The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-12-09
A Frorniscuous Encounter.
BY srANrLKY HusrLEY.

"My dear" sail Mrs. 5poopendyke
lanciug nervously out of the window I
nd then iimialy at her husband, "my
ear, wonder how that goat got into
ur ward ?"
"What gostY" asked Mr.. Sroopen
yke, looking up from his breskfsst.
.Wby, the goat that's out there"
"01!" grosped Mr.. Spoopendyke. sp-
the window. "You mean
hat one, do your Tue principles that
regulate your conversation be-
raved me into thinking that your mind
night be fixed on some other goat. As
or him. suppose hsMeks ishrossh the
ence from the back lot--or, continued
Mr.. Spoopendyke, hastily, correcting
himself, "perhaps he came to call on you.
Better ask him in."
"l'm afraid OF him." peeped Mrs.
spoopendyke. drawing closer TO her
husband. "What do you think we had
better do1 II he stays out there he'll
eat up everything
81 believe Ill 60 and drive bin out"
said Mr. Spoopendyke, eyeiDg the brute
with no particular amospt of favor.
You come along TO head him of, and
you'll soon see goat begin TO wish be
had been born girl that some one might
learn to love him." Aud with this prog
nostica'ion Mr.. Spoopeudyke sailed
forth followed bv bis wife.
"Be CAREFUL" she whispered. "When
goats get angry they butt, and that
hurts."
"ShooT commenced Mr.. Spoopen.
dyke, waving bis hands and follosing
the goat to hole in the fence, where
q couple of boards bad been Knocked
out. "Saoo there now' Ski! Hold on !
Head biu,can tye2 Turn him! Whoop!
be roared, as the goat whirled suddenly
and. dashed to the other end of the yard
"Whst'd We come out here forf" he de-
manded OF his vile. who had made .
little better time than the goat, and had
reached the top Of step ladder.
Don't let him come up here" she
Stamping her feet on the top
step, and trying 10 climb up the siie OF
the house. Hold ON TO him and call q
policeman
Great scheme! growled Mr.. Spoop.
endyke. looking around for stick
Bat haven't made up nv mind wheth-
er to call the policeman, or do the hold.
lag on FIRST. What're We making stucco.
work OF Yourself up there for2 Come
down, and get behind that goat, will ye,
while teach him the ways and admo-
milton OF Spoopendyke. II You ain'i
mighty careful he'll rub up against thai
step-ladder aud you're liable to come
down 10 sections!'
This prophecy brought Mrs. Spoop.
endyke to the ground without much de
Law.
Say, DEAR she suggested. .suppose
you should 60 to the other side OF the
hole. and call him. Don't you think
he'd Gomez
Gone in minute, II ! happened TO
bit bis ri Iht usme, retoried Mr.. Scoop.
endyke, who had found stick and was
for war. Nov. you edge
around behind him, so as to give him q
starter, and I'll put my self In commu-
nication with him as soon as be gets un-
der way
Go along dear. Run through thst
pretty little hole In the fence, like good
goatr fsltered Mrs. Spoopendyge. apos
Irophizug the animal 10 purely femi.
nine fashion. 'Shoo, dear, now, and be
real nice.'
The goat looked at her. thereby freez-
ing her blood, and started slowly for the
bottom OF the yard.
Yes. lover ripped Mr.. Spoopendyke,
bringing bis stick down on The back of
The beast with vindictive grin. 'There's
3 nice little opening for goats that's
q val log for thee! and down came the
stick ouce more
sWbe.e e!' squealed Mrs. Spoopen.
dyke, as the goat whirled around like q
turn-tsble. and faced all the points Of
the compass at once. He must he look.
ing for the place to get out, isn't he :
w hat do you suppose makes nim act
that wsyl Whe.e-e-ef
The last yell was extracted by sud
den strengthening up OF the goat, who
tore around the yard like cat in fit.
With that headway on, he'll be apt to
go through the hole In the fence II be
ever hits It. observed Mr.. Spoopendyke,
who bad joined his wife in the middle OF
The circuit rather precipitously Il think
I must have struck him q little harder
than be meant 10 have me. Now, you
get behind him again, and we'll Ok him
so that the next time he sees a hole in
our fence he'll get hammer and board
up the temptation
Mrs Spoopepdyke eeled along the
'ence, and took her station with consid
erable perturbation. The goat came
iown on trot. and finally stopped and
looked tritia bewildered Mr. Spoop-
sndyke grasped his slick with . frmer
grip, and, 6guratiyely speakloe, waited
Tor his wife to deliver the ball.
Now start him. sail he.
Mrs. Spoopendyke waved her apron,
md the goat aiming straight at the hoe
q the fence bore down upon 1t with three
hundred goat power. Mr.. Spoopendyke
,imed lick at him, missed bin, and
vent tumaltuously through the hole az
he goat struck the fence and bounded
back.
Great Gracious! calculated Mrs.
,poopendvke, swarming up the step lad
Ter an 1 sqnattlng at the top. Are you
,urt. dear Y
"Hurtr howled Mr.. Spoopendyke.
oeeping through the hole and contem'
plating bis wife with q savage glare
think Tm nail to 60 through board
'ence and be clinched without feeling it 7
Can't you scare that goat away from this
hole so can come hack snd commune
With him once moref Come down of
that dod-gasted step ladder cant yea
Got notion tha. measly goat is coming
up here to be scartdf Come down and
throw brick at him, will ye 2"
II haven't got BRICK" murmured
Mrs, Spoopendyke as she scuttled down
the ladder, shut I'll get fat iroE," and