Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-15

the room as he aulped down the food, without seeming to chew it much or consider its palatability. Joel came in with twinkling eyes and sat down by the table. ''How long have you been on the way?" he asked.
 "'Bout month, I guess"
 Ibid you have much trouble?'
 "Some;" then after a momenTs sll' ence: "Drat' 'er!''
 .WhoP' said Joel, smiling.
 "Oh, woman when 1 wus comin'."
 ''What did she do to youP'
 'sSicked 'er sheep onter me-"
 "You mean dog, don you?"
 "No, it was sheep. went in yard to ax a woman who stood in the door to gimme somethin' ter eat, an she said: Sick i'm, Tom! Sick i'm, Tom!' looked around fur the dog, but blamed if the dog want sheep, an it come tearin' round the house am butted me clean through the fence inter the road!'
 Joel roared and went into the other room. Next morning he came up to the house with a new straw hat and some other clothing for the lad.
 You are not going to keep that boy around here, are you, Joel?" said Mrs. Whitney.
 "Yes, certainly" he answered.
 Her face hung little cloudy over her sewing. After a moment she said, without looking up: ''Have you any more prospective foundlings?" l
 "None up to date," he laughed.
 '.What will his folks say, do you suppose?" she queried. in complain ing tone.
 .Oh, will write to them. l dare say they are poor, and if he has a good home here they will be glad enough" Then he went out to find Absalom, and ere long that perspiring young person was whistling about the barn in his new apparel and new office of chore-boy to the estab- lishment. It was something wonder ful to witness the temerity with which he groomed the horses; passing under them, putting his hands into their mouths, lifting up their feet, and sun dry other fearless liberties. Their coats, too, soon shone with unwo onted luster under his ceaseless rubbing, and their joints became exceedingly round with luxurious living. Joel was also owner of 0 COW, large, dappled, with clear horns and fine eyes, but of exact ing disposition. The beautiful beast had unfortunately tender udder, but as 1t lay within the line of Absalom s duties, he proceeded to milk her. Sit ting down with accustomed assurance. he grasped the pail between his knees and was swiftly filling the vessel with snowy foam, when the animal kicked him headlong, drenching him from head to foot with milk. Getting up with the warm fluid dripping from his eyelids, nose and chin, he coolly went into the barn, brought out a strap, and fastening it to one of the animals front feet, threw : the strap over her back, then going ? around on the opposite side, drew up the cows foot against her body by : pulling on the strap and sitting upon it proceeded to milk. Once or twice the animal attempted her diverting 5 maneuver, but, finding that she could not successfully perform it without haz- s arding her own neck, she quietly sub mitted. Joel, who had witnessed this Imaginable encounter, was supremely ;: pleased, and went away chuckling about the boy's uncommon ''sand. " n This latter word in its slangy express y iveness exactly suited this big success full Westerner. It seemed little less e than an epitome of his life, and was - often sounded from his tongue with n sinewy zest Absalom also grew in |; favor with the crickety house-maid
 Ether. What with his physical and e mental spryness. his lacoaic speech + and willingness of spirit, his odd in-
 trigues and sly dislike of Mrs, Whitney, q were the games of checkers they
 played in the kitchen, and many @ were the whispered duets of indigna' d ton they held touching Mrs. Whitney !. unchristian treatment of little John n Earling. This was an unfailing foun
 tain of affinity at which they drank, r. looking into each others eyes from e either brink of the question, though, 1T e point of fact, it was some time ert If Absalom was aware that the crickety le Miss Popp returned his admiring gaze d owing to the abnormal indirectness O n her line of vision. But Absalom soor T: learned in spite of any lack of beauty is in these guiding stars, that about thu t. crooked orbs of little Miss Popp hi W own eccentric sphere of life began t' n revolve with a sweet and soothing is motion. She was, indeed, of mucl V, value to him; teaching him diligentl, 1T and studying diligently herself whei
 occasion presented, in order that sh
 might keep we'll abreast of this keen
 witted country boy. Again and ye
 again their heads were laid togethe
 over some troublesome problem
 usually with the result of Ah
 salon seeing its bottom first. A
 time progressed, however, and Absalor nd heightened in person and began phys en ically to look down upon little Mis
 Popp, she began to blush and shrln
 from their old familiar contact. Thi
 grieved and puzzled Absalom un speakably, and for many days he wen on about knocking his shins against fami e. liar objects and once he was notice
 by Miss Popp to have fallen in his pei '1 picking reverie over a wheel-barro'
 with his head under the fence. In tn v, undignifed attitude he remained som nd moments with his legs whipping th at- air, and when Miss Ether ran out an oy extricated him by pulling vigorous1
 nnon his feet he only stared at her ruI