The weekly Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 1882-188?, 1886-11-04
FOR WANT OF A NAIL.
BY HELEN 7. BAL MAD.

Mr.. Bliklns is most accommodating
neighbOr. All last winter, when Sduire
PrescOtt's family were in Europe, he
went over their house every day to see
that it was as they left it, and took such
care of the stock that the squire said he
thought it would pay him to stag away.
The squire brought back some additions
to the farm; among others fine Guern-
sey cow-Queen.Bcss- and her calf. The
latter they named Princess. The two
were the admiration of the farmers for
n lies around They had more faith in
this living stock than in any to be pur-
chased off broker.
When the Princess was six weeks old.
the sTuire cal',tl IA Ritkins iss, as aa
was passing, and, to his astonishment
made him present of her.
SO along the country road, shortly
after, Mr.. Bilkins joyfully wended his
way, leading by rope the baby Of
Queen Bess. She proved to be very
frollcsome and headstrong; what with
her jumping, tugging and pulling, her
new master had trial indeed.
But although breathless, Mr.. Bilkins
did not lose his patience; triumph
beamed from every line of his perspiring
face. 1t added to his pleasure to meet
several farmer friends who, recognizing
the royal beauty, asked facetiousIy if he
was stealing the squire calf Mr.. Bill
kins explained, with becoming modesty,
how he came to be the owner of such a
valuable bit of beef So although at
tended with some difficulty, Mr.. Bill
| kin's progress homewa:d was a sort of
triumphal march, with variations &c
cording to the mood OF the Princess.
| he entered his own yard with the air
OF a conqueror. He hastened towards
the great barn, intending to fasten his
uneasy prize to a post till he could pre-
pare pen, and thus transfer the strain
from muscle to insensate wood.
1t happened that Mrs Bilkins was in
the barn when he arrived, and also
| Orrin, the hired man. The latter was
examining a broken frame on which was
stretched Mrs. Bilkin's latest work of
art in rags, hooked-in mat. The de
sign was wonderful garland of flowers
whose roses Orrin stupidity mistook
for colored cabbages.z=in the midst of
which a yellow cat reposed.
AS this masterpiece was to compete
for prize at the next "cattle show,
Mrs Bilkin's hoped Orrin could repair
the frame He said he could. Indeed,
Orrin never acknowledged that anything
was beyond his ability. He had even
taken the old clock to pieces when it
stopped; but assurance would not put
it together again without the aid of
knowledge, and he was forced TO wheel
it to town. As he lost part of the ma
chinery on the way, it cost not little
money. Mrs Bilkin's faith in Orrin
never recovered from that shock.
THAT was why she fingered, resolved
that he should not get her mat-frame
into worse condition, and why she wa:
pres ent when her spouse made his hasty
entrance She shared his delight, decar
ing she didn't know when she'd seer
such beautiful bossy.
sit orter be-" said Orrin, with his in
imitably profound air. 'It's the rea
Clumsy; wuth big price amongst any
O. them fancy farmers"
Mr.. Bilkins turned the Princess ovel
to Orrin. And then occurred something
that made Mrs. Bilkins always connec
the arrival of the foreign scion with rag
, mats. For somehow, in the transfer
the calf executed a new man9uvre, 90
away, and plunged into the frame
3 There was crash and feminine shrek
I as the Princess danced off in it, Wher
at length the garland and the puss,
were handed to Mrs. Bilkins, she haC
given all hope of obtaining the prize
A little pen, labelled by Orrin
"Gunsy princes, now became the hom'
e of the calf.
Y She held quite a court there, for ever,
6 one who called at the farm must see th
:, squire,s gift. Experts said she would
make most valuable COW, prospec
g that greatly helped MIR. Bilkins bea
e with the foreigner, as daily her activi
o ties strengthened IN the wrong direc
ton. She had chronic habit of Jump
/ ing over walls, and preferred to brows
y in a neighbor's garden to the finest pas
{ ture. Almost daily Orr1n cried, ''Tha
4 'ere Gunsy's got out aginw
Then, after prolonged chase, Nj
Bilkins would appear in the kitchen
sink into the nearest chair, wipe h
a heated brow, and tell his wife, cont
O dentially, that if-he'd known that ca
3 was going to be such poster, b
wouldn't have taken her for giftI'
When this selfish baby was e:gt
q months old, Mr.. Bilkins was called upo
N by a stock dealer, who was passin
ts through the town, and who asked if h
would sell the calf.