Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-05-19

~ vRANOMA BlSNE4VE came
" from Canada to work for the |
Brewers. She was a big,
( cheerful woman with dia-
lect, IN amiable disposition and a
swarthy, wrinlled face. She had a
loose front tooth that occupied all the
leisure of her tongue. When she sat at
her knitting this big tooth clicked In
cessantly. On every stitch her tongue
went in and out and across It, and I,
often by her knees, regarded
the process with great curiosity.
The reader may gather much from
these frank and informing words of
Grandma Bisnette: when los my
man, mon Dieu! have two son. An
when come across I bring him with
me. Abe he rough, but den he no bad
man."
Abe was the butcher Of the neighbor-
hood, that red handed, stony hearted
necessary man whom the Yankee farm
er in that north country hires to do the
cruel things that have to be done. He
wore ragged, dirty clothes and had a
voice like steam whistle. His rough
black hair fell low and mingled with
his scanty beard. His hands were
stained too often with the blood of
some creature we loved. always crept
under the bed in Mrs. Brewers room
when Abe came, he was such a terror
to me, with his bloody work and noisy
oaths. Such men were the curse Of
the clennly homes in that country.
There was much to shock the ears and
eyes Of children in the life Of the farm.
1t was a 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 rickety blackboard. His
one foot on the dash as he rode gave
the picture daredevil finish. The
lash of his bull whip sang around him,
and his great voice sent its blasts Of
noise ahead. When we heard fearful
yell and rumble in the distance we
knew Abe was coming.
abe he come" said Grandma Bis
nette. Mon Dieu, he make de leetle
rock fy!"
1t was like the coming Of q locomo-
tive with roar Of wheel and whistle.
In my childhood as soon as I 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.
Ysa nc cl,;ldra,, bo 1r,no ,,,nr,,oI 30
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
infirm that one day they sent for Abe
to come and put an end to his misery
Every man on the farm loved the old
dog, and not one Of them would raise
hand to kill him. Hope and 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 thu
deep grass Of the meadow until W.
came out upon the highroad far below
| We had planned to take him to schoo
and make him nest in the wood shed
| where he could share our luncheon anC
be out Of the way of peril. After {
good deal Of difficulty and heavy pull
ing we got to the road at last. The ole
dog, now blind and helpless, sat con
tentedly in the wagon while its wheels
creaked and groaned beneath him. w,
had gone but short way In the roat
when we heard the red bridge roa,
under rushing wheels and the familia
yell Of Abe.
WED better rum" said Hope, 'se
We'll git swore at"
| looked about me in panic 70
some place TO hide the party, but Alb
was coming fast, and there was onl
time to pick up clubs and stand GU
ground.
"Herew the man shouted as he pull
ed up alongside Of it. Where ye goir
with that dog?'
GO wayw I answered, between al
ger and tears, lifting my club in
threatening manner.
He laughed then-a loud guffaw the
rang in the near woods.
"What'll We give me-" he asket
leaning forward, his elbows on h
knees-"what'll ye give me II I don
kill him2'
I thought moment Then / p,
my hand in my pocket and present.
took out my jackknife - that treasul
Uncle Eb had bought for me - ar
looked at it fondly.
Then offered it to him.
Again he laughed loudly.
Anything else?" he demanded, viii
Hope sat hugging the old dog that WI
licking her hands.
Got 40 cents that I saved for tt
fair" said I promptly.
Abe backed his horse and turned
the road.
WAL, boy" he said, "tell 'em r
gone home"
Then his great voice shout
"G'langw the lash of his whip sang
the air and off he went
We We're first to arrive ut the scho
houss that morning, and when t
other children came we had Fred on
comfortable bed of grass in a corn
Of the wood she'd What with all t
worry Of that day said my lesso
poorly and went home with n load
my heart. Tomorrow would be 81