The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-12-26

Donald had owned magnificent New
foundland dog, Prince by name. The
Black Prince we youngsters called him
not only on account OF his color, but
also because his chivalrous and daring
character greatly resembled, in our es-
timation, that OF the famous parsonage
in English history for whom we had
named him. Indeed Prince had once
saved his masters life when the latter
was one day, in an outlying field, sud-
denly attacked by furious half wild
buiiao bull. Hence Donald was 80 great
" attached to the creature that he had,
notwithstanding the added expense,
taken him along on his tedious journey
much TO our regret, as we sorely missed
the grand Old fellow in all our outdoor
sports.
$50, on this New Years day, all of
Us, even down to 9-year-old Margery,
thought constantly OF the :araway pair.
But the rites Of hospitality could not be
neglected, and by and by, stimulated
Icy the puTposed gayety Of our visitors,
al OF Us young folks joined, just in the
gloaalingi in ronping game OF hide
and seek
AT ordinary times our big ten room
loghouse was lighted by homemade tai
low candles, but on festive occasions
my mother used sperm ones. Numbers
OF these were now burning, in addition
to the great open fires, making all with
in doors altogether too light for the
proper enjoyment of our game 80, by
unanimous consent, we agree that the
'hiders' should have the privilege of the
fast darkeniag wood shed, stable and
nearest barn.
"The play went mcrrily on for half
an hour or -, each successive seeker
generally routing out the most cunning
ly concealed 'hiders' in no time But
then little Agnes Warwick 50 artfully
hid herself that tie seeker Of the mo-
meat, utterly falling to discover her,
was finally obliged to call upon the
whole crowd for assistance.
High and low, up and down,
through stables lofts, between wood
piles, behind straw stacks, inside the
big tanning mill, over grain bins and
under the barn, we hunted without sue
cess. Then, gathered in . cluster on
fla tI,ra..l, ;,,, H.,r v.-a x,-at-a ..Iorsf o.,
give up and le. the little mischief find
herself, when, through the open door,
into which the pale moonlight stream
Ell, a dark body rushed, shot past Us
and sprang over into nearly empty
haymGw, whence instantly came Il
greatly rustling and series Of inarti-
culate crics-from the now discovered
Agnes-which sounded TO Us ike those
Of fear and pain.
IA bear 4 bearu screamed the
elder. Miss Warwick. y bear is killing
the childr These brutes are quite plen-
tifui in our ncighborhOod.
'Pshaw" exclaimed my brother
Hugh, 'bears don't come ont in winter
.'No, nor they don't have long tails
either, guess, wisely observed little
MargeFy.
discovering from our momentary as
constituent, we young men and boys
were in the act OF rushing to the rescue
when out of the manh0le of the nov
crept little Agnes, laughing half hys-
terically and encircling with one arm
the neck ofa big black dog
"'Why, its Prince! Donald's Black
Prince all of Us simultaneously shout
cd, for now we plainly saw the peculiar
heart shaped breast spot which was the
only speck OF white on the glossy coat
o. ouc long lost friend.
at really seemed rs if the wise old
fellow had stealthily watched our play
until ne found what the trouble was,
and then, with deliberate parpose TO
surprise Us, he dashed past without
greeting, and guided by his unerring
nose had speedily torn the hay off the
form OF his wei remembered playlel-
low, for pretty Agnes Warwick used 70
spend fully q much time al our home
"a Mt her own.
"Now, having SO well succeeded in
creating sensation, Prince threw off
ali disguise, and after hilariously jump
ing upon each of us in turn gambold,
blrsled and frisked around in M ecstay
of delight, while we all started in
wild race to the house.
Evidently some one-perhaps with
news of Donald-had arrived, for q
strange sleigh stood before the open
door, and rs we neared the house we
could hear my fathers voice ringing
out in tones which did n0s sound like
those of grief.
There's word from Donald Come
on yelled my brother Archie as he
spraug to the leading place.
''The other Is OF lis followed pell-
neil, almost tumbling over each other
in our eagerness, and burst like a cy-
clone into the big parlor. Then the
old roof shook with our half frantic
cheers, for there, in the center OF the
room, stood Donald himself. He was
brown as an Indian and bearded like
well like any gold digger, bat was
the same old Donald, still, while clasp
ed to his breast, with her arms about
his neck, lay my dear little mother,
softly crying in speechless joy"
Here poor Fred almost broke down,
and not homesick man ofus all could
trust himself to speak. Presently, how
ever, the young feliow-he was only 10
went on:
"Boy-I-tell you - this-was-al-
nost-too-much for me. I'll never
forget that time il should live thoU-
sand years. Ii seemed like getting my
brother back irony the grave itself
Some OF us cried like babies, and even
The stern old colonel himself had to pre-
tend that the open door blew the fire
smoke into his eyes.
AT last we quieted down little and
after the two hungry travelers-Blac!l
Prince and his master-had eaten a
good dinner, Donald told Us his story.
II v-o1Id fake mo all night TO reDeat X