Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-19

no barn at all, had taken in the fTiendles
horse.
II was difficult 10 make the Major ente
the field, for be hal been turned ont of 5,
many, driven away from so many lawns
aud even begrudged the schnty pickiugs o
the roadside, that he cuuld not understand
the invitation given him % enter and tax,
possession OF q great green field. with appl,
trees Ter shaI.. and 4 brook bIbbln
throu h the mid lie Of II.
When ~ last o." veniurcl over the bars
It was both sad and funny to see how hard
he tried 20 enjoy himself and express hi.
delight.
lirst, ae shifted The air. then lac niLbled
The sweet grass. took a long look about
him. and astonishcd the children By lyina
down with groan, aud trying 10 roll. lie
ccdli not DO IL. however. 50 lay still with
his head stretched out, gently tapping his
tail, a. II 10 say:
Its all right, my dcars. I'm not very
strong. aud JOY Mp cts me, bu, I'm quito
comfortable. bless yoI.'
Isn't II nice 20 see him. all safe and
happy, mammal sighed Posy, folding her
hands IN childish satisfaction. while Ned
sat down beside his horse, and began TO
take the burrs out of his name.
Very nice, only don't kill him with
kndne =, and be clre'ul not TO get hurt, I"
answered mlmm', rs she went bacl; to her
work, feeling rs il she had bought an ele-
phan', and didn't know what to do with him
Later in the day a sudden shower came
mp, and mamma looked about TO be sure
her httlu PEOPLE were under cover for
thy played out all day long, If possible.
No chickens could the maternal hen find
to gather under her wings, and so went
CLICKING anXiously about till Sally, the
cook. sad. with laugh:
Ned's down in the pastur', mum, hold
ing an umbrella over that old horse, and
he's got watcrpi oof on him, too. Calvin
see 1t. and most died laughing"
Mamma laughed, too but asked if Ned
had on his rubber boots and coat.
Eyes, mum, | seed him start ali ia lis
wet weather rig, bat | nev mistrusted
what the dear was up TO till Calvin told
me. lusy wanted TO 90, but | won dn't
let her, so she went to the upper window,
where she can see the crtter under his
Mamma went up to find her little girl
surveying the droll prospect with solemn
Satisia ton, for there in tho field under
the apple-trec stood Major. banketed with
the old waterproof, while his new master
ai' " sAlA uiiBl'lli bNtI llI7 'btN uthl WIN
Il patient devotion that would have en-
deured him TO the heart of good Mr.. Der III.
All that summer Neddy's hose took his
rest in the green meadow, but it was evil
dent that he was failing fast, and that his
good time" came too late. Mamma pre-
pared the children for tho end as well rs
she could, and would have spared them
the sorrow of parting by having Major
killed quietly, il Ned had not begged SO
hard to lei his Lorse die naturally; for age
was the only disease, and Major seemed to
suffer little pain, though lie daily grew
more weak and lame.
One morning when the children went TO
carry him a soft, warm mash for breakfast,
they found him dead, not in the shed
where they had left him warmly covered,
but ut the low place i'll the wall where they
always got over to visit him.
Calvin sid he would attend TO tho
funeral, and went off TO dig the grave in II
lonely place behind the sand bank. Ned
declared that he could not have his horse
dragged away and tumbled into "A hole, but
must see him buried in proper manner;
md mamma, with the utmost kindness,
said she would provide all that was needed.
The hour was set at four in the afternoon,
md the two little moUraers, provided with
arge handkcrchicfs, Ned with black
bow on MS arm, aud Posy in Grape Neil.
went t. drop last tear over their departed
friend.
At the appointed time Calvin appeared.
by Mr.. White, with drag drawn
)y black Bill.
As the funeral train passed the house on
is way down the lane, mamma, with anoth-
II Grape veil on, came out and joined tho
procession.
The October woods were gay with red
md yellow leaves, that rusted softly as
hey went throu III tie wood; and when they
,ame to the grave Ned thanked Calvin Cor
choosing such pretty place. A pine sigh.
ID overhead, late asters waved beside it,
md poor Ma ,or's last bed was made soft
With hemlock boughs.
The earth was thrown in, green sods
leaped over it, and then the men departed.
ceiling that the mourners would like to
niger u little while.
AS lie left, Mr.. White said, with gravity:
You are welcome TO the use of the team
md my time, ma'am. | don't wish any pay
.or EN-; in fact, l should feel more COM
'ortable 10 do this Job for old Ma ior quito
rec and hearty"
Mamma thanked him, and when he was
gone Ned proposed that they should sing It
lymn and Posy added, They always sing
Sister, thou art mild and lovely ut fuucr-
us, you know.
Mamma with difficulty kept sober ut this
dea. but suggested the song about "Gooi
I'D Charlie" as more appropriate. so it
vas sung with great feeling, and then poSy
said, us she wiped her weeping eyes"
"Now, Ned, show mamma our cppytnp.
"She means eppytarf." explained Ned,
81 81, &C no ,,rnIp.aH Innrl
N which he had printed with India ink tho
OllowinG words:
"IIere lies dear old Major. He was II good
lorse when he was Young. But people were
lot kind to him when he was old. We
made him as happy as we could. lie
owed us, and we mourn for him. Amen"
Ncd's knowledge of cpitaphs was very
l;ght, so he asked mamma ii this one
would do; aud she answered warmly:
1T is very good one, for it has what
many lack, the merit of being true. Put
( up, dear. and IL make wreath to hang
IN the graves stone.
Much gratiiied, Ned planted the board
It The head of the grave, Posy gathered
he brightest leaves, and mamma made II
oy civ garland in which TO frame tho "cp-
pytap."
Then they left old Major TO his res;, feel
ng sure that somewhere there must be
lower heaven for the souls If brave and
faithful animals when Their unrewarded
work is done.
Many children went &c see that lonely
grave, but not one of them disturbed n
leaf, or laughed ut the little epitaph that
them sermon from the text
blessed are the merciful."
Na,iOna! Conventions.
nonuhlicpn ID IuD rat