Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-06-14

going to keep the peacock Jane re-
ported; and Mrs. NOyes herself dropped
in to suggest that he could be killed and
stuffed
Hell be quite as decorative said
she, without disturbing the neigh
bors.''
Every two or three days a small ur-
chin would appear with the bird in tow.
and remark, demurely: "Your peacock
st:ayed over to Dickens, and I've
fetched him along home,' for which
civility sundry pieces of small change
would be discussed.
"And who are you?' she asked. when
the same youngster had performed the
same benevolent service some half-doZ-
en- times.
q? Oh, I'm Parson Miller's boy"
ellis son?''
"Why. yes uni reckon So
81 shall have to shut him up said
Miss Prue. His travelling expenses
will ruin me-.
BY this time the poor bird had lost
most of his fine tail-feathers in the pro-
cess of being run down by the Miller
brothers and their contemporaries, and
presented ragged appearance which
went to its owners heart. So he was
shut up in temporary pen till he should
learn better ways; but Miss Prudence,
going to look after him one afternoon,
found the two Millers inside the pen.
chasing him about to display his plum
age, while their little sister stood out
side and clapped her hands, and crowd
of other children stood peeping between
the Stats.
what are You doing, children?' she
cried.
"Oh, we've been reading about pea
cocks, and they need exercise vouch-
safed the eldest Miller.
1T seems to me that you need a
stick" said Miss Prue.
Fatherd dom approve of whipping
chirruped the youngest; ''do you, faith
cr?'
And Miss Prue lifted her eyes and
met those Of Rev. Austin Miller. which
wore 4 startled, perpleXed expression,
while the color palpitated across his
pale face.
MY children have annoyed YOU he
said, with the hcsitating tone which
begged to be gain-Said.
''They have only annoyed the pea
cock answered Miss Pruc, dropping
her gaze, and flushing rosy red in her
turn.
81 cam in search of these rogues, "
were in PINE mischief~ did not ex-
pect to fl you.''
"No, Ccourse not" said Miss Prnc,
in voice ,tudiously matter-of-fact
81 haze read somewhere Rev. Mr..
Miller pursued, THAT the only real
happiness which ever arrives to us,
springs up quite unexpectedly in our
path it is not the result Of search. !
dropped the thread of my sermon,
against my will. at 4 critical point to
pick up these little folks. | have my
reward
"You are very easily satisfied" re-
turned Miss Prue, in the same remote
voice. She was hardening her heart
against the persuasive tones which had
once been like the music of the spheres
to her.
mo. | am not easily satisfied |
have never been satisfied with myself
with some haSty actions of my own, |
should say. Miss Prudence. YOU have
never forgiven mc?' he spoke half
questioningly, as if he would fain be
cOntrad;ctcd.
Il never thought of it rs anything
to forgive she said and her voice
melted and broke a little in spite of
herself. at was so long ago 4 little
proudly, as if she would not let him
suppose that it siSniied. 81 see now
that fate or Providence was kinder to
us than believed. don't think | was
intended for n domestic life rs her
eyes fell rpon the three harum-scar,m
children in their torn frocks and mis-
chief-the children who might have
been her own, but for their mother 5
double-dcaling.
Austin Miller smiled little sadly rs
his glance followed hers.
"Thcy are tOrments to the neigh
bors, | fear he said; "but they are
all the comfort have holding hand
TO them. Come. children. make Your
bow to Miss Hldrcth, and tell her you
are sorry
''But we are not bit sorry said
little Amy. 1.-The peacock is SO bcauti-
full, we are glad we coined. We mean
to do it again
Truth is no longer at the bottom of
a well,n said Miss Prue, with a real
smile dim,ling her face as she said
goodbye.
If Deacon Bracket could have seen
the manuscript of Mr.. Miller's sermon
rs he reflected i'm his study that evening.
he would have supposed that the words,
Come az In. dear dream scrawled
on the m in, referred beyond a doubt
to the DIR of Jacob when he saw the
angels G pd ascending AMI descend
ing.
"Theln ere Miller bows be enough
TO drive vi to glory, an no mistake
declared .,>,,e. few weeks later. 81
wouldn't be their mothei-no, not if
you'd give EN- to me.
They re not mine to give said Miss
Prue. What have they done now?''
Done? They've gone and broke the
pea-hen's eggs. TO see the little pea
cocks. sure's You re alive. They cx-
pected to find EN- full-Hedged. long
tail and all. Amys gone home crying. >
"And where are the boys?''
"Mr. Miller, he's going to send them
to bed without their supper. and serve
'em right Their mothers Shirked all
the bother of EN-, sure enough.
without their supper-poor things'
cried Miss Prue. ''Why. il only three
o'clock of summers day. remem-
Der when used to be sent to bed by
daylight when was little and naughty,
and it always seemed to me n horrible
injustice. Jane. run over to the par
sonage, and tell Mr.. Miller he will do
me a favor if he will"