Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-11-09
THE WILD CARIBOU AMUSETH HIM.
GHrTE,

followed first by SHOWS, and then by
thaws or rain. The latter converts the
snow into slush, resting on the firm ice
beneath. Now any sensible creature
would keep away from such mess.
But not so the caribou, for to it this
makes the very gala time of the year.
The herd go out upon the ice in single
file, then scatter, and each one falls to
paving up the slush with its forefeet.
After they have tired of this perform
ance, they fall upon their knees, and
seem to lap the ice with their tongues.
Why they do this is, as far as the writer
has been able to learn, a mystery. 1t
certainly is not from thirst, since they
have crossed dozen open brooks in
their morning ramble. Perhaps, to use
one of those slang expressions so happily
indefinite in leaving unbridled liberty
of detail to the imagination of the
nearer, "they do it for grandeur" This
is the most simple, and indeed at times
it seems the only, explanation Of many
of the vagaries of this most singular
creature. After while one will sus-
pend operations, seem to think things
over generally, then 60 gravely over to
where another has mined down to q
piece of ice of extra flavor, and prod
and poke it with the utmost vigor. The
assaulted party rises to its feet, and
meekly resigns it place to the intruder,
which Immediately drops upon its knees
and continues the operations of it's pre-
decessor, while the ousted either passes
along the compliment by routing out
another. or proceeds to dig new spot
for itself. Then perhaps all will lie
down for while, and, though one
would think the bed about as congenial
as the inside of an ice-cream freezer,
chew the cud in apparently the acme of
bovine comfort. Next, one will slowly
rise to its feet, round up it's back, and
stretch itself, survey its comrades to Sc
lect the one which seems most comfort
able, and then, actuated by that per-
versity OF disposition we SO often see
and anathematize in the human early
riser, proceed to Stir it up with hoof and
horn, until it too gets upon its legs and
joins i'll the game. Soon all are on their
feet, and falling in one behind the
other, move for the woods in single file,
headed 10y the leader-always a bull,
though not invariably the largest in the
herd. They move off at walk, their
heads hanging down precisely like
COWS driven to pasture. Suddenly one
will become possessed of a devil, and
breaking from the ranks with hop,
skip, and a jump, charge through the
line again and again, until it is thrown
into complete disorder. Then it will as
suddenly fall into place as demure as
cat, saying, as distinctly as an attitude
can speak, what! yon do not mean to
charge this nntimely disturbance to me,
do you?" The march is then resumed,
and all may disappear at the meekest
kind of walk in the surrounding forest;
or, without the slightest apparent cause,
the herd will break into a run at pace
so keen you almost fancy You can hear
them whiz as they cleave passage
through the air. This burst of speed
may last for a hundred yards it may be
kept up through thick and thin for five
miles: the one is about as likely as the
other.-Henyy p. Wells, IN Ha1pe,'s
Magazine.
Il MA7hIMONI4L C-aTECHIsM.
He was very practical. and in order
to have everything fare and square be-
fore hand he said:
You know, darling. L promised nv
mother that my wife should be a good
houseleeper, and q domestic woman.
Can you COOKE"
II can, she said, swallowing a great
big lump in her throat.
Can you make good bread? That
is the fundamental principle of all
housekeeping.
Yes; ! wentinto bakery and learned
how to make all kinds of bread She
added under her breath maybe
And can you 10 your own dressmak-
ing? am comparatively a poor man,
love. and lressmakers bills would soon
bankrupt me"
Yes" she said frankly. Il can make
everything l. wear, especially pattern
bonnets."
You are a jewel" he cried with en-
thusiasm. come to my arms--'
Wait Manufacturers no hurry"
she said coolly. Its my turn to ask a
few questions Can you saw wood and
carry in toa'?"
why. my love. should hire that
work done
Can Eon MAKE Your coats. vests.
trousers. and other wearing ,.}parel?"
But that isn't to the purpose.
Can yo,! build Il house. die. ,]irc},o.