Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-08-22

brute as the panther could be stopped
by an ordinary sash and glass, however
strong
But tho Indian devil is wary, and
this one was suspicious of the glass.
When, on attempting to put his head
down through the skylight, he met
with an obstacle when he did not see
any, he thought he detected trap.
He shifted all over each pane, stop.
ping every moment to eye us hungrily.
Then he scratched, but very gingerly,
at the sash, and only tore away some
spllnters. The sash was stout and new.
AT last he thrust his muzzle over
roughly against the pane, and his nose
went through the glass. Susan sank in
a heap, while mother, with deadly pur-
pose, grasped her curtain pole, expect.
ing instant attack
1T was not to be so, howeYer-for
which the world is much to be congrat-
ulated. The panther cut his nose
pretty severely on the broken glass,and
shrank back, snarling yiciously.'
He was more than ever convinced
that the skylight was trap, and he
would not trust his muzzle again IN the
opening.
observing the beasts caution, mother
plucked up new hope. She remembered
having read lions and tigers were
afraid of fire, and forthwith she hit on
a truly brilliant expedient.'
Get up, Susan she commanded,
and be some use.' GO and light that
lamp on your washstand and bring it
to me-.
Susan obeyed with alacrlty, cheered
by the thought that there was anything
left to do. When the lamp was brought
mother laid the chimney aside and
turned up the wick so as to give far.
ing. smoky blaze. Then she handed
the lamp back to Susan
Take it, she said, and set it on the
top Of the ladder. right under the brok.
en- pane
This was too much for poor Susan.
oh, l dasn 't-never 7 she whimper.
ed. backing hastily out Of her mistress
reach.
Mother regarded her with withering
scorn, then turned and looked at me,
where I lay close behind her in the
basket Of old clothes.
Assuring herself that the panther
could not get me in her absence she
seized the lamp and marched up the
ladder with it. The panther growled
most menacingly, and thrust his face
down to the opening, but as the. smoke
and fame came under his nose, he snarl.
ed and drew back.
On the very topmost step did mother
deposit the lamp, where it blazed right
up through the broken pane. AS she
turned down the ladder the panther's s
claws were heard along the shingles,
beating reluctant retreat.
In a moment or two he was heard on
the shed. and then mother opened the
sky!ight, reached out and clapped down
the wooden shutter. Susan's courage
revived.
Now that the danger was over,
mother picked ME out of the basket
and gathered me again TO her bosom
while Susan began to speculate what
the panther would be up to next. On
this point she was not long left in
doubt.
In the corner Of the barnyard was a
pig pen, inhabited at the time by pig
three months old. Presently the poor
little pig set up terrific squealing, and
mother and Susan rushed to the gable
window.
As have said before, this window
commanded view of the barn yard.
The panther was on the roof Of the pen,
peering down through the cracks and
scratching vigorously to gain an en-
trance. Baby had been denied him ;
but pork he was determined to have.
The pig sqnealed in a way that moth
er trusted would alarm the neighbor-
hood, and tried to hide himself in the
straw from the reach of those pale,
crucleyes. At last the panther quilted
the roof and found the pen door. Here
he paused a moment or two, suspecting
another trap. Then, finding nothing
suspicious, in he glided. There was
one terrific squeal, and all was still.
1 fancy mother and Susan both yept,
thinking how we'll the fate of poor pig
gle might have been their own-and
mine.
For long while the two women
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