The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-06-03
TWO LITTLE
VAGRANTS.
What Happened to Them Out in the
Big World.
BY ELIZABETH FLINT WADE.

Little Madame and Canard, her hus-
band, were to all appearances the most
contented couple on the Avery farm,
but appearances, as one learns in the
copy book, are often deceitful, and
Madame, in spite of her placid air and
her quiet manner, was at heart as dis
satisfied with her peaceful home as was
Rasselas in the Happy Valley. She
was always telling Canard of the fine
things that might be seen and enjoyed
in the great world outside the farm
gates, and trying TO persuade him to go
with her and see them. Canard list
ened patiently, but was quite content
to remain where he was and enjoy the
friendly gatherings of his companions,
happy enough il he had plenty to eat
and drink for the day. His favorite
saying was "Let tomorrow take care
of tomorrow"
However, day after day Little Mad
anne continued to beg her husband to
set forth in the world to seek their for
tunes, and at last Canard said:
"Well, Ducky, if your heart is set on
travelling, / will go at any time you are
ready"
al am ready now," said Madame,
''and We will start this very minute.
"Oh, not to-day" said Canard; to-
morrow would be far better"
Tomorrow, indeed?" exclaimed
Little Madame. ''Didn't you hear
Farmer Avery say this morning that
one should "Never put off till to-mor-
row what can be done to-day ?'
"Ye-es," said Canard slowly, and
then added quickly, "but heard Mrs.
Farmer Avery say yesterday that
Haste makes waste"
"WelI, Canard, I should like to have
YOU tell me what We have to waste but
time, and we are wasting that by stand
ing here talking come, you have said
you would go and we will start et
once" and Little Madame stepped
briskly down the path to the gate.
Canard followed more slowly, and
presently they stood in the road lead
ing out into the great world.
(Which way shall we go?" said
Canard as they stood looking up and
down the long, dusty stretch of road,
4 to in ha 81 y fsr
away.
"This way" said Little Madame,
stepping briskly along. "The sun will
be at our backs if We go this way, but
it doesn't matter which way we go, SC
that we only start::s9We will go till we
come to the end of the road, and ther
we will turn about and go to the othel
end, and thus we shall have seen the
whole world.
For time they enjoyed the walk
but by and by the sun shone hotter anc
hotter, the road was very dusty, ant
even sprightly Little Madame began
to feel weary. AS for Canard he wa'
quite disgusted, and proposed that the,
go back and start some other day,
when it was cooler.
"Oh, no." said Little Madame quick
ly. "We can rest bit here in th'
shade and then go on. If We had ;
drink we should feel all right. Hark
Don't hear the water running?" ant
she jumped up and ran little wa,
down the road.
"Oh, Canard," she cried, ''here is
beautiful brook, much nicer than TN
one we had at the farm. Come here
quick"
Canard hastened to join her ant
!, found clear stream of water gurglin
and singing by the roadside. How de
lic:ous the water tasted to these thirst.
little tramps, and Canard was so please
that he took a swim at once, in orde
to wash the dust off him.
IL was so charming spot that the
concluded to stay there for the rest {
the day. They followed the strear
across pleasant meadow to where
.. entered deep forest, and there the
rested till the shadows began
lengthen.
"Why not stay here all night?" sal
| Canard, when Little Madame aske
where they were to sleep.
, They found bed of moss on whic
, they slept as peacefully as if in the
snug home. The next morning, aft,
. a bath in the brook and breakfast
herbs and berries, they started agai
on their travels. The sun soon clouc
ed over and it began to rain, but tn
did not disturb them; in fact the
liked it better than the hot sun.
"It is so much nicer" said Lift
Madame, ''to be walking in the so
mud than to be scuffing along in Il
dust, that, for my part, hope it ms
rain all the time"
ats just the weather for ducks, ism
il, NV dear 90 said Canard, giving n
a funny wink of his eye.
The little couple Travelled on day a
ter day, meeting with many adve
lures. Sometimes they did not ha'
enough to eat, and they were oblig'
to sleep out of doors, but this they d
. not mind, as long as it was war
weather. They started out each NOR
ing hoping they would come to Il
q end of the road, and then they wou
turn about and travel back. Cana
. | was weary of their vagrant life, al