The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-16
PROF. MEkhlCK'S CALF.
JOHANNA n. BRANDENBuRG
BY JOHANNA n. BRANDENBURG

Speedily forgetting the darkey's vigorous
kicks, the animal stopped as suddenly as
he had started and nearly choked with
wrath, old Rufus rose to his feet
"Oh, You dad blamed scoun'rel !" he
reared, to the baking bovine.
With great dexterity and enthusiasm, he
applied the toe of his heavy hrogau to the
bovines ribs.
Hold on Stop that, Rufus - com
manded Professor Mellick. "That is the
height of cruelty and wholly unnecessary
Stop it at once -
"Who me?"
'Yes you stop Immediately Here
that's no way to lead calf. Kindness
not cruelty, is the factor to be used. -
Rufus threw down the rope in high
dudgeon.
of yerselt don't like de way duz hit, -
he said, edo yer OWE leadin'. Take yer
ded.blamed calf -
The professor, descending from his perch,
grasped the rope.
''You viii see the power Of kindness
Come-sook ! Come--sook ~ he cooad
and for wonder, the animal followed him
in the most docil manner.
"Ab, ali = he cried. "S,e the effects OF
kindness I"
oval, III de5s he hornswaddled ~ was
old Ijufua's comment.
When obey had reached home the calf
was tied TO small tree, and Immediately
broke it down. He was tied to large tree,
and speedily skinned it az high as he could
reach.
"IEoisy lofty That will never dor'
cried the professor. "IlI hold his rope for
awhile"
He held the rope, and, with all The gen
tleness OF the lamb of tradition, the calf
proceeded to stuff himself with the succu-
lent grass. Not to lose any valuable time,
the professor drew from his pocket a volume
on Plantigrades and WAS soon wholly
absorbed in its contents. The rope in his
hands bothered him in turning the pages Of
the book. A bright thought struck him.
He tied the rope around his waist aud
went on reading, happy in his freedom
From his post OF observation, at the
wood-house, old Rufus shook his woolly
head and muttered
''lf dat hain't de -hlamedest fool
trick man cher cut up, | don't want
cent II sumpin' happened to start dat
calf, la~s almighty, but wouldn't dar be
fun ~
He looked about and spied stee-trap.
'Dess de thing ~ he muttered Greg.
gin I'll wake them bofe up a leetle."
The calf had been walking around in
circle and was now behind the wise man.
Setting the trap so that slight touch
would spring it, old Rufus sneaked caut-
iously up and snapped it on the calf's tail
As the iron jaws closed with painful
force, the calf uttered wild "baa ~ OF
alarm and sprang away with suddenness
that Learly ierked Prof. Mellick in two,
and then dashed madly across the lot.
The rapid passage across the lot was
rendered all the more exciting by the fact
that the calf knocked down and ran over
old Rufus before he could get out of the
way, and slammed Prof. Mellick with I'M
necessary force against the unyielding body
Of tree.
The picket-fence, three feet and a-half
high that surrounded the yard, proved no
hindrance to the progressive calf, and over
it went, with the trap sticking closer than
brother In vain the pundit strove to
unite himself. The knot had been ierked
too tight.
Not being as agile as the calf, he was
forced to exert all his power, aided by the
onward rush Of the animal, to enable him
to jump the fence.
With the exception of one foot he cleared
it, but that one generous pedal extremity
was caught between the pickets.
In a moment he was stretched out
straight, and seemed in a fair way to have
his leg extracted from ts socket by calf
power.
Just as it seemed as if the limb had
elongated several inches picket gave way
and the wise man was released and went
bounding along after the calf, which, with
roaring "blast, dashed down the street
in a cloud of binding dust.
There comes a cyclone up the road "
cried timid man ''By George, there are
two Of them A little one seems chasing
the big one ~
The big one was the Prof. Mellick and
oaf com bination. and the small one was
old Rufus, striving nobly to keep up with
them, but left hopelessly in the rear.
Unable to regain his footing, the pro-
fessor dragged along like the tail on hairy
kite. When they reached the paved por-
ton of the street, the dust no longer hid
their forms, and people were surprised to
see the enthusiastic and elaborate manner