Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-03

ye IL not DC drowned ike thlm Other
billy goats"
At last the day memorable in the
annals OF Cooney Island came Tho
dawn was murky and gloomy. Little
Nike arose with the sun aud dropped
softly out of the window. He was
about to test the raft 10 see if il WAS
pond-worthy. lie first took the billy
down to the pond and tied him To
bush The nanny followed. The gos-
lings were safely slowed away ia the
boys pockets. where they kept up an
unavalling peeping against the close
confinement The dog went along
without any urging HE billy. the
nanny. and the dog each had corner
Of the raft to itself. while the gosilug~
were granted the freedoms of the deck.
The raft was propelled by II long pole.
Out INTO the muddy waters of the pond
Mickey urged the raft while the crow
flew around in wide circles overhead.
The raft noated and behaved beauliful-
ly. 1t rode the troubled waters Ike
Mrs. McGcc's drake. The float ~
domestic meuagerie was getting along
swmmngly untl that notorious
gossip, Mrs. Murphy. looked out Of
the kitchen window and SAW the rail-.
She uttered Yell of terror and *
claimed;
God save u.s. there's that larrup
VI ckey Finn iloatin around on biz
bo0rd wild goats am dogs; AN phwat
Thin little yel'cr things on TIA boord?
Musha bat thare's goslngs. Run.
Paddy, an tell h mother. "
la less than five minutes all the resi-
dents of the island were on the margin
OF the pond. inc nj ng.the elder Firms.
Mrs Finn was in Il parOX' SIN OF fear
lest her son should be drowned. while
her husband contented himself with
brandishing a stout hickory stick IN
Mickey's direction and threatened TO
use it if he did not "stheer tn boat
ashore.
in the meantime the sluce gate of
the pond had been fled in order To
relieve the dam of too much pressure.
The raft swung around into the cur
rent made by the sucking sluice gate
The dog began To howl and tug at his
thither upon the raft and their feeble
peeping wrung Mrs. Firms heart with
anguish.
''Ah! wcrra, vera! me goslin's' II 90
down tn mill racen
All the time Mickey was workiug
with all his might with the pole, aud
at last succeeded in getting the raft
out of the current Encouraged 10y his
mother pleadings. and frightened by
his fathers threats. he poled the raft
toward the shore on which his parents
were standing. The water was fall
ing rapidly, and the raft caught upon
post Before little Mike could re.
lease IA ark from its precsrious posi-
ton 1t began TO cant slarminglr.
The dog became alarmed. aud break
ing loose. sought refuge near the bill.
This old veteran. who through all the
excitement had preserved his couani-
nifty resented the dogs intrus on Gu
hi, territory and bowled him into She
pond. This reused Mrs. Finn TO a
in the direction of the billy aud shout
ed hoarseI while the rain beat d0Wu
on her unprotected head;
"Wait TIL ye come ashore. me daddy
back. wild yer wicked horns, Won
fix ye. though. Won't bate your hezl
in Wild me hst!'
Bv this time clothes line bad beea
procured and the raft showed signs o.
breaking up.
Mr. Finn was becoming alarmed fot
the saietg of h boy. and he cried out
rs he whirlcd the clothes line around
his head:
Now. Mickey. grab hold Q this an
we Il pull We ashore. Niver moind tn
amin ls.'
But our hero was made 0f more
hor oc stuff than TO desert his mena-
gerie. He tied he rope around the
nanny's body and she was drawn by Il
dozen VIII ne hands. kicking and
splashing through the wafer Here the
rope flew through The air again aad lit
tie Mike proceeded to lasso the billy.
To this the billy had pronounced OBJ
jections Despite his struggles, how
ever. the rope was secured arounI his
horns, and with "heavc ho altOgcth-
err the angered animal was jerked in
TO the water and towed ignominiously
ashore. He landed drip ne. but mad
as hornet. The crowd parted re-
specially TO let him 90 through. but
Mrs. Finn forgetful of her usual eau
ton. ran up TO the goat and shook her
fist before his glowing eyes There
was cry Of alarm from the crowd.
commingl ng of laughter
and cries ofterror. glimpse
of flying skirts and rampant object
with wavery horns and dripping
beard. Then the skirts disappeared
over the hill. and the 'dlvil wild wick
ed horns" faded away into dim speck
against the eastern horizon in grim
pursuit.
Mickey put the goslings in his peck
ct secured a board from the raft which
was fast breaking up. and swan
ashore. His father received him
warmly. In fact, so hearty and un-
restrained was his welcome that Mr..
Finn horny hand were stung by the
force of iiis punishment. There was n
time when Mckee would have cried
at such treatment from the hands of his
father, but that time had now gone
by. Secure in the rectitude of his own
motives he bore this little misunder-
standing with f0Ttitude and wendell
his way bnneWa.I IIa founJ tho