The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-11-16
THINE ENEMY.
BY RUTH ARGYLE.

tore night, See hat the goats and thu
sheep are safely housed before i
breaks"
Yes. my father; [ will go after then
right away"
Off went the boy, whistling for hi
dog, whose nelp he would need, anC
who leaped about him with joyous
barks, delighted with the prospect OF {
long tramp.
"Hi, Sachs, good dog! Wen have
our hands full, for the creatures wont
like to leave their nice meal of grass sc
early"
Sachs barked in answer, as if to say,
GAN right, good MASTER! I'll do my
| best"
Up the narrow mountain path they
| went, climbing higher and higher unit.
| the pasture was reached. Here, there
| and everywhere all ver the mountain
| the goats were scattered, but Sachs
| knew his business well, and soon he,
| too, was here, there and everywhere,
driving the unwilling creatures before
him. When he had gathered them to-
gether about his masters feet two were
missing-an old sheep and a goat.
Leaving the dog to watch the animals
aud keep them from straying, Pietro
started off by himself TO hunt the mis-
sing ones. He called frequently as he
searched, but it was long before an
answering bleat rewarded his exer-
tions.
Pietro had started the wanderers to-
ward the remainder of the flock, and
himself was about to follow, when he
caught sight of a sheep lying III q
thicket at q little distance from the
place where he bad halted. Although
in great haste to reach home before the
storm should break upon them, be
turned aside to see what the trouble
vas. There was, indeed, trouble
enough. The poor animal had broken
one OF its legs, probably i'll trying to
extricate itself from the thicket into
which it had fallen from the ledge Of
rock which overhung 1t.
Pietro knew the sheep to be a valua-
BILE one belonging to a neighbour, and
also that the neighbor WAS his W and
his fathers bitter enemy. Long ago
there had been a dispute about some
land which both had laid claim to; and
although Pietro's father, AZ the mor
peacefully inclined of the two dispu-
tants, had Withdrawn from the contest,
thus leaving the land to he untouched
by either claimant. Neighbor Hauser
had never forgiven him because he had
set his heart upon possessing that par
ticular bit of ground. A constant series
of petty prosecutions had followed (;
and only the day before, IN of the
ilauser children had set their great dog
1900. x~k .l.l-A,k .Thsnh lnlnnEnI IN
Greta, Pietro's little sister, and, as he
now recalled her tears and sobs OF
grief over her dead pet, he turned
away from the injured sheep, mutler-
ing to himself,
LET it die, then, rs did the poor
little chickcnl I'll not trouble to save
it."
Yet, as Pietro strobe away, he re-
membered what the good pastor had
said but the Sunday before:
"If thine enemy hunger, feed thou
him if he suffer from thirst, give luou
him to drink; if he be in sore trouble,
succor thou him; tor in 80 doing thon
shalt bring down upon thyse!f u bless
ing from the God OF love and tender
mercy, who is ever watching thee, ever
waiting to accept Of thine Offering"
PieIro paused as The words required
L his mind. Already the faithful Sachs
had gathered the flock together and
was driving them homeward. Pietro
shouted to him to hurry onward with
his charge, while he himself turned yet
again to where the poor suffering sheep
lay awaiting tue result of his decision.
".Furgivc and thou too shalt be for
. : ALL tl,nf 10 tnhni "u fNnfhn
said To Greta Yesterday. Well, l must
try to get the sheep home, or cannot
nave peace when the storm shall have
burst, thinking of itzlying here being
beaten 10 DEATH"
With great care PietrO raised the
poor creature, SO that he could get al
the broken limb, which was bent be-
Meath the animals body. Having bound
il up as well as he could with his neck
erchicf, he took the sheep upon his
back and started honeward. Ills pro-
gress was slow, because the sheep was
heavy and the mounial:.-palh WAS
rough.
The sky. with its gathering masses OF
clouds, was growing darker with each
moment, nHd long ere IIoifo could
reach the mnre sheltered "a Icy would
the storm break. Although "a rugged
lad, he staggered beneath his burden,
anal was forced TO rest now pnd then IN
spite OF his hasto 10 reach shelter.
Twice he stumbled owe some unseen
0hsiI uctiOn, and, with one loot famed
in consequence of tie last Inisstep, he
il hard To keep on his wa,. AT
last the wind began 10 blow then am
-. -. t..-,k IIAAllFn.l IA hlIlllInD
and This beaI against his lace, into
eyes, mouth and ears. The poor sheep
blcated ~Inournfully, rs if 1t coinprc
hended the situation.
With smarting eyes and cheeks and
with weary limbs the brave boy slruS-
gIcd ON through the storm When he
reached the more sheltered valley, he
paused to take breath, then, r%cadJust-
his burden, resumed his fight with
the elements. Once again he stumbled,
aEd with difficulty recovered his loot
hold on the now slippery path. lie
lifted his heart in prayer, tor a new
fear lest he should lose his way in Tho
increasing storm and darkness assailcd
him.
go God, please guide me safely
home! Give me the sight of my moth
cr's dear face once more"
On and on struggled Pietro, bending
beneath his heavy load. AT last. when
he was almost discouraged, he heard n
bark, and III n moment Sachs
WAS Ieaprug upon him. Behind l&c
dog came PietrO's father, who had
uneasy AT his son: P]IUi"ng q
absence. A few words enilircd to rA-
plain the situation.
"Thou hast done well, my Pietro.