Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18
The Lost OK.

Nnere in tunket was the OK 1hls was
the conundrum which'confronted Mr. David
Mehan of Jay, Orleans county, the other
morning. as he stood in the frosty barn,
with his breath mounting up in feecy
cloud of vapor to the low cobwebbed rafters
Tbe OK was not there. The OK had Ger
tainly been there the night previously. The
door had been securely shut The door was
shut when Mr.. Mehan came to the barn.
But one inference was possible. The OK
had been stolen
Mr.. Mehan rushed back into the house,
with yell that would have made the Seven
Sleepers yearn for boot jack His wife
came rushing down stairs without her store
hair oD , the children, widely awakened, set
up chorus of terrified screams; the hired
man turned over in his sleep, and the cat
flew up the stove-pipe, and perched, with
arched back, on the elbow.
"The oxl" cried bIr. Mehan. Some
body has stolen the fatted beeve !"
Then there was great lamentaton in the
Mehan family, for Boston beef-packer had
contracted for the stall-fed Mchan OK, and
that very day 1t was TO have been inundated
upon the altar of Mammon, together with q
couple of skinny old cowsfor the meat dealer
of the neighboring town.
Then the hired man came down, rubbing
his eyes, and Mr.. Mehan pleasantly instruct
ed HIM to take Shank's marc and hoof 1t tn
stanter to the village making inquiries, and in
forming everyone of the theft, upon the way,
while he-Mr. Mehan-would take the horse
and drive in the opposite direction, upon the
same errand.
SO they separated. And after much trav-
Cling to and fro and great tribulation, the
hired man returned, and begged Mrs. Mehan
to give him bite of breakfast. Presently,
also, returned MIR. Mehan, upon like er-
rand. So they replenished their exhausted
systems, and ceunselled together.
Suppose we go out and look in the barn
again" suggested the hired man. So the
two worthless rose from the table, and rushed
out to the barn.
'Hark !" exclaimed Mr.. Mehap, catching
the hired man by the arm.
B0O0- 90 from the barn.
'1ll be hanged if it amt the OK" ex-
claimed the hired man. Then they both
made dash for the door, and the hired man
scraped all the skin from his nose and Mr..
so that he saw stars. But the OK was not
there.
Il heard him. said MI Mehan, excited
ly, rubbing his scalp.
$50 did | ~ cried the hired man. trying tc
look cross-eyed down al his nose, to see how
much of it was left.
"Well, where is hc?" demanded Mr.
Mehan.
Echo-no the hired man - answered
"Where ?"
BsoO-ooi
"Well, I'll he blamed if he amt iu thu
barn somewhefe!' screamed Mr.. Mehan
tearing around like mau at a fire.
"He is he is" whooped the hired man
dashing in aud out among the stalls, ano
looking into all tie hens nests, and even tht
hole where the black Cat had her last brood
of kittens.
"Hooray" came family from Mr.. Mehan
The hired man looked up, and saw th,
lower part of his employers legs OF
the stairs that led up into th
hay-loft, but the rest of that gentleman
body was out Of sight. Then appeared Mr.
Mehan's face, shining with wonderment ant
delight
81 swanuy, Bill, he's up here ~
Then Mr.. Mehan came down, and slapped
the hired man on the back, and the hre(
man slapped his own sides, and the two dis
coverers danced around and haw-hawet
like couple of lunatics.
AS if an OK never climbed flight OF stairs
Why, stranger things have happened With
the memory OF man.
But we have not heard that Mr.. Meha
and the hired man laughed while they wer
getting the OK down again.