Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-02-06
OLD DAN.

II dELueT EGDUGTSOu COuI0 III lIOuu Iu0
barn one morning with his hands and
clothes wet and covered with mud, his
face red, and his eyes flashing.
Med J" he shouted, as he entered the
kitchen. "Where's Ned ?"
Here I ami" came cheery voice in
reply and an instant after, bright,
strong boy. of some sixteen years, en-.
tered the old fashioned county kitchen
from the adjoining woodshed, where he
had been cutting potatoes for the days
planting "Do you want anything?"
II want to tell you this" said Mr..
Hendeis son, as he washed himself at the
sink, and rubbed his weather beaten
face with the coarse towel until 1t was
even more red than before. "Old Dan
must be killed! Just see the state am
in and all from that worthless old
rascal! I 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 cried, running to him in astonish-
ment. ibid you fall into the creek ?''
II might as we'll" he replied. half
laughing. ".Old Dan butted me into the
watering trough!"
| There was shout of laughter from
both children, in which their mother
joined
"Well, Jedediah." said Mrs. Hender.
son. 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, "he
took me unaware. j had just filled one
pail to carry to the barn, and was stoop-
| ing to dip the other, when the old rascal
came at me like the wind, and knocked
me completely into th. water. He
scampered, 1 tell you. before could ge
out. He knew he had done mischief.
Anyhow, he's got to be killed to- day,
sure. He's only nuisance, and 1 will
shoot him to- night when we come back
from town, if he's on the FARM"
Two honrs later Mr.. and Mrs. Hem
home until night AS they ratified out
close to the gate, and wagging his tail
as if in derislon, gave ntterance to q
hoarse "Baa !"
The farmer turned, shook his whip
at the fellow, and cried, "This Is your
last day, my old boy! make the most of
it!"
Ned and Carrie were the only children
Leaving Carrie at the house alone, after
considering for awhile whether there
was any way of avertiDg Old Dams sad
fate, Ned shouldered his hoe and march
ed off to his work, planting potatoes
with Bronson, the hired man, in the
"back lot" F"
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 fed. The dishes stood in
shining rows upon the pantry shelves,
the broom bad performed its WORK, and
Carrie was preparing the vegetables to
be boiled, when there came a faint
knock at the door. Supposipg it to be
one of the neighbors, the little girl did
not rise but called:
Come in!"
"The door was slowly opened and q
man stepped within.
He wore long black coat, buttoned
to his chin, and very threadbare. His
trousers, too, were very black and shiny
and much too short for him. On one
foot was boot, while the other was
graced by ragged shoe. He carried a
battered silk hat in one hand. His face
was long and solemn. but quite red, his
eyes bleared, his hands very dirty, and
altogether he was queer looking vis-
itor
"Is your ma at h. me, miss ?" said he,
in a half-whine, as he glanced sharply
about the room.
mo, cir, replied Carrie, wondering
why he asked ''she has gone to Under
hill Did you wish to see her?"
"Oh, no." the man replied. "I only