The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-12-22

Egypt" replied JET. Look at his
hide!"
II was easy to do this. as the hair was
worn of in spots as big as dinner
plate. One eye was closed permanent
ly. and three-fourths Of his tail was
missing. He was frightfully bony. and
his bones cracked with every move he
made. We got him on his feet after
little while and drove him into our pas
ture. The cows eyed him curiously
for few minutes, and then took to
fight, bawling wildly, their tails In
the air. An old steer. being more
courageous. came near, when Egypt
to our surprise. gave the steer a kick
that nearly felled him to the ground.
"And he winked his good eye when
he did It," said JEFF. "Hs did. hon
estly!"
Egypt then lay down in shady,
grassy spot while jeff and speculated
what we should do with him il he did
not die. We talked the matter over at
the dinner table.
Hes not going back to those ciicus
men unless they come for him." said ia
ther. II saw enough Of their treatment
of him."
The end Of II all was that JEFF and ]
became the proud possessors OF old
Egypt. for father was too kind-hearted
TO send the poor beast astray.
Hes welcome to all the grass he
wants." said father. There's plenty OF
1t in the meadow. snd plenty of hay
when the grass is gone. JEFF and Jack
can have him in partnership"
The news Of our wonderful posses
sion soon went abroad, and all the boys
we knew in the town came out to our
farm in company with good many
boys we had never heard Of. All were
most friendly and cordial. however
They brought us gifts Of gum. pepper
mint drops, marbles and other things
desiring nothing in return but ride
on old Egypt.
Father forbade this. and said that the
presence of the entire boy population
of Hebron interfcred too much with the
work JEFF and l had to do on the farm.
So the boys were invited to return to
town, which they did after various dis.
paraging remarks in regard to old
Egypt, Jeff and myself.
Four weeks passed, and It wns won.
derful how Egypt picked up" Hestill
was, and ever would be. hairless in large
spots. One eye remained closed; ha
grew not in tail or In fat; but, as .Jeh
said, there was a marked change In his
manner.
Indeed. he became positively frisky
at times. and would chase the cows
around in the pasture Us II enjoying
their terror. He and the steer had evil
IDENTITY made treaty Of peace, for they
were the best of friends after the frst
week.
OF course old Egypt was an object OF
wonder to all travellers over tho eoun-
try road, and jeff and felt that ho con-
ferred quite o distinction on our farm.
"Ycu haven't got any camel" was
taunt JEFF was constantly fiinsing at
the other farmers boys, to which they
would reply:
I'VE don't want any old camel, un-
less he could be better-looking one
than you've got-an old hairless, bob
tailed, one-eyed rack-a-bones! What
good is he?"
Jack and have lots Of FUN riding ON
him. we answered. and this was true.
A light blow on Egypt's knees would
cause him TO kneel. Then jeff and |
would mount his back and ride around
the pasture in great glee. Ease, kind
treatment and unlimited food had
made such change in old Egypt that
he was quite strong enough to trot
around with JEFF and me on his back.
Our grown sister, Lucy, and her girl
friends often mounted for the novelty
of ride On cSmel.
1t was great FUN getting on his back.
and more getting off. The girls would
shout and shrek and cling to his hump
the moment he started. declaring that
they would fall Off, they lust would"
but they did not.
We lived near small schoolhouse.
The teacher, whose name was Nancy
Shumway. was n very worthy, amiable
woman, though somewhat eccentric.
She dressed in remarkably juvenile
manner for lady somewhat older
than my mother. She wore her hair in
long. stiff curls almost TO her waist,
and there were always pink or blue
ribbons futtering about her girlsh
gowns. She laughed a great deal and
affected a girlish manner. JEFF and I
were rather a5ashed to be called "Jetfle,
dear" and "Jacliy, boy" when jeff was
secretly planning the purchase of
razor and had escorted a certain Mary
Jane Snodgrass home from singing
school three or fourtimcs.
1t vas also unpleasant TO have Miss
Nancy offer to pay us in kisses every
time we did anything for her; but she
was really kind-hearted, good wom-
an, and an excellent teacher for the fall
term Of our school. which was attended
by little children only.
When Miss Nancy first saw old Egypt
she rushed up to him in her gir!ish
Wny: