Evening journal., 1905-04-05


oaths. Such men were the curse Of
the cieanly homes in that country.
There was much to shock the ears and
eyes Of children IN the life Of the farm.
1t was fashion among the help to dec
crate their speech with profanity for
the mere sound Of it, and the foul
mouthings Of low minded men spread
like pestilence in the fields.
Abe came always with an old bay
horse and a rickety blackboard. His
one foot on the dash as he rode gave
the picture a daredevil finish. The
lash Of his bull whip sang around him,
and his great voice sent its blasts Of
noise ahead When we heard a fearful
yell and rumble in the distance we
knew Abe was coming.
ABE be come" said Grandma Bis
nette. Mon Dieu, he make de leetle
rock fy~
1t was like the coming Of locomo-
tive with roar of wheel and Whistle.
In my childhood as soon as 1 saw the
cloud Of dust I put for the bed and
from its friendly cover would peek out
often, but never venture far until the
man Of blood had gone.
To us children he was a marvel of
wickedness. There were those who
told how he had stood in the storm one
night and dared the Almighty to send
the lightning upon him.
The dog Fred had grown so old and
infrm that one day they sentefor Abe
TO come and put an end to his misery.
Every man on the farm loved the old
dog and not enc Of them would raise
la-hand to kill him. Hope and l heard
what Abe was coming to do, and when
the men had gone to the fields that
summer morning we lifted Fred into
the little wagon in which he had once
drawn me and, starting back to the
barn, stole away with him through the
deep grass Of the meadow until we
came out upon the highroad far below.
We had planned to take him to school
and make him a nest In the wood shed.
where he could share our luncheon and
be out Of the way Of peril. After a
good deal Of difficulty and heavy pull
ing we got to the road at last. The old
dog now blind and helpless, sat con-
tentedly in the wagon while its wheels
creaked and groaned beneath him. We
had gone but short way in the road
when we heard the red bridge roar
under rushing wheels and the familiar
yell Of Abe
Wed better rum said Hope. Ger
wen git swore at"
l looked about me in a panic for
some place to hide the party, but Abe
was coming fast, and there was only
time to pick up clubs and stand our
ground
"Herer' the man shouted as he pull.
ed up alongside Of it. "Where We goin'
with that dog"
Go way" l answered, between an
ger and tears, lifting my club in a
threatening manner.
He laughed then-a loud guffaw that
rang in the near woods.
"Whatll We give me-" he asked,
leaning forward, his elbows on his
knees-"whatll ye give me If 1 don't
kill him?"
= I thought a moment. Then 1 put
my hand in my pocket and presently
took out my jackknife - that treasure
Uncle Eb had bought for me - and
looked at it fondly.
Then | offered it to him.
Again he laughed loudly
Anything elseT" he demanded, while
Hope sat hugging the old dog that was
licking her hands.
"Got 40 cents that I saved for the
fair" said / promptly.
Abe backed his horse and turned in
the road
"waal, boy" he said, "tell 'em Pye
gone home"
Then his great voice shouted
"Glangw the lash Of his whip sang. in
the air and of he went.
We were first to arrive at the school.
house that morning, and when the
other children came we had Fred on a
comfortable bed of grass in a corner
of the wood shed. What with all the
worry Of that day I said my lessons
poorly and went home with a load on
my heart Tomorrow would be Sat.
urday; how were we to get food and
water to the dog? They asked at
home II we had seen old Fred, and we
both declared we had not-the first lie
that ever laid its burden on my con-
science. We both saved all our bread
and butter and doughnuts next day,
but we had so many chores to do it was
impossible to go TO the schoolhouse
with them. So we agreed to steal
away that night when all were. asleep
and take the food from its hiding place.
In the excitement of the day neither
Of us had eaten much. They thought
we were I'll and sent us to bed early.
When Hope came into my room above
stairs late in the evening we were both
desperately hungry. We looked at our
store Of doughnuts and bread and but
ter under my bed We counted it over.
won't you try one O. the dough-
nuts?" I whispered, hoping that she
would say yes so that l could try one
also, for they did smell mighty good.
"'Twouldn't be right" said she re-
gretfully. There amt any more'n he'll
want now"
"Twouldn't be right" l repeated,
with sigh, as l looked longingly at
one of the big doughnuts. Couldn't
bear.t do it--could your"
Don't seem as If could" she whis-
pered thoughtfully, her chin upon her
hand.
Then she rose and went to the win