The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-17
wild here; it is briar; perhaps we can


fence, AL cried in amazement: "Whercs
the barn?" And sure as am telling it,
that vicious little mule had kicked it
down.
1t was what they call "Kansas barn,
made of poles, with straw roof, tied
down to keep it from blowing off, and
the beast was eating the roof. When
Conrad went up to sec about it, he was
sent flying heels over head and l laughed
he never forgave me, either.
1t rained that afternoon, and we
helped Clissy cut carpet-rags for a
kitchen carpet. We were afraid to go
down cellar on account of the enormous
rats, so we stood in the stairway and
passed milk and meat to and from the
invincible Conrad. He set three gaping
steel traps, and we retired the second
night in the blissful fancy that the rats
would soon be vanauished. Toward
morning we were awakened by an odor
that would have made those stenches of
the p!ague-slricken Egyptians seem as
perfume by contrast. Poor Clissy sat
up and gasped. AL began to cry, as
usual, and I wished that I were a man
long enough to swear.
1t would be two hours before Conrad
came to investigate, and we should all
die in that time I knew.
What could it be? Several things
were suggested, but the solution was
not satisfactory until Al sprang up from
her cot 1--WE ouly had one bed) and
screamed: "Oh, l know; it's naturel
gas. Your bored well has struck it. We
Shall light the town and make our for
tunes Hurrah for old Clissy! Now you
must do the handsome by US. I will
take diamond necklace for my we'd
ding present, and you can build house
in town and We'll live with you."
1t seemed so probable that even Clissv
forgot her usual caution and planned
substantial barn on the possibility. We
were sure that we heard a rat dragging
the trap down cellar, and we ventured to
the head of the stairs in the gray dawn
and pceped down. The natural gas, the
supply of which WAS apparently un-
limited, seemed to cmauate from the eel
lar, and was so sitting that we could not
investigate long at time.
"Girl ;" said AL, SITS not rat, but
the dearest black and white creature that
you ever saw. It's caught by the foot.
Where's your book of natural history.
May be can tell what it is"
81 take him in Won bag und gill him."
said the manly tones of Conrad, coming
up Just then. I schmell him half-mile
away. Mein Gott, how ever dakes him
out Won dot?"
"Girls," said Clissy, from the other
end of the pouch, lit is the most beau
tiful sunrise I ever saw. Only see that
crimson"
PERHAPS you won't believe me, but we
didn't get that odor out of the house for
three months, or out of our clothes either.
although we almost bought out the CO.
logne f.om the Sparta drugstore.
The day that followed was the most
heart .rending of all. We couldn't eat,
and were so faint that we could scarcely
work We resolved that no chance visitor
should be admitted to the house upon
pain of death to the offender. 1 was
learning to make shortcake when q
scream from Al made pe look up.
s'Someb' dy is coming. What shall we
do2 Go and meet him, Clis, and keep
him from the house,
lies only tramp, and think he Is
drunk, too. Id better call Conrad. I'm
afraid CT a drunken man." She walked
timidly to the end of the porch and met
the intruder.
'I beg your pardon, but as I was
crossing yonr field in my walk, one OF
your rams assaulted me, and made me so
unpresentable, that must ask for some
soap and water, and needle and thread.
l am clergyman from the village,
madame"
6 erta N.Y." said Clissy, 81 an very
sorry that anything so serious should
have happened to you upon my place,
and she showed him into the sitting room
and gave him the necessary articles. He
staggered as he walked, and 1 saw that
the blood was dripping from his hair.
He was hurt more seriously than he
would confess. When he had been there
an hour we thought we had better peek,
and we did. He had got to the lounge
and fallen upon it. The blood from his
head was dropping upon the floor, and
his face was as pale as death. We for
got oil about our modification at our
plight. and flew about in great distress.
Clissy is so motherly and knows so much
about everything that she soon brought
him around; bandaged his cut aud
rubbed arnica upon his bruises. He was
so modest and pleasant, and so patient
knew he was suffering dreadfully-ttat
we couldn't help admiring him; and it
was such q surprise to him to find three
ladies in that desolate little house, and
it was such a surprise to US to find a
gentleman in one who looked so like q
tramp. And Clissy cleaned his coat
it h,d absorbed great deal of sticky
mud from the rain of the day before
and took him home in the evening in
the horrid spring-wagon, drawn by the
mule.
Well, nothing would do, when he
called the next week, but that we should
come to ch :rch and take classes in the
Sunday-school and attend the socials.
And we found that the people were pleas,
ant and the country beautiful, and Mr..
Haven-oh, we'll, l shall not say one
m IRE word about him-or you will guess
but then, who cares if you do"-
Lizzie Hyer Nct, IN Current.
An ODD Judge Of Good Cattle.
One of the very best judges of hogs