Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-05-06
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
3 A GIRL AND I
3 A GANDER. 5
'oooo0ooooo0o0oCoCoCoCoO
BY M. QUAD.

, kutullcT Ill Tie COuutly with hSi ouhe
There were two reasons for this The
first was that young Mr. Stevens. OF
coed old family. but without much
cash, was calling at the house too fire.
quently for mere acquaintance, and
the second was because well known
oculist, who had been paid for max
ing the discovery, reported that Miss
Judith's eyes needed long rest and
the green shade that the grass and
trees would throw over them.
Soon after Judith's arrival at the
farm Aunt Martha got word that her
sister. living ten miles away, was i'll.
and she hitched up the horse and
drove over there. When leaving she
said to her niece:
judith, it's going to be a hot day,
and | wish you'd look out for Wash
iligton Washington was gander).
If he's In the sun too much he gets
giddy and falls down as II dead. You
know l wouldn't have anything hap
pen to him for the world"
Judith solemnly promised, and the
aunt drove away, to return at sun
down. Then 1t was to find that things
had happened during the day and to
hear the whole story from her niece.
"Well." began Judith, "as soon as
you went away walked down to the
gate and looked down the road.
wasn't looking for anybody or any
thing. but just looking. You know
folks do sometimes just look?"
Yes"
81 was just looking when that old
maid that lives at the next farm
house came along. Maybe she wanted
to speak to me, but | guess 1t was
simply to look at this muslin. l went
out to see the old gander He was sit
ting under the wagon shed. but as
soon as called Washington to him
he came limping toward me. saw
Mt 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 II he
was calling on me to save his life. I
ran to the gate to see If there was
man around to appeal to. There was
one coming up the road. | waved my
hand for him to hurry up"
$50 there was man."
"Yes, aunty. He just happened to
be coming along. you know"
And did his name just happen to
be Stevens|'
"Why, aunty, how did you happen
to guess 1t the first time trying? Yes,
his name happened to be Stevens, and
when he came running up l called
upon him to save Washingtons life or
lose his own. 1t was on your account,
you know. | knew how you would
take on II 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
! don't know anything about first aid,
and stood there wringing my hanGS
when Mr.. Stevens revealed the nohil-
fly Of his nature. He took Washing
ton up in his arms, just as If the poor
old gander had been dying ch'd. 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 a 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 10 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 III his arms
But you didn't"
II told you how confused and over
come | was It's Il dreadful thing to
see your good aunt's favorte sander
perish right before your eyes. Well
when Washington got better we rubbed
his head with cHmphOr. his legs with
vinegar and laid him on horse blan-
ket under the shed. He went to sleep
us quietly as an infant. He seemed to
realize that he must do just as ArIh-
Mr. Stevens told him"
And he didn't die!"
mo, aunty. Three hours later he
got off 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? 1t
seems odd that he should be out here
In the country at the same time you
are"
Not bit Of it. His eyes are also
weak, and he came out TO board with
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
him If he has another stroke Of apo
rlexy. | know you will say he's
nice and heroic young man. just think.
aunty, how many young men woull
have taken an old wabhly gander in
their arms and sympathized with him
as Arthur did"
1t was six weeks before Aunt Mar
tina wrote to her brother. the banker,
t.rd then a part Of what she said was:
"Judith's eyes are well. Her health
Is also good She Is also engaged to
young Mr. Stevens If that was what
,ou wanted you have brought 1t about
terry nicely"
The Gnu In The Zoo