Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-10-28
ALESSON LEARNED.
ay AL.ExANpER GODiN.

(Copyrignt, iSV4, Dy w. H. l1SaA
Once Upon a time there lived on tne
big steppes OF Russia a hunter who had
two dogs which he loved more thar
anything In the world.
One day he went hunting with them
across the steppes for many. many
miles, but did not bag as much as a
single hare or even a wild dove. To-
ward evening he saw faraway what
looked like a campfire, n when ne
went closer he saw that it was an old
stump all afire, and In the center was
a snake. which cried TO him:
"Oh, little father help me out OF
this and / will make you happy Tor IRE.
I will teach you to know every Ian
guage spoken on earth, n even to
understand what the animals say"
II should willingly help you," replied
the hunter, but i do not know how
That I shall tell o Put your
ramrod across the fire and then I can
crawl III on IT."
The hunter did as he was taught and
the snake made its escape.
81 thank you very much, little father.
and from now on you will understand
the language Of every living being, but
you must not tell anybody that you
understand 1t or you will drop dead i'm
mediately."
The hunter went on his way, but he
was far away from home and 1t soon
became SO dark that he decided to
camp u overnight under a clump OF
trees. He lit a campfire m laid down
ito sleep. And her he heard how his
two dogs began TO talk to each other.
II tell you, little brother" said the
ms Il think you had better stay here
and keep watch over our master and
l will run home and keep thieves away
from the house."
At sunrise the dog returned from the
hunters home and said to his comrade.
who a slept under the trees:
Good morning. brother. / hope you
had a quiet night
II have slept hne.", said the other.
and how did your night pass?"
"Miserably! When I came home the
mistress began to scold me that / dared
come home without my master, and
threw an old crust at me. I just looked
at 1t, u never touched it, but Their she
got mad and gave me a terrible thra0h-
ing with the broomstick, SO that she
nearly broke my ribs. And in the
night, whein / had just fallen asleep,
thieves came around and I went after
them and chased them away and got a
good bite out of one fellows leg
The hunter was listening and prom
jsed himself that he would give his
wife a good sound scolding for the way
she had treated his faithful dog.
He returned home and greeted her:
o morning. little mother" And
she answered in her most pleasant
voice:
Good morning. little father"
Did the dog come home last night?'
Yes"
And did you feed him?"
"Oh, yes. gave him plenty OF
bread and milk"
Now that is, not true. You lust
threw ar old crust at him and after
ward you beat hin because he would
not touch it,
The wife confessed everything and
began TO ask her husband how he
Il cannot tell you. / have promised
not TO tell"
.Ah. do tell me, saschinka. I am
dying to know, my little dove"
No. ! never a tell YOU"
..Oh, 9 must tell, love of my heart"
But IL tell you. I must die"
"Oh. v mind, only tell me-"
The hunter did not know what to do.
but as he did know that he would
have an hours peace IL he did
not tell her. he said:
Well, then, give me at least a clean
shirt. that ! may prepare to die.'
He put on the clean shirt and knelt
down to pray before the ikon in the
corner OF the room Just then the
chickens came running past the one.
window, M he saw how the rooster
chastised one hen after the other, all
the while talking to them. Il will
show o how to behave. I am not
such a fool as our master, who cannot
leven manage one wife. / have thirty
of you and you all know who is the
master"
When the hunter heard this he
jumped up and gave his wife such a
laying out that she never again tried
Ito make his life SOU by her inquis-