Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-12
NO. T..

The white goat, half intoxicated feet in
the air, rolled about the long slope pell NELL,
with the fallen leaves aud the chestuuts. Re-
gaining her feet with a sudden bound hop
There, she goes, head erect through the
thicket, now scaling a peak, nov IN the
depths Of a ravine-high, low, everywhere.
There appeared to be at least ten Blsnquets
on the mountain.
Banquet. perfectly fearless, splashed and
drenched with the foamy spray of waterfalls
over which she leaped, stretched herself upoa
an overhanglng rock to dry in the sun. Far
below in th4 valley she perceived NJ. Seguin's
house and field, at which, her mouth full of
cytise, she laughed until she wept.
GLOW small it is p she cried "how did
ever endure II"
Poor little creature, perched so high she
imagined herself at least as big as the world.
To sum it up, this was happy day for M.
Seguins goat Toward noon, running right
aud left, she encountered troop Of chamois,
crunching wild grape vine with their beau
ifu teeth. Our little white. robed truant Gre
ated a sensation. She was accorded the best
place at the line, and all the mes4eurs were
very gallant. 1t even seemed, be-
tween ourselves, Grngoire, that black
haired young chamos was so fortunate as to
please Blanquet. The two lovers wandered
among the woods an hour or two, aud IL you
wish to know what they said to each other,
ask it of the babbing springs which glide in
visible through the moss.
All at once the wind freshened The
mountain became purple. Night had ar
rived.
ALREADY ?" exclaimed the little goat, paus-
ing in astonishment
mist settled down upon the landscape,
obscuring not only NJ. Seguins inclosure, but
also his little house, from whose chimney a
faint smoke was hardly perceptible
Banquet, trembling a. falcon in his flight
grazed her with his wing, harkened sadly to
the bells Of homeward bound flock. Sud
denly there was long howl on the noun
tain.
How howl"
She thought of the wolf for the first time
that day.
At the same moment a horn sounded far
away in the valley. Good NJ. Seguin was
making last effort to save her.
How howl" howled the wolf.
"Come back come back !" the horn SEEM
ed to say.
Blanquet thought of returning, but how
could she leave the dear mountain for the
stake, the strap, the hated enclosure
The horn sounded no more. The goat
heard rustling of leaves close behind her.
Turning. she beheld in the shadow two short,
erect ears two glIttering, fiery eyes.
This was the wolf.
Enormous, immovable, obstructing her
homeward path, in anticipation the wolf al
ready devoured the little white goat. Secure
of his prey, be did not press her. but when
she faced about as if to return he laughed
wickedly, "HA hs ! NJ. SeRuin's little white
goat !" smacking bis lips, and licking them
with his great red tongue.
Banquet felt herself lost. Remembering
the history of old Renaude, who fought all
night only to be devoured in the morning,
she thought it might perhaps be better to al
low herself to be eaten Immediately but,
changing her mind, she threw herself on
guard, her head lowered, her horns to the
foe like a brave little goat that she was,
not that she hoped to kill the wolf
goats do not kill wolves, but only to see if
she could hold out as long as Rensude. Then
the monster advanced, and the little horns
began their dance.
All, the brave little goat How courage
ously she went at it. More than ten times,
Gringoire she forced the wolf to recoi and
take breath During these momentary truces
the gourmand hastily gathered one more
sprig of her precious grass, returning to the
combat with her mouth full. This
lasted all night. From time to time Blan-
quet looked At the stars sparkling in the clear
sky aud thought:
''Oh, if l could but hold out until day
break :"
One by one the stars disappeared. Blan-
quet redoubled her blows with the horns, the
wolf the blows with the teeth. A
pale light appeared on the horizon.
The hoarse crow of cock assembled from
neiRhborng farm.
"At last, D." said the poor beast, who waited
only for day that she might die and she
stretched herself upon the earth, her beauti-
al ito fur oil ufa NTH blOnd
Then the wolf threw himself upon the lit
tie white goat and devoured her.
Adieu, Gringore.
The story you have heard is not tale Of
my invention. If you ever visit Provence,
our farmers will often tell you of NJ. Seguin's
goat which fought the wolf all night and in
the morning the wolf ate her.
Do you understand, Gringoire ?
In the morning this wolf ate her"