The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-07-30

an idiotQ" And without waiting for
the third "Chaudron" of Nine. Simon,
NoIraud, evidently wounded, turned
his heels and placed himself in front OF
me, showing me the door by alook and
saying as distinctly as it is permitted
dogs: "Well will you Gomez
followed him meekly. He kept on
ahead and we passed through the VII
lage thus. The children romping IN
the street recognized my guide.
He, Noiraudl good old Noiraud!'
and they tried to play with him, but
he averted his head disdainfully with
the air of a dog who has no time to
amuse himself, but who is doing his
duty and earning thirty sous. One of
the children cried: Let him alone.
He is taking the monsieur to the
Chaudron-how d'y do, monsieur!"
Ismiled, but awkardly, I know. I
felt embarrassed, even humiliated. /
was, in fact, dominated by this ami
NAL. He vas for the time my master;
he knew where he was going and I
did not. I was in haste to leave the
village and be along among the beau
ties of nature with Noiraud, whose
mission it was to make me admire
them.
These beauties OF nature were, to
commence with, an awful burning
dusty road, under a broiling SUD. The
dog marched briskly along. 1 tried to
moderate his gait.
"Noiraud, good dog, not so fast, not
so fast"
Noiraud turned a deaf ear and fol
lowed his little path until I attempted
to sit down by the wayside under
a tree which threw a thin shade. He
was seized by a fit of wrath and
barked with a little furious voice,
throwing irritated chances at me-evi-
IDENTIFY what I was doing was contrary
to the rule-and the yappings were so
sharp, so piercing, that I arose to fol
low the path. Noiraud claimed down
Immediately and commenced to trot
gaily before me. | had understood.
He was content.
Afew minutes later we came to a de
licious road, shady, Powered. perfumed
and full of freshness and murmuring
of spring. Noiraud at once started off
at a gallop and disappeared in the
green. l followed him a trjf1e breath
less A hundred feet and I found my
Noiraud awaiting me With head held
high and shining eye, sort of
chamber of verdure, liVU A1s
twinkle of a wee cascade. The" Fl
an old rustic bench, and from this
Noiraud glanced with impatience to
my eyes, and back again. This glance
said:
Now here is a place to rest. 1t is
nice here; it is cool. You wanted to
stop in the hot sun. Come now and
sit down; 1 don't object"
So I sat down and lighted a cigar. I
almost offered one to Noiraud, but the
thought that he might prefer a lump
of sugar came to me. He caught it
adroitly on the fly, ground it up quick
Iy, then lay down and drowsed at my
feet, He was evidently accustomed to
make a little halt and take a little nap
at this place. He slept ten minutes. L
felt perfectly tranquil. Noiraud had
inspired me with absolute confidence;
I had resolved to obey him bliDdly.
He arose, stretched himself, threw
me a little side glance signifying:
start up, my friend" and like two
old friends we wound through the
woods, enjoying the charms, the silence
and the sweetness of the place. Pres
emily we came to a path at the left.
Noiraud hesitated a little, reflected,
and then continued in the road, but
not without q trifing uncertainty in
his gait; he stopped. He must have
made a mistake-yes, for returning a
few steps he led the way to the left un
til we arrived in a sort of a grotto,
where Noiraud, pointing with his nose
upward, invited me to contemplate the
great height of the rocks which walled
it in. When Noiraud thought I had
sufficiently admired it he hurried back
to the little path we had been follow
ing. The road became steep, uneven,
rough. advanced but, slowly, with
great precaution. No'r4ud jumped
blithely from rock to rock, but did not
abandond me, now and then throwing
me a glance of the NEST touching
solicItude. At last I began to hear the
FLASHING of water and NCicaud yapped
joy ully. Bear up" he said bear