The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-10-07
VI. SEGUIN'S GOAT.
The Fate Of One Who Wanted to
Be Free.

What! You are offered the place OF
-chronicler in good newspaper in
Paris, and You have the face to refuse.
But only look at yourself, you unfor-
tunate fellow. Look at your torn doub,
let and dilapidated hose, at your thin
face that cries famine. And yet that is
what your passion for rhyming has
brought you to. That is what you have
gained by ten years of loyal service as
page to my Lord Apollo. Are you not
ashamed?
Take the place of chronicler, fool;
take the place of chronicler. Earn
your five rose mobiles, and you can dine
at Brebant's, and show yourself on first
nights with 4 new feather in your cap.
No? You will not? You mean to
keep your freedom till the end. Very
well, listen to the story of Monsieur
Seguin's goat You Will see what one
gets by wanting to be free.
Monsieur Seguin had never had any
luck with his goats. He lost them all
in the same way; one day they would
break their cord and escape up into the
mountain and there be eaten by the
wolf. Nothing could keep them, neither
their masters caresses nor their fear of
the wolf. 1t seemed they were indie
pendent goats, determined to have
their liberty and live in the open air at
any price.
Poor NJ. Seguin, who could not at all
understand the character of his goats.
was in CONSERVATION. "The fact is, $"
said he, 1.-the goats are bored here.
shall never be able TO keep one"
However, he would not be discour-
aged, and after having lost six goats in
the same way he bought a seventh;
only this time he took care to buy a
very young one, so that she might get
used to living with him.
All! Gringoire, she was beauty,
NJ. Seguin'S little goat! She was a
beauty, with her soft eyes, and her
beard like a young officers, with her
shining black hoOfs, and striped horns,
and the long white hair of her coat;
she was almost as charming as ESmer-
aida S goat, you remember, GringOire?
She was gentle, too. and caressing, and
let herself be MIXED without stirring,
or putting her foot in the milk-pail; a
love of little goat.
nj. Seguin had a field hedged with
hawthorn behind his house. And there
he put his new guest. He fastened her
to a stake in the prettiest part of the
field, and took care to give her very
long cord, and from time to time he
came to see if she was comfortable
there. The goat considered herself
very lucky, and brOwsed on the grass
with so much pleasure that NJ. Seguin
was delighted. AT last" thought
the poor man, Il have found one who
will not grow weary with me-"
M. Seguin was mistaken, his goat did
weary, like the rest.
One day she looked up at the mount
ain and said to herself:
''How nice it must be up there! How
pleasant to gambol about in the heath
er without a tiresome tether to tear
the skin off ones neck. 1t is all very
well for a donkey or a cow to browse
in field. But goats were made to
live in the open"
And from that moment the grass in
the field seemed tastelcss to her She
was bored. She began TO grow thin
and to lose her milk. 1t was sad to SEQ
her pull against her tether all day long,
with her head turned toward the
mountain, smiling and crying sadly:
''Mem NJ. Seguin saw that something
was the matter with his goat, but he
did not know what One morning. as
ne finished milking her, the goat turned
to him and said in her language:
Listen to me, NJ. Seguin, am bored
to death here. Let me 60 into the
mountain"
"Ah! me! She tool" cried NJ. Seguin
aghast, and dropped his milk-pail; then
he sat down in the grass by the side of
his goat.
And so, Blanquette, you want to
leave me?"
Blanquette answered:
''Ycs, Nj. Seguin.''
Haven't you grass enough here?"
40. yes, NJ. Seguin."
perhaps your cord is too short, shall
/ give you 4 longer one?"
at is not worth while, Monsieur Sc
gum"
well, what is the matter with you?
What do YOU want?"
Il want 10 90 into the mountain,
Monsieur SegUin.
but, foolish creature, YOU do not
know that there is wolf in the mount
ain. Whit woald you do if you met
him?"
Il would fight him with my horns,
Monsieur Seguin."
1.-The wolf would laugh at your
horns. He has devoured goats that
had very different horns from yours.
You remember old Renaude who was
here lSst year? She was goat, as
strong and as violent as n hegoat. She
fought with the wolf for whole night.
and in the morning the wolf devoured
her."
''Pecairei Poor Renaudei But that
makes no difference. Monsieur Seguin;
let me go up the mountain"
My goodness said NJ. Seguin.
''What can possess my goats? Here is
another for the wolf to eat. But l
won't have it. will save you in spite
of yourself, little jade, and for fear YOU
should break your cord, L shall shut
you up in the stable, and there you
shall stay"
And thereupon NJ. Segnin carried the
goat into a dark stable, and shut the
door and locked it. Unfortunately he
forgot the windows, and as soon as his
back was turned the little goat made
her escape.