The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-07-16
A FRENCHMAN'S GOAT

f. Will liS SOdtS.
He lost them all the same way. One
1ne day they would break their rope
md run up the mountain side, where
the wolf killed them. Nothing held
them back, neither the kindness of
their master nor the fear of the wolf.
They were independent goats, so it
seemed, who longed for freedom and
fresh air at any price.
The good Frenchman, who did not
understand the nature of his animals
in the least, was bewildered He would
my: "It is all over. My goats don't
IKE to stay with me. shan't keep any
MORE
All the same, he did not get discour-
aged, for after having lost six goats, one
inter the other, he bought seventh,
unly this time he was careful to take it
while it was still young so that it
might get used the better to staying
with him.
All, madcap! She was a dear crea-
aRre, that little goat of the Frenchman!
Hbw pretty she was, with her soft eyes,
her funny chin whiskers, her shining
black hoofs, her little striped horns and
with her silky overcoat of white fur
She was almost as beautiful, my mad
sap, as the little white goat of Esmer-
aida, and, with all that, good and affeo-
donate, allowing herself to be MIXED
without stirring. without ever putting
her foot into the bucket. A darling lit
tie goatl
Behind his house the Frenchman had
lot with a hawthorn hedge around it.
This is where he put his new boarder.
He tied her to stake on the most beau
tiful spot in the meadow, taking care
30 give her good deal of rope, and
fom time to time he came out to see
whether she were doing WELL The lit
ale goat was very happy and cropped
me grass SO demurely that the French
man was delighted. "At last, thought
Che poor man, sat last there is one who
won't grow tired here!"
The Frenchman was mistaken. The
goat found it tiresome
One day she said, looking up at the
mountains
How happy one must be up therel
What fun to frisk over the rocks with
cut that horrid rope to make the neck
sore! 1t may be good enough for DON
Key or for calf to be shut up in pas
ture. Goats need the open country"
From that moment the grass of the
meadow tasted fiat. Life became bur-
den. She grew thin and her milk gave
nut. 1t was pity to see her tug on her
rope all day, with her eyes turned to-
l,n fa., ha,. - c
iended, bleating piteously all the while.
The Frenchman saw very well that
something was the matter with his goat,
snly be did not know what it was. One
morning, when he had finished milking
Aer, the goat turned her head and said
IA her own speech:
Listen, master. ! am very miser-
sble here Let me run up the noun
tain.''
"Gracious mel She, too?' cried the
Trenchman in dismay, and the bucket
fell from his hand Sitting down then
m the grass at the side of his goat, he
asked: "How is this, Daisy? You don't
wish to leave me, do your"
"Yes, sir" answered Daisy.
Isn't there grass enough?"
"Oh, yes, sir. "
Perhaps your rope is too tight. Shall
Elengthen it little?"
'Tisn't worth while, sir. -
'sWell, then, what is the troublef
What do you want?"
"Iwant to run up the mountain side"
My poor love, don't you know that
bhere is wolf up in the mountains?
What will you do when he comes?"
II can butt him with my horns, SIR.
"The wolf will laugh at your horns.
He has killed my other goats, who had
longer horns than yours. You have
heard of that old Russell, who was here
last year-an old mother goat, strong
and ugly like a buck? She fought all
night long with the wolf; then in the
morning the wolf killed her."
'sThat doesn't make any difference,
master. Let me 60 up to the mountain"
Great heavensp' said the French
man. "What OH earth have t,.ey done
% all my goats? Another cue which
the wolf will take from me No. no. I
will save you in spite of yourself,
naughty thing, and lest you break your
cope I will lock you up in the stable,
and you shall Ttay there for good"
So the French man put the goat into
y ozark stable and locked and bolted the
door behind hin Unluckily he had for
gotten the winLow, and his back was
scarcely turned before the little one
npped out.
When the white goat had climbed the
mountain, there were 10Y and happiness
everywhere. Never had the old pines
seen so pretty creature. She was well
1Omed as little queen. The chestnut
frees stopped down to the very earth to
ret her with the ends Of their branches.
The golden jennets opened to mako q
massage for her and smelled as sweet as
1hey could. All the mountain side babe
her welcome.
You can fancy, madcap mine, how
happy our little goat was-no more
rope, no more stakes for her, nothing to
keep her from frisking about and graz
ing where she liked. There was grass
there up to her horns and higher, grass