Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-22
THE LITTLE GOOSE GIRL.
Raising Geese in the Suburbs of New
 York City-Picturesque Scene.

Raising Geese in the Suburbs of New
 York City-Picturesque Scene.
 On the rising ground that slopes gently to the north of the shallow and grassy creek at Spuyten Duyvil, and overlooking the waters of the Hudson, with its busy craft on the west, 8 little rosy checked maiden one bright afternoon not long ago was driving a flock of geese before her with long slender switch. Her disorderly dresses blowing in the fresh breeze that came up from the shore looked like mass of golden flax, waving and glistening in the warm August sunlight. The geese themselves were rather de1ected and mournful looking lot At least they were not of the class that an artist would choose with which to produce an effect of light and shade on canvas; though, to be sure, they were ri- diculously picturesque as they ran to and fro, quarreling necessarily. The little girl proved herself a most attentive guardian to such an uninviting company. She hurried here and there among her refractory charges with never tiring pace; driving reluctant ones from occasional puddles beside the path way, in which they were disposed to finger, and restricting those who now and then stopped to settle certain disputes that arose between them from fighting it out. She told that the geese belonged to her papa-an except one. And that one, which she proudly pointed out, but which was unable to dis Einguish from the rest, although l said that could, she declared with lisp really be- longed to her. I had been out for a tramp all day and, indifferent to where my steps lcI me, as long as they We're away from the he,,t-u fla sGOneS ailu brIck and l. oTtar of tle city, accompanied my little goose girl ill tho direction of her home, while listened to Ter innocent chatter auout her flock.
 Suo h. u ler swI.cn toward diiapidated suaaty ,- aoool almost at the top of the liIl, a.. .,'A.cl, at least, possessed some in- crest, ?, t.s.' no other reason than that it was :he Elose woelul looalnE rookery that ones
 h., t4-,io.. IT.. zht picture. It was con- ;tructed of cid, rous ally planed boards green with age and covered in places with patches of lichen. Its roof was an uneven mass of black tar paper, popular with the inhabi- tants of Shantytown, while against the sides of f building was piled amazing quan- tity of old iron and other refuse. A goat was wandering about aimlessly outside, and as approached, two dirty faced children, in short frocks, who were eating bread and but ter, came up to where l stood, in order that 1 they might wipe their greasy hands on my coat sleeve.
 From their mother who was kind enough | to call them back learned that the geese, which now gathered themselves together within fenced inclosure behind the house, were raised altogether for the market, and 1 that the returns were of great assistance in maintaining the little family. Many of their neighbors kept f1ocks of these fowls, too, for | the vicinity seemed to be a most favorable i breeding place. There are certainly many ways of adding to ones income, and in the suburbs goose farming does not appear to be the least insignificant of them.-John Preston 1 Beecher in New York News