The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-02-06
Mounting Moses
BY PENN SHIRLEY.

Five yellow-haired little Kittredges
leaned over the door-yard fence, turning
their freckled faces toward the east like
q row Of sunflowers IN the morning.
"Stage's a.comin' stago's a.comin' !"
they stouted presently, in shrill chorus
that brought father and mother to the
door. Ill
A muddy, splintered, disreputable-
looking coach it was which drew up 4
moment later at the gate, it's nigh horse
bruised on the right fore-foot, its OIL
horse famed in the knee.
Had smash-up, Obed2 Anybody
hurtP" cried MIR. Kittredgc, rushing
out without his hat
"Critters SHE'D on Wharfs Hill At one
of them pesky whizzin' bicycles" an
swered the driver, limping down to open
tho coach door. clipped the whole
concern whopside up. Your sister went
sprawlin'."
eyes, Ephraim; and tho wheel crushed
Moses" cried the lady in question,
graphing with her bundles.
"Now now Sorry for TINT. But
I'm thankful you amt killed yourself.
Glad to SEQ you, Lovantia."
Extending his palm in cordial greet
ing, Mr.. Nttredgo received, instead Of
IN answering hand-clasp, tho handle OF
q carpet-bag. Not that his sister was
either cold-hearted or chary of showing
her affection. Far from it. She was
simply n woman who could attend to
but one thing at time, and tho bust
ness Of the moment was to alight In
o snuff brown cashmere dappled with
clay, with her Paisley pinned askew. aud
her bonnet crushed into nm aggressive
poke, she presented 30 striking an mp
pearance that the little animate sun
flowers nearly twisted their heads of
in watching her movements. She de-
posted her big basket upon the door
step, drew from her glove her stage
fare, paid the driver, saw her trunk
safely landed in the hall, and then, and
not till then, did she greet her waiting
kinsfolk.
'Poor old Moses / thought he and
the children wonld have fine times to.
gether |" sighed she, pausing from an
exhaustive hugging Of the last and
least Kittrodge to lit the unfortunate
puss ont Of the basket. "Well, its no
use crying. He couldn't have listed
much longer anyway. He'd lost his
appetite and half Of his teeth; lived
mostly on milk porridge."
"EIow much father set by him |" re-
marked Mr.. Kittredge, retrospcctivcly,
strolsing the animals silky black fur.
"Good old kitty. We d orter take you
over to Blodgett's and have you stuffed"
"Does the man understand his trade?
Then I'll take him." cried Miss Lovan-
tin, with characteristic ambiguity Of pro-
nouns. "lt's silly, ] suppose, and
needless expense; but seeing we've had
Moses fourteen years, and no seems like
part Of father, | cant bear to bury him. "
'I'm going to the blacksmith's after
dinner. III drive yon and Susan over to
Blodgett's il you like" said Mr.. Kit
tredge, shouldering the trunk, "Now
make yourself Mt home, Lovantia. ]
hope you'll be contented"
But in the afternoon fate in the griso
OF caller detained Mrs. Kittredge, and
Miss Lovantia went alone with her
brother.
Never mind; you'll get on well
enough" said Mr.. Kittredge, consolr
ingly, rs they stopped at the taxider-.
mist's. ~ only thought it would he
pleasanter for You to have Susan along.
Blodgett is used TO her voice. He's deaf
as haddock."
81 can make him hear; amt con,
cerned about that" replied his sister,
warrantably proud of her ample lungs,
"Td introduce you, but the colt won't
stand in fy-time. No use to knock.
Walk right in"
Miss Lovantia obeyed, 10 find herself
in box of an entry with a room on
either side. Uncertain which door 10
open, she. natural v chose tho wrong
one, aud stepped into Mr.. Blodgetts
private parIor-a severe apartment so
powdered with dust that she might have
written bachelor" over II. Its most
prominent articles OF furniture were
andsome old-fashioned cabinet filed
nth chronological specimens, and II
Mahogany centre table bearing micro
cope, a few dead beetles and butterflies,
nd several-books of natural history
liter basty survey Mas Lovantia re.
reated precipitately, and opening the
loor on the left, advanced into the shop.
where stood the taxidermist mounting n
gray owl. He was cheerful.faced man Z
with pink complexion, and great deal |
Of flowing to the badness that extended
rom forehead TO. crown. Indeed. but
ior scanty valance OF hair at the name
o. the neck, his head was as smooth as
"Good-aiternoon, sir" began Miss
Lovantia, with ali energy that might al. I
most have set this valance waving.
Tho gentleman hailed fitted glass
We into its socket, and deliberately
moothed ruflled feather.
"Good-afternoon," reiterated Miss
'oyantia, even more Justify than before.
The unconscious taxidermist adjusted
le second eye, holding the bird at arms.
ngth to mark the effect. '.'I iH
"How this brings father before me I" 3
ought Miss Lovantia, her lips hover 4
; over the tube like bees about morn n