San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-28

II -
| a. W$SO- K1} to do it, for he
| ~ WS>N kSIV lived in the city,
M\\N~ and things in the
sNAM country had the
CN charm of novelty
W/ to him.
II was in the
early morning, and everything breathed
the freshness of the new day. The
grass and daisies along the road were
bright with the drops of dew, the
birds sang in the trees and the air
was cool and sweet. Pleasant things
] were all about Tom as he drove his
cows. A good breakfast awaited him,
he knew, and many things of interest
would make the day pass agreeably to
him
You would suppose Tom might be In
q good humor with himself and all the
world? Perhaps he was, but that did
not prevent him picking up stone
and hurting it with cruel force at old
Brindle, who led the small herd.
Hurry up, you old slowfoot"
With whacks and blows from heavy
switch he hurried all the gentle ami
mails into trot, wisely, however, al
lowing it to subside before they came
within sight of the farmyard.
Carlo, the house dog, lay on back
porch at some distance from the yard.
Before letting down the bars Tom took
a shooter from his pocket. He was
proud of his aim. More than one bird
had felt the sting of it.
A howl from Carlo showed that
Toms skill justified his opinion of it.
The poor dog sprang up, and, with a
quick glance about him, ran around
the house out of sight.
1t was too good not to be repeated.
On the ridge pole of shed near were
half dozen fine white brahmas, trim
ming their feathers, with quiet cackles,
as If expressing to each other their APP
proval of the days outlook.
Snat-again went the gun. With a
squawk one of the hens fell over,
while the others dispersed, with cack-
I les now disturbed and excited.
All this while the cows were leisurely
coming up to the bars. Tom let them
down, and impatiently waited while
they passed through.
"Hellow, old Sawdustl Want bite
Of GRASP"
His grandfather's horse was tied to
the fence waiting for the old gentle
man to take biz usual leisurely morning
ride about TIE farm.
Quick as flash Tom had gathered a
handful Il grass which he held out to
nm. Sa1<dust sr4 fed at it, then, in
the dainty inanne1 of his kind, opened
his lips for taste.
But all relish for the morsel was lost
lin the prick Of the thistle hidden In
the deceptive treat. Sawdust drew
violently back and reared, breaking
Ibis hitching strap-not by any means
| a new one, but considered all-suffcient
Il for horse of his always staid de-
meanor.
| There was sudden disturbance
lamong the cows as Sawdust careered
Iabout the barnyard as if possessed with
the idea that he had gone back to the
Idays of his colthood.
Mike, the hired man, ran out of the
stable and seized the bit of broken
Istrap hanging 10 his neck in time to
prevent any mischief being done. As
mike, while leading the horse to the
barn for another strap, looked keenly
labout as if in search of cause for the
disturbance, Tom quietly disappeared
and made his way in to breakfast.
Half an hour later he again walked
towards the farm-yard, passing the
chicken-house, where Susan, the maid
was feeding the pretty fowls gathered
there.
81 can't guess what's come to this
hem" pointing to one which lay on the
ground.
She stopped and set it on its feet, bu
it fell over again.
Looks as if it's leg was broke, poo
thing said Susan, with a sorrowfu
shake of her head.
Tom at once recognized it for thu
hen which had played the part OF tar