The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-03-20

JcIGA luInt't dbluptlN ill't "dlNS'i
into the house. A quaver had come
into his voice, and he was too proud
Il man to let the world see such weak
II IS.
The neighbor, Henry Boone, man
of middle years, watched the old man
for a minute in silent pity. then walked
away.
The unique originality ofJerry Dun
cans character made him ofpeculiar in
terest to his neiGhbOrs. His hopeful, in
dustri iou s,independent nature command
ed their sincere respect, which appreci-
alton was practically evinced by a gen
erous patronage of the milk which was
his sole dependence for living. The
queer application of his quaint philoso-
phies to the problems Of life was a
source of much entertainment He
would permit no person to prefix Nr.
TO his name. He claimed that God in
troduced Adam to the world as Adam.
not Mr.. Adam; and he wanted no bet
ter authority on etiquet than that. SO
he addressed all persons by their Christ
ian names, and in indulgence to his
whim every one called him Jerry.
And it is in Difference to the old man S
feelings that | take the same liberty.
Jerry entered the house. took seat
in his great armchair. where he re-
mianed for some time in moody contem-
plation.
"Perhaps my faith amt strong er-
nough," he reasoned to himself. "There
may be some good in Betty's death eff
| only had the penetration to see it.
P'rhaps will see it in time. | don't
know as twas intended fer us to inter
prit the divine myst res all to once"
The grief from great loss male him
restless: so he GOT up and went back
to the barn. He had travelled back and
dav. He took seat on an old box by
Betty's body and stroked her stiff,
white hair. As Jerry sat looking at
his dead COW an idea flashed through
his mind that made him fairly jump to
his feet 1t came to him like an inspi-
ration Jerry certainly accepted it as
such.
"IIl do it'll do it :" he exclaimed.
"I'll stuff Betty; I'll preserve her in
that way for me to look ut. It'll be
sech a comfort to me.
Hunting and trapping had been .]er-
rvs pursuit in his younger years.
And in connection he practiced the art
of taNidermy and sold stuffed animals
at fancy prices.
Wit, the cspousal Of the plan Of
stuflins hi; COW. the old mans whole
being was aroused to enthusiastic ac-
ton. He had not felt such zeal for
years and years. He did not stop to
weigh the practical issues of the Iues-
ton. as to cost labor, and what he
would do with the cumbersome body
of a stuffed COW. At the first concep-
ton of the idea, he accepted it com
pletely and conclusively as a fitting
and pleasant thing for him to do in
honor of Betty's past virtues.
In this inspired frame of mind he
went to work. \ nan was hired to
assis in the heaviest of the labor. 1t
was a tedious and difficult task for the
the old man; but patiently and dill
gently he persevered, until at last
Betty stood, mounted, on the barn
floor, in all the glory of her best days.
She was solid white in color. and Jer-
rv had washed her hair and brushed it
until it glistened with a snowy white
ness.
There was just one flaw i'll her ap-
paarance-one of her horns was bro
|
ken. Jerry had thought nothing of
this during Bctty's life; but now that
her good looks were the object of his
ambition. this imperfect member was
a source Of great annoyance to his
artistic eye. One eveing as he sat
alone thinking of the broken horn and
how he could remdy it, his eyes chanced
to light ON the antlers OF moose hang
: inr on the wall, cherished relics of his
huntn dlvs. As we have seen, Jerry
was Of Il f:lnciul turn of mind, and as
he gazed on the antlcrsa thought came
to him that made him burst out laugh
ing.
'I'll try it, sures | live he said
The next morniug the great antlcrs
We're taken down and carried to the
barn. Brtty's horns were removed
and these were substituted in then
: stead. When Jerry had completed
the change he stood off and viewed the
: amalgamatel creature. and he laughed
rs h had not drnr for Years.
Nv ell. h. exclaimed. in Il delighted
! voice. ''ct haven't created Il new amer
null Why. Betty. YOU don't know
: how we'll You look. You wouldn
- know Your own self.
> Fo.' fear Of being laughed at Jerry
had k'pt his operations with the COW
. 4 profound secret, pied ging the man
i to secrecy who had assisted him. Bu
after adjusting the antlers he regarde,
his success as such Il triumph of ar
he could no longer keep it to himself
e SO that evening as Mr.. Boone was pass
|, inc by. Jerry called out