Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-11-13
Aechancswn, Frederick County, Maryland Thursday NoV l3 1884,
Muley Driddle.
CHAPTER l.

girl that her father had Often wished
that she had never been born. Pecu.
liarities in boys, instead Of being la
mented, are thought to be evidence Of
genius, and are consequently commend
ed, but eccentricity in girl, brings
the red tinge of embarrassment to the
cheeks of her friends. Muley is rather
u strange name for girl. 1t was not
bestowed upon her because she had a
muley disposition, for she was named
before she exhibited any disposition at
all. The girl did not remember her
mother. She remembered her father,
though, and the old man remembered
her, for his course of lectures began when
she was very young, bidding fair to
continue until she was very old.
'What have you got thercT asked
old Driddle, one evening upon coming
home and finding his daughter in the
yard playing with something.
'Rattlesnake,' she replied.
What + exclaimed the old man, ap-
proachiug.
Yes; l caught him down by the
spring.
Let me kill the thing. I do think
you've got less sense than any girl |
ever saw. Look out, don't throw the
thing at me. Confound your picture
Why, it's made of cloth. | have the
first time to see you engaged in any
thing useful. Here you are, about
grown, spending your time in making
snakes. What do you mean, hah ?
She took up the rag reptile which
she had thrown at her father, and,
twisting it around her, gigsled and be-
gan to jump as though she were unable
to control her physical livcliness.
Come on in the house, said the old
man, leading the way. Light the lamp.
Hang it, must you be told every lit
tie thing? There, now, thatll do
What are you doing with that cat ?
lie scratched at me and l put my
| foot on the erd of his tail
If youd let him alone he wouldn' t
scratch you
Yes, he would, too. He's all the
time capering round me. Yonder,s
Mr.. Bly,.
Mr.. Bly, WAS circuit rider. He was
"a severe and pious preacher
Why, my dear SIR said old Driddle,
meeting the preacher at the door and
shaking his hand with the true visor
OF a warm welcome Walk right in
Mulcy, hand Il chair. thought it was
almost time you were getting around
again.
The expression of the young mans
face showed that he appreciated the
welcome extended him, but his manner
was not denonstrative. He was man
whom you would recognize as having
been a melancholy boy. He had strug-
gled to pay his way through college,
and, after graduating, instead Of begin
ming the study of law, an aim which
he had long cherished, he took up the
humble saddlebags of great faith ard
became circuit rider.
The girl went into the dining.room
to spread the evening cloth. The OLD
man, after talking of current events
and church members who were behind
in their accounts, assumed a serious
tone of voice and said:
Brother Bly,, l wish you would talk
to Mulcy. | have said everything |
can and yet see no improvement in
her.
She needs talking to- the minister
replied. 4 never saw such girl. If
you were mean man, it would seem
that she was imposed on you as ret
ribution; as it is, | don't know what
to think. Don't you suppose that You
neglected to punish her sufficiently
when she was child p
No, for l have punished her, some
times severely, bat it did no good. l
had hoped to see her develop in dig
ni6ed, religious woman, but such hopes
We're lorg ago crushed. She cares moth,
ing for books, except novels, and she
has no reverence for sacred matters.--
We'll, I'll go on out and feed the cat
tie. When she comes in wish you
would talk to her. though don't sup
pose it will do any good
When the girl entered the room, Mr..
BLY, said: 'Muley, come sit down here.
what for +
Never mind what for
She sat on the edge of chair, and
amused herself by tilting it backward
and forward.
'I[ow old are you, Muley?'
How DID are yon?'
tN-a-..r ,a; ! L. a.,, 81 ,,,, ,;r1