The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1909-04-15
oooooooooooooooooooooooo
8 A GIRL AND 1
8 A GANDER. +;
0o0ooooo0oocooooooooooos
ey M. QUAD.

ell that Miss Judith Bradshaw, daugh-
ter of the banker, should spend the
summer in the country with her aunt.
There We're two reasons for this. The
first was that young MIR. Stevens, of
good old family, but without much
cash. was calling ut the house too fire..
quently for mere acquaintance, and
the second was because we'll known
ocultst. who had been paid for max
Ing the discovery, reported that Miss
Juditll's eyes needed a long rest and
the green shade that the grass and
trees would throw over them.
Soon after Judiths arrival at the
farm Aunt Martha got word that her
sister. living ten miles away. was i'll.
and she hitchcd up the horse and
drove over there. When leaving she
said to her niece:
Judith, it's going to be hot day,
and ! wish you'd look out for Wash
tngton washington was gander).
1t he's in the sun too much he gets
giddy and falls down as If dead. You
know wouldn't have anything hap
pen to him for the world"
Judith solennly promised, and the
aunt drove away. to return at sun
down. Then it was to find that things
had happened during the day and to
hear the whole story from her niece.
"Well." began Judith. las soon as
you went away I walked down to the
gate and looked down the road, I
wasn't looking f." anybody or any
thing. but just looking. You know
| folks do sometimes just lOok?'
| "Y-e-s."
II was just looking when that old
maid that lives ut the next farm
house came along. Maybe she wanted
to speak to me. hut guess 1t was
simply to look at this muslin. l went
out to see the Old glnder. Hc was sit
ting under the wagon shed. but as
soon as called Washington to him
he came limping toward me. l saw
at once that something allied him. He
was jerking and trembling all over.
His one eye was rolled up to heaven.
his legs were spread out and he was
making kissing noise Just as If he
was calling OH me to save his life.
ran to the gate to see If there was a
man around to appeal to. There was
one coming up the road. l waved my
hand for him to hurry up"
$50 there was IL man?"
Eyes. aunty. He just happened to
be coming along. you know"
"And did his name just happen to
be Stevcns:'
"Why, aunty. how did you happen
to guess it the first time trying? Yes,
his name happened to be Stevens, and
when he came running up l called
upon him to save Washlngton's life or
lose his own. 1t was OH your account,
you know. l knew how yoa would
take OH If you came home and found
Washington dead. You ought to have
seen how noble he was. He didn't
hardly wait to shake hands with me
and ask if that old maid was around"
"Then-then this Mr.. Stevens was
some one you had met before?" queried
the aunt
"Why-why, didn't say that had
met him once or twice in town? am
so confused about Washington, you
see. Well, we ran to the barnyard.
The poor thing lay right where he had
fallen. Not a leg kicked. Not an eye
lash quivered. Aunty. 1t was awful.
l don't know anything about first aid.
and stood there wringing my hands
when Mr.. Stevens revealed the nobil
| 1,s. Il <~0 ,c1,i,,
ton up in his arms, just rs If the poor
old gander had been dying child, and
ran with him into the shade Of the
she'd Then he stroked his back and
blew into his eyes and talked to him.
| Then he sent ME for basin of water
and rag, and after he had soaked
Washington's head he bound 1t UP
with wet rag He also soaked his
feet to draw the fever down from his
head. just wish you could have seen
how heroic he acted. Some girls would
have fallen in love with him with that
old gander in his arms"
But you didn't:"
81 told you how confused and over
come l was. It's dreadful thing to
see your good aunt's favorite gander
perish right before your eyes. Well,
when Washington got better we rubbed
his head with camphor, his legs with
vinegar and laid him on horse blan-
ket under the shed. He went to sleep
as quietly as an infant. He seemed to
realize that he must do just as Arth-
Mr.. Stevens told him."
"And he didn't die?"
mo, aunty. Three hours later he
got of his sickbed and licked the old
black rooster. No, he didn't die. Mr..
Stevens says he will probably live
many years yet to bless you."
"And about this Mr.. Stevens? It
seems odd that he should be out here
in the country at the same time you
are"
mot a bit of it. His eyes are also
weak, and he came out to board with
q farmer and give them rest. He will
call tomorrow to see me, and you will
be introduced, and he will tell you all
about Washington and what to do for