The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-06-03

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Canard, however, had resolved that
when they turned about and reached |
the farm gates again, he would not go |
a step farther, but would stay at home |
for the rest of his days.
''If only knew the way home," he
said one cold, windy morning when he !
had had a poorer breakfast than usual,
81 would start this minute. / am sick
of having no place of my own, and,
for my part, l think the world apretty
poor place and wish were back IN my
yard.n
Though Madame wished SO too, she
would not confess it.
Don't fret, Canard, DEAR" she said
cheerfully ~ am sure that by to-mor-
row, or at least by the day after, we
shall find some place that We shall like
far better than the one We have left"
The morrow came and many NOR
rows followed, but the wanderers SEEM
ed no nearer finding a home or for
tune than they did the day they set
out, and it was hard for even Little
Madame to keep up her spirits. The
weather was getting cold, and now and
then Canard thought he saw little
frost on the grass when he awoke in
the early morning.
The houses, they now noticed, were
closer and closer together, and one
morning, instead of the dusty road or
the green grass on which to walk, they
found the road filled with hard stones,
while by the side of it large fiat ones
covered nearly every bit of the grass.
"What does this mean ~ said Can
ard, for the rough stones hurt his wea-
ry feet. "I do believe We have come to
the very worst part of the world"
Little Madame was as much puzzled
as Canard was, but she told him that
very likely they had now come to the
place where they should find their
fortune. They met many people, but
while some looked at them curiously
no one spoke to them. The stones in
the street were hard and rough and
Canard was so thirsty that he thought
he would give his best feather for
drink. If they stopped to rest, dogs,
which were the special fear of Mad
anne, ran and barked at them, so that
the tired pair were obliged to keep
moving. Finally they grew so faint
for the want of food, for they had eaten
nothing since early morning, that they
ventured to sit down under maple
tree, where the grass was as soft as vel
vet Some children came out of a house
near by and boy, seeing the couple
sitting on the bank, scraped up a hand
ful of gravel and threw at them, so
they rose and hurried on.
They had learned much since they
had been out in the world. They had
learned that everyone cares most for
himself, and that if one has no friends
| it is hard to make or find them.
Little Madame talked less and less,
but she thought the more.
"How foolish was" she pondered,
''to persuade Canard to ccme away
from our home, when we were 80 hap
py. Now we are homeless, and friend
less. No one cares for us, or what be-
comes of us.n
"Here is fine large meadow" said
Canard just then, stopping before
beautiful lawn, "and see what fine
shower i'm the CENTRE" which was his
way of describing lawn sprinkler.
''They were about TO rush up to it to
get drink when Madame stumbled
over a small board set next to the walk.
She picked herself up and saw that the
board had letters OH it. With some
difficulty she spelled out the letters:
.K-E-E-P O-F-FT-H-E GRASS"
"Come here, Canard," she cried. at
says Keep off the grass Keep off the
grass, indeed. What sort of country
is this, where one is not allowed to set
foot on the grass?'
They turned away sadly, feeling that
they had come, as Canard feared, ito
the very worst part of the world"
Though Madame was brave little
thing she was now thoroughly dis
couraged, and told Canard that she
was sorry she had ever thought of leav-
ing home. Canard refrained from say
ing "I told you So" but said that he
was glad to have had the experience !;
he was free to say, however, that he
had had enough of wandering.
They walked slowly along turning
first one corner and then another, but
never finding place to rest. 1t was
nearly night, and as they were passing
through wide street, they came to a
large gate, which stood wide open.
"Look here, Canard," said Madame,
doesn't this remind you of the gate at
home?''
at does, indeed" said Canard with
sigh.
"Look, quick, Canard! Look over
the door. Home for the Friendless'
is what it says. Surely this must be
the place for u.s."
. They walked in rather timidly, and,
having learned by experience that the
front door seldom opens for vagrants,
+ walked around to the back of the house.
No one was in sight, but a plate oi
! scraps stood outside the kitchen door
"Just rs If they expected us" said
, Little Madame, "and knew we should
be hungry when we came"
They helped themselves and were SC
, nearly famished they left not crumb
Then they walked about the yard, and
, finding some straw in a corner, snug
? gled down in it and were soon fast
r sleep.
{ In the morning they were up brigh
4 and early, inspecting every nook ant
corner of the yard, and when the in
$ mates arose they were surprised to SCI
= the couple gravely parading about thu
yard as if they belonged there. Th'
e cook opened the door, and, calling q
/ them, gave them some breakfast. How
e glad they were for a good meal, an'
' how nice it seemed 10 have it given L
them instead of searching for it them
I selves.
r AS they were taking little wash II
pan of water that the good-nature'