The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-05-28
MAJOR PADDLEFOOT.
Entertaining story of His Unexpected
Capture and Release.

Entertaining Story of His Unexpected
Capture and Release.
Major Paddlefoot lived with Aunt
Hepzibah Dunn. He was rather crusty
old fellow, and disliked children beyond
every thing, and, those who visited at
Aunt Hepzibah's were cautious about
making very close acquaintance with
him.
He had lost one eye in battle when
younger. but the other one did duty for
two very admirably, and wary indeed
must be the boy or girl who could pry
about his private apartments without
getting caught, and paying dear for the
liberty taken.
Although seemingly well-meaning
parent, he was tyrant in his family,
and poor Mrs Paddlefoot had little to
say for herself, but went about very
meekly in gray gown, asserting to all
he said.
And he was forever talking--begin.
ming nobody knows at what time in
the morning, waking up the entire Pad
dlefoot family, getting them into per-
feet pow-wow and disturbing the whole
house, SO that it was mercy if one got
a wink of sleep after midnight
wondered at Aunt Hepzibah's pa
thence with the Major, but he had lived
with her many years, and she had got
used to his clacking Besides, he and
his family brought much profit to her
in down, feathers and plump, yellow
goslings every year.
Yes, indeed! The Major was q huge,
fierce old gander, with coat as white
and glistening as the snow, widespread
ing red feet always looking nearly
frozen, and beak that had the grip Of
pair Of pinchers.
One spring little Mercy Tucker came
to visit Aunt Hepzibah, and it was just
at the season when Major Paddlefoot
was bringing out large family-the
tenth in the course of his life.
1t was trying period and he was
cross. All day be stood by the goose
house door with his long neck stretched
high and his one eye out for danger.
Mercy wanted to look at and pet the
little downy balls under the old goose's
wings, but the Major promptly seized
her black-stockinged leg, bit like a
dragon, and drubbed her with his broad
wings till Aunt Hepzibah ran out and
beat him off with the broom.
Although the Major kept watch all
day, he slept--where do you think? in a
shallow pool back of the barn, where all
night he sat amidst the stars and the
new moon that winked and shone up at
him from the clear, icy pool till he hid
his head in the snowy feathers and went
to sleep.
One night, the first Of April, the
weather was very cold and the next
morning, when Mercy went out Major
Paddlefoot was not at his post. She
looked in the gOOse-house, the playhouse
and at the corn-crib, where he used often
to take early breakfast; but the Major
was not to be seen. UpG
Then she ran out to the pool, and 10!
there he still sat. While he had slept
Jack Frost had tucked him into bed SC
snugly that he could not get out, but he
ran out his long neck at her and Kissed
like great snake. lt. .a gl
However, she did not fear him now
and was in no hurry to release him. Sc
Mercy went back to Mistress Goose, ex.
amined her family at leisure, then took
short rope, made big moose in 1t and
returned to the pool. ef
The anxious Major was now calling
: loudly for assistance, and Mercy, edgine
up as near as she dared, threw the moose
over him and ran with the other end Of
the rope in her hand. gl.9 I-7l-7-Y
| "Hiss! S-s-s-s-s! QU-A-A-A-ARK"
Out came the Major topsy.turvey, hi:
big, red feet flying up, leaving thick
row of white feathers all around the
hole in which he had sat. Then hi
waddled of, scolding and kissing and
shaking his wings, to relate the affail
to Mistress Paddlefoot.-Youth's Com
panion.