The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-23
LITTLE PET CAME BACK,
Liberated Before Civil War, Turtle Too
Big to Keep When Found,


WALL" said old Ed AtweI. as soon
as he had succeeded in getting his pipe
going satisfactorily, Il never cared
none fer cats O. dogs, O. SIGH like pets,
but by gol, 1 he'd a mud turtle once,
that | set heap O. store by"
There was quite crowd gathered
in the Green Harbor village store one
day last summer Willing away the
time, and the talk had veered around
to pet animals. Ed had held his peace
for long time, but at last, when ev-
cry one had told his story, the weather.
beaten fisherman broke the silence.
Il ketched the turtle down in the
canal" he continued, way back be-
fore the war. I KEEP him awhile. but
when President Lincoln called fer
troope 1 listed long with the other
fellers. The night before 1 lef home
1 cut my name in the little feIler's shell
an let him go. By goI, hated ter do
it, / tell yer. set heap O. store by
him.
The end Of the day, last Wednesday,
found VIII Finnott, who drives the
butcher cart through the dusty high
way Of Marshfield and Green Harbor,
tired out. The days work had been
dusk he had been cutting rib roasts,
rump steaks and lamb chops until he
was sick 20 the hui DANCED business
Betsy, his old mare, shared his feelings
and logged along at a snaiFs pace,
adapting her speed to the qualities of
the road.
The warm May sun had long ago
sunk behind the low hills of Marsh
field hIIf tho aiV c+iII II
Wills thoughts unconsciousIy turned
toward his supper.
Flap, flap, flap, flap went the harness
about old Betsy; cre-eak. cre-eak
groaned the cart, in so perfect rhythm
that before he knew it the cadence
lulled him to sleep.
Suddenly old Betsy gave a loud snort
and, for the first time in years, SHE'D
violently, waking Will from his pleas
ant dream.
whoa, girl" he cried. whats the
matter with We? Can't We keep in the
road like a good Christian mare?
Whoa, I tell ye."
Betsey obeyed and came to a full
stop, her limbs trembling and her ewes
rolling about in terror. VIII descended
from his seat. No sooner had he reach
summat queer" His blood ran cold.
and icy shivers played tag up and
down his back. There in the middle
of the road was a horrible monster.
the like Of which he had never seen
before. In the dim shadows of the
evening it seemed to cover the width
of the road.
.1n bet it's a devil fish" CALCULATED
VIII to bis equine companion and seiz-
ing big club, he drew nearer for a better
view One good look and then his hearty
Scituate Op ~
Gee" he cried. "the DANCED things
nuthln' but VIVA cking big mud turtle
And sure enough, what had so badly
frightened Will and old Betsy was only
a mammoth turtle. ThrUSting his stick
under the shell by dint of much hard work
WIN turned the uncouth creature over on
It's pack. Its huge neck and its legs
waved frantically as it endeavored to
right itself -
When win was celebrating what he
should do with his capture. two neighbors
in the turtle and ''jest ter see what he'd
do. they Topped him over and were then
treated to surprise as great as that
which had Jared VIII. For Clearly carved
n. Atwell, 1850"
The prize was taken to the village store
There sat old Ed smoking and talking
with his crenies. The turtle was brought
up and placed in front of him. Holding
ltntern close. so that he could see plainly
the rudely carved shell. he slowly picked
out the letters. Then he Strafghtened his
spare shoulders, spat at the stove with
unerr1ng accuracy and said:
BY sol. l set a heap O. store bv thet
little turtle onct but guess I'll let him
go. e see, I'm Citing ruther old fer
pets.-Boston Journal.