The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-29
MAJOR PADOLEFOoT.
Entertaining story ~ His Unoxpecte
Capture and Release.


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 q 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 q 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 II one got
. wink of sleep after midnight.
l 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 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.
Ono spring little Mercy Tucker came
to visit Aunt Hepzibah, and it was just
ct the season when Major Paddlefoot
was bringing out : large family-the
tenth in the course Of his life.
It was . trying period and he was
cross. All day he stood by the goose
house door with his long neck stretched
high and his one eye ont for danger.
Mercy wanted to look ut 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 Hepxibah ran out and
beat him OF with the broom.
Although the Major kept watch all
day, he slept-where do you think? in q
shallow pool back Of the barn. who're all
night he sat amidst the stars and the
new moon that winked and shone up ct
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 tho Major
! was not to be seen.
Then she ran out to the pool, and To-
there he still sat. While he had slept
Jack Frost had tucked him into bed SC
snugly that he could not get Oh. ba. ae
ran out his long neck at her and Missed
like . great snake.
However, she did not fear HIN now
and was in no hurry to release him. Sc
Mercy went hack to Mistress Goose, ex'
amined her family 1t leisure. then took
q short rope. made big moose in 1t aud
returned to the pool.
| The anxious Major was now calling
loudly for assistance, and Mercy, edgine
up as near IS she dared, threw the moose
4 over him and ran with the other end Of
the rope in her hand.
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 al around the
hole in which he had sat Then hi
waddled of. scolding and Kissing AND
shaking his wings, to relate the affair
to Mistress Paddlefoot--Youth's Com
panion-