The weekly Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 1882-188?, 1886-11-04

lie repeated the sentence reverh times
before he would give his figures. Ri
nally he offered the Princess for seventy
five dollars, declaring he knew il was a
large sum, but she was q real Gurnscv.
The dealer departed, saving he would
let him know in few DAYS. Very sooh
Mr. BiIk;ns received this brief letter:
MN. Il LETNs- i accept your oTeT.
win take ca.f at S7j. F. o. b. cars,
Boston"
Tha:"F. O. B. was the subject OF
Mr. BlkIns' frequent coniectures, until
he found that il meant Free on Board"
the cars.
who'd a thought it." exclaimed
Mrs BikIns, hea tho mysterious char.
acters were explained to her. Nell
be YOU a-guing TO run the resk o. get
ting that highly tightly acrost the city
Orrlnli have to go, and that's an extra
expense
Mr.. Bilkins, having already settled
these points, INDUCED in a little mascu-
line sarcasm, at his wifc's expense.
He'd look pretty" he said, wouldn't
he, cantcring through Boston hanging
on to thai calf No, sir! that Guernsey
was going to be boxed up SO shed have
to ride as quiet as lamb.
Carpenter SimOns was called in to cs-
innate the cost. lie wanted ten dol
lars to make the box IN shape, and fur
nish the lumber Mr. Bilklns labored
with him, but he would take no less.
"He's Jest bleeding on us, said
Orrin, who saw chance to cover him
self with glory 'Tl resk it but can
get up as good box as Simons."
SO Orrin got the job. Mr.. Bilkins
silencing his wifc's migiyings by show
ing her that their hired man would thus
save them nearly a months wages.
They now planned rude sort of cage,
in one end of which was door that
could be raised for the entrance OF the
! Princess.
Unfortunately for the plan, Mr. Bill
kins let Orrin do the measuring, Mrs.
Bilkins should have attended to that
! herself. Orrin's standard for determin-
ing the length of the Princess was the
rake handle He carefully marked the
length with his thumb; but while going
from the barn to the box, somebody
spoke to him, his thumb moved, a small
circums tance in Orrin's estimation; be
guessed he knew pretty near where the
place was. and re Installing the mark,
went confidently to work
Another small circumstance, tho
nails gave out! But Orrin triumphed
over the imminent prospects of waiting
while he went to the store. by using
what he called "butts," or parts of
nails.
''Some folks d sink right back'n' do
rothin' cause their nails had gin out, "
said Orrin. you've got to have some
contrivance if you're going to rush
things"
The box being done, Mr.. Bilkins pre-
? pansa.- -hisnse3t for -SiaSss trip. ~ i as III
event, as he had not been to Boston for
years. Mrs. Bilkins got his ~stovc pipe
hat" down from the top Of the closet.
1t was four years behind the times, but
after being well-polshed with her ell
husband with becoming dignity. As
far as possible. everything was made
ready for the night before, as Mr.. Bill
kins must take an early train.
In the morning he arrayed himself in
mis- best before boxing up the calf, that
he might not keep her waiting. AS it
had become generally known that the
young Guernsey was going to leave
town, old Deacon Grant and several OF
the neiglbors dropped In After a crit
ical survey of the box, the former said
"This ere IL be pretty tight
squeeze, Bilkins; you'd ought to make
this a grain bigger"
It,was set in the middle of the barn.
foor opl tho Drinoocc lo1 ont nrrir
went to the front and thrust some corr
through to tempt Miss Bossy to enter
the rear. But she didn't like the look.
of things, and refused, firmly bracins
her aristoctatic hoofs.
Mr.. Bilkins said he thought she'd gt
in if pushed a little. So he and Deacon
Grant attempted it.
,, But the calf backed suddenly, sending
both into the meal chest, and escaped
to the barn yard, where she cut up mani
, new capers. When at length she wa
caught, the cage proved TO be, as th
8 deacon thought, rather short; for afteI
Orrin let down the door, and the Prin
cess had accommodated herself t.
, straitened circumstances, she LOOKED
something like Ii Young camel.
loi'1 NC 81 LIlC uCtIoh.
"Well, | guess she'll stand it !" sal,
; Mr.. Bilkins Its only two hours
: ride. Orrin he's going to the depot
: I'll have to handle her myself in Boston
Got to get her acrost the city, too."
: A little later Mr.. Bilkins and the cal
were travelling together in the freigh
car Arriving at Boston, Mr. Biikin
,, bargained with teamster to carry thi
odd freight to the Albany Station.
, This box is pretty shaky." said th
: man, when they took it off the car.
. NJ. Bilkins explained that they didn
:, think the calf would be SO heavy, q
} they lifted one end of the box upon th
;, wagon; but just then the engine
shrek frightened the expressman
horse. He moved despite several frar
! tic yells from the cage bearers, an
:, down it went on the pavement, knock
ing out one end. The Princess bega
to back out, Mr. Bilkins and the team
ster tried to push her in, but her roy
: will was aroused, she retrograded wit
5 kins was pushed violently against til
j., building. and the Guernsey was free
- the streets of Boston!
< Away she scampered along Cant
y street, every teamster she passed givin
v an inspiring cheer. Mr.. Bilkins rushe
4 after, ploughing through the mud, u
terly Indifferent to his best black sui
one thought uppermost in mis- distracte
q mind-the calf must be delivered at Il
y Albany depot, properly boxed.
W AS Mr.. Bilk1ns dashed along, in b
. antiquated suit, high dicky, and beav
a set on the back of his head, it won
= have been difficult to decide whit
:. looked the wilder-Mr. Bilkins or Il
!. calf.
9. Before they had gone many rods
D. large number of people joined in Il
"a race. The calf ran swiftly on witho
3. pause, un il she met horse-cer. Til
at was something n ew; the Princess stopp'
short.
r. With CLEAN of satisfaction in /
n, eye-the II have you now" expressi'
is Mr.. Bilkins stretched forth ho
f. hands to grasp her; but the PriE-,e
If lodged him, and was upon the sidewa
ne and away again. Everybody c!eart
the track as if they thought mad d.
nt was coming.
IN The second thing that arrested t