St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-06-02


Yes said her father, who had
come in unnoticed and heard the last
of the story. at reminds me of a say
ing once heard: "A mother and a
dog are the only two things in the
world that seem to have absolutely
disinterested love. '"-Delia W. Ly-
man, in N. 7. independent
JESSlE'S PRESENCE OF MIND.
Little Girl Who Kept Her "Thinking-
Cap" On, Even Though sheWas Fright
ened.
Dear me! If only 1 could go home
through the field. School was just
out, and little Jessie May, warm and
tired. looked longingly over the cool,
green field. 1t was much shorter
way home, as well as more pleasant, to
90 through the field than to Ego around
by the dusty road. But Mr.. Rawson's
goat was pastured there. He was a
very cross old fellow, and the terror of
the school-children. Mr.. Rawson had
said it was not at all safe for the small
children to enter the field
while the goat was there; so going
home that way this afternoon was not
to be thought of.
AS Jessie cast a last longing look in
that direction, before turning down the
dusty road, she gave a cry of delights:
"Why, l do believe old Billy is gone!
1 can't see him anywhere. Mr.. Raw
son must have taken him out of the
pasture"
Climbing upon the fence, she looked
long and carefully. No goat was in
sight, so she jumped down from the
fence into the long, cool grass of the
field.
She had gone about halfway across,
when Mr.. Billy who all this time
had been lying buried in the deep
grass, taking his afternoon nap -
gathered himself up for good shake.
As he caught sight of Jessie tripping
along, he gazed for a moment in aston
ishment 1t was only for a moment,
for the next instant he gave his head
vicious shake, as though to say:
"What right have you here, should
like to know?' and started in hot pur-
suit.
Jessie soon heard the quick patter,
patter, patter of his small feet. A ter
rifed glance behind her showed her
the goat, with lowered head, rushing
directly at her. Oh, how swiftly she
ran, but he was oyertaking her.
Just as she despaired of making her
escape, she saw q large stump where
tree had recently been cut down. II
stood almost directly in her path, and
was large enough for her to hide be-
hind it.
Quick as a flash off came her white
apron, and was as quickly tied AROUND
the stump, on the side toward which
the goat was coming.
With a wildly beating heart Jessie
crouched behind the stump to await
the result. She was completely hidden,
and Mr.. Goat, with head bent SO low
that he caught but a glimpse of the
white apron, did not discover that it
was the stump that wore it, and not
Jessie. He came rushing on, and his
head struck the stump with terrible
force.
All was still, and when the trembling
little girl ventured to pc p around the
stump there lay the goat, apparently
lifeless. Selling her apron. she sped
swiftly over the rest of the field, and
was soon at home safe in her mothers
arms.
Was the goat killed? Well, he was
so badly stunned that he did not revive
for some time.
When Jessie was on her way to
school the next morning she met Mr..
,Rawson coming out of the pasture. He
did not know, until Jessie told him,
what hurt the goat. When she had
finished telling him about it he said:
''Well! we'll! ! must say you have a
wise little head. not to let your think
ing-cap' blow off us soon as YOU get
frightened. "-Mrs. C. O. Harrauqto,,.
in our Little Ones.
-Customer-You warrant this med
icine to cure me?" Druggist-Yes,