St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-09-27
GRANDMA'S PLA UNA TIES,

out upon the snowy stree Just fine tor
coasting," wondering how it happened
that there was always a reason why
she should stay at home when she wished
most to go to some place. She was
quite sure that she did not have "the
least bit OF cold;" all of her classmates
were going coasting that afternoon, and
Nina knew what splendid time they
would have; but mamma had said "No"
so firmly that Nina knew it was OF no
use TO tease.
Grandma and Jessie, Mina's little sis
ter sat by the fire roasting chestnuts
and making cats cradle" out of
string: they paid no attention to Nina
until she came and stood by Grandma S
chair.
Let's play something, Nina" said
Jessie who was always happy and
cheerful.
: 81 don't want to play" answered Mi
ma, very GROSSLY, for she was still think
ing of the coasting party.
when was your age, dear, would
have been glad to have any one TO play
with me, said Grandma, gently, as she
drew Nina up on the arm of the chair.
"What did you do when you were a
little girl, Grandma?' asked Jessie.
Didn't you have any little brothers or
sisters or next.door folks to play with
you?"
mo, not one" answered Grandma.
The only paymates had were a huge
shepherd dog that called DAN and a
tame tawu."
TEL us about them, Grandma" said
Nina, who had nearly forgotten about
the coasting party.
well" continued Grandma, when |
Was only eight years old my father
moved West to search for gold, but my
mother died in less than two years, and
l had to take care of myself most of the
time as best could.
1--WE lived in rudely built cabin halt
way up the side of high mountain, aud
our nearest neighbors were more than
two miles away. Dan and kept house,
and when our work was finished we
played the games which | taught him,
and sometimes went to the mine. Dan
could play hide-and-seek and could Jump
rope almost as well as l.
"The mine was only short distance
from our cabin, and when it was pleas
ant weather Dan and / always took
fathers dinner to him. Dan persisted in
carrying the bucket, and he was always
careful not to drop it or shake it.
zone evening in early winter father
came home bringing little fawn which
had been wounded by hunters and then
lost from the herd. We made a bed of
dry leaves for it in shed near the house
for long time it would not eat any
thing, but at last it grew more tame and
would eat bread-crumbs out of my hand.
81 thought great deal of the pretty
little thing, and it grew more playful and
tame every day, but it was long time
before Dan and the fawn became friends.
when at last the fawn was able to
walk, father built a fence around the
shed so that it might come out and play
in the sunshine. Dan would lie by the
door and watch it but he never ven
tured to join in its frolcs.
II kept it all winter, and by spring it
was so gentle that could let it run lose,
and it would always come home i'll the
evening. BY the close of summer Dan
and the. fawn had become warm friends;
they would play together for hours, but
if Dan became too rough, the tawn
would come to me for protection; or if
Dan got too hardsa blow, he would come
whining and lay his head in my lap.
zone afternoon early in November the
sky began to look dark, and the wind
commenced to blow terribly, and in less
than an hour the snow was falling so
thick and fast we could not see a dozen
Yards from the house. The fawn had
gone away in the morning, and had not
returned. Dan could not be still; he
would lie down by the fire and then go
to the door and bark to get out, until |
had to let him go. But he would not go
without me; when he found that l was
not coming he came back; so | put on
nv cloak and hat and followed him.
He went down the mountain path and
then started across very dangerous
piece OF ground where the rocks were
lose and there were many deep holes. l
followed Dan as faithfully as l could un-
til at last he stopped by one of the holes
and began to bark. l leaned over the
hole, and not far below could hear the
cry of the lost fawn. ..4f b
~ could not helpit out, so returned
home, but Dan would not go. By this
time father was at home, and we carried
a rope and ladder no the place where the
fawn was imprisoned. Father placed
+he ladder down in the hole, which hap