The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-03-01

ndiu-ncdIleQ WOulhn. IDui Antut NOlh
was work, as he had found to his cost,
and was not to be lightly thrown away.
''If you don't want cat, he sug.
gested presently, "why not have a
trape"
The old woman's eyes sparkled.
That's just what I'll do, she cried,
as though the idea had never present
ed itself to her before. "You shall 60
to town this very day aud get me a
trap; and be sure to get one that will
choke and squeeze them. I'll kill
every rascally mouse that shows his
head about this place. You won't
mind riding in the cold, win you
But you've got to put on warmer clothes
before you stir out of this house, can
tell you that y
So Walter found himself enveloped
in heavy clothing that was fished out of
some mysterious recess, and hurried oil
to town for a mouse-trap, as soon as
breakfast was over. He would have
given much to know the fate OF the
hired man before he went As for that
cat, whose .'hash" vas settled" that
would not bear thinking Of Aud to
be sent fora trap that would "ehoke
and squeeze, was there ever so dread
fal an old woman2
But she had given him clothing, at
least, had let him ride one of her horses
and had intrusted him with money
Few people would have shown such
confidence in perfect stranger Wal
ter felt that he could nct secure that
mouse-trap and return home fast
enough.
Here it is, be cried, as he entered
the kitchen and exhibited his purchase.
''Six little holes, you see, for six mice,
and when Mr.. Mouse puts his head in
there aud begins gnawing the cheese,
snap goes this piece Of wire around
his neck, aud there he is"
Miss Patience watched the batting
of the trap with much interest.
81 shall catch six mice in this every
night, she declared; ''and then, after
awhile, may be can sleep"
All the remainder of that day, as
Walter worked at getting wood ana
water, and making a new shelf in the
pantry, or mending a broken table. he
was haunted by gloomy thought of
the hired man. Once he caught a
glimpse of him going across the barn
yard, and several times be heard him
whistling merrily about his work. The
bolt had not yet fallen; but Walter felt
sure, from the awful expression on the
face of Miss Patience, that some dread
ful punishment was going to be visited
on the unhappy man. Perhaps it
would be only the worse because il was
delayed. If Miss Patience could think
up such awful things on the spur Of
the moment, what might she not think
of when you gave her time?
Walter went to bed, thinking of Miss
Patience and the visiting cat, and Jim
Long-and in another minute, it SEEM
ed to him, it was broad day. He dress
ed aud ran down stairs, to find Miss
Patience sitting red-eyed aud pale by
the kitchen stove.
"SIeepr she echoed fgrimly in an
swer to his question. ~ reckon you
can sleep, for some folks have no hearts,
anyhow. Why, have been awake the
whole blessed night, keeping the mice
away from that trap"
"What! Didn't you catch any
mice?n cried the astonished boy.
''No, didn't p she said snappishly.
"Fhey were dead set IN getting into
that trap, but do You suppose was a
going to have their necks broken right
before my eyes? There were two of
iem, big one and little one, that
had TO watch the whole night long.
You may just put that trap in the Fl re,
Walter. wouldn't have another such
night, IL the mice were to pack the
house and all into the next county"
Walter was staring at Miss Patience
with bewildered eyes.
Miss Patience he said after little,
queer break coming into his voice;
"what did you do with the cat that
came to live with you once?n
eDon't taik 10 me about cats % cried
Miss Patience. II won't have cats
about me. put it in basket and
took it to town, aud gave it to a wo-
man that wanted it for pet"
Walter began to laugh, and to draw
a little closer to Miss Patience.
"And you are not really going to
send the hired man away ?" he ventur-
ed, with new light in his eyes
'.He deserves it % said fierce, grim
old Miss Patience, frowning dreadful
ly: sbut It's too cold to-day, aud |
think now | will wait till spring.
wish you would call him in, Walter.
I have a mince pie that | want to send
to his mother"
And then all at once Miss Patience
and Walter were the best friends in the
world, and were talking together at
such rate that the hired man leaned
up against the door and gasped when
he came in unexpectedly and heard il.
Could that be grim Miss Patience, the
dreadful old Tartar, who was sure to bite
peoples heads of, whatever they did
or said
That very day Walter went to town