The Arizona sentinel., 1888-06-16
JESSIE AND THE GOAT.
Little Girl Who Kept Her "Thinking'
Cap" On, Even Though SheWas Fright

A Little Girl Who Kept Her "ThinkIng-
Cap" On, Even Though SheWas Fright
ened.
aDear me! If only 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 rgo around
by the dusty road. But Mr.. Rawson's
goat was pastured there. He was
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 held
while the goat was there; so going
home that way this afternoon was not
to be thought of.
As Jessie cast last longing look in
that direction, before turning down the
dusty road, she gave cry of delight:
''Why. do believe old Billy is gone!
l 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 moment,
for the next instant he gave his head
vicious shake, as though to say:
''What right have you here, 1 should
like to know?'' and started in hot pur-
suit.
Jessie soon heard the quick patter.
patter. patter of his small feet A ter
rified glance behind her showed her
the goat, with lowered head, rushing
directly at her. Oh, how swiftly she
ran, but he was overtaking her.
Just as she despaired of making heI-
escape. she saw n large stump where
tree had recently been cut down. IT
stood almost directly in her path, and
was large enough for her to hide be-
hind it.
Quick rs 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 peep around the
stump there lay the goat apparently
lifeless. Seizing her apron, she sped
swiftly over the rest of the field, and
was soon at home safein her mothers
arms.
Was the goat killedp 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 MIR.
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:
..WelII we'll! L must say you have a
wise little head. not to let your think
ing-cap' blow off as soon as you get
frightened. Airs. C. o. Harrington,
in OR Little Ones.
Mrs. Gossip-Is that house along
side you empty yet? Mrs. GabbINo,
family moved in last week. nice
folks?" Nice? They're the trashlest
kind of people; live from hand to
mouth; buy things by. the cents worth,
| guess - LA me-" True as I'm
sitting here. Pve sent in dozen
times to borrow things and they were
ts,,,a ~