The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-23

/ Buster John more indignant than
ever ran ahead, called his grandfather
and asked him to go and see about the
baby in the wagon, telling him hurried
/ ly how queerly the man had acted.
But the White-haired Master shook
his head. Hes only playing with you"
he said.
The children were in despair at this,
for they were sure that something was
wrong. Even Aunt Minervy Ann had
said so. Buster john began to pout,
and Sweetest Susan was ready to cry.
She looked appealingly at her grand
father, her eyes swimming in tears.
What IS it, SWEETEST" the White
haired Master inquired.
THAT poor little baby, she said con-
trolling herself the best she could: IN
dream about it all night"
We'll, don't cry; We'll see about it, -
remarked the grandfather soothingly.
By this time the wagon had come up
The driver bowed politely and would
have gone on. but 1.-THE White-haired
Master motioned him to stop. This he
did, but with no good grace. He pulled
up his mules. and sat on the seat eX-
pectantiY, with a grin in his face that
was half a scowl.
You came from Milledgeville way?"
the ehildren's grandfather inquired.
:
quickly; them children there"
No said the White haired Master,
.frowning a little. II was simply in
quiring.
The man laughed. "Wen. I come
from hathaway"
What news?" asked the White
haired Master.
Lets an lots; I couldn't tell you in
a week. The wide world is turned end
! IN pr+4e- dor in lot I-1,n Cd
burnin', rippin', rarin', roarin', snortin'
You know WHAT
The man closed his restless, rowing
eyes. We'll, down yon way they're
tarin' ND the railroad tracks while the
brass ban plays ketched 'em doin'
of 1t, an l danced wi 'em 'roun' the
fire time or two, an then I picked up
this Vaughn and mules and come on
bout my business.
The man wagged his head up and
down, and rolled it from side to side,
and shifted his glanceS, and giggled in
very excited manner. The children's
grandfather tried TO find some basis for
the mans strange actions; tried to du-
plicate them in his memory, but failed.
Then he asked:
What have you in your wagon?"
We'll. fust an last, I've got some few
bed cloze, and some few ruffage for the
mules, an then-well, yes. there's a
cat l picked up, a reg'ler mouser. She
growls, but there ain't nothin' the mat
ter wi err
In RESPONSE to this statement, the
wagon cover was lifted high enough
for the child to put its head out. It's
little face was distorted with fear or
despair.
me amt no tatr' she said; my
nanny say I'm her 'itty bitsy baby:
my daddy say I'm his big 'itty man:
my nunky tall me Billy Bistit. o, pease
lift me outer here. Me wanter see my
daddy an mammyr' The child had :
cried and screamed so much that its
voice had harsh and unnatural sound
1t pierced the tender heart of the
White-haired Master like a knife and
reused him to a fury of indignation.
Is that what you call a cat, you
trifing scoundrel?" he cried. He passed
through the gate and was now close to
the man.
That's what" answered the man
with a chuckle. Hell bite, an he'll
scratch, an he'll growl. He also calls
himself Billy Biscuit, but do he look
like a biscuit? You wouldn't want me
to call him a chicken, would your"
He stuck out his tongue as he said
this, and looked about as foolish as it
is possible for a grown man TO look,
and the grandfather's Indignation
to feeling of alnazement and
disgust.
is the child yours?" he asked
why, whose would he be, mister?
You'd be errytated ef you wuz young
ster an had TO ride all day in kivered
now wouldn't you?'
The observation was just one con-
the source; and though it
lacked feeling and sympathy, the
White-haired Master could make no re-
ply.
This is a likely place to camp-in
there by the spring the man remark
ed EFF / thought l mought be so bold
as to AK YOU"
You may said the White-ha haired
Master. Drive in the gate here and
unhitch under the trees yonder. There's |
fire under the washpot You'n find
plenty of wood to start it up, hut be
careful about it; don't burn any of the !
fencing"
The man drove in as directed. turned |
his wagon round, the tongue pointing !
to the gate. unhitched his mules. wat |
cred them without taking the harness
off, and then gave them two bundles of !
fodder apiece to MUNICH on. Then he |
got out his fryingpan, his skillet and |
his coffee pot and finally proceeded to !
Iindle a fire.
Buster John and Sweetest Susan