father
appeared in a carriage, and gave her
a most forciblc invitation to ride
home with him. She accepted it
without discussion. What became
of the bridegroom, or how the matter
ended, we never knew.
Aunt, what makes you keep that
gander, year after year?' said |, one
evening, as We were sitting on the
lawn before the door. is it because
he is kind of watch dog, and keeps
troublesome people away?
No, child, no; l do not wish to
keep most people away, not well be-
haved people, nor to distress or an
noy anyone. The fact is, there is a |
story about that gander that l do not !
like to speak otto everyone-some-
thing that makes me feel tender to-
ward him SO that if he needs a
whipping, | would rather do it. He
knows something that no one else
knows. ! could not have him killed !
or sent away. You have heard me
speak of Nathaniel, my oldest boy II?
Yes
That is his picture in my room,
Won Lnou He uas uood how tn |